Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

They are directed to do that. The figure of 1,500 is the floor and we will do more. We are also adding 1,000 new social homes through targeted leasing initiatives in 2023 and 2024, which are specifically focused on our homeless community. This is another initiative that Sinn Féin is opposed to. We have also taken on board pragmatic and solution-driven proposals from colleagues in the Regional Group to amend the Croí Cónaithe vacancy grant to include homes that were built before 2007 and homes that can be rented to private tenants.

Sinn Féin wants to get rid of the vacant property tax, which is a direct support for homebuyers and homeowners and now renters, and it will not explain why. We will give tenants the first right of refusal to buy their homes by requiring the landlord who is selling a property to offer it first to a tenant for sale on an independent valuation basis. To complement this measure, we will expand the first home equity scheme to support tenants to purchase under the first right of refusal and enhance the availability of the local authority home loan to tenants utilising the first right of refusal. Again, I remind Sinn Féin Members that they also opposed the first home equity scheme.

We have also been working with local authorities and AHBs to develop a cost-rental model on a legislative basis for tenants who are at risk of homelessness but who are not on social housing supports to enable them to continue to rent their home on a cost-rental basis. This will be established on an administrative basis from 1 April to ensure no eligible household is left behind prior to any required legislation.

Cost rental is a game changer in this State and we as a Government have delivered it. One only needs to listen to some of our newest cost-rental tenants and what they have to say about it. Laura, who is a tenant on Enniskerry Road in Stepaside, Dublin in the State’s first purpose-built cost-rental homes said:

“I was struggling to find accommodation. I had to get my Dad to help me because it was so expensive in Dublin. But now with the Cost Rental Scheme it’s a lot more affordable. It’s been a great opportunity to move into an apartment that I can finally afford, for me and my two girls.”

I have already approved more than €90 million for AHBs to deliver more than 1,000 cost rental homes across nine local authorities. Only last week, the LDA announced another 200 cost-rental homes, 95 of which are in Parklands, Citywest. They will have rents of €1,350 for three-bedroom homes, which is a 55% discount on market rates. This is what this Government wants for renters: safe, secure and affordable rents.

Our introduction of cost rental complements the other steps we have taken through Housing for All to bring affordability to housing. Every independent survey shows that renters want to own their own home. To that end, we have brought forward the game changer, the first home scheme, which has seen more than 3,340 registrations and more than 1,200 approvals issued to date. These are 1,200 families who are able to buy their own home because of this Government action.

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