Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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632. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the timeframe for the affordable rental scheme pilot project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13888/18]

Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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649. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount of funding allocated for a pilot project affordable rent scheme in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown; the amount that has been spent on compensating the local authority for costs incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14138/18]

Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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650. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the proposed eligibility and selection criteria for a pilot project affordable rent scheme in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown; the anticipated number of residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14139/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 632, 649 and 650 together.

Against the background of the affordability pressures which exist in the rental market, particularly in our cities and other major urban areas, the Government is determined to make cost rental a major part of the Irish housing system. To do this, we will offer more affordable long-term rental options, by leveraging the value of State land to reduce the cost of provision.

Cost rental is new to Ireland and a number of pilot cost rental projects are currently being progressed in Dublin, for example, at Enniskerry Road and in Lusk. The projects are being delivered by Approved Housing Bodies, working with relevant local authorities, the Housing Agency and my Department.

The pilot projects are providing very valuable learning in terms of the design and delivery of such a new rental model in Ireland. Working with these and other key stakeholders, my Department is considering the optimal operation of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, taking account of broader policy considerations on affordable housing.

In parallel with the advancement of the aforementioned pilot projects, discussions are ongoing with the European Investment Bank to leverage its extensive experience and knowledge, in developing and supporting cost rental and other affordable housing models, with a view to developing further cost rental projects in Ireland, at a greater scale.

I expect local authorities to be pro-active in developing and bringing forward innovative concepts regarding the use of their land for the delivery of both affordable homes for purchase and rent. Arising from the second Housing Summit with local authority Chief Executives in January, I have asked each local authority to furnish a report to me, setting out their plans for delivery of both social and affordable housing, with a particular focus on affordable home provision in the main urban centres, where the greatest challenges exist. These reports have recently been received and are under consideration by my Department.