Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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85. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government given the increasing demand and pressure for housing, the extent, if any, to which he might look at the housing requirements on a county basis with a view to appointing professional builders on contract to the respective local authorities to provide and accelerate a housing programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23508/23]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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This question seeks to ascertain the extent to which the Minister might encourage a review of the housing needs on a county-by-county basis, given that there may be differences in the demand from county to county, and whether or not it might be possible to set up a new scheme or adapt one of the existing schemes in order to cater specifically for them.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for his question. Under Housing for All, in the period 2022 to 2026, the Government will deliver: 47,600 new build social homes; 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing; and 28,500 new affordable homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of more than €4 billion per annum, through an overall combination of €12 billion in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5 billion in funding through the LDA and €5 billion funding through the Housing Finance Agency.

Under Housing for All, each local authority was required to prepare a housing delivery action plan. This plan sets out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. In preparing the plans, local authorities were required to include details of lands available to deliver housing, and details of land acquisition requirements. A €125 million fund is available to local authorities to acquire land, which is administered through the Housing Agency, and which is currently under way. There appears to be a great demand in that regard. The plans also include details of the locations and delivery streams for social housing schemes. The plans have been published on local authority websites.

Under my Department’s social housing investment programme, funding is available to all local authorities and AHBs to deliver additional social housing stock through direct construction or in partnership with developers through turnkey projects. As such, housing developments are constructed by professional contractors and developers in line with those agreements. Significant progress is being made to deliver the ambitious targets contained in Housing for All and my Department is working closely with the local authorities, AHBs and other stakeholders to accelerate the delivery of social and affordable housing.

I am aware my time is limited. The point made by the Deputy is one he has raised consistently. We have an integrated model through the local authorities. The point raised by the Deputy about accelerating the programmes is something we are actively pursuing with the local authorities. We very much take that on board.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Might it be possible to consider also the reintroduction of the private sites scheme or individual subsidised sites in a number of counties to cater for that part of the market that is not being catered for at the present time by virtue of a number of issues?

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Such a scheme is in place in terms of the rural site scheme, which is administered through the local authorities. It is something that I can discuss with the Deputy at a later date. I know it is something he is very interested in.