COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, April 08, 2019

MOTION NO. 1

MOTION: Councillor M. Ward

Recently lands in the Clonburris SDZ have went up for public sale. The Council asks  the Chief Executive to enter into discussions with the Department of Housing to finance the purchase of any land that becomes available in Clonburris , by CPO if necessary, to maximise the delivery of social and affordable homes. If the Dept of Housing refuses to purchase the land the Chief Executive is further asked  to purchase any such  lands from the money ring-fenced for such after the sale of Kilcarberry and if necessary get an interim loan from the Housing Financing Agency.

REPORT:

The proposed acquisition of any land for housing or other development is an executive function of the Council and is necessarily sensitive due to possible competing bids for the land in question. Therefore no comment will be made on the Council's plans or otherwise for any specific site.

Generally, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government will not finance up-front the acquisition of land but rather will recoup costs to the Council when a development of social housing is approved and in progress on the site.  Land acquisition costs are generally funded either from the Council's own resources or through borrowing which must be approved by the Elected Members.

It should however be noted that the Council has significant land ownership in the Clonburris SDZ area and a master plan for the delivery of social and affordable housing for the area is currently being prepared.  The draft master plan will be presented to the Members for consideration in the coming months.