Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 February 2024
171. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the delivery of affordable housing schemes in conjunction with Cavan and Monaghan County Councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8466/24]
View answerUnder Housing for All, the Government has targeted delivery of 47,600 new build social homes; 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing, and 28,500 new affordable homes from 2022 to 2026.
Each local authority has prepared its own 5-year Housing Delivery Action Plan setting out their planned social and affordable housing delivery. The Plans for Cavan and Monaghan are available on the websites of the local authorities concerned.
Cavan and Monaghan do not have specific affordable housing targets as the assessed level of affordably constrained new housing need is not high in either county as house prices are below the national median. However, support is available to both local authorities from the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) where localised affordability needs arise. Neither local authority has applied for AHF assistance to date. Assistance with developing schemes is available from my Department, the LGMA and the Housing Agency if required.
I anticipate that the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, which includes funding for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Ready to Build Scheme, will prove valuable in addressing overall affordability needs in Cavan and Monaghan and both authorities have vacant homes officers in place who can assist the public with bringing vacant homes back into use, with up to €70,000 in grant support available to do so.
Comprehensive programme level statistics covering social and affordable housing delivery programmes are published quarterly. Data for 2022 and up to and including the third quarter of 2023 is available on the Department’s website at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/?#affordable-housing-delivery
The published data includes First Home scheme activity and shows that a number of first time buyers in both Cavan and Monaghan have availed of the affordable housing opportunities provided under First Home to date. As this scheme develops and takes hold I anticipate that it will become increasingly significant to affordable housing delivery in all counties nationwide.
