Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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603. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the cost rental pilot project has gone out to tender; when construction is due to begin; the number of units due to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26782/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Government is determined to make cost rental a major part of the Irish housing system, similar to the role that it plays in many European countries. Under the cost rental approach, rents are set at levels to recover construction costs and to facilitate the management and administration of developments, with only a minimal amount of retained earnings included.

The pilot project is currently being progressed by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, at Enniskerry Road, in conjunction with the Housing Agency and Approved Housing Bodies (AHB), using land owned by the Housing Agency. Delivering 50 cost rental units as part of a 150-home development, this pilot is providing very valuable learning to inform the wider roll-out of the cost rental model.

The development of local authority sites for cost rental homes must comply with the Government’s Capital Works Management Framework and procurement rules, the objectives of which are to ensure greater cost certainty, better value for money, and financial accountability.

Planning permission for the Enniskerry Road project is in place, and I expect that the development will go out to tender in the coming weeks, with a site start later this year.