Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 November 2021
69. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress of the affordable housing scheme in County Cork to date; his plans for this scheme going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54981/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing for All Strategy delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system, with an ambitious target of 300,000 homes over the next decade for social, affordable and cost rental, private rental and private ownership housing.
Measures to deliver this housing are supported by over €4 billion in funding annually, representing the highest ever level of Government investment in building social and affordable housing. 54,000 affordable homes interventions will be delivered between now and 2030 to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
The delivery of affordable housing, in accordance with the schemes set out in the Affordable Housing Act, 2021 and the funding being made available, will be underpinned by local authorities' Housing Delivery Action Plans. Local authorities, including both Cork City Council and Cork County Council, will be submitting their Plans to me, to include social and affordable housing before the end of December 2021. This will allow each local authority to assess the level of demand with affordability constraint in their area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment and plan provision accordingly.
Funding to support local authority delivery of affordable housing was made available through the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF). Following the Programme for Government commitment to extend the SSF, a progress review of SSF projects was undertaken. Considering feedback from local authorities, significant improvements to the scheme, now named the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF), have been agreed and communicated to local authorities by Circular in June 2021.
My Department has been accepting AHF applications since 1 September 2021. Furthermore, my Department is currently engaging with the 14 local authorities, including both Cork City Council and Cork County Council, with SSF schemes approved in principle to clarify the status of their approved SSF projects.
Nine SSF applications from Cork received approval in principle; three from Cork City Council and 6 from Cork County Council. In the case of Cork City Council, one SSF project is currently in progress and I understand that one will be resubmitted under the AHF applications process. I also understand that Cork County Council has advised my Department of their intention to re-submit all 6 approved SSF projects to be considered under AHF.
In relation to the scheme governing the affordable purchase of local authority provided or arranged affordable housing, it is intended that regulations regarding income eligibility in respect of the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme will be in place shortly.
