Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. I also thank the office of the Cathaoirleach for choosing this very important matter and I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, to the House.

I raise with the Minister of State social housing schemes in Galway and Galway city and acknowledge that there is a considerable amount of work going on in respect of them. Significant social housing is being built in Galway city, especially in the Knocknacarra and the Galway city west area. It is also important to point out that there are a number of schemes in Galway city centre and in Galway city east which are much-needed and positive. The point I raise with the Minister of State is that this is very limited in respect of affordable housing schemes, at best. I spent 11 years on the local authority and I am very familiar with Galway city. The number one issue there is housing in our city.

As I am sure is the case for many Members of the House and in Kilkenny, the Minister of State’s home area, this is the number one issue. I receive representations on a daily basis from people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s and it is essential that this Government makes progress on the issue because if we do not, we will be in serious trouble.

As with elsewhere in Ireland, there is an urgent need for affordable housing. The level to which affordable housing is bring being prioritised in Galway seems to differ when one looks at Cork, Dublin, Limerick or Waterford. I have strong concerns that not enough attention is being placed on this in Galway. Given the billions of euro that have been committed in this housing area in budgets, I am informed that this is not a financial issue. It does not seem to be a lack of resources or financial backing at Government level which is responsible for this situation. My issue is that it is not happening on the ground.

We may also need to consider the message the Government is putting out. It is vital that local authorities are aware that affordable housing is as much a priority as social housing. That may require a change of communications.

There may also need to be more regular communication between the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and local authorities and this communication needs to be upped and to be considered. For example, can we get more up-to-date progress reports on a monthly basis as it will be easy enough to count the affordable housing in Galway now in both city and county. I will await the Minister of State’s response and I do not want to pre-empt it.

Of course, I do not want any substantial time wasted on paperwork or on the limited resources of local authorities but ask for a document outlining same to put pressure on the director of housing and on the chief executive officers, as that is certainly not happening in Galway city and county, which is an area I can speak about, being very familiar with it.

I am open to alternative suggestions from the Minister of State that perhaps these are not needed but from my perspective, it is clear the local authorities may need to be made aware of how important affordable housing is viewed by Government, and that urgency is required to make progress in this area.

We have passed the midway point in the term of this Government and Covid-19 obviously had a major impact, which all Members of this House accept, but the number of affordable housing schemes in Galway certainly needs to increase quickly. I am greatly concerned now that this is not happening and will not do so under the current conditions. I await the Minister of State’s response to see how we are going to improve the situation on the ground in Galway city and county. I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach and the Minister of State.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach agus le Seanadóir Crowe as an gceist seo. The Housing for All strategy delivers on the programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system.

Delivery of affordable housing, in accordance with the schemes set out in the Affordable Housing Act 2021, and the funding being made available, is underpinned by local authorities' housing delivery action plans. Local authorities, including Galway City Council and Galway County Council, each published their finalised plans in July. They provide a comprehensive overview of projected delivery of affordable housing in Galway.

Funding is made available by Government to assist local authority and approved housing bodies for the delivery of affordable housing for purchase or rent through the affordable housing fund, AHF, previously known as the serviced sites fund, SSF, and the cost rental equity loan, CREL. A planned affordable housing development at Merlin Woods in Galway city, to deliver approximately 85 affordable homes to purchase at sales prices of at least 15% below average prices for the area, is being supported by the SSF. I understand that Galway City Council are planning to make further applications for funding to the Department in support of further affordable housing schemes.

Affordable housing officials met recently with Galway County Council's chief executive officer, director of housing and other members of the housing team to discuss their plans for a number of affordable purchase schemes in Galway county. The council intend to apply to our Department for affordable housing fund, AHF, funding to support these schemes in the coming months.

The Land Development Agency, LDA, is progressing two major projects in Galway City, at Dyke Road and Sandy Road, as part of their initial tranche of State lands. Overall projected delivery from these sites is for more than 1,500 homes with the first 170 to be achieved by 2026 on Dyke Road.

The Dyke Road site forms part of a strategic brownfield land bank located on the edge of Galway City centre and the LDA has advised the Department that it has reached an agreement with Galway City Council to progress a residential-led development at this site. Following the most recent draft city development plan, the Land Development Agency intends to progress a phased planning application for the site.

On Sandy Road, the LDA has advised my Department that it is currently preparing a framework masterplan to guide development of the site, currently owned by Galway City Council, Galway County Council and the ESB. The Land Development Agency will align with the timetable for the draft city development plan and will consult on the framework masterplan in early 2023. A design team has been commissioned, stakeholder engagement is under way, and a public consultation will be undertaken.

As the Senator can see, there is quite a significant level of activity being undertaken by both Galway City Council and Galway County Council on affordable housing. I note the points the Senator is making specifically on communication. From our Department perspective, in funding and the asks that we have of local authorities around affordable housing, this is the same message. We are trying to achieve a balance and mix right across housing delivery in local authorities and it is a matter for the local authorities to develop their own plans for housing delivery. It is critically important that the local authorities work with our Department. There are quite a number of schemes under way. It takes time and public consultation is critically important. From our Department's perspective, however, we will certainly not be found wanting in respect of funding projects and innovative schemes around affordable housing delivery in Galway city and county.

Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail)
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I have needed ten minutes to raise this with the Minister of State and the senior Minister, Deputy O'Brien. I do not want to be giving out too much but, with respect, what I got from this answer is that there will be 85 affordable houses built in the lifetime of this Government. We are talking about 17 affordable houses for all of Galway, with a population of 200,000 people. We are moving on to 2026, 2027 and 2028, which is just too far. I do not see the urgency with the executives in either Galway City Council or Galway County Council.

It is not acceptable for the Minister of State to come in and tell me that in the lifetime of this Government, 85 affordable houses will be built, and that this will be part of a planned affordable housing development. I will give the Minister of State an example, of which I am sure he is familiar. Cork City Council and Cork County Council have eight schemes of affordable housing under way at this moment in time and are moving onto the next eight. Galway has a population of 200,000 people and the Minister of State is telling me that 85 affordable houses will be built in the lifetime of this Government. This is not credible.I will not be able to go back to Galway city and give the people there that message because there will be riots in the street. It is very disappointing. I plead with the Minister of State and his Department to contact the officials in Galway City Council and Galway County Council to work with them to see if we can provide more affordable housing. I have acknowledged in my contribution that there is significant social housing, but this should be looked at in comparison with Limerick or Cork. I have given the information on Cork and it is factual. I am disappointed with the Minister of State's answer.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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With all due respect, the priorities around housing delivery in Galway City Council and Galway County Council are a matter for Galway City Council and Galway County Council. Our Government sets the policy agenda through Housing for All, but it is down to the local authority to strike the balance in respect of social and affordable housing delivery. That is a matter for the elected members of those councils to prioritise. Again, I stress the point that it goes back to the local authority. If the Senator feels that the local authorities are not delivering enough in that regard, it is really a matter for them to drive a more ambitious agenda. As I said in closing, our Department will not be found wanting in funding schemes. There is also the first home scheme and the affordable purchase scheme. We are delivering a range of schemes under Housing for All as well as Croí Cónaithe. There are other options available in respect of Town Centre First and infill delivery of housing. We should be looking at innovation in the urban centre. That is critical. Really, though, it is a matter for the local authority to set the agenda.

I will take back the points the Senator has raised to our Department for further engagement with the local authority and to try to achieve a greater balance and greater ambition because we will fund that ambition.