Written answers

Thursday, 17 June 2021

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Housing Policy

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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287. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding declaring a housing emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32571/21]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Government set out its housing priorities in the Programme for Government across numerous areas, including homelessness, affordable home ownership, public and social housing, the Land Development Agency, rent reform and planning and my Department is focused on moving those priorities forward.

In addition to the housing priorities set out above, the Government will establish a Commission on Housing to examine issues such as tenure, standards, sustainability, and quality-of-life issues in the provision of housing

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to deliver 50,000 new social homes with a focus on new build homes. The delivery of new build social housing has been increasing steadily in recent years, from 52% of total social housing output in 2016 to 65% in 2020. Subject to the impact of COVID-19 on delivery, a national target of 12,750 new social homes have been targeted for 2021, of which 9,500 are new Build homes.

Affordability is recognised as a key challenge in the Irish housing market. This Government is committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing solutions are available to everyone in Irish society and this is reflected in the Programme for Government. The Programme commits to putting affordability at the heart of the housing system through the progression of State-backed affordable housing.

The Affordable Housing Bill is currently progressing through the Oireachtas and this Government has committed funding of €620 million in affordable housing measures in Budget 2021 alone.

We are taking a multi-pronged approach to the housing crisis using multiple routes across both the short term and long term to boost supply and open up affordability. Our policies include:

- A new equity scheme where the state takes a stake in your home lowering the mortgage costs.

- A new Affordable Purchase scheme with the state directly building affordable homes.

- A retained and expanded Help to Buy scheme.

- A new Cost Rental scheme.

- Launching the LDA with a major affordable housing mandate.

I intend to publish a new Housing Strategy 'Housing for All' later this year and this is being developed at the moment using a whole of Government approach. The delivery of more social and affordable homes will be a key focus in the Plan. The new strategy will set out details of social housing delivery for 2021-2025, including social housing targets for 2022 onwards.

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