COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 14, 2025

QUESTION NO. 12

QUESTION: Councillor D. Donnelly

To ask the Chief Executive does the council get to purchase new builds for social housing at current value or does the council have to bid on new properties?

REPLY:

Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) enables the State to capture a portion of the increase in land value resulting from a local authority grant of planning permission for housing. The land value which is captured is then used to provide social and affordable housing. Part V requires local authorities to include a planning condition on grants of planning permission for housing (with some limited exceptions). This planning condition requires the local authority to enter into an agreement with the applicant for planning or others who are carrying out the development. The primary option to satisfy Part V is the transfer of land to the local authority. The Act also sets out several alternative options to the transfer of land including:

• Transfer of housing on the site granted planning permission (on-site housing)

• Transfer of housing on another site (off-site housing including second hand housing)

• Leasing of housing on-site or off-site

• Any combination of the above

Where the agreement is for the transfer of housing, guidelines provide for the calculation of the costs incurred and savings made in purchasing identified Part V units. The local authority should pay the same as if it had purchased land at existing use value and contracted an independent builder to undertake the development.

For further information visit Part V – Information and Resources | The Housing Agency