Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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9. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on the number of new affordable homes in Dublin for 2025; the proposed number for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53922/25]

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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This question is about so-called affordable housing schemes.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for his question in relation to affordable homes in Dublin for 2025 and 2026. More than 14,500 affordable housing solutions have been delivered since the launch of Housing for All, including over 5,200 in Dublin. Affordable housing schemes are now operating at scale in Dublin and the affordable housing delivery programme continues to be expanded and developed year on year, supported by unprecedented levels of State investment. Across the four Dublin local authorities, affordable housing fund approval is in place to support delivery of 35 projects, delivering more than 3,500 affordable purchase and cost-rental homes. Large-scale mixed tenure schemes such as Church Fields, Montpelier and Oscar Traynor Woods are delivering affordable purchase homes and 133 cost-rental homes were recently launched at Innovation Square in Tallaght. Furthermore, 13 cost-rental projects being delivered in Dublin by approved housing bodies have been approved for funding support under the cost-rental equity loan scheme, with more than 1,350 cost-rental homes expected to be delivered by the end of 2027. The Land Development Agency is also progressing key projects in Dublin on State land in partnership with local authorities and through its market engagement initiative, Project Tosaigh. These projects include important large-scale mixed-tenure schemes such as Shanganagh, the Donore project, Cherry Orchard and Cromcastle.

Apartment delivery and the availability of new cost-rental homes, both of which are key to the scale of affordable delivery needed in Dublin, were given a significant boost of viability in yesterday's budget by the announcement of the VAT reduction on new apartment delivery and exemption from corporation tax of cost-rental housing delivery. We will further advance our affordable home delivery plans to Dublin as we implement a new starter home programme to remote home ownership, and secure long-term rental. Delivering on that programme for Government commitment will be part of our new housing plan.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister. One of the problems we have at the minute is that the Government’s social and affordable housing targets are too low. Not only are they too low, but they are simply not being met. The Government has failed in its pre-election promise of 40,000 new homes to be delivered this year, but I want to concentrate on the affordable purchase schemes. Last year, the Government only delivered 779 affordable purchase homes. Even with this low number, the affordable housing that came out of that was way too expensive, with so-called affordable houses in my own area in Dublin Mid-West costing up to almost €500,000. I do not know how people think that is affordable. This is making it impossible for ordinary workers and families to afford a home of their own. I do not see anything in yesterday's budget that will make these homes more affordable or bring down the prices. I have a simple question. Does the Minister think €500,000 is an affordable house under the Government's affordable housing scheme?

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is well aware, the Government has long acknowledged that there is an affordability problem in this country. There are two issues - a viability issue and an affordability issue - and both of these are driving supply difficulties. That is why we have taken measures on viability and affordability. Many of the affordability measures have been opposed by Sinn Féin's good self.

The legislative framework governing affordable purchase and cost-rental tenure is set out under the 2025 regulations under the Affordable Housing Act. Capital funding includes €695 million in funding for approved housing body cost-rental housing via the cost-rental equity loan and €155 million for local authority affordable housing via the affordable housing fund. We are determined to drive supply as much as possible in all tenures - social, affordable, cost-rental and the private market - so that everybody has the ability to get the home he or she needs in the local community at a price he or she can afford. We have always acknowledged there is an affordability issue, and we are taking measures to address that.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister can criticise Sinn Féin’s housing plan all he wants, but I am going to be straight with him. I live in the real world, and the prices of affordable houses in my own area in Dublin Mid-West are simply not affordable. I will give some examples. A two-bedroom affordable home in Clonburris costs €380,000. A three-bed affordable home on the same scheme costs €418,000 and a four-bedroom affordable home costs €465,000. How is this affordable? Pop up the road to Saggart, another part of Dublin Mid-West, a three-bedroom affordable home costs a whopping €494,000, almost €500,000 for an affordable house under the Government's affordable housing scheme. I do not know what planet the Minister is living on, but €500,000 is simply not affordable to ordinary workers and families who are trying to put a roof over their head.

I have a simple question: does the Minister think that €500,000 is an affordable price for a house under the Government's affordable housing scheme?

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I am not sure if the Deputy listened to my last answer. The Government has long acknowledged that there is a serious affordability issue in this country. That is why we brought in significant measures such as the first home and help to buy schemes to address the affordability issue. Supply is the only answer so that people can afford homes.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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These are public homes built on public land.

John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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Please, allow the Minister to answer.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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That is on the rental side and the purchase side as well. What I do not hear from Sinn Féin is how it is going to drive supply.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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Our spokesperson wrote a book on it.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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What I hear are objections to almost everything we are doing. That is Sinn Féin's right, but I am not seeing any solutions coming forward, just constant criticisms. I continue to make decisions to address the viability issue and the affordability issue. Ultimately, this is about driving supply right across this country including Dublin, which is a crucial part of that.