The Taoiseach has confirmed a new agency will fastrack the delivery of affordable houses in the Greater Dublin area.
The Affordable Homes Partnership will spearhead a scheme that will see State lands handed over to property developers in return for the building of affordable housing elsewhere.
Speaking at the annual conference of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) in Belfast this morning, Mr Ahern confirmed former Siptu president Des Geraghty will chair the new agency.
The board will also include managers of the four Dublin local authorities and a number of independent members.
According to the Government, one outcome of an umbella agency will mean that if a person or family that qualifies for affordable housing in one local authority where there is none available the agency will then inform them of available housing in another local authority area.
One land-swap deal, already completed will act as a template for future deals to speed up the provision of affordable housing.
"A premium site at Harcourt Terrace in Dublin was identified as a land-swap option and brought to the market," Mr Ahern said. He said the swap would see nearly 200 additional affordable units being made available on a phased basis, over the next nine months, starting this month.
The Taoiseach said six other sites have been selected as candidates for land swap and would be "brought to the market as a matter of urgency". They include two sites at Backweston, and sites at Model Farm Road; McGee Barracks, Gormanston, Co Meath; and the old Garda Station at Harcourt Terrace in the city centre.
"A growing, young population needs housing of good quality, at reasonable prices," Mr Ahern told the conference. "That is why the Government has given such attention to housing policy."
However, only 800 units out of 10,000 promised in the Sustaining Progress deal have been completed. The agency's first tasks, Mr Ahern, said would be to speed up the delivery of affordable houses that were promised in that deal.
"The agency will be focused on early improvements in the delivery of affordable housing . . . [it] will also issue a call for proposals from third parties in order to identify further appropriate sites for affordable housing," he said.
"Furthermore, the agency will provide a co-ordinated public information service on the various aspects of affordable housing, thus making it easier for people to find out what is on offer and how to avail of it," the Taoiseach said.
