I propose to take Questions Nos. 319, 325, 327, 329, 330 and 331 together.
The Revised Estimates Volume for the Public Service (REV) is published in mid-December every year. This provides final detail on the allocations by subhead for the following year and takes into account both the Programme level allocations announced at Budget and any additional allocations, for example just transition, carbon fund, etc. Accordingly, the numbers presented below may vary.
Reflecting the priority placed on Housing for All, the Government’s national housing strategy, there will be record €5bn Capital investment in housing in 2024 - comprising €2.6bn Exchequer, €978m Land Development Agency (LDA) and €1.5bn Housing Finance Agency (HFA) funding. Current and Capital allocations in 2024 will be further supplemented through additional funding of €151m for housing purposes provided by certain local authorities from Local Property Tax (LPT) receipts.
The National Development Plan (NDP) Capital Ceiling provision in 2024 represents an increase of €358m on the 2023 provision. Furthermore, additional NDP Capital funding of €250m for 2024 will be distributed in the coming months, further increasing the allocation to Vote 34.
In addition to Vote 34 the LDA and HFA are crucial to our Housing for All plans and I will be seeking Cabinet approval in the coming weeks to capitalise the LDA in the order of €6bn and increase the HFA borrowing limit from €10bn to €12bn as part of Ireland’s long term housing investment plans.
The detailed subhead information requested is set out below:
A.3 - Local Authority Housing capital allocation is €1,331m.
A.7 - Capital Assistance Scheme capital allocation is €140m.
A.11 - Capital Advance Leasing Facility capital allocation is €315m.
A.12 - Traveller Accommodation & Support current allocation is €7m and capital allocation is €21m.
A.13 - Accommodation for Homelesss current allocation is €242m. The acquisition fund of €35m announced in Budget 2024 which will be administered by the Housing Agency, will support this continued expansion of the programme, which in 2024 aims to create a total of 261 Housing First tenancies. As with the first National Implementation Plan 2018-2021, which exceeded its targets, it is important to note that the targets in the current plan are not a ceiling and do not represent limits to the expansion of Housing First.
A. 18 - Private Housing Grants capital allocation is €75m.
A.28 - Cost Rental Equity Loan capital allocation of €100m will support delivery by AHBs of over 800 units.
A.31 - Affordable Housing Fund capital allocation is €100m. More than 3,600 homes will be delivered for affordable purchase and cost rental, through both LDA investment and with funding of €115 million via the Affordable Housing Fund and the Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental investment scheme in 2024 to support delivery by local authorities and private operators.
A.32 - Croí Cónaithe Fund capital allocation is €50m which will be available for schemes under the fund and will be reviewed after the review of the NDP.
A.x -(new subhead) Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental capital allocation is €15m. This is voted expenditure.