Plans for the provision of up to 3,000 affordable homes on hundreds of acres of rezoned land in the greater Dublin area are due to be announced shortly by the Government, writes Carl O'Brien, Social Affairs Correspondent.
A State body, the Affordable Homes Partnership, has been in discussion with builders and developers on the delivery of affordable housing on 370 acres of land on more than a dozen sites in the greater Dublin area.
Most of the land at the centre of negotiations is not zoned for residential housing.
This would change, however, if the partnership successfully advises local authorities to amend their development plans and pave the way for rezoning.
The houses are due to be built in prime areas such as Blackrock and Killiney, along with Blanchardstown, Templeogue, Sutton in Co Dublin, Greystones in Co Wicklow, and Co Kildare.
The plots vary in size from one acre to 60 acres.
Minister for the Environment Dick Roche is expected to announce shortly the first of the housing deals which has been concluded in recent days with developers.
The rest of the housing plans - which are the subject of advanced discussions - are due to be announced individually over the coming months.
The announcements will come at an important time for the Government, which is keen to address the issue of affordable housing before the next general election.
The homes will be sold at about 25 per cent below their normal market-value.
They are aimed at first-time buyers with qualifying incomes of up to €55,000 for a single person and €75,000 for a couple.
Individuals will be able to apply to any local authority they wish.
If an individual sells their affordable house or flat within 20 years, they will have to pay a percentage of the sale price back to the local authority.
The first of the affordable homes announcements will involve a land swap in which the State will sell Broc House in Dublin 4 to a developer in exchange for 89 affordable homes in a new housing development at Ongar Village, Clonsilla, Dublin 15.
The State originally bought Broc House on Nutley Lane for use as accommodation for asylum seekers.
It was never used, however, following a protracted legal battle with local residents.
Construction of the new homes at Clonsilla began recently by property company Alanis Ltd. The first homes are due to be completed next February or March.
Mr Roche said: "We have achieved tremendous value for money, securing almost four times as many homes as the Broc House site itself could have accommodated.
"We will achieve delivery of the 89 homes within a much shorter timeframe than if the Broc House site had been sold and the proceeds used to purchase land and construct affordable housing units elsewhere."
A second land swap to be completed shortly will involve State land on Harcourt Terrace.
Minister of State with responsibility for housing Noel Ahern said the proportion of affordable housing under construction was growing each year.
Almost 3,000 affordable homes were delivered last year under four separate schemes.
However, the Government's decision to dilute Part V of the Planning Act - which provided for up to 20 per cent social or affordable housing in new developments - has come in for strong Opposition criticism.
Last year, for example, a record 81,000 housing units were completed. Of this, just 1,371 were provided under Part V.
When other affordable schemes were taken into account, the number of affordable dwellings provided increased to 2,900.