Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 March 2023
219. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of the new purchasing scheme (details supplied); when these details will be made available to public representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14494/23]
View answer226. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will publish the criteria local authorities must apply when evaluating to purchase properties under the NTQ scheme or if it is based on criteria set locally. [14568/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 226 together.
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 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 (AHBs).
Under Housing for All, there was provision for 200 social housing acquisitions each year. However, with increased pressures on housing and the exit of landlords from the market, I reinstated delegated sanction to local authorities in April 2022 to acquire social housing properties for a number of specific categories including properties that allow persons to exit or prevent homelessness.
For 2023, the Government has agreed that there will be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department will fund local authorities to acquire up to 1,500 social homes and my Department will keep this number under review. The additional acquisitions will be focused on properties where a tenant in receipt of social housing supports has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. A circular letter issued to all local authorities on 14 March, setting out details of these arrangements. I will arrange for a copy of this circular to be sent to the Deputy.
Local authorities have delegated sanction to deliver the 1,300 additional acquisitions, subject to those acquisitions being within Acquisition Cost Guidelines issued by my Department.
