Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 April 2023
296. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable housing units delivered via the cost rental equity loan, the affordable housing fund and Project Tosaigh in the constituency of Dublin Bay south in each of the years 2016 to 2022; and the number planned to be delivered in 2023, the breakdown of units per scheme and average price of units by unit size, in tabular form. [18903/23]
View answer319. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable housing units delivered via the Cost Rental Equity Loan, the Affordable Housing Fund and Project Tosaigh in Sligo for the years, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, and planned to be delivered in 2023, with a breakdown of units per scheme; and average price of units by unit size, in tabular form. [19104/23]
View answer320. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable housing units delivered via the Cost Rental Equity Loan, the Affordable Housing Fund and Project Tosaigh in Leitrim for the years, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, and planned to be delivered in 2023, with a breakdown of units per scheme; and average price of units by unit size, in tabular form. [19105/23]
View answer325. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable housing units delivered via the cost rental equity loan, the affordable housing fund and project Tosaigh in Dublin Bay north for each of the years 2016 to 2022; and the number planned to be delivered in 2023, with a breakdown of units per scheme and average price of units by unit size, in tabular form. [19209/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 296, 319, 320 and 325 together.
Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
With 2022 representing the first full year of affordable housing delivery under the schemes introduced in the Affordable Housing Act 2021, local authorities have begun to submit data returns and information on delivery of affordable homes in their area to my Department, in the same manner as is done for social housing. The 2022 process is now complete and statistical data on delivery across all delivery streams has been validated and published on the Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery.
Following the publication of Housing for All in September 2021, I asked all local authorities to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans. Each local authority was asked to assess the level of housing demand with affordability constraint projected for their area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment Tool and plan their provision accordingly. A copy of each Council’s Housing Delivery Action Plan is available on their individual websites. Local authorities with the highest levels of affordable housing need were set five-year Affordable Delivery Targets.
2022 represented the commencement of a very ambitious programme of delivery of affordable housing. This momentum will continue with delivery increasing significantly this year. A strong pipeline of affordable housing delivery is in place and under continuous development by local authorities, by Approved Housing Bodies using the Cost Rental Equity Loan and by the Land Development Agency.
In addition, the First Home Scheme, which was launched in July 2022, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. The Scheme aims to support in the region of 8,000 households in acquiring new homes in the private market in the years 2022 to 2026 with an overall budget of €400 million. The scheme is available nationwide. Full information on the scheme is available on the First Home Scheme dedicated website, www.firsthomescheme.ie.
Finally, the new Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is also available nationwide and it provides for grants for refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties. I also announced last year, a new Ready to Build serviced sites scheme under the Fund where local authorities will provide sites at a discount to people who want to build their own home. Information on both of these schemes is available directly from local authorities.
