Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
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81. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact the CEO of Dublin City Council is proposing that depot sites be sold to facilitate the capital programme (details supplied); the reason it is not policy to use appropriate public land held by the council to build public housing in view of the housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51825/19]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The development of major local authority residential sites, including in the Dublin City Council area, where undersupply and the greatest affordability issues are being experienced, is a major priority for the Government. This includes making maximum use of public land for the purpose of delivering social and affordable homes for those who need them.

In the first instance, it is a matter for each local authority and its elected members to agree the optimal approach to development and financing of its land bank, including the viability of sites for development. Notwithstanding this, my Department has been working closely with all local authorities, including Dublin City Council, to ensure that new social and affordable homes can be delivered from the public land bank, with particular emphasis on prioritising those sites with the greatest potential to deliver housing at scale, in the short to medium term.

In addition, the Land Development Agency have also been working with local authorities, including Dublin City Council, to ensure increased delivery of social and affordable homes on public lands.

As set out in the details supplied by the Deputy, Dublin City Council's intention is to ensure that those sites whose zoning allows for residential development are to be developed for social and affordable housing through Approved Housing Bodies.