Francis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West, Green Party)
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47. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the projections and targets that have been made for the delivery of cost-rental units by his Department for 2022; the funding that will be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33422/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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A range of work is ongoing to deliver Cost Rental housing, with State support, through a number of avenues. My Department is utilising the expertise of Local Authorities, the Land Development Agency (LDA), and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to deliver projects in a variety of ways, in order to prove the concept of this important new sector. This is in conjunction with the policy development for the sector, which will be regulated by Part 3 of the Affordable Housing Bill 2021. The Bill was introduced into the Oireachtas in May 2021 and was passed by the Seanad on 18 June.  

Three pilot Cost Rental projects are already underway, including 50 two-bedroom apartments at Enniskerry Road, Stepaside, which are under construction by the Tuath and Respond AHBs, and are scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2021. A project led by Dublin City Council at Emmet Road, Inchicore (site of the former St Michael’s Estate) is at the design stage, while an LDA-led project at Shanganagh Castle, Shankill has planning permission and is expected to commence construction later this year. 

Budget 2021 allocated €35m in funding for a new Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) scheme, under which the Government will make loans on favourable terms to AHBs for up to 30% of the cost of new homes for Cost Rental. A Call for Proposals from AHBs opened on 14 December 2020 and closed on 5 January 2021. These applications were then assessed by officials in my Department and the Housing Agency. On 8 February 2021 I gave approval in principle for CREL funding this year of 390 new homes, located across eight sites in Dublin, the surrounding Greater Dublin Area, and Cork, to be owned and managed by the Clúid, Respond, and Tuath AHBs. Further details of these new homes, including the specific locations, will be released when the successful AHBs have completed commercial and contractual arrangements.  It was initially anticipated that all of these Cost Rental homes would be delivered in 2021 though following the Covid related closure of construction sites, some may move to Q1 in 2022. 

In addition, the LDA is tasked to work with Government Departments, Local Authorities, state agencies, and other stakeholders to assemble strategic sites in urban areas and ensure the sustainable development of social and affordable homes for rent and purchase. On its establishment the LDA had access to an initial portfolio of 8 sites that have near term delivery potential for approximately 3,400 new homes. Whilst the tenure mix for these homes has not been finalised, the LDA will have regard to Government policy, and all appropriate legislation, on the appropriate tenure mix for developments on public land, as well as the criteria for the operation of cost rental and affordable housing schemes. 

Work has also progressed on a new multi-year housing strategy "Housing for All", which the Government intend to publish next month. This strategy will build on our commitments in the Programme for Government and provide a roadmap to outline how we get to a housing system that gives us the sustainable supply we need, at a price that people can afford, and with appropriate housing options for all. As such, delivery targets for Cost Rental homes for 2022 will be set as part of this process.