Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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5. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to confirm the total delivery of affordable purchase and cost-rental homes in 2024 by local authorities, approved housing bodies and the Land Development Agency; and his views on the low output under these schemes and growing number of people unable to access these properties due to the unaffordable rents and house prices. [13257/25]

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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Can the Minister tell us, if he has the figures, the final outturn for the affordable housing schemes delivered by local authorities, approved housing bodies and the Land Development Agency in 2024? Does he share my concern about the low output of these schemes to date and the increasing unaffordability of both the cost rentals and the affordable purchase units across the State?

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for his question. Under Housing for All, the Government set out plans to deliver 54,000 affordable homes, including 36,000 affordable purchase and 18,000 cost-rental homes, by 2030. The target for 2024 across all of the various delivery streams was 6,400.

A comprehensive implementation strategy is in place to support the various affordable housing schemes now being delivered by a range of delivery partners.

My Department publishes programme-level statistics on affordable and social housing delivery activity by local authorities and delivery partners in each local authority area. Data up to quarter 3 2024 is already published on the statistics page of my Department's website. Data for quarter 4 2024 is currently being verified, and I expect my Department will be in a position to report shortly.

In the first nine months of 2024, a total of 4,480 affordable housing options were delivered across both affordable purchase and cost rental delivery streams via local authorities, the Land Development Agency, approved housing bodies and through the first home scheme.

While the quarter 4 figures are being verified, I anticipate that 2024 will be the best year to date for delivery of affordable homes by our delivery partners and I note the hard work going into that delivery right across the sector.

Affordable housing schemes are now operating at scale and this momentum will continue as the pipeline is developed by local authorities, approved housing bodies and the Land Development Agency.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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Unfortunately, the facts, as provided on the Department's website, flatly contradict the Minister's assessment of the success of these schemes. The target for affordable purchase and affordable cost rental in 2022 was 2,100 units. The Government missed that by 52%. For 2023, the target was 3,500. The Government missed that by 61%. For this year, the target for affordable homes to be delivered by local authorities, approved housing bodies and the LDA is 4,400. At the end of quarter 3, only 1,297 had been delivered and it is highly likely the Government will miss its target again this year. Likewise, the first home scheme, which, of course, as the Minister will be aware, I do not believe is an affordable housing scheme but which is recognised as such in the legislation, was to deliver 6,000 purchases over three years but, in fact, has missed that target by 50%. There is also a real concern about the increasing cost to buy and to rent. Is the Minister not concerned by the low delivery rates, the missed targets and the increasing cost of these so-called "affordable" homes.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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As I say, I am awaiting the quarter 4 figures to be verified but I anticipate 2024 will be the best year to date for the delivery of affordable homes by our delivery partners. We will continue to work with all of our partners to increase the delivery of affordable homes in any shape or manner that they can be delivered in.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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Obviously, we will debate that matter when those figures are finally published but given that the Minister is operating from such a low base, to have the best year to date is hardly something to celebrate.

Let us look at the affordability in two cost-rental projects, both on public land. In O'Devaney Gardens, the cost of the so-called "affordable" rentals there will be just under €1,500 a month for a one-bed, just under €1,700 a month for a two-bed and almost €1,900 a month for a three-bed.

That is substantially above the rents being charged for existing renters in the private rental sector. Oscar Traynor Road is not much better. Let us consider the increased price of the so-called affordable purchases. In a scheme in Newcastle West, advertised by Limerick council only this week, the lowest entry-level price of a so-called affordable home is €361,000. If someone wants to own the home outright, it will cost €435,000 rising to €455,000 for some of the properties. That is more than double the actual price paid by people in Newcastle West, according to the property price register, for all homes sold last year bar one. Surely the Minister has some concern at the rising cost both of the so-called affordable rentals and the so-called affordable purchases.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Rents for cost-rental homes are set to cover the cost of delivery, financing and managing and maintaining the homes modelled over at least 40 years. Cost rents paid will vary between households and schemes and is dependent on the size of the home and the location but cost rental is a more affordable option compared with the pressures of the private market and will always be made available at least 25% below comparable market rents. Rents for cost-rental homes are already below full cost levels thanks to the effect of subsidy elements of funding those streams.