Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 November 2023
153. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which extra methods and means can be employed to provide extra housing in sufficient volume to meet requirements to address homelessness, child homelessness and family homelessness; if he continues to identify extra measures likely to positively impact in this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48150/23]
View answerThe increase in homelessness is a serious concern for Government and is being actively addressed. There is no shortage of will or determination to deal with the issue of homelessness. It remains a top priority for our Government.
Resources and funding are not an obstacle to the urgent efforts required. Reflecting the importance placed on Housing for All, a record €5.1bn capital investment in housing was announced in Budget 2024. This will be made up of €2.6bn exchequer funding, €978m Land Development Agency (LDA) and €1.5bn Housing Finance Agency (HFA) funding.
The capital funding being provided for housing in 2024, coupled with LDA and HFA investment is the highest ever in the history of the State. This funding will ensure we can continue to deliver new social and affordable homes for purchase and rent at pace. Budget 2024 also provides funding of over €242m, an increase of 12.5% on last year, for the delivery of homeless services.
Key to addressing homelessness, child homelessness and family homelessness is increasing supply to give people a safe and secure home. Housing for All will see the supply of housing increase to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes and 54,000 affordable homes by 2030.
Supply is increasing. In 2022, almost 30,000 homes were delivered. This number exceeds the Housing for All target by over 5,000 homes and is the highest number of home completions in a decade. Some 31,500 homes were completed in the rolling 12-month period to the end of September 2023. Nearly 24,000 homes commenced construction in the first three quarters of 2023, up 14% on the same period last year.
2022 saw the highest annual output of social homes in decades and the highest level of new-build social homes in half a century. 10,263 social homes were delivered through local authority and Approved Housing Bodies through build, acquisitions or leasing. 7,433 of these were new-builds.
A number of new measures have been introduced recently to expedite supply, including the Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental (STAR) scheme, the temporary waiving of development levies, and the expansion of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. Alongside these, other reforms and activation measures designed to increase supply such as the Croí Cónaithe Cities scheme and Project Tosaigh have also been introduced under Housing for All.
Government and I are fully committed to the successful implementation of Housing for All, which contains the comprehensive suite of timed actions that are required to ensure that sustainable housing supply is delivered whilst also continuing to deliver on the fundamental reforms set out in the Plan. We continue to keep measures in the Housing for All Plan under review to ensure we are agile and responsive in addressing the challenges in housing. An updated Action Plan for Housing for All is due to be published shortly.
