Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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43. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the measures he will take to ensure the maximum delivery of both social and affordable housing in Cherrywood and the Shanganagh Castle site in Shankill as part of his review of Rebuilding Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33186/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach signalled the Government’s intention to carry out a focused review of Rebuilding Ireland, as we approach the first 12 months of its implementation. This review is now underway, with an emphasis on strengthening the measures already in place and identifying new initiatives that add value and raise ambition across all five Pillars. As part of the review process, my Department will focus in particular on the broad issues of housing supply and affordability for different market segments, building on the measures already being advanced in the Action Plan.

One of the main elements under Pillar 3 for the acceleration of supply in private housing was the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF), which is aimed at removing infrastructural blockages that were hindering development on otherwise suitable and strategically located sites. Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council received approval under LIHAF for funding of €15.19 million for its Cherrywood proposal to provide public infrastructure that will support the delivery of 2,000 housing units by 2021, with potential for a further 6,000 homes in the longer term. The LIHAF-funded infrastructure will facilitate additional social housing of 200 housing units in Cherrywood in the short term through the 10% Part V social housing dividend, with a potential of up to a further 600 social housing units in the longer term as the site is fully built out.

In addition, the Council received approval under LIHAF for funding of €4.16 million for its Woodbrook-Shanganagh proposal, together with a commitment from the National Transport Authority to fund the construction of a DART Station. I understand the Draft Woodbrook-Shanganagh LAP, which was agreed by the Council at its July meeting, includes two parcels of land for residential development - Woodbrook, which is privately owned (c21.4ha), and Shanganagh Castle, which is owned by the Council (c.11.2ha). The Plan provides for the Woodbrook lands to deliver between 1,000 and c.1,320 homes, while the Shanganagh Castle lands will deliver between 360 and c.540 homes. I understand the Council is currently developing its plan to provide mixed-tenure housing on its own lands.

The LIHAF infrastructural works will open up both sites and the substantial additional supply of housing across the different tenures on these strategically located and well-serviced sites will help ease the pressure on the housing market generally as well as on rented accommodation.

The Council is currently engaging with the housing developers to conclude specific agreements in relation to finalising the timelines for delivery of the housing, in line with the provision of infrastructure, and the required cost reduction commitments. My Department expects that final agreements will be in place by the end of July.