Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 March 2023
302. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many applications were received for both phase 1 and phase 2 of a cost rental scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15078/23]
View answer303. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many applicants met the full eligibility criteria, net income below €53k and no more than 35% of net income used for rent, for both phase 1 and phase 2 of a cost rental scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15079/23]
View answer304. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many properties were offered to people through the lottery system in both phase 1 and phase 2 of a cost rental scheme (details supplied) due to insufficient expressions of interest from applications who met the affordability criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15080/23]
View answer305. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the difficulties that applicants are having in meeting the eligibility criteria for a cost rental scheme (details supplied); if he will examine this matter and consider reducing the monthly rent on the scheme to ensure applicants can meet the eligibility criteria without difficulty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15081/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 302, 303, 304 and 305 together.
I can confirm that the planned cost rental homes at Archers Woods, Delgany will be delivered, managed and maintained by the Land Development Agency (LDA). LDA has indicated it plans to deliver 142 cost rental homes in Delgany and I can confirm that to date, 48 of these homes have been formally Designated as Cost Rental under the provisions of the Affordable Housing Act. My Department has no role in advertising, assessing applications or the allocation of Cost Rental homes which is the responsibility of the entity/landlord applying for cost rental Designation for homes (in this case the LDA). As such, it would be more appropriate for any questions relating to such processes to be directed to the LDA via oireachtas@lda.ie.
All Cost Rental providers are legally obliged to make Cost Rental homes available in line with the provisions of Part 3 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021. The process of allocating a tenancy under cost rental is set out in Part 3 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 and the associated Ministerial regulations. All Cost Rental properties must be leased to a tenant whose household falls within prescribed eligibility conditions. The main eligibility criteria comprises the imposition of a net income limit of €53,000 per household. Tenants are selected on an open application basis, and where demand exceeds supply, a lottery of all eligible applicants is used.
