Thomas Gould
Question:24. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that only 27 cost rental homes are in the pipeline for Cork city for delivery in 2024. [15677/24]
View answerThursday, 11 April 2024
Questions (24, 38)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:38. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable houses, cost rental and cost purchase, homes planned for Cork City and County Council and on the targets he has set for same. [15707/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 38 together.
Housing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing out to 2030, including 54,000 affordable homes for purchase and rent. These homes will be delivered by Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency, through the First Home Scheme, and by bringing vacant homes back into use. Significant public funding is being made available to support all of these delivery streams.
Local Authorities have published 5-year Housing Delivery Action Plans setting out affordable housing delivery targets up to 2026. Both Cork City and Cork County Council have set out plans to deliver 378 and 189 affordable homes respectively over this period. This Local Authority delivery does not include additional affordable homes that will be delivered by the LDA, AHBs, and the First Home Scheme, and via the higher Part V requirements introduced in the Affordable Housing Act 2021. The Delivery Action Plans for both Cork City and Cork County can be found on the respective Council websites.
I should note that the First Home Scheme, which supports first-time buyers acquiring new homes through the use of an equity share model, is available nationwide and since September 2023 now supports those who wish to build their own home.
Specifically in relation to Cost Rental, AHBs have so far delivered 105 homes in Cork City with funding from my Department’s Cost Rental Equity Loan, and I am pleased to announce that last month I approved CREL funding for another 51 AHB Cost Rental homes for delivery next year in Cork City. Further details, along with the advertisement for applications, will be announced closer to delivery.
I have also approved 5 Local Authority affordable housing projects in Cork County to assist with the delivery of 111 Cost Rental homes with support from the Affordable Housing Fund. Additionally, the Land Development Agency, via Project Tosaigh, is advancing the delivery of over 300 homes in Cork City that are scheduled for completion in 2025. I understand that consideration is being given by the LDA to the appropriate mix of cost rental and affordable purchase homes.
It is anticipated that the momentum created by the initial delivery will be maintained this year, and will ramp up into 2025. My Department and I continue to work closely with Local Authorities, AHBs, and the LDA to develop pipelines for delivery of affordable homes across the country, including Cork City and County.