Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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14. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to urgently review the cut in funding for the social housing acquisition programmes, given its negative impact on key homeless schemes like tenant in situ and housing first. [24433/25]

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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Much of the discussion around social housing acquisitions has been on the tenant in situ scheme but there is also a very real concern the housing first programme will be affected. The programme for Government commits to increasing the targets for housing first. Will the Minister tell us what those targets are? Does he have any concern the restrictions on funding for acquisitions will make it difficult to meet those targets?

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. His question relates to the urgent review of the cut in funding for the social housing acquisition programmes, given its negative impact on key homelessness schemes such as the tenant in situ and housing first.

Tenant in situ acquisitions have been an important measure in the prevention of homelessness since their introduction in 2023. The Government has therefore agreed to continue such acquisitions in 2025 and has increased the funding available for second-hand social housing acquisitions from the €60 million allocated under Housing for All to €325 million through the allocation of an additional €265 million this year. To date, local authorities have only drawn down 20%, or €64.13 million, of the €325 million which has been allocated for acquisitions in 2025.

My Department engaged with local authorities on the operational details for the second-hand acquisitions programme and a circular setting out the arrangements was issued to them on the 31 March 2025, with individual allocations for the local authorities being notified to them on 1 April 2025.

Under revised arrangements for second hand acquisitions in 2025, local authorities have received a capital funding allocation for the acquisition of homes for the priority categories of: tenant in situ properties that allow persons or families to exit homelessness; one-bedroom properties to deliver on housing first targets; specific housing required for people with a disability or the elderly; and vacant properties under the buy and renew scheme. The provision of a capital funding allocation will help promote best practice in obtaining value for money and provide local authorities with the flexibility to respond to the needs and priorities locally within the categories of needs of people who need those supports.

Tenant in situ acquisitions continue to be supported and prioritised where other solutions cannot be found for the affected tenants. It is a matter for local authorities to assess the circumstances of each case and decide the appropriate action. The arrangements for 2025 will ensure a more targeted and focused acquisitions programme.

My Department continues to engage with local authorities on any challenges which emerge in order to ensure that tenant in situ acquisitions can continue in 2025 where no other solutions exist for the affected households.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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The housing first programme is vital in getting single people, in particular, who are long-term homeless out of emergency accommodation. It has worked best in previous years when it was a mix of new build and acquisitions led by approved housing bodies using the capital advance leasing facility, CALF, and capital assistance scheme, CAS, funding mechanisms. There is real concern among local authorities, particularly in Dublin and Cork, that the changes the Minister made will make it difficult to reach the targets for this year, particularly if they have increased. I know the Minister will not answer the question and will probably just read out the script for the third time, but can he at least talk to the officials in his Department, who head up the homeless services, and to the local authorities to ensure that whatever target he sets for housing first this year is met through a mixture of new builds and acquisitions?

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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Will there be supplementary questions?

David Maxwell (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There will be no supplementary questions. I want to try to get Deputy Healy in. He has been here since 8.50 a.m.

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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With respect, I just have one question. It relates to Cork.

David Maxwell (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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No, I am sorry Deputy.

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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Okay.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I take the housing first programme very seriously. I engage with my officials daily in relation to homelessness, in particular, which is an absolute priority for me, both preventing people going into homelessness and people exiting homelessness. The housing first programme for people who have particular difficulties is something I am very aware of and have dealt with both as a TD and now as Minister for housing. It will continue to be an absolute priority for me.