Housing, Local Government and Heritage | Providing private/subsidized sights in urban and rural areas to confront the housing crisis

To ask the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage if a number of private/subsidised sites might be provided in urban and rural areas as a matter of urgency to confront the ever increasingly serious housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

Last September, I launched the Ready to Build Scheme as part of the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund.  Under this scheme, local authorities will make serviced sites in towns and villages available at a discounted rate to individual purchasers who will self-build their own home and live in it as their principal private residence. 

It is intended that the local authority will either supply existing sites in their control or purchase sites and make them available for development by providing services and access to the sites concerned.

The level of discount to the individual will depend on the level of servicing cost incurred by the local authority before the sale of the site but will not exceed €30,000. The amount of such discount will be reflected in the sale price of the site to the purchaser. 

All available sites will be advertised on the relevant local authority’s website and / or in relevant local publications along with a closing date for receipt of applications. 
Applications for the Ready to Build Scheme are to be made to the Vacant Homes Officer in each local authority. They can provide further advice and information in respect of the fund and the application process.