Agenda item

The Lord Mayor opened the meeting by proposing that the City Council would agree to suspend Standing Orders to adjourn the meeting as a mark of respect and solidarity with those who died in Orlando in the early hours of 12^th June. This was agreed by the City Council. A minute’s silence was observed by all present as a mark of respect for the deceased. The Lord Mayor said she would also like to show solidarity with the LGBT Community in Ireland and the adjournment would give Members the opportunity to join in the vigil taking place in the adjoining square at this time. She also informed the Members that she had opened a Book of Condolence in the Mansion. It was agreed by the City Council that the meeting would be resumed at 7.15pm.          

The Lord Mayor also wished ‘Good Luck’ to the Ireland Team who were playing in the European Championships in France at that time. She also welcomed Ms DeirdreNí Raghallaigh, Senior Executive Officer in the Chief Executive’s Department, to the meeting and informed Members that Deirdre will be facilitating the City Council meetings from now on. The Lord Mayor then thanked Mr Vincent Norton, Executive Manager, who had looked after the City Council meetings for the past nine years in such a capable manner.  She said that Vincent had always been a huge support and willing adviser to her, both as a Councillor and Ardmhéara and she personally thanked him and wished him luck in his new role. The Members of the City Council gave Vincent a round of applause in appreciation of his expertise and commitment to the City Council, in particular to the smooth running of the Protocol and City Council meetings.

The Lord Mayor then congratulated Councillor Claire Byrne on the recent birth of her baby son. Mr Owen Keegan, Chief Executive, then took the opportunity to clarify suggestions that there could be job losses resulting from any future decisions in relation to the future of the Marrowbone Lane site.

The meeting resumed at 7.20pm and the Lord Mayor invited Minister Simon Coveney to address the meeting.

The Lord Mayor welcomed Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Housing, Planning & Local Government  to the meeting.  The Minister spoke of his desire to build a better working relationship to achieve better outcomes.  He wished to understand what contributes to delays in the systems whether that is the part VIII, department approval processes or the planning system.  He indicated that the Housing Action Plan will be delivered by the end of July.  He outlined the extent of  housing challenges facing Dublin in particular.  The Department will announce an increase in rent supplement and extend the availability of the Housing Assistance Payment scheme.  He is restructuring the Department with the creation of the Housing Delivery Unit who will take a project management approach to housing.  A more focussed approach had previously worked in the turning around of void units. 

The Minister said there was a need to deliver between 25,000 and 35,000 units per annum nationally for the next few year.  12,606 housing units were delivered last year and 50% of those were one-off units largely in rural areas.  Strategic Development Zones in Poolbeg and elsewhere have the capacity to deliver housing at scale. Dublin has planning permission for 27,000 units which for a variety of reason are delayed going to site.     There is a significant plan on housing & infrastructure going to cabinet on the 14^th of June.

Cllr Daithí Doolan, spoke on behalf of the Housing Strategic Policy Committee saying that there was a housing crisis not only a homeless crisis.  He outlined issues regarding land, planning and funding.  Dublin City Council has significant lands available including Oscar Traynor Road and O’Devaney Gardens.  The council had agreed 30% social housing for these lands and the remainder could accommodate cost rental, affordable and private units.  Procurement and other processes (i.e. cost benefit analysis) can delay projects like Dominick Street.  The financing of homeless services needs to be recouped in full.

Cllrs McDonncha, Burke, McAuliffe, Ó Muirí, Montague, McVeigh, Costello and Ryan spoke on behalf of their respective groups and highlighted the following concerns:

• Over-reliance on the private rental market to provide social units.  There is  a need to control rent increases and protect rights of tenant when rental properties sold

• Identifying new sources of low cost funding and utilising existing mechanism  to a greater extent

• Greater autonomy and capacity  needed for City Council to deliver projects and related infrastructure

• Cost benefit analysis, approvals and procurement processes causing delays to many project

• Increased responsiveness needed for  homeless families, individuals and those sleeping roughly

• Need to move on sites such as O’Devaney Garden, Oscar Traynor Road , Croke Villas, Dominick Street &  the Glass bottle site

• Concerns regarding income eligibility for social housing, the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and the financial contribution scheme

• Need for  new affordable housing scheme and the introduction of a  cost rental scheme

• Building on  the experience of Poppintree rapid-build and increase the use of factory build and alternate  construction technologies

• Vacant site levies and ability to deal effectively  with vacant housing and dereliction

• Requiring NAMA to deliver an increased number of social housing units

The Minister responded:

• Clarified the fiscal constraints and the desirability of delivering units 

• The Department had sought emergency response plan from local authorities. Dublin City had sent a comprehensive submission

• The Department is looking for suggestions from local authorities on how CPO powers could be used effectively to deliver housing

• There is a timing issue on dealing effectively and fairly with vacant sites.  The advice of the Attorney General’s Office is being sought on vacant sites levy

• Lessons had been learned on modular house.  Prefabricated units that are actually dropped on site can also be a solution. 

• While there is oversight needed on public expenditure but authorisation processes had been dropped by 9 stage to four.  Focussed teams being created in the Department to work with local authorities to move projects more quickly through stages
• Rental market needs to be supported so that people wishing to rent can do so as a lifetime tenure choice

• O Devaney Gardens and similar projects need to be developed quickly  given central location and capacity. 

The Lord Mayor asked that there be regular cross-part meetings with the minister and his officials.  She thanked the Minister for his attendance at the council meeting.