Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing Eoin Ó Broin has criticised the government for its lack of urgency in tackling the social and affordable housing crisis.

His comments come as it has been revealed that the first Land Development Agency (LDA) homes will not be ready until 2023. The information was provided in an answer to a Parliamentary Question provided to Deputy Ó Broin by Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien.

Teahta Ó Broin said:

“The LDA was established on an interim basis in September 2018. €20 million in start-up funding was provided and by the end of last year, it employed 45 full-time staff.

“Despite the promise from government that it would deliver much-needed social and affordable homes, the first LDA homes will not be ready until 2023.

“The Shanganagh Castle development in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown was first approved unanimously by councillors in 2017. Unfortunately, the then Fine Gael-led government refused to fund the project. If they had, the much-needed homes would have been completed and occupied by now.

“Instead the project was delayed. The involvement of the LDA delayed it further with planning permission only being secured in 2020. It is expected that the development will commence this year.

“However the Minister for Housing has now revealed that the first phase of this important 597 unit social and affordable development wont be ready for occupation until 2023.

“It is totally unacceptable that homes in Shangannagh will only be ready five years after the establishment of the LDA and six years after the plan was approved by councillors. This demonstrates the complete lack of urgency from the last government and the current government in tackling the social and affordable housing crisis.

“Minister O’Brien needs to seriously look at the scale and speed of the social and affordable housing pipeline funded by his department and introduce greater urgency in delivering the homes that working people desperately need.”

Response to Parliamentary Question below:

For Written Answer on : 17/02/2021

Question Number(s): 255 Question Reference(s): 7964/21

Department: Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Asked by: Eoin Ó Broin T.D.

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QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage the timeline for the completion of the various phases of the development with respect to the Land Development Agency and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council development in Shanganagh, Shankill, County Dublin; the commencement date for the development; the expected sales price of the affordable purchase units; the total cost of the development; the types of finance being accessed by the LDA to undertake the development; and if further information which he deems relevant will be provided.

REPLY

The Land Development Agency (LDA) was established on an interim basis in September 2018, by way of an Establishment Order made under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971, pending the enactment of primary legislation when it will be established as a commercial State agency.

The LDA have informed my Department that the Shanganagh development is scheduled to commence in the second half of 2021 and is expected to take approximately 4 years to complete. 597 units will be provided on the site, of which there will be 200 social housing units, 306 cost rental units and 91 affordable purchase units.  

The LDA expect that the units will be delivered on a phased basis with the first phase being completed in 2023. The total cost of the development will be subject to competitive tender as part of the upcoming procurement process. 

The project will be funded by the LDA for the construction of the cost rental units and by my Department through the Social Housing Investment Programme for the 200 social housing units and the Serviced Sites Fund in respect of the affordable housing scheme units.

As with all State bodies operating under the aegis of my Department, arrangements have been put in place by the LDA through which Oireachtas members can request information directly from the Agency in relation to operational matters – in this regard, the LDA may be contacted directly at [email protected].