John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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1177. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason South Dublin County Council or an AHB purchased an entire apartment development in Rathfarnham for social housing and failed to allow any to go on the market for either affordable-rent or affordable-purchase or for private purchase by either first-time buyers or those within the locality who might have favoured trading down into a smaller dwelling, thereby freeing up larger family homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18960/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for the delivery of the housing targets set under Housing for All rests with individual local authorities, which identify the social housing need in their administrative area and are best placed to make decisions on potential sites for development. It is therefore a matter for individual local authorities to identify suitable sites and bring forward proposals in line with the number and type of households on their housing lists and their social housing development policy.

It is a requirement that LAs satisfy themselves that any turnkey acquisition, is not removing housing from the market that would otherwise be available to private purchasers, in particular to first-time buyers. Turnkeys are particularly appropriate when the housing would otherwise not be delivered but for the assurance of LA purchase to unlock the development.

In many cases turnkey arrangements are highly appropriate in terms of delivery timescale and cost, especially in situations where a local authority might have no land suitable for social or affordable homes. Local Authorities are often involved from inception and the houses would not be built without the involvement and funding of the local authority.