Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Ó Cathasaigh as an scéal seo agus as an gceacht stairiúil. Tuigim anois cérbh as na Déise ach cad as don blaa? I am happy to take this on behalf of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and to update the House on this matter. I note that in line with the Affordable Housing Act 2021, responsibility for the administration of affordable housing schemes rests with the local authority concerned, in this case Waterford City and County Council.

The Housing for All strategy delivers on the programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system, with an ambitious target to increase the supply of housing by delivering 300,000 homes for social, affordable and cost rental, private rental and private ownership housing purposes over the nine-year period of the plan. Some 54,000 affordable homes will be delivered between now and 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, approved housing bodies, the Land Development Agency and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks. Funding is being made available by Government to assist local authorities and the approved housing bodies in the delivery of affordable housing, for purchase and rent, through the affordable housing fund, previously known as the serviced sites fund, and through the cost rental equity loan.

The target for Waterford City and County Council for the delivery of affordable housing from 2022 to 2026 is 76 homes. The local authority is on course to exceed this target, having already delivered successful affordable purchase schemes in Deerpark, Waterford city and at Elderwalk, Summerfields and Kilbarry. Further to this, the local authority is developing the first local authority-led cost rental development at Gort na hInse, Ballynaneashagh in Waterford. Waterford City and County Council is actively considering the development of an affordable housing scheme at Ardmore in County Waterford. As referred to by the Deputy, it is assessing the viability of a scheme while also assessing the need for such a scheme in the area. In this regard, and as referred to by the Deputy, Waterford City and County Council has opened and is seeking expressions of interest from the public for an affordable housing scheme in Ardmore. I endorse the Deputy's remark that if members of the public believe they may qualify and if they are interested in declaring an interest provisionally at this point, they should fill in the expressions of interest online survey on the local authority’s website.

I will liaise with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on Deputy Ó Cathasaigh's behalf, and will communicate the Deputy's thoughts to him following this evening's debate.

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