Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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496. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason a fully completed apartment complex is lying vacant for the past six months on the corner of Grange Road and Nutgrove Avenue, Rathfarnham; and if this development was included in his Department’s figures for housing completions in 2024, notwithstanding the fact that it remains vacant. [7262/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department operates a number of funding programmes that assist Local Authorities to work in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to construct and purchase homes, making them available for social housing. One such programme that Local Authorities and AHBs progress Social Housing projects through is the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) and Payment and Availability (P&A) programme. This loan facility can support between 25% and 30% of the eligible capital cost of the housing project. The Local Authority issues the CALF monies to the AHB and the Local Authority, in turn, recoups same from my Department.

Applications for P&A-CALF funding is made by AHBs directly to my Department, with the support of the Local Authority, following a consultation period with the Local Authority. During this period the Local Authority confirms their support for the proposed homes, agrees the need and the terms and conditions of the availability agreement around the homes.

As with all Exchequer-supported projects, my Department as sanctioning authority, assesses each project proposal for suitability as determined by the Local Authority, value for money and compliance with the various requirements of the funding programme before approval is issued.

A P&A - CALF application was made by an AHB on 10 January 2025, supported by South Dublin County Council for 37 properties at Loreto Gate, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, with an expected delivery of units in phases throughout 2025. This application is currently at proposal stage and under review within my Department and, as yet, has not been approved for funding support. Therefore, this development referred was not included in my Department’s figures for housing completions under CALF in 2024.

Separately, the allocation of social housing to tenants and matters arising, including the length of time it takes for this to happen upon completion of a project, is a matter for the Local Authority and accordingly such information sought is not available in my Department.