Written answers
Tuesday, 9 October 2018
Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
Social and Affordable Housing Provision
Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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546. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 627 of 2 October 2018, the schedule of the quarterly meetings with Wicklow, Kildare, Meath and all Dublin local authorities since the beginning of 2018 and those planned until the end of 2019; the schedule of each project discussed at each of those quarterly meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41117/18]
Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The meetings between my Department’s Architectural and QS Advisors, to review progress and examine new proposals on social housing, are happening quarterly with all local authorities. In respect of the local authorities referred to in the question, the quarterly schedule for 2018 is outlined in the following table. A quarterly meeting schedule will be maintained going forward into 2019 and beyond.
Local Authority | Meeting Date Q1 2018 | Meeting Date Q2 2018 (or 2nd meeting) | Meeting Date Q3 2018 (or 3rd meeting) | Meeting Date Q4 2018 (or 4th meeting) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dublin City Council | 23 January | 21 March | 24 May | 17 October |
Dun Laoghaire – Rathdown County Council | 21 February | 16 May | 20 September | 21 November (tbc) |
Fingal County Council | 30 January | 26 April | 12 July | 10 October |
South Dublin County Council | 18 January | 25 April | 12 July | 19 October |
Kildare County Council | 10 January | 10 April | 4 July | 3 October |
Meath County Council | 17 January | 24 April | 18 July | 17 October |
Wicklow County Council | 11 January | 12 March | 8 June | 27 September |
These meetings review the wide range of social housing projects that are underway or planned across the local authorities and by Approved Housing Bodies on their behalf. Given the very wide range of project activity that is covered at each separate meeting, the compilation of the information sought in terms of a schedule of each project discussed at each of these quarterly meetings, would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work. However, precise information in relation to issues around individual projects will be available from the relevant local authorities that are directly involved in their delivery.
Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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547. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 627 of 2 October 2018, the reason a single stage process was not used for this project in view of the fact that it falls under both thresholds in the criteria, under €2 million and less than 15 units; if a cost-benefit analysis and tender process was undertaken for the project (details supplied); the number of single stage and four stage processes nationally, by local authority, since 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41118/18]
Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The single stage approval process was introduced on a pilot basis in early 2016 for social housing projects, with an all-in budget up to €2 million or no more than 15 units. The single stage approval process was further refined this year following consultation between my Department and the City and County Management Association (CCMA) and the revised process allows some post tender adjustments in specific circumstances.
In the case of the Kilmantain Place scheme, Wicklow County Council opted to progress this project through the four stage approval process. A Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) is a key economic appraisal technique under the Public Spending Code, and is only required for capital projects in excess of €20 million. In the case of this scheme, a CBA was not required and the tender process, which is a matter directly for each individual local authority, is carried out in line with the requirements of the Capital Works Management Framework.
There are currently 12 projects nationally being progressed under the single stage approval process. There are also an increasing number of projects being progressed through the turnkey approach, which is a one stage approval process. Local authorities have substantial pipelines of new build social housing projects, and all approved projects can be seen in the quarterly Social Housing Construction Status Reports published by my Department. The most recently available report sets out the position as at end Quarter 2 2018 and is available at the following link: .
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