Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 September 2022
15. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and delivery timelines of cost-rental equity loan-funded cost-rental homes that will be made available for tenants in Limerick city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47325/22]
View answerThe Government is committed to the delivery of 18,000 Cost Rental homes between now and 2030. This will be facilitated through Approved Housing Bodies, Local Authorities, and the Land Development Agency.
Limerick City and County Council has developed a Housing Delivery Action Plan to underpin its delivery of social, affordable purchase and cost rental housing in the period to 2026. The plan is available on the Council’s website.
AHBs will deliver Cost Rental housing with support from my Department through Cost Rental Equity Loan funding. Approval in principle has already been confirmed for approximately 900 Cost Rental homes to be delivered by AHBs under the CREL scheme. To date, some 293 Cost Rental homes have already been delivered by AHBs, with the rest to be delivered between now and 2023. Local Authorities can also deliver Cost Rental homes directly through my Department's Affordable Housing Fund.
My Department is actively encouraging the Local Authority, AHBs and the LDA to consider appropriate schemes. I understand the LDA is examining delivery of Cost Rental homes on the State lands at Colbert Station and I know that Limerick City and County Council is also exploring the possibility of delivering Cost Rental homes on an adjoining site, in conjunction with the work being undertaken by the LDA. Linking these two key sites together will be important in delivering a new urban quarter for the city of Limerick, with an emphasis on the delivery of affordable homes.
I am happy to say Minister O'Brien recently approved an application from Limerick City and County Council for funding of €1.8m for 25 affordable purchase homes at Brú na Grudán, Castletroy in Limerick under the Affordable Housing Fund which will be delivered in 2023.
The Deputy may also be aware that the First Home Affordable Purchase Scheme is available to first time buyers unable to afford new homes and I understand there have already been applications in Limerick.
