Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 22, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet committee on housing met on Monday, 15 April. The next meeting will take place this month, in May. The committee works to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the implementation of Housing for All and for programme for Government commitments regarding housing and related matters, including planning reform. Our latest update on progress achieved under Housing for All during quarter 1 was published on Wednesday, 24 April. Housing for All is showing signs of progress. The first three months of this year have seen continued strong momentum, with building starting on almost 12,000 new homes - 11,956 to be specific. This is the highest quarter 1 figure since we began recording these numbers a decade ago and an increase of 60% on the same period last year. Planning permission was granted for over 41,000 new homes in 2023, an increase of over 20% on the previous year. The initiatives introduced last year, including the development levy waiver and the Uisce Éireann rebate are working. That is why we took the decision to build on the momentum and extend the waiver to the end of the year and the rebate element to the start of October.

The affordability initiatives under Housing for All are making a difference for thousands of our citizens. Over 30,450 first-time buyer mortgages were approved last year. First-time buyer approvals in the first two months of 2024 are up almost 10% on the same period last year with the support of Housing for All initiatives, including the help-to-buy the first home schemes. Since its launch in July 2022, more than 4,000 individuals and couples have availed of the first home scheme. There were over 800 approvals in quarter 1. That is an increase of almost 40% compared with the same three months last year. Given the success of the scheme to date, we have now committed an additional €40 million to it, continuing the drive for affordable home ownership across our country.

It has also been agreed to allocate €100 million in additional funding to deliver more than 1,000 beds for students: 493 at UCD, 495 at DCU and 116 at Maynooth University. For every extra student bed we provide, there is a double benefit in that we are not only providing accommodation for the student but also potentially freeing up space in the market for others to rent or buy. It is worth noting that student accommodation is not counted in targets but is in addition to the headline targets in Housing for All.

Tackling vacancy and dereliction remains a priority under Housing for All. The vacant property refurbishment grant is just one of many schemes which are helping people breathe new life into existing homes. Applications have now been received in every local authority, with over 4,300 approved to date.

On State lands, building continues apace on a number of sites this year. For example, almost 300 new homes will be completed by the Land Development Agency at Shanganagh later this year, while almost 600 homes in total will be built on that site, and construction is now under way at the former Devoy Barracks, in Naas, and at St. Kevin's, in Cork. Many more large-scale housing developments on State lands will start later this year and in the next few years.

The Planning and Development Bill is progressing through the Oireachtas. This legislation represents the most comprehensive review of planning in over two decades. It will bring greater clarity, consistency and certainty to how planning decisions are made and enable us to build homes and critical infrastructure at pace.

The national planning framework will be updated later this year. This will include revised housing targets taking account of the latest analysis of demographic and other factors.

Housing for All is now delivering increased housing supply to meet the needs of our people. We are building more homes. We need to maintain this strong momentum this year and to lift the scale of our ambition in the years ahead.

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