Thomas Gould
Question:137. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the role his Department has taken into the review of the mortgage to rent scheme. [15218/24]
View answerHousing Schemes
Questions (137)
Written answers
The 2021 Review of the Mortgage to Rent Scheme was published by my Department on 24 January 2022 and is available on my Department's website. Since the publication of this Review, from Quarter 1 of 2022 to the end of Quarter 1 of 2024, a total of 767 Mortgage to Rent applications have been completed. A further 367 applications are being progressed currently.
Both the Programme for Government and Housing for All commit to strengthening the Mortgage to Rent scheme and ensuring that it is helping those who need it. Building on the significant changes made to the scheme in 2017, the 2021 Review examined the impact of these changes and what further changes would benefit those in need of the scheme. While the scheme was performing well, it was assessed that some further enhancements were needed to enable more households in need of State support with their long-term housing needs to avail of the scheme.
Four broad categories of actions are identified in the review, including:
a) Broadening the eligibility criteria;
b) Improving the scheme process, structure and financing;
c) Increasing communication and awareness raising; and
d) Responding to developments around mortgage arrears solutions.
A number of actions have been completed and progress is also being made under other actions within the review.
One key priority action was to broaden the eligibility criteria of the scheme and this was implemented in February 2022. These include changes to the positive equity and property acquisition limits and more flexibility on over-accommodation where a member of the household is aged 65 or over, or has a disability. Furthermore, the increase in the income threshold for social housing has also opened the Mortgage to Rent scheme to more borrowers, because households entering Mortgage to Rent must qualify for social housing support. These changes have enabled some additional borrowers, that were not previously eligible, to apply for the scheme.
An advertising campaign was conducted towards the end of 2022 under the 'communication and awareness raising' action and further initiatives to increase awareness of the scheme will be undertaken. There is also continued engagement with Abhaile, the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI) and Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) to disseminate information on the Mortgage to Rent scheme.
Another action arising from the review of the MTR scheme was for the Department to consider the policy options around the scheme to ensure its continued effective operation, as well as ensuring value for money for the State. The Housing Agency, on behalf of my Department, recently ran an Expressions of Interest (EOI) process in 2023 which invited participants from both the private and Approved Housing Body (AHB) sector to put forward their interest in becoming MTR providers that can deliver the scheme at scale. 2 AHBs and 3 private providers have been appointed as part of this process and their appointments are for a period of three years. The EOI process was necessary for the long-term sustainability of the scheme and will offer lenders more MTR providers with whom they can engage and process cases with. The appointments of the 5 large scale providers does not prevent other AHBs from continuing their involvement with the MTR process on a property-by-property basis.
My Department is also represented on the newly established long-term mortgage arrears group, along with representatives from the Department of Justice, the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Finance and other stakeholders. The objective of this group is to examine the full suite of measures in place to reduce the number of people in long-term mortgage arrears and to recommend changes to increase the efficacy of these measures where necessary.
Local Authorities
Questions (138)
Seán Sherlock
Question:138. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will intervene in a compensation dispute between two local authorities by appointing a new group to examine and make a determination (details supplied). [15877/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Local Government Act 2019 (the Act) was enacted on 31 January 2019 to provide for the transfer of part of the administrative area of Cork County Council to the administrative area of Cork City, and this took place when the new Councils took office after the local elections in late May 2019. Financial responsibility did not transfer to Cork City Council until 1 January 2020 for budgeting and accounting purposes.
The Act provided for the establishment of the statutory Cork Boundary Alteration Implementation Oversight Committee to oversee arrangements for the alteration of the boundary in accordance with the statutory implementation plan.
The Act also provided for financial arrangements to be agreed jointly by the local authorities, which involves an annual contribution by the City Council to the County Council for a period specified in the legislation. Section 24(3) of the Act sets out that in the event that the Chief Executives of the Cork local authorities disagree with one another in relation to the amount of the annual contribution in respect of any year, either of them may refer the matter to the Oversight Committee for a recommendation on the matter.
While the Oversight Committee has not been active since the transfer was concluded and currently has no membership, members may be appointed by me, as Minister, if required in the circumstances outlined.
Legislative Measures
Questions (139)
Thomas Gould
Question:139. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the proposed right-to-buy legislation will include tenant-in-situ purchases. [15899/24]
View answerWritten answers
The General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill was approved by Government on 24 October 2023 to provide for a tenant’s ‘first right of refusal’, where a landlord intends to sell a rented dwelling. The Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage undertook Pre-Legislative Scrutiny (PLS) of the General Scheme in December 2023 and published its report on 19 December 2023.
Priority legal drafting of the Bill is underway, taking account of the PLS report, and publication is expected in Q2 2024. Where a Notice of Termination (NoT) is served on the basis of the landlord’s intention to sell the rented dwelling, the landlord would be obliged to simultaneously invite their tenant to make a bid to purchase the property – i.e. give a notice of invitation to bid to their tenant.
First right of refusal can already be offered to sitting tenants to buy their rented home. It is happening, on a voluntary basis, at present.
The Government is operating two administrative schemes to keep tenants in situ.
The Local Authority Tenant In-Situ (TiS) scheme for tenants who are eligible for social housing support, reside in private rental homes and who are at risk of homelessness because a landlord intends to sell the property.
The Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) scheme for tenants who are not eligible for social housing support, reside in private rental homes and who are at risk of homelessness because a landlord intends to sell the property. The scheme was established on a temporary administrative basis from 1 April 2023 and is currently managed by the Housing Agency, pending further policy development over the longer term, with the intention of transitioning these homes to the standard Cost Rental model over time and to move it to being an Approved Housing Body led scheme.
The operation of these schemes will be bolstered when the provisions of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill come into force.
Housing Provision
Questions (140)
Bernard Durkan
Question:140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which the provision of accommodation for persons on local authority housing lists and those seeking affordable housing can be accommodated in the short term alongside the competing requirements of refugees and the number on the housing lists; if modular housing or wooden chalet-type housing will be urgently provided to meet the need for housing at an early date; the estimated number of potential units that could be made available given manufacturers of modular or wooden housing in Ireland are exporting their products while this serious crisis exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15903/24]
View answerWritten answers
Housing for All, has now entered its fourth year of implementation. Under the Plan, the Government is aiming to deliver an average of at least 33,000 new homes annually, including an average of 10,000 social homes and 6,000 affordable homes for purchase or for rent. 2024 will see over €5bn of capital investment in housing. This funding will ensure the Government can continue to build on the momentum achieved since the publication of the Plan in September 2021.
Under Housing for All, each local authority was required to prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan. This Plan sets out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. In preparing the Plans, local authorities were required to include details of land available to deliver housing. The Plans also include details of the locations and delivery streams for social housing schemes. The Plans have been published on the local authorities' respective websites.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including Part V delivery. This data is available to the end of Quarter 4 2023 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/6d316-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/?referrer=http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics.
In this regard, close to 12,000 new social homes were delivered in 2023, a 16% increase on 2022, representing the highest level of social housing delivery in decades. In addition, over 4,000 affordable housing options were delivered in respect of both affordable purchase and cost rental homes via local authorities, AHBs, the Land Development Agency (LDA), the First Home Scheme and through the new Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. This represents an increase of 128% on 2022 activity, and highlights the significant progress achieved to date under Housing for All in relation to affordable housing delivery. This momentum will continue in 2024, with a strong pipeline in place.
While my Department does not hold details on the various construction processes used in the delivery of new homes, the first Housing for All Action Plan Update, (November 2022), included a new action to develop a roadmap with targets for increased use of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in Public Housing. This Roadmap was published on 11 July 2023 and is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/414cd-roadmap-for-increased-adoption-of-mmc-in-public-housing-delivery/.
My Department is now working closely with the local authorities to increase the use of MMC in social and affordable housing. The development of MMC will improve productivity in construction and increase efficiency in residential construction. MMC covers a range of manufacturing and innovative construction alternatives to traditional construction, including modular construction. MMC has the potential to boost productivity, increase efficiency and improve sustainability in the construction sector. MMC techniques can speed up the delivery of construction projects by between 20% and 60%, has been identified as a key measure to address the different housing needs in Ireland.
The coordination of activities to promote MMC adoption is being led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), through the inter-departmental MMC Leadership and Integration Group (established July 2022). This Group ensures the integration and co-ordination of the various Government-supported MMC initiatives – to support innovation in the construction industry.
Such initiatives include:
• The social housing Accelerated Delivery Programme which uses MMC;
• Publication of the aforementioned Roadmap for increased adoption of MMC in Public Housing Delivery;
• The Construct Innovate Technology Centre;
• The National Demonstration Park for MMC;
• The National Construction Training Centre;
• Training for industry, procurers and Building Control in MMC; and
• The establishment of the Timber in Construction Working Group, which, bringing together a range of industry expertise, will be tasked with examining conditions to increase the use of timber in construction.
Housing Provision
Questions (141)
Bernard Durkan
Question:141. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which housing developments are in hand in each local authority throughout the country, as well as in County Kildare, with a view to alleviating the waiting list for local authority and affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15904/24]
View answerWritten answers
Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 new homes per year, over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and through First Home, a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
All local authorities, including Kildare County Council, have published their social and affordable Housing Delivery Action Plans on their websites, including their proposed public housing delivery for the period 2022-26.
In terms of social and affordable delivery, my Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on all delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies in each local authority. This data is available to the end of Q4 2023 and is published on the statistics' page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
A strong pipeline of social housing build projects is in place and this is evident from the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR) that my Department also publishes on a quarterly basis. The CSR provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 4 of 2023. All CSRs are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/. A version of the CSR file can also be downloaded for analysis of completions, locations, approvals stage etc. at this link: data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q4-2023
My Department, together with the Housing Agency, and the Housing Delivery Coordination Office of the Local Government Management Association, continues to liaise with local authorities, including Kildare County Council, in relation to their ongoing development of affordability programmes that will respond effectively to identified affordability needs. Notably, Kildare has already successfully delivered 19 affordable purchase homes at Grey Abbey, Kildare with the support of the Affordable Housing Fund.
Significant progress is being made to deliver the ambitious targets contained in Housing for All and my Department is working closely with the local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies and other stakeholders to accelerate the delivery of social and affordable housing.
Housing Policy
Questions (142)
Bernard Durkan
Question:142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which efforts are being made to control house price inflation, including the possibility of having the local authorities engage builders to build public housing on State-owned lands to facilitate local authority and affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15905/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Land Development Agency was established in 2018 and placed on a legislative footing by the Land Development Agency Act 2021. It’s primary role is to deliver affordable housing on public land that may be underutilised.
Significant progress is being made regarding the delivery of housing on the States own lands with, for example, works underway at the former HSE owned St Kevin’s Hospital site in Cork City and the Devoy Barracks site in Naas Co. Kildare.
Planning permission has also been secured to develop social and affordable homes on a number of other State owned sites, with work also underway between the Land Development Agency and local authorities to deliver housing on State owned lands.
On foot of the Report on Relevant Public Lands 2023, which identified an additional potential pipeline of sites for future housing delivery, work is underway to transfer nine more State owned sites to the Land Development Agency for the development of affordable and social housing. These sites are spread across locations in Dublin, Waterford, Limerick, Cork and Galway, and collectively have the potential to deliver over 3,000 homes.
Housing Policy
Questions (143)
Bernard Durkan
Question:143. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the further steps that can be taken to dramatically increase the housing output to meet the requirements of both the public and private housing programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15906/24]
View answerWritten answers
Housing for All, has now entered its fourth year of implementation. Under the Plan, the Government is aiming to deliver an average of at least 33,000 new homes annually, including an average of 10,000 social homes and 6,000 affordable homes for purchase or for rent. 2024 will see over €5bn of capital investment in housing. This funding will ensure the Government can continue to build on the momentum achieved since the publication of the Plan in September 2021.
Supply, which is key to addressing our housing needs, is increasing. The latest Housing for All Progress Report, published on 25 January, showed that the number of new homes delivered in 2023 was the highest in fifteen years, with 32,695 new homes completed. Momentum has continued into this year. In the first two months of 2024, building commenced on 7,056 new homes. This figure has increased by 72% when compared to the same period in 2023, with the rolling 12-month commencements now above 35,750. Furthermore, nationally, planning permission was granted for 41,225 new homes in 2023, an increase of 21% on 2022.
A number of new measures have been introduced 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, Government recently approved additional interim funding for the Land Development Agency (LDA) to support the delivery 12,900, primarily affordable cost rental, homes out to 2028. 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. We continue to keep measures in Housing for All under review to ensure we are agile and responsive in addressing the challenges in housing. Housing for All and the second Housing for All Action Plan Update, published on 14 November 2023, outlines all of the various measures which are currently available through the Plan. This can be accessed at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/dfc50-housing-for-all/
Housing Schemes
Questions (144)
Bernard Durkan
Question:144. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the degree to which the various forms of assistance available for first-time house buyers are upgrading satisfactorily without contributing to house price inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15907/24]
View answerWritten answers
Housing for All is providing prospective home-owners with housing options they didn’t have when the plan was published two years ago. These options include Government supports for first-time buyers such as the Local Authority Home Loan, Ready-to-build and the First Home shared equity scheme, all of which are assisting those aspiring to purchase their own home to do so.
In this context, first-time buyer activity remains particularly robust, with recent data showing a year-on-year increase in the number of homes purchased and mortgage drawdowns by first-time buyers at their highest level since 2007.
At the same time, the growth in residential property prices has moderated significantly, down from a high of 15% in March 2022 to 5.4% nationally in the year to end January 2024. There are also recent signs the annual rate of growth in the prices of new homes has begun to moderate. Sectoral forecasts suggest a low single digit rise in prices in 2024.
The housing market is a complex landscape and it is particularly challenging to isolate the effects of subsidies and other supports for first-time buyers from concurrent factors such as income growth, inflation in construction materials and the availability of second-hand and new homes in specific local markets.
That said, an independent assessment of the 'Help to Buy' tax incentive, completed in 2022, suggested that that incentive had no discernible impact on the overall prices of new homes for first-time buyers.
Similarly, recently concluded research by KMPG on the First Home scheme suggests there is no evidence the scheme is inflating property values. Indeed, the research suggests, in some instances, it may be having the opposite effect, as builders choose to keep prices below the price ceilings for homes to qualify for the scheme.
Importantly, any inflationary pressure exerted by such subsidies and other supports is likely to be minimal and outweighed by the benefits of those supports, including reversing the declining trend in homeownership among younger demographics.
Housing Provision
Questions (145)
Bernard Durkan
Question:145. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of planning permissions applied for and refused by county in each of the past three years to date; the way such figures will inform housing policy going forward, with particular reference to giving the local population a chance to live in their local area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15908/24]
View answerWritten answers
Planning statistics are compiled by each planning authority on an annual basis for collation and publication on my Department’s website. The information requested on the total number of applications and refusals by counties in each of the past three years in both outline permission and planning permission for the period up to and including 2022 is included in the statistics available on my Departments website at:
www.gov.ie/en/service/9e4ee-get-planning-statistics/.
The data is collated on an annual basis and the 2023 data will be available in May 2024.
The data collected relates to the total number of applications and decisions for all developments that require planning permission along with refusals, broken down by year and planning authority. However, more granular data, such as in relation to the number of residential planning applications, is not specifically collected and consequently is not available in my Department. Such information may be sought directly from the relevant planning authority and An Bord Pleanála as appropriate.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) provides detailed data available on a number of planning related matters, including permissions granted by development type and county, on its website. This is updated on a quarterly basis and can be accessed at the following link: www.cso.ie/en/statistics/buildingandconstruction/planningpermissions/.
Updated Rural Housing Guidelines are currently being prepared by my Department. The updated guidelines will expand on the high level spatial planning policy of the National Planning Framework (NPF), in particular on National Policy Objective (NPO) 19 which relates to rural housing. This objective makes a clear policy distinction between rural areas under urban influence (i.e. areas within the commuter catchment of cities, towns and centres of employment) on the one hand, and structurally weaker rural areas where population levels may be low or declining, on the other. NPO 19 is also aligned with the established approach whereby considerations of social (intrinsic part of the community) or economic (persons working full or part time) need are to be applied by planning authorities in rural areas under urban influence.
The draft Rural Housing Guidelines will set out relevant planning criteria to be applied in local authority development plans for rural housing, based on the high level policy framework set by the NPF. The guidelines will continue to allow county development plans to provide for housing in the countryside based on the considerations detailed in NPO 19 of the NPF, and will also highlight the need to manage development in certain areas, such as the areas around cities and larger towns and environmentally sensitive areas, in order to avoid over-development.
While planning policy is a national, as opposed to an EU competence, due care is being taken to ensure the updated guidelines will not operate to conflict with fundamental EU freedoms, comply with EU environmental legislative requirements and have due regard to decisions of the European Court of Justice. The draft planning guidelines will address these complex environmental and legal issues, while also providing a framework for the sustainable management of housing in rural areas.
Having regard to these complex considerations, the draft guidelines are subject to legal review and Ministerial approval, following which it is intended that the draft guidelines will be published for a period of public consultation.
Housing Policy
Questions (146)
Bernard Durkan
Question:146. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an audit has been carried out to determine the best value for money to his Department of direct build local authority houses compared with housing assistance payment, or rent support, given that neither of the latter schemes present a permanent resolution to the applicants' housing needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15909/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) are forms of social housing support, provided by my Department, for people who have a long-term housing need.
In order for a household to qualify for HAP, they must first be assessed as eligible for social housing support by their local authority. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP and those households must source their own accommodation in the private rental sector.
Households in receipt of a payment under the HAP scheme are not eligible to remain on the main housing waiting list. However, acknowledging that some households on the waiting list, who avail of HAP, have expectations that they would receive a more traditional form of social housing support, Ministerial directions have issued to ensure that, should they so choose, HAP recipients can avail of a move to other forms of social housing support through a transfer list. Overall, a total of 21,015 HAP recipients have exited HAP to other forms of social housing.
RAS has been an important contributor to social housing supply and places responsibility on local authorities to meet the accommodation needs of people in receipt of Rent Supplement for 18 months or longer, and who are assessed as having a long-term housing need. The scheme is delivered by local authorities who source accommodation from both the private market and Approved Housing Bodies.
In RAS, all new tenants from 1 April 2011 are considered to have their housing need met and therefore they cannot remain on the main social housing waiting list. However, such tenants can be provided with the option of being placed on the transfer list, similar to tenants in local authority housing. To address the expectations of RAS tenants before this date, guidance from the Housing Agency in 2011 recommended a special transfer process for those tenants to access other social housing support. From 2016 to end 2022, a total of 5,648 RAS tenancies exited to other forms of social housing.
Responsibility for the Rent Supplement Scheme falls within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.
My Department continually monitors the implementation of policies and objectives in relation to social housing, as well as the costs associated with implementation, and works to ensure the best value for money for the level of resources available, taking account of the level of housing needs to be met.
This is reflected in my Department’s regular participation in Spending Reviews led by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, which in recent years have examined expenditure across a range of housing measures. These reviews demonstrate that, while in certain specific urban/rural scenarios it is arguable that one type of housing delivery may be more costly than another, in overall terms value for money is being achieved.
Under the Housing for All strategy, the Government plans to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 homes per year over the next decade, including an average of 10,000 new build social homes. In 2022, 10,254 new social homes were delivered, including 7,433 new-build homes, 951 acquisitions and 1,870 homes delivered through leasing programmes. This represents the highest delivery of new build social housing since 1975. 2023 saw a further 16% increase on 2022 delivery with 11,939 new social homes delivered, including 8,110 new-build homes, 1,830 acquisitions and 1,999 homes delivered through leasing programmes.
As we continue to increase the supply of social housing, there will be reducing reliance on the HAP and RAS schemes.
Housing Provision
Questions (147)
Bernard Durkan
Question:147. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average price of a house deemed to be in the affordable category; the number built, acquired or under construction at present throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15910/24]
View answerWritten answers
Home ownership and affordability are a key priority for Government which has targeted the delivery of 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and via the First Home scheme, a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks. It is anticipated that 36,000 of these homes will be affordable purchase homes.
An Affordable Housing Fund subsidy is available to local authorities as a direct subvention towards the development cost depending on the density of housing units per hectare achieved on the development concerned, and its location. The subsidy enables local authorities to make the homes available for purchase by approved affordable housing applicants at an upfront affordable purchase price that is between 5% and 40% less than the open market value of the home concerned. In return the local authority retains a commensurate equity stake in the property which may be redeemed by the purchaser at a future date. In this way persons and families on modest incomes who were priced out of the housing market are now being facilitated in acquiring their own home.
The price point at which new homes are delivered by local authorities for affordable purchase purposes is dependent on a range of variables, such as the location, the scale of the development, the size and type of the homes involved together with the individual purchasing power of the approved affordable housing candidate household concerned. Median house prices differ widely by area so the concept of defining the affordable housing category by an average price is problematic. However, homes made available under the scheme are typically new starter homes, in the lower half of the market price spectrum for the area.
For example, Kildare County Council delivered nineteen 3-bedroom affordable homes to affordable purchasers at Grey Abbey, Kildare last year. The open market value of the homes on offer ranged from €360,000 to €370,000 (reflecting the various types of home available).
The application of a subvention from the AHF enabled the homes to be advertised in May 2023 at upfront prices from €285,000 and €300,000.
By way of comparison, CSO data shows that the rolling 12 month median price for new homes purchased by First-Time Buyer Owner Occupiers in the Kildare region in May 2023 was €410,000.
In terms of delivery numbers, local authorities now submit quarterly data returns to my Department on the delivery of affordable homes in their area. Quarterly and annual returns for 2022 and 2023 have been published at the following weblink:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery.
The data published shows that over 5,800 affordable housing solutions have been delivered to date. This figure includes 822 affordable purchase homes delivered by local authorities with the support of the Affordable Housing Fund. A strong delivery pipeline is in place and continues to be developed and expanded in line with Housing for All targets and identified affordability needs.
Heritage Projects
Questions (148)
Bernard Durkan
Question:148. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of heritage projects currently in hand or listed for attention in terms of projection and restoration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15911/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department provides financial support for the protection of eligible heritage buildings, historic towns, and archaeological sites through a variety of schemes.
The Historic Structures Fund and Built Heritage Investment Scheme are funded by my Department and administered mainly by the Local Authorities. These schemes support conservation works to Protected Structures and other historic buildings. Last month my Department announced that 676 heritage projects would receive funding under these schemes in 2024.
The Historic Towns Initiative (HTI) is funded by my Department and administered by the Heritage Council. It funds conservation works and plans for heritage buildings and public realm in historic towns. This year eight towns have been granted funding under the HTI programme.
My Department also runs the Community Monuments Fund (CMF) which assists in the conservation and promotion of monuments and historic sites. A total of 225 applications for funding for the CMF were received in 2024, and an announcement on the successful projects will be made in the coming days.
It should be noted that these are the government schemes dedicated to conservation projects. Other schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant etc. will fund some restoration work through their wider programme of grants.
Housing Policy
Questions (149)
Bernard Durkan
Question:149. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of new houses provided by the local authorities, by county, for prospective tenants in 2023 and 2024 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15912/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority area. This data is available to the end of 2023 and is published on the statistics' page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.
My Department also publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 4 2023. All Construction Status Reports are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/.
A version of the CSR file can also be downloaded for analysis by local authority, funding stream etc. at this link: data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q4-2023.
Question No. 150 answered with Question No. 43.
Housing Policy
Questions (151)
Richard Bruton
Question:151. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the directives which are in place requiring local authorities to make adequate provision for a positive environment to support a ageing population in their area; and whether any audit of the adequacy of planning policy to meet this challenge has been undertaken. [15931/24]
View answerWritten answers
Age Friendly Ireland (AFI) is a shared service of local government hosted by Meath County Council responsible for the national Age Friendly Programme, affiliated to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities. The WHO has defined eight thematic areas within which the Age Friendly programmes work collaboratively to support the development of local sustainable solutions for older people. The thematic areas are Outdoor Spaces and Buildings, Housing, Social Participation, Transport, Respect & Social Inclusion, Civic Participation and Employment, Communication & Information, Community Support and Health Services.
AFI supports cities and counties to be more inclusive of older people through the programme which involves a multiagency, multi-sectoral approach to age-related planning and service provision. AFI supports a network of 31 local Age Friendly Programmes which are led by local authorities and which involve many stakeholders from other public bodies, universities, community/voluntary and private sector partners. The shared service supports a number of strategic national structures and provides technical guidance to its networks.
Within the framework of the WHO’s Age Friendly Cities and Communities model, city and county based stakeholders are making commitments to shared action plans addressing the eight thematic areas. Under the leadership of the local authority, governance is anchored in the multi-agency Age-Friendly Alliances, supported by broadly representative Older People’s Councils actively engaged as co-design partners.
Successful Age Friendly Programmes are working to create the kinds of communities in which older people live autonomous, independent and valued lives. The programme has a strong focus on creating walkable, attractive and accessible communities and age-friendly spaces. By introducing actions to address participation and inequality it is intended that people of all ages will be supported to enjoy healthier, more active and connected lives.
Question No. 152 answered with Question No. 43.
Turf Cutting
Questions (153)
Seán Canney
Question:153. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a person who owned two bogs on a designated bog (details supplied) can access the turf cutting and compensation scheme in relation to both bogs, as opposed to one only, as the compensation of €1,500 does not cover the household fuel outlay and does not reflect the fact that this household was forced to cease cutting on two bog plots as opposed to one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15937/24]
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The Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (CTCCS) was established in 2011 for domestic turf cutters affected by the cessation of turf cutting on designated raised bogs. It comprises a payment of €1,500 per annum, index-linked, for 15 years, or relocation, where feasible, to a non-designated bog.
The annual rate of payment was established following consultation with interest groups. The index-linked rate of compensation for 2024 is €1,839.
One of the primary objectives of the introduction of the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (CTCCS) is to compensate families for the lack of access to fuel for domestic home heating to households as a result of the cessation of turf cutting on designated raised bogs. As such, one compensation claim per individual household is permitted under the scheme regardless of the number of bog plots owned by the individual within any bog encompassed by the scheme.
Additional bog plots not covered by CTCCS may qualify for the Protected Raised Bog Restoration Incentive Scheme (PRBRIS). This is a once off area based compensation scheme open to applications from property right holders who wish to have their lands included as part of the restoration scheme or where access is required for restoration works within a designated raised bog.
More information on the scheme can be found on the National Parks and Wildlife Service website: www.npws.ie/peatlands-and-turf-cutting/protected-raised-bog-restoration-incentive-scheme-prbris.