Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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236. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to provide affordable rental properties in Dublin, Cork and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3780/18]

Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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244. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the details of the pilot project on affordable rental schemes. [3866/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 236 and 244 together.

The Government recognises the housing affordability pressures in certain areas and is determined to see increases in the supply of high quality social and affordable homes, to buy or rent, as quickly as possible, particularly in the major urban areas such as Dublin, Cork and Galway.

The Government has already introduced a number of measures to help to bring rents down to more affordable levels, including the:

- Introduction of Rent Pressure Zones,

- Introduction of  new ‘Build to Rent’ and "shared accommodation" guidelines to encourage development and investment in more rental accommodation at more affordable rents, and

- progressing measures to bring as many vacant and underutilised properties as possible back into use.

Recognising that initiatives introduced to date are having an impact and will have a greater impact in time, on 22 January, I announced a package of initiatives to help alleviate affordability pressures faced by households, particularly in areas of high housing demand and high accommodation costs. This includes a new affordable rental scheme, to be based on a cost rental model. Further details on the suite of initiatives announced earlier this week can be found at.

This cost rental model provides that the rent paid covers the cost of building the property, together with on-going management and maintenance charges, but with a minimal profit margin included. This provides greater certainty around the rent, regardless of what is happening in the market. A pilot cost rental project is currently being progressed by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, in conjunction with the Housing Agency, and an Approved Housing Body, using land owned by the Agency. I expect this pilot to go to the market later this year to secure a development partner and the best value for the State and prospective renters.

I am eager to see local authorities realise further social and affordable homes from their lands without delay, and in this regard, following the Housing Summit on 22 January, I have asked each Chief Executive to furnish a report to me by mid-February, setting out their plans for delivery. I expect further affordable rental proposals to be put forward by local authorities, especially those in the main urban centres, as part of this process.

Finally, in tandem with initiatives announced, my Department will lead an expert group to examine the issues and provide advice on the most appropriate way forward in delivering a more sustainable rental sector in Ireland. I am currently considering the terms of reference, formation and composition of the Group with a view to establishing it later this quarter.