Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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243. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the details of the proposed provision of €25 million over 2018 and 2019 to unlock local authority owned lands specifically for affordable models such as co-operative schemes; the progress that has been made in developing models of affordable housing and co-operatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2371/18]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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244. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the advice which can be given to co-operative housing bodies such as an organisation (details supplied) that wishes to meet with local authorities and present proposals for a co-operative housing project in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area in view of the fact that as yet no process exists for such proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2372/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together.

Recognising that housing affordability is a major issue for some households and that while initiatives introduced to date are having an impact and will have a greater impact in time, the Government considers that a further package of targeted measures focused on addressing affordability is needed to enable low- to moderate-income households, that do not qualify for social housing supports, to purchase or rent homes, particularly in Dublin and other major urban areas.

This will include, but will not be limited to, the deployment of €25 million Exchequer funding, over 2018 and 2019, to unlock local authority-owned lands specifically for affordable housing and further measures in relation to improving the viability of apartment development. Having consulted with relevant local authorities, my Department is currently developing the criteria for accessing the Fund and I expect to be in a position make a call for proposals to local authorities in the near future.

In the interim, prior to any further affordability measures being finalised, I encourage approved housing bodies, local authorities, industry professionals and banks to work together in a collaborative and proactive way to frame proposals, so that optimum delivery of much needed affordable homes will be achieved from the Fund without delay.