Skip to main content
Normal View

Social and Affordable Housing

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021

Wednesday, 3 February 2021

Questions (266, 284)

Thomas Gould

Question:

266. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the publication date of an affordable housing plan committed to in the programme for Government. [5206/21]

View answer

Patricia Ryan

Question:

284. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the affordable housing Bill 2020 will be brought before Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5450/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 284 together.

The Programme for Government, ‘Our Shared Future’, commits to putting affordability at the heart of the housing system, which the Government has prioritised in Budget 2021 by providing for a suite of affordable housing measures totalling €468 million.  This will be utilised across two new programmes announced in Budget 2021 to deliver affordable homes to purchase or rent, as well as the existing Serviced Sites Fund, the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, and through the Land Development Agency.

Cabinet approved the priority drafting of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 on 22nd December 2020 and I published the General Scheme January 20th last. The Bill includes provisions to underpin three schemes delivering on the Programme for Government commitment to prioritise the increased supply of affordable homes through (1) affordable homes delivered by local authorities (2) a new affordable purchase shared equity scheme for private homes and (3) the introduction of a new form of tenure in Cost Rental.

The detailed drafting of the General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill is currently progressing.  I can confirm that I have referred the General Scheme to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage for pre-legislative scrutiny which will commence on 9 February next. 

More widely, Government has confirmed it will develop and publish a new 'Housing for All Strategy' and it is anticipated this would be published over the summer months.

Top
Share