James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for her question and the clarification. The Government has scaled up affordable housing delivery rapidly across all tenures since 2022 and continues to accelerate housing supply. Cost rental is a key element of the Government's strategy to improve affordability in the rental sector and to provide secure, long-term homes for moderate income households above the income limits for social housing, who may have difficulty affording rental accommodation in the private market. Overall, 14,500 affordable housing solutions have been delivered since the launch of Housing for All and over 1,900 affordable housing supports have been delivered in Fingal since 2021, including 590 cost-rental homes.

In Balbriggan, affordable purchase homes have been delivered in Hampton Gardens and construction is under way on the LDA's Hampton Demesne development, which will comprise 817 affordable-purchase, cost-rental and social homes. These homes will be available in an array of housing options, including one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and two-, three- and four-bed houses. Housing delivery in Balbriggan is being supported by €25.4 million in urban regeneration and development fund investment to implement eight key projects under the Our Balbriggan rejuvenation plan. With €8.5 million matched funding provided by Fingal County Council, work is well under way on these projects to regenerate the heart of the town, including new public spaces to transform the Quay Street and harbour areas in support of sustainable, compact growth.

Building on this progress, my Department will continue to engage with all delivery partners, including Fingal County Council, approved housing bodies, the Land Development Agency and the first home scheme to further the development of the affordable housing delivery pipeline for 2026 and beyond, and to ensure the affordable housing programme responds effectively to the affordable housing needs identified at local level. Under the programme for Government, the Government committed to introducing a new starter home programme across the public, private and AHB sectors, a programme that will promote home ownership and secure long-term rental tenure for young people and fresh start applications. My Department is currently progressing that commitment and it will form part of the next housing plan.

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