Local South Dublin County Councillor representative Charlie O’Connor recently submitted a query in relation to proposals on the housing and homelessness crisis in the local area, he asked “To ask the Chief Executive to detail his proposals to continue to deal effectively with the housing/homelessness crisis in our County and in reporting will he confirm current figures and make a statement.” At the meeting of South Dublin County Council on the 8th of February, the following reply was given “At the start of 2021 there were 6,740 applicants on the Council’s housing list of which 507 were registered with the Council as homeless. The level of social housing need, and the added challenge of the applicants who are also homeless in the County as outlined above, continues to be a major challenge facing this Council and increasing housing supply is a primary solution. We continue to increase housing supply with our social housing build, acquisition and leasing programmes including through Part V delivery and collaboration with Approved Housing Bodies. Additional housing options are also provided through the RAS and HAP schemes.”
The reply continued “In addition, proposals for significant housing delivery on large Council owned sites at Kilcarbery, Killinarden, Belgard Square North, Clonburris and Rathcoole are progressing and will form a major part of future housing supply in the County. Additional opportunities for further housing delivery continue to be explored where possible through existing landbank, possible land acquisition, turnkey house purchase etc. The Council’s target from DHLGH for new housing supply in 2021 is 598 homes across build, acquisitions and leasing but our ability to meet these targets will be impacted considerably due to the current Covid-related restrictions on all non-essential construction with only work on social housing projects with imminent completion dates in early 2021 allowed to continue.”
