COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, April 11, 2016

MOTION NO.4

MOTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

That this Council calls on the Chief Executive to present an update on progress being made in this County in respect of the Council's social and affordable housing projects which form part of the major social housing programme to be delivered as part of our Council's response to the social housing emergency and will he detail the exact progress being made on each of the categories including direct build, direct acquisition, affordable housing and the various rental initiatives in this County since the initiation of the programme and in reporting will he also detail the exact expenditures which have been incurred on each of the facets of the overall programme and will he also provide estimates as to what units will completed/acquired in 2016 and will he also supply full details of the number of staff hours by grade and department which have been assigned to the delivery of this programme in each of its years so that this Council can evaluate whether the current plan and the allocated resources will have an impact on housing waiting lists in the short and medium term.  

REPORT:

The report to the Council Meeting in March 2015, set out proposals for Social Housing units for the period 2015 to 2017 in line with the Housing strategy as set out in the Governments “Social Housing Strategy 2020 – Support, Supply and Reform” published late November 2014. The Programme envisages both new-build housing and a flexible range of supports to the private rental sector and the social housing sector. Nationally the Programme aspires to the construction of 35,000 new houses to address social housing need. The Councils target for 2015 - 2017 is 1,445 including RAS and Leasing of which 350 units will be through capital projects including direct build, CAS projects, acquisitions and Part V. There is currently no affordable housing scheme operational in the County.

New Build projects which have commenced on site in 2015 are:

Scheme Address		Estimated Delivery   Date
Suncroft Tallaght	10 dwellings	2nd Quarter 2016
St. Finians, Lucan	2 dwellings	2nd Quarter 2016
Belgard Road Tallaght (traveller accommodation)	3 dwellings	1st Quarter 2016
Total	15

Stage 3 approval have been received from the DECLG in respect of the following 3 projects which allows for progression to preparation of tender documents for contractors. Consultants have been appointed in respect of the following three projects.

St. Marks Green, Clondalkin	11
Mac Uilliam, Tallaght	28
Mayfield, Clondalkin	18
Total no. of Units	57

Progress in relation to the rollout of the Part 8 Social Housing Programme is as follows: 

Scheme Name   (Location Address)		Approved by Council	Current Stage
Dromcarra, Tallaght	14	Yes, June 2015	Full Cost plan submitted to DECLG - awaiting Pre-Tender Approval
Letts Field, Clondalkin	37	Yes, September 2015	Stage 2 approval received on the 4/03/2016. SDCC to submit revised budget submission for Stage 3 to obtain Pre-Tender Approval
Owendoher, Ballyboden	40	Yes, October 2015	Stage 2 approval received on the 4/03/2016. SDCC to submit revised budget submission for Stage 3 to obtain Pre-Tender Approval
Killinarden, Tallaght	27	Yes, November 2015	Full Cost plan submitted to DECLG - awaiting Pre-Tender Approval

The foregoing projects are included in SDCC Housing Strategy 2015-2017. Delivery of these housing units will come on stream over the next two to three years.

The Part 8 programme will continue to progress on an incremental basis throughout the county. As part of the consultation process the Council is open to engaging with representative resident groups within the area of the proposed development.

As reported to Council March 2015, the following sites identified for Part 8, will go on public display in accordance with Statutory Procedures, in 2nd quarter of 2016:

Address
Balgaddy ‘F’ Lucan	50
St. Marks Avenue Clondalkin	39
Stocking Lane, Rathfarnham	40
Fernwood, Tallaght	22
Fonthill Road Link   Road, Neilstown	50

The numbers of homes above are indicative.

The following table summarises social housing activity in 2015:

Delivery Mechanism	Targets 2015	Units Delivered to 30/10/2015	Units Delivered to 31/12/2015
Social Housing Infill (Note 1)	3 Projects	0	0
Leasing (Including Unsold, CALF, Payment & Availability) (Note 2)	200	182	193
Rental Accommodation Scheme	165	119	136
Housing Assistance Payment (Note 3)	320	401	548
Casual Vacancies (Re-lets on existing social housing units) (Note 4)	200	151	170
Acquisition Programme (Note 5)	23	0	24
Capital Assistance Scheme (Note 6)	49	0	0
Total	960	853	1,071

Notes:

1. Social Housing Infill: 3 Construction Projects on site as at December2015.
2. Leasing figures includes Tallaght Cross 65 units acquired under NARPS vehicle and managed by TUATH AHB and 45 Oakley AHB – Pair Na Greine Cookstown Road (P&A agreement recently signed with Oakley AHB)
3. HAP target set by SDCC based on first three months activity 2015
4. This relates to the units that are allocated to people on the housing list through casual vacancies.
5. Acquisition Programme includes AIB, BOI for 2015 and also includes incidental acquisitions under Part V. A total of 7 units have been acquired and are currently in the process of being allocated while an additional 31 units are being purchased through individual acquisitions and Part V.
6. Capital Assistance Scheme: 16 units approved to Approved Housing Bodies in 2015. The sale has now closed in respect of 15 of the 16 CAS units approved which will be allocated to Homeless and Medical Need in accordance with the specific CAS approvals.

The Council also works very closely with Approved Housing Bodies and their role in delivery of Social Housing Units where a number have been provided in 2015 and will progress further in 2016.

A capital allocation of €64.7m has been approved by the DECLG for South Dublin Co. Co. to fund the social housing programme 2015-2017 and we are on target to spend this full allocation within the timeframe of the programme.