Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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1204. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if it will be ensured that Dublin City Council puts an affordable housing scheme in place having regard to sites that are earmarked for such housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2997/20]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Land utilisation and activation is, in the first instance, a matter for the local authority and its elected members including the development of its land for the delivery of more affordable private housing. Furthermore, whilst my Department is supporting Dublin City Council, and indeed other local authorities in their plans to provide more affordable housing on their lands, it is, ultimately, the responsibility of the each respective Council and their elected members to progress such schemes.

Part 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009 which covers Affordable Dwelling Purchase Arrangements, was commenced in June 2018.  This now provides the statutory basis for the delivery of affordable housing for purchase in the State.

Under these provisions, I signed regulations in respect of the making of a Scheme of Priority on 12 March 2019, and these were issued to local authorities on 22 March 2019.  The purpose of a Scheme of Priority is to set out the affordable purchase arrangements at local authority level.  This includes the methodology that will be applied by local authorities to determine the order of priority to be accorded to eligible households where the demand for such affordable dwellings exceeds the number available.  I can confirm that Dublin City Council members agreed the Council's Scheme of Priority in May of 2019 and I approved this Scheme in early July 2019.

In line with the legal requirements of the Affordable Dwelling Purchase Arrangements, further regulations will be put in place over the coming months regarding eligibility and other matters.

In order to support local authorities in their delivery of discounted homes, Government has committed €310 million under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF).  The Fund is to provide facilitating infrastructure on local authority sites so that more affordable homes, either to buy or rent, can be delivered.  At a maximum amount of €50,000 per home, it is anticipated at least 6,200 more affordable homes can be provided. The SSF is being made available in areas where local authorities have demonstrated a requirement for affordable housing and a viability to deliver such housing on their sites.

Full details of the projects approved under the 1st and 2nd SSF call for proposals, including those in Dublin City and County Council areas, is available at the following links: 

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It is intended to issue a further SSF call for proposals to local authorities later this year.

As the Deputy will be aware, Dublin City Council is progressing with its plans for the delivery of affordable housing on its lands. Documentation available on the Council website, which was published in advance of the Council meeting of 2 March 2020, indicates a potential for 1,989 more affordable homes across 10 schemes.  In addition to this, there is a potential 1,275 cost rental units across 4 schemes. Details of the status and varying stages of these schemes can be found at the following link:

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