Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 February 2024
133. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the provision of affordable housing in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7058/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Housing for All, the Government has targeted the delivery of 28,500 new affordable homes from 2022 to 2026, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
Clare County Council has prepared and published its own 5-year Housing Delivery Action Plan to meet social and affordable housing need and targets for delivery in the county. While Clare does not have a specific affordability target, it has identified localised affordability need in key urban locations where new households being formed would not be able to access housing for purchase or rent at prices/rents affordable to them.
The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) is open and available to support all local authorities to address affordability needs identified in their area.
In this context, my Department has been liaising with Clare County Council in the development of its affordable housing delivery programme to respond appropriately to identified need in its area.
To date Clare County Council has received funding approval from the AHF to assist in the delivery of 10 affordable purchase homes at Shannon. A further application for a proposed affordable purchase scheme at Ennis was received by my Department in December last and is currently under assessment. My Department, along with the Housing Agency and the Housing Delivery Coordination Office of the Local Government Management Agency will continue to advise and support the Council in respect of its planned response to affordable housing needs in its area.
