Written answers

Wednesday, 22 June 2022

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Housing Schemes

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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53. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the expected date for the sale completion of the first phase of Boherboy Road in Cork city. [33132/22]

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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55. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of affordable houses, by project, in Cork city to be delivered in 2022. [33134/22]

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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57. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is satisfied that affordable housing schemes in Cork meet the criteria for affordability; and if he will outline these criteria. [33136/22]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 55 and 57 together.

Delivery of affordable housing, in accordance with the schemes set out in the Affordable Housing Act, 2021 and the funding being made available, will be underpinned by local authorities' Housing Delivery Action Plans. Local authorities, including Cork City Council and Cork County Council, submitted their initial Plans to me last December. Both Cork City Council and Cork County Council submitted revised Delivery Action Plans to my Department in May 2022. Preparation of the Plans allowed each local authority to assess the level of demand with affordability constraint in their area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment and plan provision accordingly. I expect that all revised Plans will be ready for publication shortly. They will provide a comprehensive national overview of projected delivery of affordable housing.

Funding is made available by Government to assist local authority and Approved Housing Body delivery of affordable housing, for purchase and rent, through the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF), previously known as the Serviced Sites Fund, and the Cost Rental Equity Loan.

Cork City Council submitted two projects to my Department under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) scheme in the 1stSSF call in 2018: Boherboy Road which will assist in the delivery of 117 affordable purchase homes and Churchfield Road which will assist in the delivery of 21 affordable purchase homes. The first two phases of the development at Boherboy Road involving 37 homes will be delivered this year and Cork City Council has advised my Department that this scheme will be advertised for applications to purchase in July. Cork City Council has advised my Department that construction will commence on the Churchfield Road project in 2023.

Cork City Council have also confirmed that they will deliver a further 36 affordable homes this year at Cluain Chaoin in Tower in two phases via an advance purchase arrangement. I understand that the Scheme of Priority in respect of Phase 1 of this development is to be presented to Cork City Council on Monday 11th July 2022 and, if adopted, the scheme will be advertised in July.

These projects were measured against agreed eligibility criteria and received approval in principle based on the supporting information submitted. A copy of the AHF funding eligibility criteria is attached for the Deputy's information.

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