Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
607. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on ending long-term leasing by local authorities and approved housing bodies through phasing out new entrants and focus on new-build to provide social housing homes under Housing for All. [43320/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 homes per year over the next decade. Over 300,000 new homes will be built by the end of 2030, including a projected 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes.
This includes the delivery of 47,600 new build social homes in the period 2022-2026. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.
Housing for All envisages that 3,500 units are to be delivered through long term leasing over the lifetime of the plan, tapering down from 1,300 units in 2022 to 200 units in 2025. As such, annual Housing for All targets were allocated to 13 Local Authorities out to 2025.
Leasing delivery figures are available online at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
As a necessary measure to accelerate the provision of social homes and to alleviate pressure on the wider housing system this year; the Housing Agency in conjunction with my Department is exploring the introduction of an emergency new targeted leasing initiative.
On 15 July, a without prejudice call for expressions of interest was published on www.etenders.gov.ie, to test the market’s ability to deliver up to an additional 1,000 social homes between 2022 and 2025.
The purpose of this expression of interest is to drive engagement with property providers and approved housing bodies to assess whether 1,000 new social homes can be delivered in the areas of greatest social housing need, given current challenging market conditions. The Housing Agency is currently reviewing the 58 submissions received against the criteria of the initiative.
The outputs from the project submissions will enable an accurate cost analysis to be completed to determine the exact funds required to progress this initiative, which will then be assessed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for funding approval.
Housing for All commits to ending long term leasing by the end of 2025 . This policy remains unchanged, however leasing continues to be an important mechanism for expedited delivery to meet social housing needs as build supply ramps up to meet demand.
