Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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1177. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the details of all proposed social housing leasing and enhanced leasing projects; and the details of potential leasing or enhanced leasing projects such as pending applications for planning permission to which his attention has been drawn. [45111/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Government has set out an ambitious set of targets for the delivery of social housing in the period to 2021 in its Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan. A commitment to deliver 50,000 new social housing homes through a range of delivery mechanisms is being supported by a multi-annual Exchequer commitment totalling €6.5 billion over the period of the plan. These targets will be achieved using a combination of building, purchasing and leasing high quality properties to meet the needs of households on local authority waiting lists around the country.

Of the 50,000 social homes to be delivered under RI, 10,000 are targeted to be delivered under Leasing. These homes will be delivered by AHBs and housing authorities from a range of different sources and funded under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP).

Data on social housing leasing output is published on my Department’s website at the following link: .  Data in respect of Q3 2018 is currently being collated and will be available shortly.

Housing authorities have delegated authority from my Department to enter into leasing arrangements for up to four dwellings, within a single development or with a single owner, subject to compliance with the terms and conditions governing the leasing scheme. In all other circumstances, local authorities must seek Departmental approval to lease dwellings. All leasing proposals by AHBs must be submitted to my Department for approval, regardless of the number of dwellings being leased. The current position is that a total of 674 new social housing homes are currently approved by my Department for delivery by local authorities. 

The first call for proposals for the Enhanced Leasing Scheme was open from January to April 2018. A total of 33 submissions were received and currently 3 proposals are in the final stages of due diligence.  Information with respect to the number and location of the dwellings proposed for leasing under the Scheme will be available once the respective housing authorities have signed Agreements for Lease arising from the completion of the due diligence process. The second call for proposals closed on 25th October 2018 and the Housing Agency is currently validating all submissions made under that call, including Pre-Planning Suitability Assessment submissions.

My Department and the Housing Agency continue to work with local authorities and proposers in respect of the Enhanced Leasing Scheme, and the leasing schemes generally, in order to ensure maximum delivery of high quality leased properties to meet the needs of households on social housing waiting lists.