Seán Sherlock
Question:253. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All for an indefinite tenancy to strengthen security for renters. [7115/23]
View answerRental Sector
Questions (253)
Written answers
In accordance with both the Programme for Government and Housing for All commitments, the Government has provided for Tenancies of Unlimited Duration through the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2021. The Act was signed into law on 11 December 2021.
All new tenancies created on or after 11 June 2022 will become tenancies of unlimited duration once the tenancy has lasted more than 6 months and no notice of termination has been validly served on the tenant. The aim is to enhance security of tenure for tenants and to simplify the operation of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022.
As existing Part 4/further Part 4 tenancies terminate/expire over time or are renewed, it will involve the creation of a new tenancy of unlimited duration in respect of any such a rented dwelling. The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2021 also provides that a landlord may grant his or her consent to any existing tenancy being treated as a tenancy of unlimited duration.
Rental Sector
Questions (254)
Seán Sherlock
Question:254. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All for an upfront deposit and rent payments capped at two months value. [7116/23]
View answerWritten answers
As committed to under Housing for All, section 7 of the Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 inserted a new section 19B into the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 which applies to tenancies created on or after 9 August 2021, to restrict the total amount that anyone is required to pay to a landlord by way of a deposit or an advance rent payment to secure a tenancy to no more than the equivalent of two months’ rent (i.e. any deposit cannot exceed one month’s rent and any advance rent payment cannot exceed one month’s rent). A restriction of the equivalent of one month’s rent is also placed on the amount that a tenant is obliged to pay as a regular advance rent payment to a landlord during a tenancy.
Housing Provision
Questions (255)
Seán Sherlock
Question:255. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All to provide over 90,000 social homes by 2030, including an average annual new-build component of over 9,500 social housing homes to 2026, the highest number in the history of the State. [7117/23]
View answerWritten answers
Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. 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 and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.
Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes; 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing and 28,500 new affordable homes in the period 2022-2026. In September 2021, I issued social housing targets to each local authority for the period 2022-2026. All local authorities have prepared Housing Delivery Action Plans. The Plans set out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. The Plans are available on the websites of the respective local authorities.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity. This data is available to the end of Quarter 3 2022, and 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/. Data for Quarter 4 is currently being collated and will be published in due course.
My Department also publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and procurement processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 3 2022. The report is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/2b4cd-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q3-2022/
Housing Policy
Questions (256)
Seán Sherlock
Question:256. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All to end long-term leasing by local authorities and approved housing bodies through phasing out new entrants and focus on new-build to provide social housing homes. [7118/23]
View answerWritten answers
Under Housing for All the Government plans to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 homes per year over the next decade. Over 300,000 new homes will be built by the end of 2030, including a projected 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes.
This includes the delivery of 47,600 new build social homes in the period 2022-2026. 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 and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.
Housing for All sets out that there will a managed phasing out of new long term leasing projects over the lifetime of the plan. It is envisaged that 3,500 units will be delivered through long term leasing from 2022 to 2025. The number of new entrants and projects into the long term leasing scheme is reducing over the lifetime of the plan; tapering down from a target of 1,300 units in 2022 to 200 units in 2025.
As a necessary measure to accelerate social housing delivery in response to emerging pressures being experienced across the housing system, The Housing Agency in conjunction with my Department has been exploring the introduction of an emergency new targeted leasing initiative. Proposals were sought under an expression of interest process from market providers for the potential delivery of approximately 1,000 properties through a time-bound and limited targeted leasing intervention in the areas of greatest need. This initiative is still under consideration at present. These 1,000 homes would be separate and additional to the current long term leasing scheme.
Housing for All commits to ending long term leasing by the end of 2025. This policy remains unchanged, however leasing continues to be an important mechanism for expedited delivery to meet social housing needs as build supply ramps up to meet demand.
Housing Policy
Questions (257)
Seán Sherlock
Question:257. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All to strengthen the mortgage to rent scheme to ensure it meets the needs of those in long-term mortgage arrears. [7119/23]
View answerWritten answers
I refer to the reply to Question No. 313 of 31 January 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.
Housing Policy
Questions (258)
Seán Sherlock
Question:258. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All to reform the tenant purchase scheme. [7120/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme.
The scheme was reviewed during 2021 in line with the Programme for Government and Housing for All. The Government approved a number of amendments as a result of this review and these amendments came into effect on 1 February 2022.
The amendments include a reduction in the minimum reckonable annual income requirement from €15,000 to €12,500. This means older tenants, whose only income might be the contributory or non-contributory State pension, can qualify to buy their homes if they have the financial means to do so. The time an applicant is required to be in receipt of social housing supports in order to be able to apply under the scheme has also been revised. This has been increased from one to ten years.
Further changes to the scheme are currently being examined as part of the work on the broader social housing reform agenda.
Housing Policy
Questions (259)
Seán Sherlock
Question:259. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All to revise and reform income eligibility for social housing. [7121/23]
View answerWritten answers
A Review of Income Eligibility for Social Housing Support was carried out by the Housing Agency on behalf of my Department in Q4 2021. A copy of the review is available on my Department's website at gov.ie - Review of Income Eligibility for Social Housing Support (www.gov.ie)
On foot of the review, the baseline income eligibility thresholds for five local authorities - Carlow, Clare, Galway County, Laois and Westmeath - were increased from €25,000 to €30,000 in October 2022.
A further increase to the baseline thresholds was approved for all local authority areas with effect from 1 January 2023. The thresholds increased by €5,000 to €40,000, €35,000 and €30,000 for bands 1, 2 and 3 respectively, with an estimated 16,000 additional households potentially eligible for social housing support as a result.
My Department has also commenced work to scope options for a new social housing income eligibility model and I expect proposals for a new model to be submitted for my consideration in Q1 2023.
Housing Policy
Questions (260)
Seán Sherlock
Question:260. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All to work towards eradicating homelessness by 2030. [7122/23]
View answerWritten answers
As a signatory of the Lisbon Declaration on the European Platform on Combatting Homelessness, Ireland has committed, along with other member states, to work towards ending homelessness by 2030. This will be done through a number of actions including:
- Increasing the supply of housing. 300,000 homes will be delivered between now and the end of 2030 including 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable homes and 18,000 cost rental homes;
- Increasing the number of ‘Housing First’ tenancies;
- Establishment of new National Homeless Action Committee;
- Developing a Youth Homelessness Strategy;
- Expanding outreach services.
Work on these actions is well underway.
The National Homeless Action Committee (NHAC) was established in Q4 2021. The overarching objective of NHAC is to ensure that a renewed emphasis is brought to collaborating across Government to implement actions in Housing for All, along with bringing better coherence and coordination of homeless-related services in delivering policy measures and actions to address homelessness. Beyond this, the Committee also has a role in addressing emerging homeless-related issues and in developing further responses.
While local authorities are funded to provide tenancy sustainment and prevention services, I have tasked the National Homelessness Action Committee to make recommendations on new prevention measures. Furthermore, I published the Youth Homeless Strategy on 9 November 2022 that sets out 27 distinct actions to prevent young people entering homelessness.
Housing First enables homeless individuals with high levels of complex needs to obtain permanent secure accommodation with the provision of intensive housing and health supports to help them maintain their tenancies. A new Housing First National Implementation Plan covering the period 2022-2026 was published in December 2021. The plan provides for a further 1,319 tenancies over this period and the report for Q4 2022 shows that a total of 240 tenancies have been created during 2022.
I have introduced further measures to increase supply, including a new voids programme with an emphasis on quick turnaround and re-letting, the pilot expansion of the Repair and Leasing scheme and the reinstatement of the delegated sanction to local authorities for social housing acquisitions. I also want to make it abundantly clear that there are no impediments, from my Department’s point of view, to the acquisition of homes with HAP or RAS tenants in situ and I have strongly advised the Local Authorities to be proactive in this regard.
The Housing Agency has also completed a good practice guide for Street Outreach for local authorities. This manual will assist regions in expanding outreach services into those urban areas in which rough sleeping is understood to be a concern.
Ultimately, increased supply across all tenures is key to eradicating homelessness. Housing supply is increasing under Housing for All. Record State investment of €4.5bn will be made available in 2023 to support the largest State home building programme ever, with 9,100 direct build social homes and 5,500 affordable homes.
Homeless Accommodation
Questions (261, 278)
Seán Sherlock
Question:261. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All to increase Housing First targets to 1,200 tenancies over five years for homeless people. [7123/23]
View answer
Ivana Bacik
Question:278. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Housing First tenancies that have materialised as targeted under 3.4 of Housing For All; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7331/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 278 together.
Housing First recognises that a stable home provides the basis for recovery in other areas. With Housing First, the priority is to support a person who has experienced homelessness into permanent housing as quickly as possible, without any preconditions around addiction or mental health treatment. Then, intensive work continues on these issues once they are housed. Housing First has been a key element of Government homelessness policy.
The Housing First approach to addressing homelessness places direct access to housing first and foremost for vulnerable individuals using homeless services consistently or intermittently over long periods of time, and those unable or resistant to accessing homeless services and who may then become habitual rough sleepers. These individuals often have complex high support needs such as mental or physical health problems, addiction issues or dual diagnosis (the presence of mental ill health and a substance addiction).
Housing for All, A New Housing Plan for Ireland committed to the further expansion of Housing First. A new National Implementation Plan, which provides for a further 1,319 tenancies covering the period 2022-2026, was published in December 2021. The new Plan outlines the targets for each region and in each year.
Data on the number of Housing First tenancies created are published every three months as part of my Department's Homeless Quarterly Progress Reports. The report for Q4 2022 shows that a total of 240 Housing First tenancies had been created since the launch of the Housing First National Implementation Plan 2022-2026. A copy of the report is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/6c594-homeless-quarterly-progress-report-for-q4-2022/
Homeless Persons Supports
Questions (262)
Seán Sherlock
Question:262. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All to establish a new national homeless action committee. [7124/23]
View answerWritten answers
Housing for All provides for the establishment of a National Homeless Action Committee. In line with this commitment, the National Homeless Action Committee (NHAC) was established in Q4 2021. NHAC is a cross-governmental and inter-agency oversight group with membership drawn from key Departments, agencies and stakeholders.
The overarching objective of NHAC is to ensure that a renewed emphasis is brought to collaborating across Government to implement actions in Housing for All, along with bringing better coherence and coordination of homeless-related services in delivering policy measures and actions to address homelessness. Beyond this, the Committee also has a role in addressing emerging homeless-related issues and in developing further responses. I chair the Committee which meets on a quarterly basis. Full membership as well as previous minutes of meetings of NHAC are published on my Department's website and can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/958d1-national-homeless-action-committee-nhac-meetings/.
Homeless Persons Supports
Questions (263)
Seán Sherlock
Question:263. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All to expand street outreach teams for rough sleepers nationwide. [7125/23]
View answerWritten answers
Crucial to the success of Housing First and the achievement of the targets set out in the Housing First National Implementation Plan 2022-2026 is ensuring that the most vulnerable and most entrenched homeless individuals receive the support and engagement required. Central to this is the provision of an effective and assertive outreach service that ensures that people without shelter are linked in with appropriate housing and health services and supports and, where appropriate, put on the Housing First pathway.
There are Outreach Programmes in place across all urban centres nationally. In the Dublin region, an outreach and intensive engagement service is provided by Dublin Simon Community in partnership with the Dublin Region Homeless Executive. This service engages with adults who experience rough sleeping, supports them into temporary homeless accommodation, and makes appropriate referrals to permanent housing options, particularly Housing First.
In line with commitments made in Housing for All, The Housing Agency has completed a good practice guide for Street Outreach for local authorities. This manual will assist regions in expanding outreach services into those urban areas in which rough sleeping is understood to be a concern.
As part of their annual expenditure programmes in 2023, funding proposals have been invited from regional authorities for the provision of appropriate, fit for purpose outreach services which will engage with people who are persistently rough sleeping.
Housing Policy
Questions (264)
Seán Sherlock
Question:264. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All to a new national policy on right-sizing to highlight the potential of right-sizing for households that no longer fully occupy their current privately owned accommodation and an exploration of options to support and incentivise right-sizing on a voluntary basis. [7126/23]
View answerWritten answers
Housing for All (published in September 2021) provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. The strategy commits to increasing the housing options available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence, including the development of a national policy on rightsizing.
My Department is advancing work on the development of this policy and exploration of the options to support and incentivise rightsizing on a voluntary basis with the objective of optimising the potential for more efficient use of under occupied existing private and social housing stock. The development of a national rightsizing policy is having regard to a focused stakeholder consultation undertaken in the latter part of 2022 and existing local authority approaches to rightsizing for social housing. My Department is working on bringing forward a draft national policy in the coming months.
Housing Policy
Questions (265)
Seán Sherlock
Question:265. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All to a fresh start principle for applications to State affordable housing and loan schemes. [7127/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Government's ‘Housing for All’ plan includes the ‘Fresh Start’ principle whereby those who have previously purchased a home, but who are divorced or separated or have undergone insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, and no longer have any financial interest in their former home, can be eligible for these schemes just as if they were first-time buyers.
This principle now applies to the Local Authority Home Loan, the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Scheme and the First Home Scheme.
An additional ‘Fresh Start’ criterion applies to homes sold under the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, within which eligible applicants may also include those who previously purchased a home which is no longer of an appropriate size to meet their current household accommodation needs.
The 'Fresh Start' principle forms a key element in 'Housing For All', and has been applied across the affordable and mortgage schemes run by my Department.
Housing Policy
Questions (266)
Seán Sherlock
Question:266. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All to introduce radical new modern Kenny report-style powers to ensure sharing of the increase in land values from rezoning decisions and greater community gain. [7128/23]
View answerWritten answers
Housing Policy Objective 12.1 of Housing for All (September 2021) outlined an action to bring forward new ways for the State to share in a fairer way from the land value gains secured through zoning/designation and planning permission decisions, referring to measures previously recommended by the Kenny Report and more recently by NESC. In December 2021 the General Scheme with Heads of Bill relating to Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones was approved by Government for publication and progression.
Since then, independent economic consultants were procured and appointed to assist with defining the most appropriate method to implement Land Value Sharing. An open call was further made on my Department's website seeking public views on the development of any such approach. A data-gathering exercise was also undertaken to with a view to informing trends of uplift over time on land values. Engagement with key stakeholders including the local government sector and valuation experts has also been undertaken.
Following these stakeholder and data-gathering phases, the detail of how Land Value Sharing should operate is currently being finalised. On foot of a Government Decision in December 2022 to approve the updated General Scheme which will be published shortly, detailed drafting of the bill is underway. It is envisaged that engagement with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with a view to presenting the Bill to the Oireachtas, will commence in due course.
Housing Policy
Questions (267)
Seán Sherlock
Question:267. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All to ending strategic housing developments, returning planning decisions to local authorities and reforming the judicial review process. [7129/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future and Housing for All committed to not extending the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) arrangements beyond their legislative expiry date of end December 2021, which was subsequently extended to 25 February 2022 arising from the Covid-related extension of statutory timelines within the planning system by eight weeks in respect of the period March to May 2020 due to the shutdown of the construction sector.
The Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Act 2021 (Act of 2021) was signed into law by the President on 14 December 2021. Furthermore, the Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Act 2021 (Commencement) Order 2021 which brings the provisions of the Act into effect was signed with an effective date of 17 December 2021.
The main purpose of the Act of 2021 is to restore the two-stage planning process, with decision making for Large-scale Residential Development (LRD) type applications returning to the local planning authority in the first instance, with the subsequent right of appeal to An Bord Pleanála (the Board), thereby delivering on the commitments in the Programme for Government as well as Housing for All.
The Act of 2021 also includes a number of transitional arrangements in relation to the expiry of the SHD arrangements and their replacement by the new LRD arrangements. Under the Act:
- SHD prospective applicants/ developers already in receipt of an SHD opinion under the SHD arrangements on the commencement of the Act (17 December 2021) had 16 weeks to submit an SHD application to the Board from that date.
- SHD prospective applicants/ developers who had formally commenced consultations with the Board and were awaiting an SHD opinion on the commencement of the Act (17 December 2021) were given 16 weeks to submit an SHD application to the Board from the date of receipt of the SHD opinion.
With regard to judicial review, the draft Planning and Development Bill 2022 (the Bill), approved by Government on 13 December 2022, proposes to introduce amendments to the judicial review procedures by, among other things, introducing timelines for the various steps in the judicial review process including for pleadings, hearing of cases and delivery of judgements by the Court. The Bill is presently undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage with a view to enactment by the Oireachtas Summer Recess.
Vacant Sites
Questions (268)
Seán Sherlock
Question:268. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All on introducing a new tax to activate vacant land for residential purposes. [7130/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT), a key commitment under Housing for All, is a new tax which was established in Finance Act 2021. It is designed to activate suitably zoned and serviced land for housing and is a key pillar of the Government’s response to address the urgent need to increase housing supply in suitable locations. The Department of Finance leads on its implementation with the involvement of my Department, the Revenue Commissioners and the 31 local authorities. In this regard, my Department published section 28 Guidelines for Planning Authorities on the Residential Zoned Land Tax on 29 June 2022, which provided guidance on identifying the land which is in scope for the tax. A copy of the Guidelines can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/fbc41-residential-zoned-land-tax-guidelines-for-planning-authorities/
The implementation of RZLT consists of two phases as set out below.
Phase 1: the preparation and publication of maps by the 31 local authorities identifying land within the scope of the measure. All 31 local authorities published draft maps on 1 November 2022. This is being followed by a period of consultation during which landowners can make submissions to the relevant local authority. The initial mapping process will conclude with the preparation and publication of final maps on 1 December 2023. From 2025 onwards, local authorities will update the maps on an annual basis.
Phase 2: the administration of the tax by the Revenue Commissioners. This will commence in 2024, with the initial liability date for the tax arising on 1 February 2024 and the first pay and file date following on 23 May 2024.
Further details with regard to the RZLT, including a full description of the submission process and milestones, can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/fbad0-residential-zoned-land-tax/
Housing Schemes
Questions (269)
Seán Sherlock
Question:269. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All on a new Croí Cónaithe cities fund to increase owner-occupier apartment development in city centres. [7133/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme supports the building of apartments for sale to owner-occupiers. The scheme aims to bridge the current “viability gap” between the cost of building apartments and the market sale price (where the cost of building is greater). The scheme is targeted principally at activating planning permissions already in place for such homes.
The scheme launched in May 2022 with an Expressions of Interest process which is being managed and administered by The Housing Agency on behalf of my Department. Since receipt of applications in June 2022, The Housing Agency has been undertaking the various appraisal stages which deal with the following:
1. Eligibility of proposals
2. Ranking of suitable proposals and
3. A detailed due diligence process leading to designation (current stage).
On 6 February 2023, my Department received notification from the Directorate General for Competition in the European Commission (DG COMP) that the scheme has been deemed compatible with the internal market. This positive decision enables The Housing Agency to actively progress matters on processing and concluding Stage 3 of the Scheme and will allow the building of designated apartments to get underway.
Per the Housing for All Action Plan Update (November 2022), a second call under the scheme is expected to be announced by end Q2 2023.
Housing Provision
Questions (270)
Seán Sherlock
Question:270. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All on increased funding capacity for the LDA for strategic development of public lands for affordable and social housing in city and town centres. [7134/23]
View answerWritten answers
Under Housing for All the Government plans to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 homes per year over the next decade. Over 300,000 new homes will be built by the end of 2030, including a projected 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. The Land Development Agency (LDA) are at the heart of this plan, advancing their remit to develop land, particularly public lands, for housing.
The Land Development Agency Act, 2021, provided for the establishment of the LDA Designated Activity Company (DAC) as a commercial State Agency and the initial capitalisation of the LDA DAC by the National Treasury Management Agency from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund.
The Act further provided that the LDA will have the capacity to borrow €1.25 billion. Housing for All recognised that additional resourcing will be required to meet the increased level of activities envisaged under the plan to assist in funding the pipeline of housing, including on additional State lands, and accelerated housing through Project Tosaigh. This additional funding will be subject to an amendment being made to the LDA Act which will be brought forward as required.