Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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278. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if an approved housing body has applied to the Housing Finance Agency, his Department or an entity operating under the aegis of his Department for purchasing or operating residential units from the developer of an estate (details supplied) to deliver cost-rental units; if he, the Housing Finance Agency, his Department or an entity operating under the aegis of his Department has approved funding to an approved housing body for this purpose; if not, if it will approve funding for this purpose; the amount of funding that is sought or approved or will be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39575/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government 'Our Shared Future' commits the Government to the development of a new Cost Rental housing sector in Ireland, in which the rents charged will only cover the costs of delivering, managing, and maintaining the homes. Work is underway to deliver Cost Rental housing, with State support, through a number of delivery pathways, utilising the expertise of Local Authorities, the Land Development Agency and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). A number of pilot projects are underway and the first of these, at Enniskerry Road, Stepaside, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, will deliver 50 Cost Rental homes in Quarter 3 of 2021.

It is my understanding that, to date, neither my Department nor the Housing Finance Agency have received an application from an AHB to fund the purchase or operation of residential units from the developer of the O’Devaney Gardens site for use as Cost Rental homes.

The overall redevelopment of O'Devaney Gardens is primarily a matter for Dublin City Council. However, I can confirm that the Department has committed to providing funding support to the Council on the basis of the Development Agreement agreed by the Council which is based on delivering at least 768 new homes on a 50% private, 30% social and 20% affordable purchase tenure mix. This includes fully funding the social housing units on the site through the local authority and a provision of Serviced Sites Funding of up to €50,000 per affordable home.