Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 April 2024
80. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action he will take to increase the delivery of affordable purchase and cost rental housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15627/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing out to 2030 comprising of 54,000 affordable homes to be delivered by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through the First Home Scheme, which is a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
Following the publication of Housing for All in September 2021, all local authorities were asked to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans to address affordable housing needs in their areas over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. This does not include additional affordable homes that will be delivered by the LDA, AHBs, First Home and via the higher Part V requirements introduced in the Affordable Housing Act 2021. A copy of each Council’s Housing Delivery Action Plan is available on their individual websites.
Data for affordable housing delivery is published on a quarterly basis, similar to social housing delivery. This data is published up to Quarter 4 2023 and is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery.
In 2023, over 4,000 affordable housing supports have been delivered via Approved Housing Bodies, Local Authorities, the Land Development Agency (LDA), the Cost Rental Tenant-in-Situ (CRTiS) scheme, the First Home Scheme, and through the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. The delivery of affordable housing has more than doubled since last year, and the figures represent an increase of 128% on 2022 activity, which highlights the significant progress achieved to date in relation to affordable housing.
Government measures such as the increased financial support for delivery of Cost Rental homes by Approved Housing Bodies through the revised Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) and the new Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental scheme (STAR) have directly assisted in addressing viability challenges in the sector while activating uncommenced sites for the provision of affordable housing. These measures are kept under constant review to ensure that both the supply of cost rental and affordable housing is secured.
Affordable housing schemes are now operating at scale and this momentum will continue as the pipeline of affordable housing delivery is developed and expanded by local authorities, AHBs and the LDA.
