COMHAIRLE CHONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 13, 2006

QUESTION No. 9

QUESTION: Cllr. Robert Dowds

To ask the Manager to outline policy regarding social and affordable housing?

REPLY

The Council's Housing Strategy, which was prepared in accordance with Part V of the Planning & Development Act 2000, was adopted by the Council at its meeting held on 11th June 2001.  This Stratgy was reviewed and now forms an integral part of the County Development Plan 2004-2010, which was adopted by the Council on 10th November 2004.

The strategy requires 15% of all new residential developments to be reserved for Social/Affordable housing purposes.  The Council has been successful in the delivery of affordable housing under the following initiatives:

(a) Part V of the Planning & Development Act 2000 (as amended)

(b)Joint Venture Schemes

(c)Integrated Area Plans

To date 403 affordable units have been procured throughout the County.  It is estimated that county wide 480 units will become available by 31st December 2006 and a further 580 units during the period of the Strategy.

It is also planned to provide an addditional 1,000 affordable housing units under the Sustaining Progress Agreement - Affordable Housing Initiative during the period of the Strategy.

The Planning and Development Act 2000 as  amended by the Act of 2002, provided the following options and flexibility for securing compliance with the requirements of Part V set out as follows in par.2.3 of the guidelines issued by the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government August 2003:

• The transfer to the planning authorityof other land within its functional area;
• The provision of new units for the planning authority on other lands within its functional area;
• The transfer of fully or partialy serviced sites to the planning authority on other lands within its functional area;
• The transfer of new housing or fully or partially serviced sites to an approved housing body or other nominated persons;
• The payment to the planning authority of a sum of money in lieu of land, new units or sites which must be used for the provision of social and affordable housing; or
• A combination of any of the above.

A planning authority may also sell, lease or exchange any land within its posssession if necessary for the purposes of an overall agreement.

The changes made to Part V facilitate the speedier delivery of affordable housing.  Draft guidelines and guidelines issued by the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government in April and August 2003 respectively, advise that priority has to be given in negotiations to the provision of housing units, rather than the payment of money. 

It is this Council's preferred option to acquire units on site and it would only be in exceptional circumstances that a financial contribution would be considered. In a small number of cases, due to particular circumstances, off site provision would be considered. The Council  is always mindful in its negotiations with developers of promoting and advancing social inclusion and of acquiring units at an affordable price for eligible applicants on the Affordable Housing List. 

The Housing Strategy can be accesed on the Members Net under Housing Department - Reports.