Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, the local authority affordable housing fund scheme is equity based. We have made changes to that scheme in the current year. It ensures people will get a discount of at least 22% when they qualify for the help to buy scheme, which Sinn Féin opposed. Our system of people being able to purchase their own homes is not binary. Sinn Féin's system is binary. We want to ensure people can purchase privately through the first home scheme. We want local authorities to be able to fund the building of houses for affordable purchase and affordable cost rental on their own lands with the serviced sites land. The Land Development Agency has projects on the go. There are just under 1,800 cost rental homes in Project Tosaigh. It expects to meet its target of 5,000. The Deputy referred to that. We are working to ensure that we have the maximum number of affordable houses available for people across a range of schemes, including both affordable purchase and affordable cost rental. We are doing that in a way that is holistic.

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