Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2024
1159. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has reviewed why the Cois Farraige affordable housing scheme offered by Louth County Council was not successful; if any aspect of the scheme will be changed following review; if any further affordable housing is due to come on stream in Louth in the next 12 months, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33183/24]
View answerMy Department has engaged with Louth County Council in relation to the scheme at Cois Farraige and engages on an ongoing basis to advance their commitment to an affordable housing delivery programme that will respond effectively to the significant affordable housing need it has identified across the county.
The response to the advertising of the 10 homes at Cois Farraige was less than expected. Only 26 applications were received when the applications portal closed on 7 March 2024 and 18 of these proved ineligible/invalid.
Louth made offers to 8 applicants, 3 of whom withdrew during the conveyancing process and they were unable to readvertise the remaining 5 homes as the developer agreement in this case had a limited timeframe. I share the disappointment of Louth County Council that all the homes were not successfully deployed for affordable housing purposes but I believe that Louth learned a good deal about what type of schemes will work in the relevant areas for that local authority and the housing market in Louth.
I understand that Louth plans to undertake a comprehensive Affordable Purchase survey in order to determine interest in affordable purchase, locations of interest, and associated income levels etc. across the county. Louth will also engage with developers in order to identify an Affordable Purchase Scheme pipeline throughout the county.
I am satisfied that the scheme criteria and the Affordable Housing Fund arrangements are fundamentally robust and appropriate. Five eligible households in Louth were able to secure a home suited to their needs at an affordable price.
Last week my Department’s affordable housing delivery report for Quarter 1 2024 was published on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link -
www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/?#affordable-housing-delivery
66 affordable housing solutions have been delivered in County Louth during that quarter. This includes the 5 homes at Cois Farraige, 58 First Home approvals and 3 Vacant Property Refurbishment Grants. Further delivery will be published as normal in my Department's quarterly statistical publications.
