Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 June 2025
554. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount that has to date been spent on the public private partnership bundle 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34515/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra555. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how he will ensure the houses due to be completed in the public private partnership bundle 3 will be completed; if he will consider working with the local authorities to have these properties developed and manages by the local authorities in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34517/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 554 and 555 together.
On 3 June, following a careful evaluation, my Department made the decision not to proceed with the contract award for Social Housing Bundle 3 under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. This decision was taken as the overall cost of the project was deemed to be too high.
Despite this, my Department, together with the relevant Local Authorities, remains fully committed to delivering the social housing originally envisaged under Bundle 3. To that end, my Department is actively engaging with the PPP programme leaders, the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), and the four Local Authorities with sites included in the bundle to urgently advance these projects through an alternative procurement and delivery strategy. This is likely to take the form of a Design & Build Public Works Contract, incorporating Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).
My Department has already held meetings with the NDFA and the relevant Local Authorities to progress these housing developments. The delivery of the homes remains a priority, and all necessary steps are being taken to ensure their completion.
Planning permission has already been secured for all sites within the bundle, enabling the immediate progression of an alternative procurement and delivery programme for the 486 homes.
My Department has recouped to the Local Authorities the costs for purchasing some but not yet all of the sites included in Bundle 3 at a cost to date of €7.8m. Also, costs to date of €2.775m have been expended on Design Team and Technical Advisors to bring these sites to planning including out-line design. The investment in site purchases and design work up to planning stage is essential and retains its value regardless of the ultimate delivery mechanism.
