Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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74. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of sites that are being considered for development of cost rental homes in each relevant local authority area; the specific sites under consideration in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37496/19]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The provision of Cost Rental homes will focus on areas where housing cost affordability is a challenge for moderate income households. As a result, this will see the initial emphasis on major urban areas. While two ‘pathfinder’ pilot projects are located in Dublin, it is intended that Cost Rental will become a national scheme, to be delivered at scale over the longer term.

The following table includes the two Cost Rental ‘pathfinder’ pilot projects at Enniskerry Road and St. Michael's Estate. Also included is a site at Shanganagh, where Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is currently working with the Land Development Agency (LDA) to explore the possibility of undertaking a Cost Rental development. The remaining sites comprise the initial portfolio of sites to which the LDA has access. The LDA is very committed to the concept of Cost Rental and it is likely that it will form a significant element of delivery at the majority of these locations.

In tandem with these pilot projects, my Department is developing a national policy approach to Cost Rental for Ireland. This requires that serious consideration is given to the many delivery options possible, and the challenges posed, in order to ensure that a coherent Cost Rental model can be delivered at a scale and in a manner that will have the desired positive impact on the Irish housing sector.

To this end, I have convened a working group within my Department, in conjunction with the Land Development Agency, the Housing Agency, and other expert bodies. This group is developing the policy framework for the broader Cost Rental model and to consider how a sustainable financing structure can be established to then commence delivery of units at the scale required to get this new category of housing off the ground. The work of this group is being assisted by a consultancy and research support that is being undertaken by the European Investment Bank on our behalf.

The selection of further sites for Cost Rental consideration will be informed largely by the financial and operational model that will emerge from this evidence building. Given the 30% affordability requirement that the Government has agreed must be met on State lands that are to be utilised for housing, I anticipate that Cost Rental will have an important role to play in the development of these lands.