20/04/2006
Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY
PRESS RELEASE
The Affordable Housing Initiative was announced as part of Sustaining Progress. It was the exchange of state lands for units in the greater Dublin Area. The first of these has been the exchange of Harcourt Terrace Lands from the OPW and Department of Agriculture to the successful tenderer – Durkan New Homes – for 193 units in Clondalkin and Tallaght.
The AHI was to expedite provision of affordable housing. There would be no impact on the exchequer and with a greater role for financial institutions and the developers. The role of the local authority would now only be the approval of applicants and ensuring their eligibility. All other elements would now be conducted through the private sector.
South Dublin County Council advertised, through the Property Path, these additional homes. Applicants were invited specifically for these homes. There was high interest and the193 applicants target was easily achieved. As there were 193 units available only 193 applicants have been approved so far. The homes are being sold for between €142,000 and €172,000 with a 3% deposit required. Letters notifying the successful applicants of viewings were issued last week and, given the level of interest, it is anticipated that they will all be sold within this first viewing.
Applications were processed, in accordance with the scheme. The contracts were signed with the financial institutions and the developer. The Council has always endeavoured to create a private sector experience to purchasers of affordable units. It was that motivation that brought about the Property Path Initiative and this national process would reinforce this as, in order to not impact the exchequer, the developer was going to run direct sales where they, rather than the Council, would sell the properties to the purchasers. It is an example of real partnership across all of the parties involved in the provision of housing.
There is a high demand for affordable homes and the Council welcomes the opportunity to meet this demand with these excellent value and high quality homes. This is the first of its kind nationally and it is anticipated that through the Affordable Housing Initiative there will be other units available in the future in the greater Dublin region as part of this programme and some of these may well be in this county.
The affordable programme has become more established and interest has grown. The Affordable Housing Initiative is one of three streams of providing affordable housing. The Part V process where developers deliver 15% of developments for social and affordable housing being one and Joint Ventures where the Council works with developers in the provision being the other. Since commencing the affordable programmes South Dublin has provided homes to 348 families and across the various affordable streams and there is due to be approximately another 450 units this year.
Further information on how to apply is available on www.propertypath.ie or by emailing info@propertypath.ie calling into the Property Path, County Hall, Tallaght or by telephoning 4149362.
ENDS
19th April, 2006.