Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 April 2023
308. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding provisions put in place by his Department to action Part 2 Section 6(2) or the Affordable Housing Act 2021 in relation to arrangement for community-led housing organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18976/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraPart 2 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021, and its associated Regulations, allows for the provision of affordable homes by local authorities, for sale to eligible buyers under affordable dwelling purchase arrangements.
Section 6(2) of the Act empowers local authorities to enter into arrangements for the provision of affordable homes with Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), community-led housing organisations or housing co-operatives, the Land Development Agency (LDA), and/or public private partnership arrangements.
Therefore, any of these organisations wishing to provide affordable housing for purchase is required to engage directly with the relevant local authority. These homes would then be advertised, allocated, and sold to eligible buyers in accordance with the legislative framework for Local Authority Affordable Purchase and the relevant local authority's scheme of priority for such sales.
2022 represented the first year of a very ambitious programme of delivery of affordable housing. This momentum will continue with delivery stepping up this year. A pipeline of housing delivery is in place and under continuous development by local authorities, AHBs and the LDA. Data on delivery across all affordable housing streams during 2022 is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery.
