Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Before I deliver my closing speech, I will address a couple of points raised. On Deputy Connolly's question regarding the report, the Galway task force will follow that up for her. A couple of Deputies have mentioned an overreliance on HAP. That is something the Government is addressing by trying to reduce that overreliance. On Deputy Wynne's point, the wording for the referendum on housing is being formulated at present. A number of Deputies raised the issue of modular homes during the part of the debate I attended. Some Deputies raised the issue of the housing of refugees as well as general housing issues. We have to address both. There is no doubt about it that these are unprecedented times. We have to help those families who are fleeing such terrible war and persecution. It is critically important we do not try to muddy the picture on that. Those are the main points I took from the part of the debate I sat in on.

Housing for All represents the most ambitious housing plan in the history of the State. This Government is committed to building an average of 33,000 homes per year over the lifetime of the plan. Critically, it returns the State to a central role in the provision of social and affordable housing through the largest ever State-led homebuilding programme. The plan is backed by secured and sustained levels of investment to the tune of more than €4 billion a year, providing the sector with the certainty it needs to deliver on the ambition of Housing for All. Let me be clear, and to reiterate what the Minister said, I do not support the proposed motion in calling for the declaration of a housing emergency. The motion fails to acknowledge the considerable and effective action currently being taken by the Government.

To further stress our position, the action being taken by the Government is working. Supply, which as we all know is key to improving our housing system, is increasing In the 12 months to the end of September, more than 55,000 homes were either commenced - 27,417 - or completed - 27,773. The number of completions in the first three quarters of 2022 was greater than the total for 2021 or any full year since the Central Statistics Office completion series began. This year, we expect to meet, if not exceed, the overall target of 24,600 new homes as we progress towards meeting the annual average target of 33,000 new homes envisaged under Housing for All. Over the 12 months from July 2021 to June 2022, planning permissions were granted for more than 44,000 residential units. These key indicators show real progress has been made as a result of Housing for All.

We are also ensuring the increase in supply is supporting home ownership, one of the four pillars Housing for All is built upon. In May 2021, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage issued guidelines aimed at preventing multiple houses and duplexes being sold to a single buyer. Analysis of these guidelines shows that 16,000 residential units have been ring-fenced for individual buyers, a clear example of this plan working. The motion states the social housing waiting lists are too long, yet in 2021, the summary of social housing assessments showed a decrease of 4.3% in 2020 in households assessed as being qualified for, and in need of, social housing support. Furthermore, there has been a 35.3% decrease in the social housing waiting list since 2016, when the first annual assessment was conducted. The official figures show we are helping more and more of those people who need it most.

The motion also states the social housing income eligibility thresholds are too low. The Minister has recently approved changes to the social housing income eligibility bands in five local authorities: Carlow, Clare, Galway county, Laois and Westmeath, with the baseline income threshold for these areas increasing from €25,000 to €30,000. The motion references the affordability of housing. The Government has worked extremely hard to lay down the right foundations required so we can deliver affordable homes at scale. As committed to under Housing for All, cost rental homes are now beginning to come onto the market, with hundreds of cost rental homes already tenanted. We are further supporting delivery of cost rental homes by increasing the cost rental equity loan from a maximum of 30% to a maximum of 45% per project. The first home scheme, launched in July, will support up to 8,000 affordable home purchases over its lifetime. Since its introduction, more than 800 applications have been received with more than 600 approvals issued. This shows the Government's determination to increase home ownership is more than an empty slogan.

Earlier this year, the enhanced local authority home loan scheme was launched and is aimed at supporting first-time buyers on low or moderate incomes who are unable to secure the mortgage they need from a financial lending institution. Since February 2018, under the previous and current iteration of the loan, more than €471 million has been lent, which has helped some 2,860 households achieve their dream of home ownership. Budget 2023 guaranteed €250 million for lending under the loan. The help to buy scheme has also extended current rates until the end of 2024. The scheme has been a significant support for first-time buyers of new homes. Since the scheme's commencement in 2017, 35,000 people have benefited from help to buy. Through a combination of Exchequer and other funding provisions, €1.3 billion will be available to support the delivery of affordable housing in 2023. All of this shows the Government's commitment to delivering affordable housing for all.

Challenges do exist. The increase in homelessness seen in recent months is a serious concern to the Government. We are doing our utmost to help those at the sharpest edge of the housing crisis. As stated in Housing for All, we are a signatory to the Lisbon declaration, committing to ending homelessness by 2030. An allocation of €215 million will be made available to tackle homelessness in 2023. This will make sure local authorities can provide homeless prevention services and emergency accommodation. It supports the households experiencing homelessness to exit homelessness to tenancies as quickly as possible. The temporary winter eviction ban will protect renters who are facing homelessness this winter. This emergency measure is necessary and provides assistance in the short term. The long-term answer, as the Government has said all along, remains an increase in the sustainable supply of new homes. The Minister has been very clear on an important prevention measure: where a family or individual is at risk of being evicted into homelessness as a result of a landlord selling a home, a local authority will be supported by the Government to purchase the home, should that be appropriate. This, and the winter eviction ban, are proof that when it comes to the extremely pressing issue of preventing and eradicating homelessness, all options will be considered.

Housing for All commits to building 29,000 homes next year, of which 9,000 will be social and more than 5,500 will be affordable. Increasing our housing stock will not only reduce numbers in emergency accommodation but is the answer to relieving the pressure on the private rental market. In addition, funding of €31 million will enable 1,900 void homes to be remediated and brought back into use for allocation to households on social housing waiting lists, further relieving this reliance and pressure, which is an issue that has been raised by Deputies.

Considerable work has already been completed in strengthening protections for renters. The Government has introduced rent increase caps in rent pressure zones, restricted deposit amounts, extended notice periods and introduced tenancies of unlimited duration. As a short-term measure, the Government is introducing a new rent tax credit valued at €500 per year. Some 400,000 people are expected to benefit from this credit. However, and most importantly, to address the private rental sector in the longer term, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will also review the operation of the private rental sector. It will take into account these enhanced protections and the changes in legislation over recent years and will ensure our housing system provides an efficient, affordable, safe and secure framework for both landlords and tenants.

The motion also references student accommodation. In October, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, and his Department, will actively progress a new policy that bridges the challenging gap between the viability of delivering purpose-built student accommodation and subsequent rental affordability for students. This will include, for the first time, the State assisting with the cost of building student accommodation beds and unlocking projects that have been postponed in return for affordable rents for students.

We could go on and there are many policies we could discuss. I will close by reiterating the core point: homes are being built at record rates. It will take time for many of the measures set out in Housing for All and for this additional supply to make the difference needed. There is no overnight fix to the issue we face. The Government remains determined to implement Housing for All fully and has brought forward additional measures in the Housing for All action plan update, which was published on 2 November, prioritising those that will activate and accelerate the delivery of housing supply.

The foundations that have been laid during the first year of Housing for All have set us up for success. We will see the full effect of affordability initiatives as they build and maintain momentum over coming years. We will also see the wide-spread delivery of cost rental, which is a true game changer for the rental market. Most importantly of all, we will continue to implement, review and revise the plan as needed and adapt it to the ever-changing environment in which we are operating in order to solve the housing crisis once and for all. We need the support of all of this House to continue that good work.

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