Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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37. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has met with representatives from a group (details supplied), Dublin City Council, NAMA and others to ensure that the requirement for up to 600 affordable homes in the Poolbeg SDZ will be achieved; if he will provide details of when the meeting and or meetings occurred; and the outcome of the meeting and or meetings. [48473/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The regeneration of Poolbeg West is the next important step in transforming the Docklands area, given its strategic location east of Grand Canal Dock, with close proximity to important bridge connections to Dublin Port and North Lotts. The residential potential within the available lands is for a maximum of 3,500 additional residential units.

The National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) being the responsible agency for the progression of this site in line with the requirements of the NAMA Act, in July 2020, named a consortium of Ronan Group Real Estate (RGRE) and Colony Capital (Colony) as the Preferred Bidder to acquire the 80% shareholding with NAMA retaining a 20% shareholding.

A condition of the planning scheme, as modified by An Bord Pleanála on 9 April 2019 is the provision of 15% social and affordable homes on this site in addition to the 10% statutory under Part V arrangements.

While I have not met with representatives of the named group on this matter, I can confirm that representatives of the consortium have previously met officials of Dublin City Council (DCC) in its role as the responsible planning authority. On 21 July 2021 the consortium submitted a planning application to DCC for Phase 1 to construct 600 apartment units including 90 affordable housing apartments and 62 social housing apartments. The social and affordable housing is provided in accordance with Objective H7 of the Planning Scheme. DCC issued a decision on 16 September 2021 requiring the applicant to revert to the planning authority with further information on nine matters outstanding.

My Department remains committed to working with DCC, any relevant Approved Housing Bodies and the receiver and/or developers of the SDZ area to progress this site, subject to agreement on all the normal and relevant terms, including value for money aspects.