Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
657. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing acquisition requests received to date from each local authority in tabular form, broken down by acquisition requests with a social housing support tenant in situ and acquisition requests whereby the property is vacant. [40173/22]
View answerUnder Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHB). On 19 January my Department issued a circular letter to local authorities advising that social housing acquisitions by local authorities and AHB Capital Advanced Leasing Facility acquisitions in 2022 would be focused on a number of priority areas, as follows:
- One-bedroom units to deliver on Housing First and meet the short supply in this category;
- Other properties that allow persons/families to exit homelessness; and
- Specific housing required for/suitable for individuals with a disability or other particular priority needs;
Local authorities were also advised that limited acquisitions through the Capital Assistance Scheme will also be approved, subject to the available budget for specific vulnerable cohorts, such as housing for older people, accommodation for individuals and families who are homeless and for people with a disability.
On 20 April, a further circular letter issued to local authorities in relation to social housing acquisitions. The key purpose of this circular was to advise local authorities that I had reinstated the delegated sanction to local authorities in respect of social housing acquisitions which are: (i) in one of the priority categories set out in the January circular letter; (ii) are in line with acquisition cost guidelines; and (iii) can be completed during 2022. The reinstatement of delegated sanction will allow local authorities to respond more flexibility to secure acquisitions which support a household to exit or to prevent homelessness. It is a matter for individual local authorities to identify suitable acquisitions in line with local circumstances and their social housing allocations policy.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity. Data for Quarter 1 2022 shows that 96 Acquisitions were delivered. This data is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.
