Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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1300. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 618 of 4 July 2017, if he will provide a response to the question in terms of the estimated cost for extending the development contribution rebate scheme for build to rent properties (details supplied); and if the rebate was only given for units rented below an affordable price point, as defined by his Department. [34001/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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As per my reply to Question No. 618 of 4 July 2017, the scheme already caters for residential units whether for occupation, lease or rent – and the rebate applies for units that are constructed and sold under the conditions as set out in Circular PL/13 2015, and which is available on my Department's website at the following linkwww.housing.gov.ie/search/category/planning?query=circular+2015&=Apply.

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 rebate will be paid for those units that are completed and sold between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2017 and that meet the conditions of the Scheme, as set out in the Circular. However, the scheme does not specify rent levels at which a qualifying property, once sold, should be set.

As outlined above, rebates are payable on housing units that are completed and sold. Evidence of sale contracts are required before recoupment of contributions can be considered. If developers do not dispose of the properties, as appears to be the case in the example provided by the Deputy, then the rebates are not payable.

I have no plans at present to amend the rebate scheme along the lines proposed and my Department is not in a position to calculate the costs of extending the scheme to build-to-rent properties, in the absence of more detailed information and assumptions.