Seanad debates

Tuesday, 12 December 2017

1:00 pm

Photo of Gerry HorkanGerry Horkan (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, to the House.

Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Fine Gael)
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I wish to raise the issue of approval for housing projects in Cork. My understanding is that the projects were identified, the appropriate planning process were gone through, estimates were prepared, there was an invitation to submit tenders and that the tenders received were in excess of the initial estimates. Cork City Council corresponded with the Department and made it aware of this in early September. I understand the matter may have moved on since I tabled this Commencement matter. I know the Department was working on the issue. However, the city council and I, as a public representative in Cork North Central, where we have a large number of people on the housing waiting list, are anxious that any project identified by the local authority is progressed in the fastest possible time so that the project can start, the houses can be built and people can be accommodated. That is the context in which I raise this Commencement matter.

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Burke for raising this matter. Under Rebuilding Ireland, a total of 50,000 social housing homes will be delivered out to 2021 for those individuals and families who need them the most. Cork City Council's housing programme is a key component of the Rebuilding Ireland plan. Only recently, I spent a day in Cork with the city and county councils discussing and exploring how we can continue to work together to accelerate and increase social housing delivery in Cork.

The projects to which Senator Burke refers are projects where Cork City Council sought the delivery of social housing solutions through a competitive dialogue process or procedure. The aim of this procedure is to provide a mechanism through which the city council could engage with interested parties to deliver a significant quantum of newly constructed social housing units in addition to other housing provision methods. This involved looking at the delivery process from an assessment of suitable sites through design and planning right up to the construction and completion of homes ready for occupation by residents. My Department supports initiatives at local authority level such as this procedure entered into by Cork City Council to provide streamlined and effective solutions for social housing delivery. The council's assessment of responses resulted in a number of schemes which are short-listed to progress to dialogue phase.In total, 11 schemes were short-listed, with the combined potential to deliver 215 units of social housing at various locations in Cork city. Of the 11 projects chosen through this process, four were previously approved and have already begun construction, delivering 85 homes at a cost of just under €22 million.

I am pleased to be able to advise the House that, for further assessment by my Department of the budget request for the remaining seven projects, I have been able to provide the council with the necessary approval. I thank the Senator for continuing to raise this matter with me since early September. These seven projects will deliver a further 134 badly-needed social housing homes for families on the Cork city housing list. The first of these homes will be completed in the third quarter of next year, with the remainder following in 2019. The budget approved for these seven projects is just under €39 million.

The delivery of these projects will deliver an important development for Cork city, particularly the South Parish area. The objective of the Cork city regeneration project is to help create neighbourhoods with a distinct character and better permeability and coherency and offer significant opportunities for an improved social mix, with the potential for the inclusion of private housing development within the area. The projects will deliver on these objectives, enhancing the physical character of the local areas involved and contributing to the wider social regeneration. When I next visit Cork, I look forward to seeing the progress in this regard and on the wider portfolio of projects that the city council is advancing.

Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for delivering on these projects. Money for 134 additional housing units is welcome news for Cork. I am delighted that progress has been made and I look forward to the Minister visiting to cut the tape on each project.

Photo of Gerry HorkanGerry Horkan (Fianna Fail)
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I am sure that we all look forward to the stability of the Government allowing for the current Minister to still be in place when the houses are finally being built. Does he wish to conclude?

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for continuing to raise this matter with me and my Department. I ask all representatives in both Houses to do so where they have particular issues like this one and where there might be the potential to expedite the process by engaging with me. It is welcome progress for Cork. The numbers might seem small but, for the 134 families and individuals who will move into those homes, they will be welcome.

Both councils in Cork have housing action plans and their committees are doing excellent work. I had the chance to engage with them in Cork recently. It is impressive how they are both trying to drive through and build more social housing homes for our citizens who need this help the most. I hope to see other councils implementing a similar process in the months ahead.