Written answers

Tuesday, 22 November 2022

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Departmental Meetings

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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285. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the dates that he, or officials in his Department have met with each local authority to ensure that the affordable housing scheme is being delivered at affordable prices by local authority in tabular form. [57410/22]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the implementation of Housing for All, each local authority has prepared a Housing Delivery Action Plan for the years 2022 to 2026. 18 local authorities with a strong and identified affordable housing need were asked to include planned affordable housing delivery in their Action Plans. I have also set five-year Affordable Housing delivery targets for those local authorities.

These targets and action plans have formed the basis of the programme of affordable housing delivery under Housing For All, which the Department, local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies and the Land Development Agency are working together in collaboration to achieve.

I have organised Housing Summits with local authority Chief Executives and Housing Directors, to collectively advance delivery of Housing for All, the most recent of which was held on 13 October.

Officials in my Department are in regular contact with local authorities who are delivering affordable housing. Furthermore, senior officials from my Department have held online and/or in person meetings with Chief Executives and Housing Directors of the key local authorities responsible for affordable housing delivery both in the first half of 2022 and again in Q3 and early Q4. For example, officials travelled to Cork to meet with Cork City Council and Cork County Council on the 17 October 2022.

A key objective for the Government under Housing For All, is ensuring that homes are being made available to purchasers at a minimum of 15% below current market values, and for Cost Rental properties at a targeted 25% below market rental values for the area.

This, along with the affordable delivery and cost rental pipeline, local housing and property information and current construction costs have been key discussion items between my Department officials and local authorities and all are working to deliver housing at the lowest possible affordable purchase prices and cost rents feasible.

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