Over €100m in Budget for housing and building

BUDGET 2023 by South Dublin County Council provides for a total expenditure of €306 million with over one-third – €111.8m – set aside for housing and building.

A budget of €111,822,500 for housing services in 2023, represents an increase of €9,993,500 on the 2022 budget.

Published last week, the Budget includes €57.685m for ongoing provision of more than 3,000 Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), Approved Housing Body (AHB) and leasing properties.

Up to €17.6m is set aside for maintenance for over 10,000 homes, with €1.4m funding for planned maintenance prog-rammes.

There is also an extra €1.117m for re-let works, including to facilitate right-sizing by older tenants.

The Budget contains €3.5m for homeless services and supports, directly and through the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive.

Up to €1.795m is in the Budget for Traveller accommodation, maintenance and supports, including a programme of fire-safety works.

Meanwhile, €5.57m for housing management, including implem-enting revised estate and tenancy management structures following external review, tackling anti-social behaviour, providing housing welfare services and housing stock insurance.

SDCC has allocated €10m to support their housing strategy and construction programmes, along with other social and affordable housing delivery, including – through Part V – €4.5m for housing grants for adaptations, mobility aids and essential repairs for disabled, older, and other persons, based on anticipated 2023 funding allocations from the Department of Housing.

Close to €3m is set aside for the housing loans service, including €360,000 for mortgage protection, €2.6m on rent assessment and debt management, and €1.4m for private rental inspections, managing the Housing Assistance Payment scheme and monitoring vacant properties.

The main source of income for this Division is anticipated funding of €54.3m from the Dept of Housing in respect of RAS, AHB and leased properties.

In addition, rents from the Differential Rent Scheme for council, RAS and leased tenancies are projected to generate income of €31.4m in 2023.