Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 June 2022
14. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to deliver public and affordable housing in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32957/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All, is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 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. Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes; 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing and 28,500 new affordable homes in the period 2022-2026.
In September 2021, I issued social housing targets to each local authority for the period 2022-2026 and in March I issued local authority targets for affordable purchase and cost-rental. The targets for Waterford County Council include the delivery of 1,057 new build social homes, 46 social homes through long-term leasing and 76 affordable homes between 2022 and 2026. Waterford City and County Council have already funding approved to support the delivery of 119 affordable purchase homes under advance purchase arrangements, exceeding their targeted level of affordable delivery.
A key action of Housing for All is that local authorities will develop and submit Housing Delivery Action Plans. The Plans set out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022 - 2026. All local authorities submitted their Housing Delivery Action Plans to me in December and my Department is now working closely with the local authorities to review and finalise the Plans, having regard to the targets and policy objectives set out in Housing for All. The Plans will be published by local authorities before the end of Quarter 2.
The First Home Scheme to support affordable purchases of new homes in the private market will operate nationwide. Targeted at First Time Buyers or those eligible under the Government’s ‘Fresh Start’ principle, the Scheme will be delivered via a strategic partnership between the State and participating mortgage lenders, and will be launched in the coming weeks. It will improve access to newly-built homes by using a shared equity model to bridge the gap between mortgage finance and the cost of new homes. The homes must be priced within regional price ceilings which will reflect the median prices paid by First Time Buyers for new homes in each area, so this is an intervention to support homeownership in the lower region of the market.
