Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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618. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the estimated cost to the Exchequer of extending the development contribution rebate scheme to build to rent units by introducing a full rebate on all rental units built in developments of 50 units or more; and the estimated cost for extending the scheme for only units rented at affordable or below market rents. [31000/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The primary objective of the Development Contribution Rebate Scheme is to enhance the viability of the construction and sale of residential housing units at affordable prices in the locations of greatest need. The scheme is a supply-related measure, with the cost of the rebates being funded through my Department.

The rebate will be paid for those units that are completed and sold after 1st January 2016 and before 31 December 2017 and that meet the conditions of the scheme, details of which are set out in the Circular letter launching the scheme which issued from my Department, which is available at the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/search/category/planning?query=circular+2015&=Apply.

The scheme already caters for residential units whether for occupation, lease or rent.

Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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619. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the estimated cost of the development contribution rebate scheme to date in 2017; the number of projects and units availing of the scheme; and the primary reasons for the low take up of the scheme. [31001/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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A development contribution rebate scheme featured as part of the Government's housing package, entitled "Stabilising Rents, Boosting Supply", which was announced by the previous Government in November 2015.  The primary objective of the scheme was to enhance the viability of the construction and sale of residential housing units at affordable prices in the locations of greatest need. Details of the scheme are available in Circular letter PL 13/2015, which issued from my Department to the relevant local authorities, and which is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/search/category/planning/sub-type/circular/topic/development-management?query. 

Returns to date from the local authorities concerned indicate that there has been limited uptake in relation to the scheme.

- Cork City Council, Cork County Council and Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council have reported no uptake to date.

- Fingal County Council estimates overall costs for 2017 at €6.8 million to cover rebates on 798 units spread across 9 developments.

- South Dublin County Council estimate overall costs of approximately €3.5 million to €4 million to cover rebates on expressions of interest received for 485 units spread across 7 developments.

- Only one application has been received to date by Dublin City Council. It is for a part development and cannot be processed, until the total number of units exceeds 50.

A number of reasons are cited by the local authorities concerned for the low uptake, including -

- the low sale price threshold under the scheme, and

- the minimum scheme threshold of 50 units.

However, these are important design features of the scheme, in order to ensure delivery of homes at affordable prices and to encourage the delivery of housing on a larger scale.