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

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht an cheist seo. I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 , 67 and 69 together.

Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a priority for Government. Critical to supporting households to exit homelessness is increasing the supply of housing. Almost 12,000 new social homes were delivered in 2023, through build, acquisition and leasing, including 8,110 new-build homes, the highest level of new-build social homes in nearly 50 years. Including HAP and RAS, 21,733 social housing solutions were delivered throughout 2023.

Record State investment of over €5 billion has been made available this year to support the largest State home-building programme ever. Budget 2025 will provide €6 billion in capital to help us deliver more social, affordable and cost-rental homes for our people. Funding in 2024 is also supporting the tenant in situ scheme, with provision to acquire 1,500 homes where a social housing tenant has received a notice of termination due to the landlord's intention to sell the property. This scheme delivered 1,830 acquisitions in 2023 and was a key prevention measure. For private tenants at risk of homelessness who are not in receipt of social housing supports, the cost-rental tenant in situ scheme has also been introduced.

An allocation of €303 million, an increase of €61 million on the 2024 provision, has been made under budget 2025 to provide homelessness prevention services, emergency accommodation and other services for households experiencing homelessness. This is a 25% increase on the 2024 budget allocation. This funding will support the provision of emergency accommodation and supports that households require to exit emergency accommodation to a tenancy.

Housing for All also includes measures to enhance family support and prevention and early intervention services for children and their families through a multi-agency and co-ordinated response. Local authorities and their service delivery partners will work closely with all households in emergency accommodation to support them to secure an exit to a tenancy. With the significant increase in social housing stock, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has asked all local authorities to ensure that sufficient homes are being allocated to exit households from emergency accommodation.

I will come back in on a supplementary.

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