Thursday, 7 Dec 2023

Written Answers Nos. 51-69

Septic Tanks

Questions (51, 79)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

51. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the increase in septic tank grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53930/23]

Michael Moynihan

Question:

79. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action he has taken to ensure that more households qualify for the septic tank grants and are supported to upgrade or replace their tank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53971/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 79 together.

According to the latest census data available there are almost 500,000 domestic waste water treatment systems (DWWTS), mostly septic tanks, in Ireland.

Under the Water Services Acts 2007 and 2012, it is the responsibility of the owners to ensure that their DWWTS is fit for purpose, operational and kept in good order. Owners of septic tanks are also responsible for their maintenance and repair.

My Department does provide financial assistance with three dedicated grants available to households in circumstances where works are required to septic tanks to protect human health and the environment.

I recently announced substantial improvements to the terms and conditions of all three grants. I approved the increase of the grant amount available to €12,000 from €5,000 and also made it is easier for households to qualify, removing the requirement to have registered the tank with the local authority.

I want to encourage more householders to seek and avail of the grant and consequently help reduce the risk of environmental impact from defective tanks. The changes are effective from 1 January 2024 and I expect an increase of applications.

Details of the grant schemes are available on my Department’s website at:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/6cc1e-domestic-waste-water-treatment-systems-septic-tanks/

Housing Provision

Questions (52)

Barry Cowen

Question:

52. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding available to support the delivery of social homes in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53934/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

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 and is the first multi-annual fully funded housing plan in the history of the State. The Plan is supported by an investment package of over €4 billion per annum, through an overall combination of €12 billion in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5 billion investment through the Land Development Agency (LDA) and €5 billion lending through the Housing Finance Agency (HFA).

Budget 2024 again provides record levels of investment by this Government to support housing delivery and the continued implementation of Housing for All. The total Exchequer funding being made available for the delivery of housing programmes is €4.1 billion, comprising Capital funding of €2.6 billion and Current funding of €1.5 billion.

The Capital provision of €2.6 billion will be supplemented by LDA investment of €978 million and HFA lending of €1.5 billion, resulting in an overall capital provision of €5.1 billion.

The 2024 funding provision will support over 28,000 additional households in 2024, through meeting the social housing needs of almost 22,000 households, including 9,300 new build social homes and supporting a further 6,400 households to buy or rent at an affordable price.

Detailed information in respect of the Housing elements of Budget 2024 are set out in the 2024 Expenditure Measures Report, which is available at the following link: gov.ie - Budget 2024: Expenditure Reports (www.gov.ie)

The Revised Estimates Volume for the Public Service (REV) will be published in the coming days and will set out the final detail on the 2024 subhead allocations for the Housing programmes, taking into account both the programme level allocations announced in Budget 2024 and any additions that may arise.

Question No. 53 answered with Question No. 37.

Traveller Accommodation

Questions (54)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

54. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action he will take to ensure local authorities increase the number of Traveller accommodation units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53988/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.

The Act provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas.

Supporting accommodation for Traveller families is a key priority for the Government. Housing for All recognises the importance of addressing Traveller accommodation needs and commits to working with local authorities to improve the quantity and quality of Traveller-specific accommodation. My Department is also committed to support the ambition of local authority Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) and grow the Traveller-specific accommodation pipeline.

Capital provision of €21 million will be made available in 2024 to provide funding for local authorities to deliver Traveller-specific accommodation including halting sites and group housing schemes. Full capital spend of the Traveller accommodation budget has been achieved for three consecutive years 2020, 2021 and 2022 totalling €51.1 million. Furthermore, full spend of the budget is anticipated this year.

Earlier this year my Department rolled out a pilot preferential Caravan Loan Scheme for Travellers which is for the provision of 80 caravans or €3.2 million and will operate until the end of March 2024.

A Programme Board, established in response to the Traveller Accommodation Expert Review report published in July 2019, continues to drive implementation of recommendations from the report.

Question No. 55 answered with Question No. 28.

Vacant Properties

Questions (56)

Colm Burke

Question:

56. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to advise when data from each local authority in relation to the properties entering the vacant homes action plan programme and outcomes will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53373/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add real vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas. While the reasons for vacancy are often complex, the re-use and regeneration of vacant properties in cities, towns, villages and rural areas can provide much needed housing while also transforming areas and the communities living in them.The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which was launched in January, outlines the progress that has been made in addressing vacancy, along with the actions that are being pursued to return as many vacant properties back into use as possible.

As part of the Action Plan, a new CPO Activation Programme was launched in April. The Programme supports a proactive, planned and systematic approach by local authorities to the activation of vacant and derelict properties, bringing them back into use as homes. It also includes guidance and supports for local authorities to actively use their legislative powers to acquire vacant and derelict properties, where engagement with owners has been unsuccessful.

Overall, there is a target of 4,000 properties entering the CPO Activation Programme in 2023. Of these, a target of 400 has been set for properties to enter the compulsory acquisition process, where engagement with the owner has not resulted in the vacant or derelict property being brought back into use. Individual targets have been set for each local authority for 2023. Progress on the Programme will be reported in Quarter 2, 2024.

State Bodies

Questions (57)

Alan Farrell

Question:

57. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the work of Land Development Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54062/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Land Development Agency (LDA) has a major role in the delivery of new homes, particularly on underutilised and vacant State lands. It has two primary housing delivery channels, which are Direct Delivery on State-sourced lands; and Delivery through housebuilder partners, known as ‘Project Tosaigh’. The LDA’s near to medium term delivery pipeline through these delivery channels is in excess of 10,000 homes, with a significant volume for 2023.

Direct Delivery:

The establishing of the LDA allows proactive management of the State’s extensive land bank. Every effort is being made to identify state lands and properties which can be re-purposed to increase the supply of housing over the long-term. Delivering housing on these key sites requires consultation, master planning, development consents, procurement processes, followed by construction time – this is vital work and has unlocked housing delivery on these sites that is now coming to fruition. It is projected by the LDA that state lands development will become the main source of its delivery over the next 5 years as projects achieve planning and construction starts.

The LDA is advancing 14 direct delivery sites with the capacity for 6,500 homes through the development process. The LDA has achieved planning consent for almost 4,000 of these, with the remainder being advanced through the design and planning process. Over 1,000 are under construction currently and tenders are issued or about to be issued for contractors to build the planning approved sites.

In terms of specific projects:

• Construction continues according to plan for the development of 597 new homes at Shanganagh, Co. Dublin, a project being delivered in partnership with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) to deliver affordable and social homes, with completions commencing next year.

• Works are continuing as planned at St. Kevin’s Hospital in Cork which will deliver 265 homes.

• A building contractor has been appointed to construct Devoy Barracks in Naas, which will deliver 219 homes.

• In 2023, planning permission was granted for sites at Balbriggan (817), Skerries (345), Dundrum Central Mental Hospital Dublin (852 homes), Cromcastle Dublin (c. 145 homes) and St. Teresa’s Gardens Dublin (543 homes). These sites with a combined capacity for 2,700 homes are now being advanced to construction stage.

• A planning application has recently been lodged in relation to Cherry Orchard (over 700 homes), and designs are being drawn up for Bluebell Dublin (c. 400 homes), Dyke Road Galway (c. 200 homes) and Kinsealy Dublin (c. 200 homes).

Work is ongoing to identify other state-owned lands that may be available or under-utilised and suitable for social and affordable housing. The recent statutory Report on Relevant Lands, identified a total of eighty three sites in ten main urban locations (cities and key growth towns). My Department has engaged with all site owners identified in the Report and I expect that further site recommendations for possible transfer will be made to Government.

Project Tosaigh:

As part of Project Tosaigh, the Agency is currently tracking c. 2,500 affordable homes through forward purchase (i.e. payment upon completion). The LDA remains on track to achieve the overall 5,000 homes target for Project Tosaigh.

The LDA, in conjunction with its local authority partners, has placed homes with purchasers under the affordable for sale scheme at Mallow, Co. Cork and Kilbarry, Co. Waterford. The LDA, working with Meath Co. Council, launched an additional affordable for sale scheme in Navan in September 2023.

Tenants have taken occupation in LDA cost rental schemes in Delgany, Co. Wicklow and Citywest, Dublin. Additional schemes are due for release shortly, with a significant confirmed pipeline for 2024 and beyond.

LDA has also commenced a process to establish a panel of delivery partners with the intention scale up and accelerate delivery through this channel. It is anticipated that the panel will be established in early 2024.

The LDA currently have access to €1.25bn of capital from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and a further €1.25bn of borrowings as provided for under the LDA Act. Of the €1.25bn available through ISIF, the LDA have to date drawn down €625m of this funding - €100m on establishment, and a further €525m paid over two tranches in H1 2023. The LDA have been approved a further €300m in early November 2023. This leaves a balance of €300m to be drawn down as required, and it is projected by the LDA that this will be committed by Q1 2024. The LDA have so far not availed of their borrowing powers.

Housing Schemes

Questions (58)

Seán Haughey

Question:

58. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on developments under the croí cónaithe cities scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53854/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Croí Cónaithe (Cities) scheme launched in May 2022 . The scheme is a viability measure designed to support the building of circa 5,000 apartments for sale to owner-occupiers. The scheme aims to bridge the current 'viability gap' between the delivery cost of building apartments and the market sale price (where the cost of building is greater).

The scheme is managed by the Housing Agency on behalf of my Department and to date two calls for expressions of interest have been undertaken. There are seven live proposals under Call 1 of the Scheme. Of these proposals, contracts have been signed in relation to three of them for the delivery of 395 units – 53 in Dublin and 342 in Cork. The Housing Agency is currently progressing the remaining proposals under this call. Eleven further proposals were recently received under Call 2 and are being assessed by the Housing Agency in accordance with the scheme criteria.

Question No. 59 answered with Question No. 37.

Defective Building Materials

Questions (60)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

60. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline why defective concrete block homeowners in counties Donegal, Mayo, Clare and Limerick have been offered support through another limited grant scheme rather than an actual redress scheme similar to the pyrite remediation scheme. [54171/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The approach taken under the Pyrite Remediation Scheme was considered in the development of the Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant Scheme. However, due to the different scale of both schemes and the flexibility sought by homeowners the DCB Grant scheme required a different approach.

The enhanced scheme, as legislated for by the Oireachtas, is now up and running and will see significant investment by the State in addressing defects in houses in Donegal and other affected counties.

Departmental Schemes

Questions (61)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

61. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on plans to include Broadford and Cooraclare, County Clare in a pilot sewerage scheme for unsewered villages. [53846/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

In April 2022, I announced a new funding measure, as an advance stage of the upcoming Multi-annual Rural Water Programme, for the waste water collection and treatment needs of villages and settlements that do not have access to public waste water services.

Funding of €50 million has been specifically allocated under the National Development Plan 2021-2030. The first round of funding is intended to follow a demonstration project model approach to inform future funding needs that will provide appropriate longer-term solutions.

All local rural authorities were invited to submit applications for their two priority locations before 15 September 2022. Clare County Council submitted two applications, namely Broadford and Cooraclare.

An independent Expert Panel has critically evaluated each application received and I am pleased to confirm that I announced today, 7 December, approval of funding for Clare County Council in respect of Broadford and Cooraclare. Details of the full announcement can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/0fada-minister-obrien-announces-successful-applications-under-50m-rural-water-scheme/

Housing Schemes

Questions (62)

Willie O'Dea

Question:

62. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to extend access to local authority home loans to tackle long-term vacancy and dereliction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53880/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for those who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.

On 14 November 2023, I brought a proposal to my Cabinet colleagues to broaden the Local Authority Home Loan, to make finance available to purchase and renovate derelict or non-habitable properties for the first time, which was agreed.

This is evidence of the Government’s continued focus on bringing vacant and derelict homes back into use, which is a major focus of Pathway 4 of Housing for All. It will provide a means for many eligible individuals and families to finance viable renovation projects on their own initiative.

My Department, working closely with local authorities and other stakeholders, will now be tasked with finalising the details of the extension of the Local Authority Home Loan to ensure we can have this ready for applicants in Q2 next year.

Housing Policy

Questions (63)

Brian Leddin

Question:

63. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline his plans to develop housing on State-owned lands in line with the principles of the transit-oriented development in Limerick metropolitan area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54133/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

My Department and the Department of Transport jointly established a working group in December 2021 under ‘Housing for All’ to consider opportunities for Transport Orientated Development (TOD) in major urban centres.

TOD is important to achieving the National Planning Framework’s (NPF) priorities for compact and sustainable growth, supporting climate targets under the Climate Action Plan 2023 and in meeting housing delivery targets in Housing for All.

Lands around Colbert Railway Station in Limerick were identified and agreed for transfer to the Land Development Agency (LDA) as part of the regeneration and strategic development of that area in 2021. The intention for cities like Limerick is to ensure that the development potential of lands that are well served by public transport or where there is relevant planned transport investment proposed can be optimised.

In December 2022, the LDA published the Colbert Quarter Spatial Framework following an extensive engagement period with the wider community and other stakeholders, including the HSE, CIE and Limerick City and County Council. This framework outlines the LDA's vision to create a series of eight inclusive and integrated districts within the Colbert Quarter environs.

The LDA has indicated that the overall yield of new homes at Colbert Quarter will be up to 2,000 units, including a mix of houses and apartments that will be social, affordable purchase and cost rental homes.

Following the publication of the Report on Relevant Public Lands published by the LDA in March 2023, my Department undertook a series of stakeholder engagements with site owners identified within that report. Lands in the Colbert Quarter were considered with the various site owners, the HSE, CIE and Limerick City and County Council.

I understand from those stakeholder engagements that plans for the Colbert Quarter are progressing and a draft masterplan for the former St. Joseph's Hospital was published in November of this year. It has the potential to deliver up to 600 homes on site. The LDA is currently undertaking a public consultation on that plan and it is expected that planning permission will be sought for phase 1 of the Colbert Quarter housing delivery in early 2025.

Housing Policy

Questions (64)

Brian Leddin

Question:

64. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to develop housing policy with appropriate density and zoning, such that it supports the development of district heating networks and rail transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54134/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The zoning of land for particular uses, including housing, is an exercise undertaken as part of the overall statutory development plan function under sections 9-13 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended). Under this legislation, the decision to zone land for development is a reserved function of the elected members of each planning authority. My Department published statutory ‘Development Plan Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ in July 2022, under section 28 of the Planning Act, which set out national policy in relation to the zoning of land. Section 28 provides that planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála shall have regard to Ministerial guidelines in the performance of their functions.

My Department is also developing national policy in relation to residential density. The ‘Draft Sustainable and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ were published on 31 August 2023 for consultation. The Draft Guidelines set out proposed policies and objectives in relation to the planning and development of urban and rural settlements, including residential density standards. They provide for higher densities at more central and accessible urban locations, including locations proximate to high capacity public transport node or interchanges. This includes lands within 1,000 metres walking distance of existing or planned high capacity rail services such as DART, high frequency Commuter Rail, Light Rail or Metro Link. The Guidelines, when finalised, will be published as Ministerial Guidelines under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and will replace the Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas Guidelines last issued in 2009. It is envisaged that these Guidelines will be published in December 2023.

In parallel, my Department and the Department of Transport (DoT) has established a working group under ‘Housing for All’ to consider opportunities for Transport Orientated Development (TOD) in major urban centres. TOD seeks to maximise the provision of housing, employment, public services and leisure space in close proximity to high quality transport services. The first report from this Working Group, which looked at Transport Orientated Development Opportunities in Dublin, was published on the 23 of June 2023. The TOD Working Group is now focussing on TOD opportunities in the Eastern Region and in Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford in 2023. It is intended that when this assessment process is concluded, a similar report to that published in respect of the four Dublin authorities will be published. The outputs from this work will help to inform wider Government policy and initiatives in support of the National Strategic Outcomes of the National Planning Framework, in particular outcomes relating to Compact Growth, Sustainable Mobility and Transition to a Low Carbon and Climate Resilient Society.

The Heat and Built Environment Taskforce has been established by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to accelerate and drive delivery in relation to retrofitting, renewable heat, district heat and decarbonisation of the building stock. In relation to district heating specifically, my Department is continuing to the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in respect of the potential to support the delivery of district heating in appropriate locations, thereby accelerating the transition to renewable heat.

Housing Schemes

Questions (65)

Cormac Devlin

Question:

65. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what consultation or discussions he has had with stakeholders in relation to the help-to-buy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53973/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Help-to-Buy scheme is administered by the Department of Finance and any development or expansion of the scheme comes under the remit of that Department.

I continue to engage with all key stakeholders to support innovation and the delivery of affordable homes under Housing for All.

With that in mind, prior to the announcement of Budget 2024, officials from my Department engaged with local authorities and the Department of Finance in relation to the interaction of Help-to-Buy with the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme (LAAPS).

Following these consultations , the Minister for Finance announced, as part of the budget, some technical amendments to the Help-to-Buy scheme, thereby ensuring its optimal interaction with Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme. These changes were legislated for under Finance Bill (No. 2) 2023, which was published by the Minister for Finance on 19 October 2023.

The changes allow the affordable dwelling contribution to be combined with the mortgage to form part of the Loan to Value (LTV) calculation. The LTV is still calculated by reference to the Open Market Value and the 70% threshold must be met in order for an applicant to be eligible for HTB.

Legislative Measures

Questions (66)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Question:

66. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to commence parts 4 and 5 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022; the barriers in doing so to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53336/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The provisions in Parts 4 and 5 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022 were formally notified in draft form to the European Commission in accordance with the notification requirements of Article 5 of Directive (EU) 2015/1535 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 September 2015 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical regulations and of rules on Information Society services.

The notification procedure, which is known as the Technical Regulation Information System (or TRIS) enables the European Commission and Member States to examine draft legislation before it enters into force in order to identify and prevent the creation of barriers to trade in the internal market before they materialise.

Under the TRIS, the European Commission delivered a detailed opinion to Ireland on 5 July 2022. In its detailed opinion, the Commission raised concerns that a number of provisions in Part 4 were incompatible with Articles 14 and 15 of Directive 2000/31/EC (i.e. the e-Commerce Directive). While a detailed opinion did not issue in respect of Part 5, similar observations were made by the Commission on 31 August 2022.

Separately, my Department has been engaging extensively over the course of this year on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the transparency and targeting of political advertising as that proposal progressed through the inter-institutional negotiations. Political agreement was reached between the European Parliament and the Council on that proposal on 6 November 2023.

Given the significant overlap that exists between Part 4 and the EU proposal, it will now be necessary for Part 4 to be brought into alignment with the requirements of the EU proposal within the timeframe for its implementation. Following the proposal’s formal adoption anticipated in early 2024, my Department will give further consideration to the necessary adjustments to Part 4 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022.

In light of these developments, my Department will also examine Part 5 and the amendments that may be needed to commence its provisions as soon as practicable.

Question No. 67 answered with Question No. 27.

Question No. 68 answered with Question No. 48.

Housing Provision

Questions (69, 87)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

69. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide in tabular form a list of all completed cost-rental housing schemes delivered to date by the Land Development Agency and Approved Housing Bodies including the name of each development; the local authority in which each scheme is located; the number of units in each scheme including a unit bedroom number breakdown; and the monthly rent charged for each unit by size in each scheme. [54151/23]

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

87. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide in tabular form a list of all completed housing schemes funded via the Affordable Housing Fund including the name of each scheme; the local authority area in which the scheme is located; the number of units in each scheme including a unit bedroom number breakdown; the purchase price of each unit by size in each scheme; and the cost of the State's equity share for each unit by size in each scheme. [54150/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 87 together.

Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 54,000 affordable homes, including 36,000 affordable purchase and 18,000 cost rental homes, by 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.

The information sought is currently not collated in a manner that would allow my Department to provide the data in the format requested. A review of the nature and scope of affordable housing published data will be undertaken in the coming months.

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 new 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 now complete and submit data returns to my Department on delivery of affordable homes in their area in the same manner as is done for social housing. Statistical data on affordable housing delivery by tenure and by local authority area during 2022 and for Quarter 1 and 2 of 2023 is published on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery.

Individual scheme information has also been published in advertisements on local authority, Approved Housing Body and the LDA websites. Schemes being advertised are now also available in a single location on the Affordable Homes website, www.affordablehomes.ie.

Overall, a range of affordability schemes are now in place under the Affordable Housing Act 2021 that will increasingly provide a growing number of affordable options for eligible prospective homeowners and renters. Delivery is being facilitated and scaled-up nationwide by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency, and via the First Homes scheme.