Local councils only have enough land banks for social housing delivery to last the next three to four years, the Oireachtas Housing Committee has heard.
Eddie Taaffe, chairman of the County and City Management Association (CCMA) committee on housing, said local authorities have over 560 landbanks suitable for housing, which can be used to deliver around 21,500 homes.
However. Mr Taaffe said 28% of these sites are unable to be progressed at present due to a lack of services, including water, wastewater, and electricity.
“Local authority land banks are probably sufficient for the medium term only, as in you know, the next three, possibly four years of delivery at best,” Mr Taaffe said.
“That’s assuming that the lands that aren’t serviced will come on and be serviced in that time.”
Mr Taaffe said there is a need for councils to start rebuilding up their land banks, citing existing land acquisition funding available to local authorities.
However, he said the CCMA has heard from councils the amount of zoned and serviced land coming on the open market is small.
“They take time to do but that is really the only method that gives you the certainty that you can get the land”, he said.
Meanwhile in the Dáil, the Taoiseach was questioned about comments made in this newspaper by Housing Minister James Browne about Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs).
Mr Browne told that while the Government will soon be changing RPZs, he still aims to protect renters. However, Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne said the comments need to be explained.
“How can the Government agree to lifting rent caps in the middle of a housing emergency? Renters need to know,” Mr Hearne said.
“Given what is going on, there should be a commitment to keep the rent caps and the rent pressure zones in place for a minimum of three years to give renters some security. Regardless of the questions of institutional investors and supply, renters need that.”
In response, Micheál Martin said changes to the rent caps had been suggested by The Housing Commission’s report.
“I do not know why [Mr Hearne] is condemning the Government for even considering the recommendation of the Housing Commission in respect of that issue.”
