Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

93. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on the delivery of affordable purchase and cost-rental housing; if the targets for 2022 set out in Housing for All were met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11820/23]

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will the Minister indicate how many affordable purchase and cost-rental homes were delivered in 2022? Did he reach his targets in this regard? If not, can he provide some information on the position?

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, a very ambitious programme of delivery of affordable housing - the first in at least 15 years - commenced in 2022. Under the schemes introduced via the Affordable Housing Act 2021, this saw significant delivery of cost-rental homes for the first time by approved housing bodies and also by one local authority that is expanding further. That was using the cost rental equity loan. The first cost-rental and affordable purchase homes were also delivered via the LDA, and the first affordable homes for purchase were made available through the first home scheme and by local authorities. Last year was significant in that we had the delivery of affordable housing for the first time in a very long time.

Under the affordable housing fund, my Department and I have already approved funding of over €210 million in respect of 42 specific projects across 15 local authority areas. The local authorities in question will assist in the delivery of more than 2,800 affordable homes for purchase or rent. I assure the Deputy that the momentum in this regard will continue through 2023. The pipeline for housing delivery in place has been developed by local authorities, by the approved housing bodies, AHBs, and by the LDA, as well as, crucially, making homes available through the first home scheme, for which, I am glad to say, there is incredible demand.

Local authorities have begun systematically collating information on delivery of affordable homes right across the country in 2022. That includes all the delivery mechanisms that I have already mentioned. The returns will be submitted to me shortly. They are being validated by local authorities. They are currently being verified by my Department. I expect that they will be in a position to report the confirmed figures for social, affordable purchase and cost-rental delivery in 2022 by the end of this quarter, namely, this month, or certainly before Easter. That is what I want to do. We are verifying the returns that have come in.

In addition, the first home scheme has confirmed that in its first six months up to the end of December, more than 750 approvals were issued.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the reply. He has been able to give us and the media quite solid estimates in respect of social housing delivery for last year. I appreciate that all the information may not yet be available. The Minister may not have the exact figure, but can he give us a general indication of cost-rental and affordable house purchase delivery for 2022? Is he in a position to outline the number of houses provided by local authorities or not-for-profit organisations and housing co-operatives as well? Can he give us indicative figures for those in order that we might have the same sort of insight as we have in respect of social housing delivery?

I need not make the point that getting as much delivery as possible in these areas - as well as social housing - is incredibly important in terms of the challenges we have with record levels of homelessness, record rents and record house prices. This county has been successful in terms of providing affordable purchase homes throughout its history. We need to get back to doing that again.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy. In the interests of co-operation, I will not highlight the fact that we have different views on affordable housing and how it is delivered.

The first home scheme was the main deliverer last year. I can be quite specific on those approvals because I get that data on a weekly basis. Up to the Friday before last, there were approximately 1,100 first home approvals. That covers last year and the start of this year. Up to the end of last year, there were approximately 750 approvals, that is, equity certificates issued and applications put through. We have had over 3,500 registrations for the scheme. That is increasing. We are issuing approvals at a rate of approximately 80 to 100 every week. The Deputy disagrees with the scheme. That is fine.

I do not have the same estimates in respect of affordable, cost-rental or affordable purchase houses. On affordable purchase, 2022 was the first year that we got schemes up and running through the local authorities. Some schemes were delivered last year. There will be greater delivery this year. The LDA has also delivered affordable purchase homes through Project Tosaigh. I expect to have the figures in the coming weeks. I will publish the figures for each of the delivery mechanisms.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Can the Minister explain how, in terms of the social housing delivery that is coming through the same sorts of mechanisms, he is able give quite solid indications that 7,500 social homes were delivered in 2022? He was able to give the first home scheme figures. Is he not in a position to give us solid estimates of the delivery numbers in respect of the other forms of housing delivery?

The Minister has stated previously that approximately 1,000 cost-rental tenancies have been approved during the lifetime of this Government. Most of those were approved last year. Can the Minister provide more concrete information? As he will be aware, it is incredibly important that we get back to a decent level of affordable purchase. One of the big elements that is missing in the context of the housing system is that unlike many other European countries, we do not have a large amount of affordable rental accommodation. If we had such accommodation, it would take the pressure off those who are renting. We need to get affordable rental up to much more ambitious levels. Can the Minister provide more concrete information ?

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I receive the first home data in real time. There is a good ICT system behind that. It is run by the First Home Scheme Ireland Designated Activity Company. We see the approvals nearly every week, which is why I can be very specific on that matter.

I cannot be as specific in relation to the others because affordable purchase and cost rental, through the different delivery models, are being verified right now. I can tell the Deputy approximately 1,000 cost-rental homes have been approved. I cannot tell the Deputy right now exactly how many tenancies are occupied. Last year, there was a significant amount. It is the first time that we have done this as well. We will have those verified figures published in the coming weeks.

I would say, if the Deputy does not mind me saying, all of this is underpinned by the Affordable Housing Act 2021 that the Social Democrats voted against.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister voted against our amendments on affordable purchase.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I was saying the Deputy voted against the legislation.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We voted against the Minister's amendments.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

All the delivery mechanisms on affordable housing are facilitated by the Affordable Housing Act 2021----

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Why did the Minister vote against our amendments?

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----which the Deputy's party opposed.