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

As the Deputy is aware, affordability is at the heart of Housing for All. Since its launch, over 3,800 affordable homes have been delivered, supported by the affordable housing fund, the cost rental equity loan, Project Tosaigh and the first home scheme. This momentum will continue as the pipeline of affordable housing delivery is developed and expanded by our delivery partners, including local authorities, the approved housing bodies, the LDA, and the first home scheme. Data for affordable housing delivery is published on a quarterly basis, similar to social housing delivery. This data is published up to the third quarter of 2023 and is available on my Department's website.

We had very strong delivery in the last quarter as we did in the previous year. Local authorities are in the process of systematically collating information on delivery of social, affordable purchase and cost rental homes in their administrative areas, including returns for AHBs and the LDA, for the fourth quarter of 2023. This data is currently being verified. I sought an update yesterday. Not all the data is in but when it is it will be verified. I expect that the Department will be in a position to report on delivery of affordable and social housing for 2023 by the end of quarter 1, as we have done before.

The affordable housing fund enables local authorities to make homes available on a shared equity basis, with purchase prices at least 15% below market rates. Cost rental, because of the changes we made on the cost rental equity loan, has seen a substantial increase in applications and in delivery. We are awaiting all the returns from the 31 local authorities or AHB partners. When we have them and verified, we will publish them. I expect they will show a significant increase on the previous year. I do not even have preliminary data so I do not want to be accused of misleading the House again. But the Deputy can be assured that when they are verified that we will publish them and I am sure the Deputy will have his views on them at the appropriate time.

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