Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2022
71. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the application for affordable housing by Wexford County Council cannot be progressed (details supplied); if there is an alternative scheme that can be put in place in this area under the new Housing for All programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3671/22]
View answerThe Housing for All Strategy delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system, with an ambitious target of 300,000 homes over the next decade for social, affordable and cost rental, private rental and private ownership housing.
Measures to deliver this housing are supported by over €4 billion in funding annually, representing the highest ever level of Government investment in building social and affordable housing. 54,000 affordable homes interventions will be delivered between now and 2030 to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
The delivery of affordable housing, in accordance with the schemes set out in the Affordable Housing Act, 2021 and the funding being made available, will be underpinned by local authorities' housing Delivery Action Plans. Local authorities submitted their Plans to me, to include social and affordable housing, last month. In drawing up their plans, each local authority assesses the level of demand with affordability constraint in their area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) and plans provision accordingly.
With regard to Wexford County Council, I understand that the local authority's Housing and Planning teams are currently working on their Housing Need and Demand Assessment, along with their current housing strategy. This is expected to be completed and submitted to me shortly. It is possible for local authorities, including Wexford County Council, to undertake HNDA analysis at sub county level to determine whether a need for Government funded affordable housing schemes is evident in specific towns/areas.
