Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 July 2021
194. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social, affordable, and cost rental homes built by the State in quarter 1 and 2 2021, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38759/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity. This data includes a breakdown of social housing delivery across a range of mechanisms. Data for Quarter 1 2021 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/. Data for Quarter 2 2021 is currently being compiled and will be published in due course.
In addition to the statistical overview of activity in each local authority, a detailed Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR) is published each quarter. The CSR provides details of individual build projects in each local authority. The most recent publication covers the period up to the end of Q1 2021 and is available at the following link: rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-obrien-publishes-social-housing-construction-status-report-for-q1-2021/
The Programme for Government commits to putting affordability at the heart of the housing system. Delivery on this commitment is evidenced in the new measures contained in the Affordable Housing Bill 2021, which has just been approved by the Oireachtas. It provides for three schemes that will increase the supply of affordable homes through: (1) affordable homes on local authority lands, (2) the introduction of a new form of tenure in Cost Rental, and (3) a new affordable purchase shared equity scheme. The Bill also expands Part V planning requirements to increase the 10% contribution requirement to 20% and to apply it to cost rental as well as social and affordable housing.
The first Cost Rental homes will be provided by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), facilitated by the new Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) scheme, under which funding for 390 homes was approved earlier this year. The first 25 of these will become available at Taylor Hill in Balbriggan in August, with further homes to follow later this year, in addition to the 50 homes at the pilot Cost Rental development at Enniskerry Road. These homes represent the first steps of this important new sector.
In addition to the aforementioned Cost Rental homes at Enniskerry Road which have benefitted from Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) subvention, the first affordable purchase homes supported by SSF funding will be delivered in Quarter 4 of 2021 at Boherboy Road, Cork City.
