Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 January 2024
265. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will comment on the status of a proposal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3625/24]
View answer266. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 841 of 17 January 2024 if he is satisfied with the target of ten units in Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3626/24]
View answerUnder Housing for All, the Government has targeted the delivery of 28,500 new affordable homes from 2022 to 2026, 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.
Clare County Council has prepared and published its own 5-year Housing Delivery Action Plan. While Clare does not have a specific affordability target, it has identified localised affordability need in key urban locations where new households being formed would not be able to access housing for purchase or rent at prices/rents affordable to them.
The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) is open and available to support all local authorities to address any affordability needs identified in their area.
In this context, my Department has been liaising with Clare in the development of its affordable housing delivery programme to respond appropriately to identified need in its area.
To date Clare has received funding approval from the AHF to assist in the delivery of 10 affordable purchase homes at Shannon. A further application for a proposed affordable purchase scheme at Ennis was received by the Department on 8 December 2023 and is currently under assessment. My Department, along with the Housing Agency and the Housing Delivery Coordination Office of the Local Government Management Agency will continue to advise and support Clare in respect of its planned response to affordable housing needs in its area.
