Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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43. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the outcome of his recent discussions with Dublin City Council, a group (details supplied) and his departmental officials regarding plans for public housing on the site of the former St. Michael's Estate, Inchicore, Dublin 8. [26805/18]

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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44. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a social and affordable public housing scheme will be publicly funded at locations (details supplied). [26815/18]

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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54. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will meet with the community organisers of an area (details supplied) to discuss their cost rental proposals for affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26877/18]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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63. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if consideration is being given to fully funding the building of 100% social and affordable rental on the site of the former St. Michael's Estate, Inchicore, Dublin 8; and when a final decision will be made. [26806/18]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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71. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the local organisations campaigning for an estate (details supplied) to be developed in line with the cost rental model will be supported; and the timeline for a decision to be made in relation to the estate. [26890/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 44, 54, 63 and 71 together.

St. Michael’s Estate is one of three significant sites being brought forward by Dublin City Council under its housing land initiative, HLI, the aim of which is to ensure the delivery of mixed-tenure homes in the Dublin City Council functional area. All three sites under the HLI are identified as strategic development and regeneration areas within the Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022.

Mixed-tenure developments are an important policy objective of Rebuilding Ireland and uphold the principle of sustainable mixed communities, where housing needs are not subject to rigid segregation based on income levels. They also provide an opportunity to see major sites developed more quickly, and integrated into existing communities and areas.

The approach which the City Council is taking to the St. Michael’s project envisages the potential to yield over 400 mixed-tenure homes and the City Council has determined that the homes will be provided on the basis of a 30% social, 20% affordable, and 50% private tenure mix. The council has also agreed the methodology for community consultation, as set out in the feasibility study presented through a community consultative forum.

In line with good governance procedures, a project board, which includes representation from my Department and the National Development Finance Agency, has been established and is working to progress the development of this site.

As regards the delivery of affordable homes from this site, while it is ultimately a matter for the City Council to decide whether these are to be affordable homes to purchase or are delivered as cost-rental homes, I firmly believe that there is a need to ensure that the rental sector, particularly in our cities and major urban areas, is accessible and affordable.  In order to do this, we need to invest in a different type of rental offering, a so called cost-rental sector which operates between the social and private market sectors. In that regard, we are learning from pilot projects and the examination of similar models operating elsewhere.

Dublin City Council, my Department and the NDFA have at this point carried out detailed modelling and financial appraisal on this site, to assess its suitability for a significant cost rental development. The work of that multi-disciplinary team is at an advanced stage.

In addition, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has under consideration the development of in excess of 500 homes at their Shanganagh Castle site, comprising a mix of tenures, including social and affordable homes. This ambitious proposal can deliver a new residential neighbourhood, including houses, apartments and duplexes and all associated infrastructure, including roads, footpaths, services and landscaping on the site.

My Department has met with the Council on a number of occasions over recent months with regard to progressing this development. It should be noted that I have also committed almost €5m under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) to build public infrastructure, which will assist in opening up the site for early development.

My Department will continue to engage proactively with the two local authorities involved in order to support early progress through procurement and onwards to construction on both of these significant sites.