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Dundrum, Skerries, Cork docklands and Mullingar: New Land Development Agency plans to build thousands of houses

Under the new plan, 10% of the public land identified for housing must be used for social housing and 30% for affordable housing.

THOUSANDS OF NEW homes will be built on State-owned land, under the government’s new Land Development Agency, which was formally established today.

The agency aims to build 150,000 homes over 20 years, using funding of up to €1.25 billion. 

Under the new plan, 10% of the public land identified for housing must be used for social housing and 30% for affordable housing.

However, groups such as the Simon Community has raised concerns about 60% of public land going towards private housing development. 

Speaking at today’s launch, Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said the new agency has already identified eight State-owned land sites and secured agreements for development.

Where?

These include land banks at Dundrum Central Mental Hospital (CMH), Skerries, Balbriggan, Devoy Barracks in Naas, Dyke Road in Galway, St Kevins in Cork City, Meath Hospital in Dublin 8, and Columb Barricks in Mullingar.

The flagship project in Dundrum CMH will deliver 1,500 homes. Construction will begin in 2019, with the hand over of keys happening in 2020.

In Cork, the regeneration of the docks will provide a further 15,000 homes. 

The agency’s interim CEO, John Coleman, who is a former CFO of Nama, said from day one, it can get going on delivering 3,000 homes. 

A further 7,000 new homes are “in the pipeline”, he said, due to various other negotiations that are underway. 

The lands up for grabs will be those held by government departments, local authorities, state agencies and enterprises.  

Land Development Agency

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the new agency “will have teeth” with statutory powers behind it through primary legislation which will be enacted next year. 

“It will hit the ground running,” said the Taoiseach, stating that having a strategic plan in place for housing will end the “boom-bust cycles” of the past and ensure there is a long-term plan in housing delivery. 

He added that the new agency will be viewed in the future to be just as pivotal as the establishment of the ESB and the IDA.

Murphy said the agency is something the government should have had in place “for decades”.

How will it work

The agency’s new boss said it will manage the funding it gets judiciously.

“We will not throw fuel on the fire of an already hot land market by competing on prime acquisitions” – meaning it won’t be getting involved in bidding wars on private land. 

The agency says it will get these homes built “either directly or through joint ventures with the private sector”. It will also buy up some private land which might be needed for reasons of access and infrastructure to the State-owned lands.

2071 Land Development Agency_90553926 Leah Farrell Leah Farrell

What will be classed as affordable housing? 

Murphy said government policy classes it as individuals earning up to €50,000 or a couple earning up to €75,000.

“And then when we talk about house prices we talk about €320,000 generally in the Greater Dublin area, Cork and Galway and €250,000 in other parts of the country. So we will be working towards those sort of affordability requirements that already exist as part of government policy,” said Murphy. 

2020 – soon enough? 

Murphy said 2020 “might seem far off” – but other government measures are making progress in terms of delivering housing, he added. 

When TheJournal.ie raised that issue that some might be concerned about the timescale of delivery, given that the housing crisis is currently at its height, the Taoiseach said: 

“I guess I can see the headline already – ‘New agency not going to build new houses until 2020′ – I could write it myself, but bear in mind, 2020 is 15 months away and with the best will in the world when you go through planning, tendering, design, construction – that is going to take six to eight months, and then you have to build the thing and get it ready for people to live in and that is going to take another six to eight months.

“So, with the best will in the world it is going to be 2020 and if this is the only thing we are doing then that would be a legitimate criticism, but it is not.”

Reaction 

Solidarity TD Mick Barry has described the government’s proposals for a new Land Development Agency as a quango to organise the privatisation of State land to enrich developers, while the Social Democrats has dubbed it an “unambitious response to the housing crisis”

“The Land Development Agency is going to parcel up public lands and gift them over to private developers who will make massive profits from them. Developers will be able to sell 60% of the homes built on the open market, in return for 10% social and 30% affordable housing,” he said.

The housing minister said the opposition came out to criticise the plan before they had even read it. “They are playing populist, opposition politics”.

He called on them to work with the government on the plan.

“If Fianna Fáil can’t see the importance of this then they haven’t learned the mistakes of the past and if Sinn Féin aren’t going to engage with us on this then they are proving they are just a protest party,” he said.

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    Mute Eoin O'Neill
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:11 PM

    State land should be used for state housing not private housing… Makes no sense for 60% to be used for private housing.

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    Mute Shane Corry
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:13 PM

    @Eoin O’Neill: Large estates made up entirally of social / state housing have practically never worked out successfully. Mixed communites work the best.

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    Mute Eoin O'Neill
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:20 PM

    @Shane Corry: I’m not saying 100 state housing, just think the 10/30/60 ratio is not the best. The social aspect should be higher and the 30 for affordable should be higher. Then for viability throw a percentage for some private.

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    Mute Shane Corry
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:25 PM

    @Eoin O’Neill: It does seem a bit low but it’s not totally off. 15/35/50 or maybe 15/40/45 with a lower 10% social being used within central city / cbd areas I think would be the best use of the land. Even having 20-25% social housing has been previously proven to lower overall quality-of-life and increase segregation based on income levels within communities

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    Mute Eoin O'Neill
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:31 PM

    @Shane Corry: I think the main thing is the affordable element needs to higher than 30% and as long as the developer cannot buy out the social ratio like in the boom days should be a good start.

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    Mute John
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:59 PM

    @Shane Corry: mixed housing works because it dilutes the problem.

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    Mute Gareth Cooney
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    Sep 13th 2018, 6:58 PM

    @Eoin O’Neill: Where do you think the money comes from to build the social housing? No that’s incorrect, it’s not the Money Tree aka the tax payer.. The money comes from the profit from the private housing. Smoke that for a while.

    54
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    Mute John
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    Sep 13th 2018, 7:06 PM

    @Gareth Cooney: don’t bother Gareth, they don’t want to know or care.

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    Mute Jonathan Beatty
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    Sep 13th 2018, 8:42 PM

    @Gareth Cooney: So what if tax is derived from private profit? Isnt that the purpose of the socio-capitalist model? Companies and individuals can make profit but they must also serve the greater public good through the funding of infrastructure and services which comes as a result of tax… But why is that relevant to a public office handing over public land to private ownership in return for small concessions? Could the government not see it as an investment opportunity and borrow finance themselves? Or alternatively introduce emergency legislation to retain NAMA owned land/property? Or invoke CPO’s? Ive smoked on that and still cant see how your comment is helpful in the context of the sickening housing crisis were currently experiencing.

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    Mute mursim
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:11 PM

    60% of this state land is to be handed over to private developers?

    This is the new Irish Water.

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    Mute j4VEpUO8
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:14 PM

    @mursim: it’s what Ministers do. Ray Burke was a legend at it + the brown envelopes

    97
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    Mute John
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:43 PM

    @mursim: who do you think will be subsidizing the other houses.

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    Mute mursim
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    Sep 13th 2018, 6:16 PM

    @John: it won’t be developers.

    It needs to be 60/20/20 – Affordable/Social/Private

    13
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    Mute John
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    Sep 13th 2018, 7:04 PM

    @mursim: you are right it won’t be the developers, it is the full paying house holders.

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    Mute Seán Domhnall O'Sullivan
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    Sep 13th 2018, 7:20 PM

    @mursim: never happen under FG

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    Mute Tommy C
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:21 PM

    So the state owned land will be sold off to developers and the government will profit. The developers will build these houses and make a profit. The banks will profit from the sky high mortgages that the squeezed middle pay for them. The government will also further profit through all the various taxes that goes into houses. All these house will be built by 2020 by builders who we have a shortage of. What a country

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    Mute alan doyle
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:29 PM

    @Tommy C: yes. And the proceeds will be used to fund political and council pensions. As it was it will be.

    72
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    Mute Simon Carroll
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:32 PM

    How is €320k affordable if you’re on up to 50k single or €75k a couple if you can only get a mortgage of 3.5 times your salary?

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    Mute Caped Crusader
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:50 PM

    @Simon Carroll: you’re right it will not be affordable to all, however,a look at Daft shows there 720 houses (not apartments) for sale under 300,000 in Co. Dublin. If you dont earn enough to buy the house you want then cut your cloth to suit and find a house that is affordable. There is choice out there if people are willing to lower their expectations slighlty.

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    Mute John
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:58 PM

    @Caped Crusader: 100%, my first property was a one bed apartment in an area that I did not really want because it was a big journey to work.but I bought it anyway because it was all I could afford.this is lost on people these days.

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    Mute Simon Carroll
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    Sep 13th 2018, 6:01 PM

    @Caped Crusader: I moved to in balbriggan so I’ve made that choice, I’m just concerned that the government haven’t even taken into account mortgage application rules and say a €320k house is “affordable” on 50k or 75k a year unless you’ve a €150k deposit ha

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    Mute Simon Carroll
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    Sep 13th 2018, 6:05 PM

    @Simon Carroll: Also, Skerries is north county Dublin, its nowhere near the city

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    Mute Caped Crusader
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    Sep 13th 2018, 6:10 PM

    @Simon Carroll: The reason that the mortgage caps are in place is due to a significant spate of defaults and renegotiated deals in the last crash. And yes it is unfortunate those not earning enough may not be able to afford one of these new “affordable houses” but such is life. It is a Dublin Centric problem though as affordable houses will be cheaper in other cities. Market rates for building now dictates that without land, the build price is in the €1,500 per m2 range, an avg 3 bed semi is 125m2, it is costing nearly €175k to build a run of the mill semi D so it is easy to see why they cannot be sold for much less then €320k

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    Mute John
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    Sep 13th 2018, 6:15 PM

    @Simon Carroll: and you don’t think people are traveling from skerries and further afield AND paying full market value for their homes.

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    Mute Simon Carroll
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    Sep 13th 2018, 6:23 PM

    @Caped Crusader: I’m not arguing that at all, what I am saying is they can not even do simple math, How can they say they are targeted at the €50-€75k earners if the rules keep those earners from affording them. How do rhey think that earner bracket can afford them. I’m not arguing that the rules need changing or that some people can’t afford then I’m asking how or why they think the target earners can afford them if the numbers don’t add up. That’s a pretty basic but of research they obviously either didn’t consider or don’t actually know about

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    Mute Simon Carroll
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    Sep 13th 2018, 6:27 PM

    @John: Where did I say anything close to that? I questioned the numbers that is all, I’m not saying they should be cheaper or mortgage rules shouldn’t apply, I asked how they can say it’s targeted at €50-€75k earners at €320k if someone on 75k can only borrow €260k?

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    Mute Shane Corry
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    Sep 13th 2018, 6:53 PM

    @Simon Carroll: These can go up to €320K under the new government-backed mortgages scheme launched earlier this year. It circumvents the standard 3.5 times salary rule and allows for a person / couple earning up to those values to take out a mortgage of up to €250K/€320K with low interest rates.

    “The new scheme however allows buyers to sidestep this rule, by offering mortgages on the ability to service their debt. Local authorities are able to do this because, as unregulated financial providers, they are not subject to Central Bank rules.

    For example, a single person on a salary of € 40,000 will be able to borrow up to €198,000 (ie 5 times income), as with repayments of €858 a month, their mortgage would account for 33 per cent of disposable income. Aa couple on € 75,000 can borrow € 288,000 in Dublin – ie multiple of 4.1 per cent”

    More info: https://www.irishtimes.com/business/personal-finance/mortgage-scheme-who-is-eligible-and-how-will-it-work-1.3363921

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    Mute Simon Carroll
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    Sep 13th 2018, 7:11 PM

    @Shane Corry: Thanks Shane. That would have been handy in this article too. I may be wrong but wasn’t a similar rule introduce years ago about all New developments needing a minimum of 10% affordable to be included or else the developers can opt to pay a “fine” which they almost always did and recouped it through hiking starting pricing to cover it, hopefully no such options in these developments and future ones.

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    Mute The G-Man
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    Sep 13th 2018, 7:28 PM

    @Caped Crusader: really? €92k a year required to get a mortgage for affordable housing should just be accepted? That’s reassuring to native Dublin folk. How about at least getting broadband to the rest of the country so some actual jobs exist outside two cities so people genuinely have options. Good to see Fine Gael put their cards on the table though. People can make up their minds.

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    Mute Ian Breathnach
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    Sep 14th 2018, 12:45 AM

    @Simon Carroll: Skerries is 30 minutes by train from the city centre. Do you seriously think that’s nowhere near the city? Jesus fkin wept.

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    Mute Wade Wilson
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:10 PM

    Looks like they are setting up the equivolent of the HSE but for housing. That way the Minister can blame the LDA and avoid having any accountability for his poor performance the same way the Minister for Health always points the finger at the HSE.

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    Mute Ian McNally
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:24 PM

    Looking forward to the opposition politicians all objecting to any new housing in their constituencies while at the same time continuing to complain no houses are being built

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    Mute Brendan Greene
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:31 PM

    @Ian McNally: maybe you should remember that FG passed an almost identical act in 2010 which has been an almost complete failure. This is neo-liberal nonsense which will work no better.

    48
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    Mute Tweed Cap
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:41 PM

    @Ian McNally:
    You don’t need to look forward to it that’s already happening right now and unsurprisingly it’s not opposition but Fine Gael themselves

    Fine Gael’s Jeff Johnston
    https://fora.ie/st-annes-park-housing-development-2-4233661-Sep2018/

    Fine Gaels Catherine Murphy
    https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/junior-minister-seeks-support-to-block-redevelopment-of-inchicore-flats-complex-1.3617334?mode=amp

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    Mute j4VEpUO8
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:12 PM

    I’ll believe it when I see it Murphy/Leo…

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    Mute Diogenes
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:35 PM

    @T Jay O’Mea: Lies damned lies, hanging carrots over our heads with false promises working people and students as well can’t afford a place to live

    37
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    Mute John
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:48 PM

    Every single comment has been negative so far. Not surprised.

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    Mute Rory J Leonard
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:31 PM

    This is the Agency that should have been established years ago to cut those NAMA bargain-priced development site deals instead of it happening with the US Vulture Funds.

    What a costly mistake by whoever!

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    Mute ed w
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    Sep 13th 2018, 8:53 PM

    @Rory J Leonard: no mistake

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    Mute Finbarr Lucey
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    Sep 13th 2018, 6:07 PM

    I’ve said it before their is way too many people in our country today it’s time to close the gates.

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    Mute BlueSkyThinking
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    Sep 13th 2018, 9:16 PM

    @Finbarr Lucey: i’ll agree to stop immigration if folk like you promise to never have kids. Fairs fair!

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    Mute Mick Hennessy
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    Sep 14th 2018, 9:47 AM

    @Finbarr Lucey: Aw well if you’ve said it before then I’ll believe you. Do you also propose leaving the gates closed to Irish immigrants who wish to come home?

    1
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    Mute Tweed Cap
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:13 PM

    Only time will tell whether this is just another crock of poo poo, like all the previous efforts.
    In the meantime they can keep referring to it while limping through the next election.

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    Mute Shane Zerbe
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    Sep 13th 2018, 6:22 PM

    I dont agree with this model at all, I agree with the universal public housing model as proposed by Dublin Housing action , for info on it, read below. ,https://www.facebook.com/DundrumHousingAction/?__xts__0=68.ARD_leegS2orOTYq4wfJ19tu0KAHkVn28pU2YcCzmm-7Jr1HJ5MvW_vRLgyCVyzUbpXOOThQ4pQ-elWCXWTPY2ynqzKmJIoA4nR2stp79ndgG8GTGAF9a1niIQC4IC-s8rP3qkvctO_Lf1X4–SiwdGDBDCtE55Ds9TqJnzF3uwdWuyM6bd_R5bAtvh8aK2Ae_DCehPC4ty9phJNOuBQuexhl4diwKGG0XQwblg&__xts__1=68.ARDX1kMWtrAYereNBcbvYqxwdX9yltLPzrhscWCxNt-o1Hw-mfXIujFEx4KudcL55Q_vlQMsCkv6oSLFImyzSP4VT7o7eHP7WkXzshNp4DYLO-7vc-b3Wtq9xb7rjb2nyb4DTsKuvdfzO9WgB7aD0sxnM4moX4sXaa3u8-FI7aVhyW4vydjc&hc_ref=ARRRoqwZIAXbnNHtjO2810lpoHqDJ3QIGpdpZk3Q1rKcEbGiVtGgnrXrRYKSledc65E&fref=nf&__tn__=kC-R BUT if they are going to do down their route and it is a typical compromise fudge job, cant be seen to be doing nothing, but want to stick to as close at the current set up as possible. Why not do an effective auction process, the developer gets the site and whoever provides the most financially beneficial deal for the STATE, gets to develop it?

    Dundrum CMH site
    PRIVATE
    1,500 homes, of which 50% (or 60%) will be fully private right from the start. It seems these will be built by a private developer and sold at market prices. Given the location of the site it is safe to assume that they will be extremely expensive luxury homes that will be beyond the reach of low and middle income families from the area.

    So that’s 50% – 60% of the housing gone to wealthy owner-occupiers or private landlords (including REITs presumably).

    SOCIAL

    10% of the homes will be ‘social’ housing. This is exactly the same percentage as the local authority is entitled to buy in every private development in the state. Under the current social housing system the tenants of these homes will likely be able to buy these homes from the local authority at a discount. So some, or all, of the 10% will also eventually make their way into the private market.

    So there’s nothing new in the ‘social housing’ element of the scheme. It will do nothing for the thousands upon thousands of local people who don’t qualify for social housing or for people who aren’t near the top of the list.

    AFFORDABLE

    So that’s accounts for 60% – 70% of the new homes, leaving 30% – 40% for an ‘affordable’ housing scheme. And this is where the smoke and mirrors really kick in.

    It appears at this stage that the houses will be made ‘affordable’ by the state giving public land to a private developer who will then build private, social and affordable housing on it.

    The houses will be made affordable by removing the value of the site from the cost of the house and possibly by additional subsidies by the state to the developer or future home owner.

    In other words the state will use YOUR land and money to build cheap houses for someone else to buy. The new homeowner will then have to wait a relatively short period of time (probably 20 years) for the ‘clawback’ penalty to pass. And then it’s theirs to flip for a super profit or rent out to some other poor schmuck.

    Who exactly will be able to qualify for the ‘affordable’ schemes has yet to be announced, but not matter what the conditions it’s a really bad deal for the taxpayer and for our wider community. The ‘lucky few’ will get a cheaper home and that’s about it.

    90%+ PRIVATE – 100% A BAD DEAL

    So to summarise, the Fine Gael plan will see at least 90% of the proposed 1,500 homes in private ownership (50% – 60% immediately, with the rest to follow over the next 20 years or so.)

    The private developer will make a killing; the private banks funding the mortgages will make a killing; the estate agents will make a killing; the landlords will make a killing.

    The pool of affordable housing in Rathdown will be about the same as it is now and the last big chunk of public land in Dundrum will be gone.

    The Fine Gael plan for the Central Mental Hospital site fundamentally misses the nature of the housing problem in Rathdown.

    95% of all of the existing housing stock is already owned by private owner-occupiers and private landlords. Just 5% of the housing stock (the social housing units) is truly affordable.

    So unless we have another housing collpase, 95% of the housing in Rathdown will stay beyond the reach of low AND middle income households. Way beyond.

    We don’t need any more private housing in the area. What we need is a much bigger pool of PERMANENTLY affordable housing and there is only one way to get that.

    The alternative to the Fine Gael plan is really simple – it’s called Universal Public Housing.

    The state builds high quality housing on public land, and then rents that housing at an affordable rate (about 25% of the disposable income of the tenant) to people on all incomes who are in need of a home.

    So the local authority gets a steady, significant rental income from a mixed income community – as opposed to the current model of ‘social’ housing where the local authority gets a very small rental income from a community that is exclusively low income. It makes sense economically and socially.

    Universal Public Housing would be open to teachers, shop workers, hairdressers, IT specialists, nurses, cleaners, accountants, administrators, the unemployed and everybody else that is need of a home.

    And Universal Public Housing stays in permanent public ownership, so it benefits not just the ‘lucky few’ in this generations, but the ‘lucky many’ for many generations to come.

    The city of Vienna is built upon Universal Public Housing. It’s the cornerstone of all housing policy and it works really, really well.

    Instead of throwing the Central Mental Hospital site into the chaos of the market, why can’t we use it as a flagship for a new form of intelligent sustainable univeral public housing that will actually benefit the local community?

    That’s what we’ll be fighting for. We hope you’ll join us.

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    Mute Damon16
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    Sep 13th 2018, 8:54 PM

    @Shane Zerbe:
    Great idea!!!!!!! Also lets create a state agency that will provide us all with speedy access to amazing top quality health care. Lets call it the HSE and allow it take over the management of all our hospitals and transform them into centers of excellence open to all citizens.

    Not so much. Just because it works in your imagination doesn’t mean it’ll work well in reality. Over half the population shell out vasts sums of money in health insurance in addition to paying taxes because the HSE, despite generous funding, is incapable of providing anything approaching decent levels of healthcare. Our water system is in ruins. Our transport infrastructure is a joke. All this despite the vast amount we hand over in taxes each yr. Yeah sure let the state be in charge of providing everyone with top quality homes, i’m sure it’ll work out just like in your imagination!

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    Mute Shane Zerbe
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    Sep 13th 2018, 9:37 PM

    @Damon16: it works in Vienna funnily enough, 60% of people living there are housed in this model. It frequently ranks as the worlds best city to live in. But we should write it off because of the morons running the show here?

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    Mute Neuville-Kepler62F
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    Sep 14th 2018, 7:02 AM

    @Shane Zerbe: good idea , should not be dismissed. I would suggest a more fundamental change is needed like German Constitution .. right to build and “property” rights inferior to person rights … not perfect but necessary to establish a proper legal framework that can then deliver a stable, workable, sane, fair housing market for the longterm.

    https://www.change.org/p/referendum-on-family-home-special-status-in-ireland

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    Mute Gerry Caden
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:42 PM

    This is more of it…ministerial and governmental b.s. Theses houses will never be built. I’ll believe it when I see it. At best,its a cover up scheme to enrich Fine Gael backers who are also builders.
    These jaded roll out excuses of ” jam tomorrow” schemes by this minister and this government ( I have no political allegiances) fool nobody.
    It makes it looks like some action on the lack of housing is being taken by the government but ,the reality is that very little is happening ; and what is happening is far far too little to have any meaningful impact. I believe there is a building ( pun intended) social backlash tsunami coming down the road the likes of which will surprise many in government and will not show up in anyPoll.
    Spin Doctors..don’t make me laugh !!

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    Mute John
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    Sep 13th 2018, 7:14 PM

    The 60% for private is so the builders will build it, they are hardly gonna build for free, also they jack up the prices for the private buyers to subsidize the rest of the build.finally is it only social/affordable people need to be catered for or do the rest of us just have to fend for ourselves.

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    Mute Gerard Heery
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:55 PM

    More buying time pussyfooting around by government, dwelling s are needed this year ,build dwellings high rise,log cabins, container s mobile homes, do something ,cheap simple and fast,instead of building house out of paperwork.

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    Mute Brian harris
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    Sep 13th 2018, 6:05 PM

    What about the rest of the country.

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    Mute Derrick Hambleton
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    Sep 13th 2018, 8:46 PM

    @Brian harris: Dyke Road lands in Galway are on a Flood Plain. While a large lump of Station lands are already sold to a developer, and at the Harbour? Well, due diligence to advise on the transfer of lands to the City Council, was first sought by councilor’s 4 years ago, yet today we still have no sign of any report! So no homes, just more offices!

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    Mute Geoff Bateman
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    Sep 13th 2018, 6:17 PM

    Promises Promises

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    Mute Cormac McKay Dublin
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    Sep 13th 2018, 7:42 PM

    There is absolutely no excuse for our current housing crisis it is purely down to poor policy and to be honest deliberate attempt to rise property prices

    Nama was the biggest thief on the Irish people ever
    And every sale should be investigated

    There are so many real affordable alternative solutions
    Such as

    https://inhabitat.com/a-green-roofed-hobbit-home-anyone-can-build-in-just-3-days/

    There is no excuse

    I don’t have much faith in this new policy
    I’m sure it benefit a few friends of the party

    Follow the money
    And the (Con)tracts

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    Mute Antoinette Victory
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    Sep 13th 2018, 6:07 PM

    Unfortunately social housing is generally built in a poorer socio-economic area. Builders build 60% in higher socio-economic areas. This results in an imbalance and social problems further down the line. It’s always about the money when it comes to land and housing it’s never about the public’s best interests. A mixed social housing would create better social development less crime and less social divisions.

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    Mute John
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    Sep 13th 2018, 6:46 PM

    @Antoinette Victory: of course it’s about the money,when you can build two houses in one area vs one house in another it makes sense. This is the problem people don’t just want an affordable house they want it in a fancy area as well.and also would you feel a bit annoyed if someone received twice or three time more than you for doing the same job,that’s how people would feel if they paid 5/600 k for a house and someone moved in next door for 175k.

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    Mute Nuala Mc Namara
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    Sep 13th 2018, 10:13 PM

    1)So 150,000 houses to be built in 20 years during which time CSO estimates that our population will grow by 1.85M in 33 years so total housing stock will still be significantly less than demand!
    Growth of 1.85M over 33 years is average population growth of 56,060 a year!
    2)Why are affordable and social housing only 40% of the total especially considering not just because of great demand for both but fact that’s it’s public land!?
    3)In 2014 LAs have over 26,000 hectares of zoned land with potential to build over 600,000 dwellings…..where’s the rest of that land?
    From 2011-2016 total housing stock increased by just 0.4% ie 8,800 so very little built and in 2015 just 75 social housing built.So what has happened that substantial zoned land?
    4)Will this new quango acquire land NAMA has?

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    Mute Gareth Keenan
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    Sep 13th 2018, 7:56 PM

    Don’t know where the dates on the construction on the CMH site is gathered from. The new CMH in Portrane won’t be ready until 2020 at the very earliest (with the possibility of years of delays). So there is no way construction of houses will begin on the current site next year. Pie in the sky.

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    Mute Frankie Mangan
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    Sep 13th 2018, 6:42 PM

    If you want it to stop then stop voting for them. Why should developers get 60% of public land to make massive profits for themselves. The Irish really are a nation of shit takers

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    Mute prop joe
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    Sep 13th 2018, 8:38 PM

    Former NAMA cfo in charge. So more Isle of Mann bank accounts? This is a sick joke. Just signal that the government wants prices to go down. Enough agencies act on government policy

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    Mute Billy Brennan's Barn
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    Sep 13th 2018, 11:17 PM

    A. Planning & Development Acts or materially contraventing statutory Development Plans/LAPs
    B. Compling, submitting and validating SID Applications that comply with ‘A’ above.
    C. Compiling and submitting CPO Applications that are constitutionally compliant while complying with ‘A’ & ‘B’ above
    D. Environmental Impact Appraisal Reports – or halfarse attempts to compile same for inclusion with ‘B’ & ‘C’
    E. Each potential application (SID/CPO) or material contravention or public consultation being fully opened to full Judicial Review
    F. EU environment law Legislation in the ROI
    G. Aarhus Convention
    H. The AIE Regulations 
    (I won’t break down the requirements on Public Procurement Procedures or disposal of a interest in state assets acquired compulsorily for the common good….)

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    Mute Billy Brennan's Barn
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    Sep 13th 2018, 11:21 PM

    There is curently no state agency or state body delivering development projects quickly due to A – H !!!! The ones that did were sold off and the Irish media hardly reported the misserable price accepted for well preforming public assets.
    It currently very difficult for well financed private individuals/corporations who have motivated and incentivised employees (free from political interference) to get development consents and start building…..
    Young Eoghan Robert Murphy needs to start looking for a job in Europe – maybe in the European Environment Agency – all the hot air.
    No legislation published yet for the agency…..
    No details of the corporate structure……
    No details of where they will be based ……
    Just who will be on the Board…..

    No homes soon I’m afraid Bosco

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    Mute Tom's
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    Sep 14th 2018, 1:16 AM

    So we are supposed to think this is a great initiative.A plan over the next twenty years that’s great.so by 13/9/2019 the first 7500 houses will be completed and by 13/9/2020 another 7500 or will it be none for the first 2 or 3 or 5 years and then it will be 10000 a year or even every 6 months?By which time none of you will be in government so it won’t matter anyway.Will you ever just do something to fix the problem now and forget this spin to make you lot look good.
    The frightening thing is that the public in general will fall for your empty promises again.
    I despair for the people who just want to put a roof over their heads and raise a family which is almost impossible thanks to successive governments.In the 80 s and 90 s it was just given that anyone who was working could but a home.

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    Mute Jonathan Yeo
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    Sep 13th 2018, 10:16 PM

    Yet more money for there developer friends of FG
    Scandalous,Disgraceful and Unnaceptable by the right wing Neo Liberals

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    Mute PV Nevin
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    Sep 13th 2018, 10:02 PM

    State land to be privatised for developers.
    The state will not build social housing (apart from a token amount) because the property prices and rental bubble is dependent on a shortage. The shortage has ben deliberately manufactured and will be maintained.

    The SWP/People Before Profit, the Socialist Party and Sinn Fein are only too aware that the state will not build. The role of Sinn Fein and the phoney lefts is to make a lot of noise and heat; but stop a militant political campaign to demand housing. The classic deceit of the so-called radicals. Huff and puff; but change nothing.

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    Mute PV Nevin
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    Sep 13th 2018, 10:06 PM

    @PV Nevin: And if you think that the SWP etc led the water protests then you are mistaken. They pushed themselves in front of the anti-water charges groundswell. The government made a tactical retreat not because of Boyd-Barret and Murphy but because they feared the SWP et al could no longer control the mass movement against water charges and privatisation.

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    Mute sixmile
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:22 PM

    jeez cork sure can lick ass, anything going there always there with the begging bowl.

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    Mute Tommy C
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    Sep 13th 2018, 5:28 PM

    @sixmile: elaborate and explain please, would love to here this one.

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    Mute Finbarr Lucey
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    Sep 13th 2018, 6:37 PM

    @sixmile: explain that one if you can

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    Mute David Lafferty FCCA
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    Sep 14th 2018, 9:07 AM

    Surely if it’s state owned land, that we paid for from our own taxes, all the houses should be affordable?

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    Mute PV Nevin
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    Sep 13th 2018, 10:07 PM

    The state fears above all a political movement around social demands turning into an overall mass movement for socialism. A movement that the phoney lefts cannot control.

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