Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 8, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet committee on housing last met on 8 February and is scheduled to take place again on 19 April. The committee works to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the delivery of the programme for Government commitments regarding housing and related matters.

There is significant work under way on the implementation of these commitments across Government Departments and agencies, including through regular discussion of these matters at meetings of the Government. This is supported by the provision of over €3 billion for housing initiatives this year, including funding for 9,500 social homes to be built as part of the overall delivery of 12,750 social homes; €210 million for lending under the Rebuilding Ireland home loan; €88 million across the serviced sites and the local infrastructure housing activation funds; and €35 million for the cost rental equity loan scheme, through which the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage recently approved funding for the delivery of 390 cost rental homes this year. The budget allocation also supports the continued delivery of housing supports in relation to residential tenancies, homelessness and the maintenance and upgrading of existing stock.

Significant progress is also being made on key enabling legislation for measures to increase the availability and supply of affordable, quality homes, including the Land Development Agency Bill, which has recently completed Second Stage in the Dáil, and the affordable housing Bill, which is undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny. Legislative measures have also been introduced and extended to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on tenants, although current public health restrictions will have an impact on housing output this year. Work has also started, under the aegis of the committee, on a new multi-annual housing strategy, to be called "Housing for All".

The committee operates in accordance with established guidelines for Cabinet committees and substantive issues are referred to the Government for discussion and approval.

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