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

Housing for All sets out a range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing out to 2030, comprising 54,000 affordable homes to be delivered by local authorities, approved housing bodies, AHBs, the Land Development Agency, and through the first home scheme, which is a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.

In 2023, more than 4,000 affordable housing supports have been delivered via our delivery partners, an output which has more than doubled since the previous year and represents an increase of 128% on 2022 activity, which highlights the significant progress achieved to date on affordable housing from a standing start. Our various schemes are now operating at scale, with this momentum continuing as the pipeline is developed. Data for affordable housing delivery is published on my Department's website up to quarter 4 2023, with quarter 1 2024 data currently being collated.

Following on from the ongoing work on the review of the national planning framework, and the forthcoming update of the housing need and demand assessment based on updates to population and housing projections under census 2022 data, the Minister has asked the Department to prepare a revised affordable housing strategy, which will update pathway 1 of Housing for All while retaining a focus on increasing homeownership. Building on the momentum already made, the revised strategy will consider the new housing targets and outline plans to ensure that further delivery of affordable housing takes place alongside increased overall supply of homes more generally. It is anticipated this will be published in quarter 3 of this year.

On the revised affordable housing strategy, which is at the core of the Deputy's question, an internal working group has been established. It will look at serious considerations regarding the development of a revised affordable housing strategy. The key thematic considerations for the revised strategy will include capital supports, the timeline for delivery and support programmes, the capacity and resources required to support same, and delivery targets. In addition, a series of external stakeholder group meetings have been commenced over quarters 1 and 2 of 2024. I will come back in with a supplementary answer on the other matters the Deputy raised.

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