Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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182. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans for affordable housing in Dublin 9 and 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12090/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Affordable Housing Act 2021, the first ever standalone affordable housing legislation, established a basis for four new affordable housing measures. These measures will deliver on the Programme for Government commitment to put affordability at the heart of the housing system and prioritise the increased supply of affordable homes through (1) delivering affordable homes on local authority lands, (2) the introduction of a new form of tenure in Cost Rental, (3) a First Home shared equity scheme and (4) expanding Part V planning requirements to increase the 10% contribution requirement to 20% and to apply it to cost rental as well as social and affordable housing.

At a national level, 4,100 Affordable Purchase homes and Cost Rental homes are targeted for delivery for 2022. Annual targets will increase incrementally in subsequent years. These homes will be delivered by the Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies and the Land Development Agency.

A Housing Delivery Action Plan prepared by each Local Authority will underpin delivery in the period 2022 to 2026. Dublin City Council submitted the first iteration of its plan in December and my officials have met with the Council. I expect that the final Delivery Action Plans will be published in Q2.

Dublin City Council (DCC) is currently advancing two Affordable Purchase projects in the Dublin 9 & 11 area. Approval in principle was granted in August 2019 from my Department using the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) as follows:

- Balbutcher, Ballymun, 101 units, €4,140,000 AHF funding approved

- Sillogue, Ballymun, 105 units, €3,975,000 AHF funding approved

The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) has now replaced the SSF and DCC has notified the Department that it is their intention to re-submit applications in respect of both of these projects to be considered under AHF. DCC has indicated that further subvention may be required to make these projects viable and under AHF, as the maximum amount per affordable unit is €100,000.

Additional affordable housing delivery will be facilitated through the expanded 20% Part V requirement and the introduction of the First Home shared equity scheme.

The First Home shared equity scheme will be available nationally on a demand-led basis. This scheme will primarily support first-time buyers purchasing new homes through the private market. I expect that a significant proportion of First Home supported housing will be located in the Dublin Local Authority areas, in proportion to the market for newly constructed homes.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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183. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 112 of 25 January 2022; if the construction phase of the Midleton Water Rock Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund is still expected to commence in the first quarter of 2022.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12086/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Cork County Council has confirmed that the most economically advantageous tenderer for the Local

Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) Infrastructure Project construction works has been identified following a two stage tender process.

Pre-contract correspondence is ongoing between Cork County Council and the most economically advantageous tenderer.

I am informed that while Cork County Council has not yet issued a “Letter of Acceptance” which would form a contract, “Advance Clearance Works” within the construction phase of the LIHAF Project were commenced on 7 February 2022 and have been completed. These works were completed as a joint initiative by Cork County Council and the LIHAF landowners and will enable commencement of the main contract works without delay.

I understand that every effort continues to be made by Cork County Council to ensure all requirements are satisfied such that the most economically advantageous tender can be accepted and the LIHAF works commence next month.