Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 September 2021
378. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new houses provided in the past 12 months through direct local authority build, affordable housing or Part 5; the number expected to be built in the coming year in each category by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46754/21]
View answer381. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing starts recorded in each of the past 12 months to date in the private sector, whether affordable or otherwise; the projection for the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46758/21]
View answer382. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority housing starts recorded in each of the past 12 months to date; the projection for the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46759/21]
View answer391. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that each local authority is given a target in respect of the provision of local authority houses, affordable housing and access to local authority sourced loans in order to ensure greater urgency to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46768/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 378, 381, 382 and 391 together.
The recently published Housing for All strategy is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. The annual targets are for the delivery of a total of 88,400 new build social homes, 53,800 new affordable homes and 170,000 private homes in the period 2022-2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency (LDA) and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.
Details on social housing delivery for each local authority, across a range of delivery mechanisms, are included in social housing statistics published by my Department. This data is available to the end of Quarter 2 2021 and is available on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
A detailed Social Housing Construction Status Report is also published each quarter which provides scheme level detail on new build activity. The most recent publication covers the period up to the end of Quarter 2 2021 and is available on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/d7709-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q2-2021/. This data includes information for each local authority and includes a list of the individual projects that make up the new build programme for that local authority.
My Department also publishes data on Commencement Notice statistics. A Commencement Notice is required to give notice to Building Control Authorities of the erection of buildings, or classes of buildings, or the carrying out of works, or classes of works, as may be specified in the regulations. Data on residential unit commencement notices are published on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/a5cb1-construction-activity-starts/
The Housing for All Strategy delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to put affordability at the heart of the housing system. It is the largest State-led building programme in our history, backed up by an unprecedented financial commitment in excess of €4bn per annum. In terms of interventions that improve affordability, at a national level this includes 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. These homes will be provided by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency (LDA), as well as through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
Individual targets for the delivery of social housing have been provided to each local authority and under Housing for All, each local authority is required to develop a Housing Delivery Action Plan by December 2021. These plans will set out details on how and when local authorities will deliver their housing targets, including the delivery of affordable homes.
Housing for All strategy contains a multi-pronged approach to improving affordability and increasing the supply of social homes. Some measures such as the Local Authority Affordable Homes scheme and the First Home scheme are focused on supporting first-time buyers purchasing newly built homes. Other measures such as Cost Rental will deliver approximately 18,000 homes over the period 2021 to 2030.
The Housing for All strategy also provides for the 'Local Authority Home Loan', which will be in place later in 2021. This is a successor to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan Scheme, and will include an increase in the income ceiling for single applicants, thus increasing the number of people eligible. The Help to Buy scheme also continues to help purchasers to access homes.
