Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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61. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the funding that has been allocated for affordable housing projects in Cork; the status update on these projects; the envisaged timelines for these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32945/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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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 (SSF), and the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL).

The Boherboy Road SSF project in Cork City will deliver 117 affordable purchase homes. The first two phases of 37 affordable purchase homes will be delivered in 2022. To date, SSF funding of almost €5 million has been approved for this project

Cork City Council have advised that they will also assist in the delivery of 36 affordable purchase homes at Cluain Chaoin in Tower this year through an advance purchase arrangement. My Department has approved funding of €1,800,000 in respect of this project.

My Department received an AHF application earlier this year from Cork County Council for AHF subsidy to support four housing schemes with affordable housing provision, two of which are situated in Clonakilty, with one each in Kinsale and Mallow. Cork County Council has advised my Department that it is estimated that these schemes will be on site across 2023 and delivery will be in multiple phases from the end of 2023 to 2026.  Cork County Council will be notified of the outcome of these applications shortly.

A number of CREL applications for cost rental developments in Cork are currently at various stages of funding application and approval.

In terms of delivery of affordable housing in Cork by the Land Development Agency (LDA), I am happy to inform the Deputy that the development of a site at St Kevin's Hospital is currently being progressed. This 14.5 acre site is expected to deliver 119 affordable purchase and 119 Cost Rental homes. The LDA have advised my Department that enabling works will commence shortly and that the first homes are expected to be available in 2023.