COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 09, 2015

QUESTION NO. 27

QUESTION:  Councillor F. Timmons

To ask the Chief Executive for a breakdown report of the Homeless Housing list for South Dublin County Council and to answer the following questions within that report  1) does everyone on list live in SDCC?  2) How many social house are needed to solve the housing issue?  3) what are the SDCC plans to deal with the Housing issue/shortfall?  4) How many additional houses will be provided in 2015 and over the term of the council?  5) what schemes are being considered to deal with the issue and how will they work?

REPLY:

As at 31st December 2014 there were 234 individuals and families registered homeless and placed into Temporary Emergency, Supported Temporary or Private Emergency Accommodation through the Homeless Services Unit.  Set out below is the housing requirement for applicants registered homeless:

172 applicants require a 1bed unit of accommodation

25 applicants require a 2bed unit of accommodation

33 applicants require a 3bed unit of accommodation

4 applicants require a 4bed unit of accommodation

All applicants registered and placed into emergency accommodation with this authority became homeless from the South Dublin administrative area.

South Dublin County Council had 8,564 applicants on the Social Housing List as at 31st December 2014.

The Council has a number of schemes currently available to housing applicants which includes: Choice Based Letting Scheme (CBL); Applicant Sourced Housing Scheme (ASH), Housing Assistance Payment Scheme (HAP) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS).

On average the council has approximately 200 casual vacancies per year. 

2015 AND YEARS AHEAD

Housing Construction Programme:

The Council has almost completed the tender process on 15 Social housing units and hopes to go on site with these projects in the very near future with a completion date in early 2016. The Council has another 57 units awaiting approval from the DECLG and we hope to receive approval shortly and deliver the units by the end of 2016.

The Council also wish to proceed with the Part 8 process for additional units and presentations have been made to the Area Committees in relation to the proposed sites of these developments. A full schedule of those lands discussed is being prepared for presentation to the Council indicating also a timeframe for the Part 8 process.

The Council hopes to have Part 8 approval for a total in excess of 600 units and submit proposals to the DECLG to access any available funding as quickly as possible.

Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS):

The Council is waiting for notification from the Department of Environment Community and Local Government Local Government of funding for a Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) Programme 2014-2016. Once we receive the notification the Council will invite Approved Housing Bodies to put forward cost effective and sustainable proposals to meet the housing needs for people with specific categories of needs as identified in the latest Housing Needs Assessment. The following are the three priority needs suitable for CAS funding as identified in the latest South Dublin County Council Housing Needs Assessment:

The available funding will facilitate the advancement of a construction programmer and /or the acquisition of built properties where suitable and value for money alternatives exist. The Council expects to deliver 10 units of social housing under this scheme in the first quarter of this year from our 2014 allocation

RAS/Leasing: 

During 2015 and beyond the Council will continue to maintain the procurement of units for the provision of social housing support under the Social Housing Leasing and RAS schemes (whereby we enter into lease arrangements with private property owners and Voluntary Housing Bodies to procure homes to provide for the housing needs of persons on social housing waiting lists). 

Acquisition   

During 2015, it is intended subject to Department of Environment Community and Local Government funding, to purchase a number of suitable units throughout the county in areas of housing demand. We also intend to use the Part 5 mechanism and any subsequent legislation in the acquisition of social housing by the Council or Approved Housing Bodies. 

Housing Assistance Payment (HAP):

South Dublin County Council was one of seven Local Authorities under Wave 1 that commenced the implementation of HAP in September 2014.

The Council commenced distribution of HAP applications to new Housing applicants presenting since Monday 17th November 2014. As agreed with the Department of Social Protection, the Council will move to expanding the scheme to other applicants throughout 2015 having regard to the situation pertaining with the Dublin Private Rental Market and also to facilitate the embedding of systems and processes.

Traveller Accommodation:

With regard to planned developments for 2014 and 2015 – As outlined in the Traveller Accommodation Programme 2014 – 2018 (adopted at the Council Meeting in January 2014), the Council plans to deliver new units as per the Programme and redevelop Belgard Road in 2015.  It is further intended to redevelop St. Aidan’s, Oldcastle Park and the 3 Bay Emergency site in Lynch's Lane in 2016.