Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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439. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of persons who currently live in cost-rental accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50445/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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A range of work is already ongoing to deliver Cost Rental housing, with State support, through a number of avenues. Under Budget 2021, €35 million was allocated to the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) scheme, designed to facilitate Government loans to Approved Housing Bodies, to finance up to 30% of the capital costs of new homes for Cost Rental. My Department is utilising the expertise of Local Authorities, the Land Development Agency (LDA) and the Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), to deliver initial Cost Rental projects.

A total of 390 Cost Rental homes were approved under this first tranche of CREL funding in early 2021. The first 25 of these homes, and the first Cost Rental homes to be designated in Ireland, were acquired by the Clúid AHB at Taylor Hill, Balbriggan. In addition to these 390 homes, another 50 Cost Rental apartments are currently being constructed at Enniskerry Road, Stepaside, alongside 105 social housing units. Construction is due to be completed in Q4 2021, and the tenant selection process is under way.

The first tenants moved in to Taylor Hill from 28 August 2021. In order to be eligible for Cost Rental households must apply to the provider making the Cost Rental homes available and meet certain eligibility criteria. Under the provisions process as set out in the Affordable Housing Act, the designation process attached to Cost Rental is linked to the property itself rather than the tenants. As such, while my Department retains details of all dwellings designated for Cost Rental purposes, it does not centrally retain details on the specific number of tenants (including children etc.) in each dwelling. However, I can confirm that Taylor Hill comprises a broad mix of family sizes. In availing of Cost Rental tenancies, applicant households must demonstrate to the provider that they fall within the national eligibility criteria.

Under the Housing for All Strategy the Government recently confirmed it is intended that approximately 18,000 Cost Rental homes will be delivered by Local Authorities, AHB's and the LDA. In building to this scale and an average of 2,000 Cost Rental Units per year, the State will provide certain focused funding supports to help delivery partners provide rental homes that target affordable rents at levels in the order of 25% below market rents.