Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

382. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of stage 1 approvals for social housing projects by local authorities that have been refused in each of the years 2020 and 2021 and to date in 2022; the number of such refusals in each local authority; and if he will provide a summary of the grounds on which these stage 1 approvals were refused. [54679/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There have not been any outright refusals since 2020 of Stage 1 proposals made by local authorities to my Department in respect of social housing construction projects.

My Department adopts a consultative and supportive approach to the work by local authorities on such projects, including their work on areas such as site investigations, needs assessment, planning under Part 8 including community and local elected members’ consultations, project design and procurement of design teams and contractors, etc. This work by our local authorities runs in parallel to the assessment and approvals process overseen by my Department.

This co-operative approach is underpinned by regular contacts, including quarterly meetings to discuss and resolve technical issues relating to such projects. These contacts normally commence pre-Stage 1 and they continue over the pre-construction period and until the completion of the projects on site.

In the context of this approach, the refusal of Stage 1 proposals does not arise and instead, the shared focus is to overcome challenges that arise with projects, as swiftly as possible.

To further support local authorities in this work, I am providing funding for an additional 250 housing posts in local authorities nationally. I also introduced measures to further improve the quality, cost-effectiveness and pace of delivery of social homes, including the new Design Manual for Quality Housing to guide local authorities, AHB and their design teams and the de-risking of potential delays by facilitating and providing funding for pre-application site assessments and investigations.

The advancement of such a high volume of social housing construction projects will inevitably bring challenges but we rely on a consultative and supportive approach to project assessment and approval. My Department will continue to work cooperatively and supportively with local authorities to deliver record numbers of social housing over the period of Housing for All.