As part of Budget 2019, I announced a significant increase in expenditure to the Serviced Site Fund (SSF) to enable the Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government to deliver additional affordable housing for low and middle income first time buyers. A total exchequer allocation of €275 million is being provided for the SSF from 2019 to 2021, plus a local authority contribution of €35 million, bringing the total fund to €310 million over the next three years. The SSF will fund facilitating infrastructure on local authority sites. Infrastructure works on projects will begin as soon as possible and delivery of affordable homes is anticipated from early 2020 onwards.
As housing policy, including policy in relation to affordable housing, falls under the remit of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, additional information on the SSF and other affordable housing initiatives can be obtained from his Department.