Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 May 2023
112. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the provision of affordable housing in Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23204/23]
View answerFollowing the publication of Housing for All in September 2021, I asked all local authorities to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans. 18 local authorities, including Carlow, were asked to include their affordable housing delivery projections in those Plans, in line with the five-year Affordable Housing delivery targets assigned in March 2022. A copy of Carlow County Council’s Housing Delivery Action Plan is available at the following link - www.carlow.ie/housing-for-all/
My Department has met with Carlow County Council to discuss their affordable housing need and understands that an applications for AHF assistance is currently being prepared by the local authority with the assistance of the Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office within the Local Government Management Association. I have also sanctioned two additional staff to support the delivery of affordable housing in Carlow which I expect will assist Carlow County Council to develop their affordable housing pipeline.
In addition, the First Home Scheme, 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. Full information on the scheme is available on the First Home Scheme dedicated website, www.firsthomescheme.ie. Statistical data on delivery across all affordable housing streams during 2022, as published on my Department's website last month, shows that activity has begun to take place under this scheme for Carlow and is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery.
Finally, the new Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is also available in Carlow and it provides for grants for refurbishment of vacant properties of up to €50,000 or €70,000 if the property is derelict. 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 Carlow County Council.
