Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Housing 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.

Local authorities have published 5 year Housing Delivery Action Plans (HDAP) setting out affordable housing delivery targets up to 2026. The Housing Delivery Action Plans do 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. The Department continues to liaise with all local authorities, and other delivery partners, in relation to the further development of an affordable housing delivery programme, including the delivery of cost rental units, that will respond effectively to all affordable housing requirements identified at a local level.

In addition, measures such as the First Home Scheme, and the Local Authority Home Loan are also nationally available to eligible first-time purchasers to make home ownership more affordable.

The First Home Scheme supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model, similar to that employed in the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme. In addition, since September 2023, the First Home Scheme now supports those who wish to build their own home. The scheme is available nationwide and more information can be found at www.firsthomescheme.ie/

The new Local Authority Home Loan commenced on 4 January 2022 and is a Government backed mortgage scheme for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. The loan can be used by first-time buyers for both new and second-hand properties, or for self-builds. More information on the Local Authority Home Loan is available on the website: localauthorityhomeloan.ie/