Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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307. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the Housing for All objective to provide over 90,000 social homes by 2030, including an average annual new-build component of over 9,500 social housing homes to 2026, the highest number in the history of the State. [17536/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Housing for All, is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes by 2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.

Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. In September 2021, I issued social housing delivery targets to each local authority for the period 2022-2026.

A key action under Housing for All is that local authorities will develop and submit Housing Delivery Action Plans to include details of social and affordable housing delivery. The Plans set out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022 - 2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All.

My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on social housing delivery for each local authority on a quarterly basis. The statistics are published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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308. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the Housing for All objective to end long-term leasing by local authorities and approved housing bodies through phasing out new entrants and focus on new build to provide social housing homes. [17537/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 homes per year over the next decade. Over 300,000 new homes will be built by the end of 2030, including a projected 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes.

This includes the delivery of 47,600 new build social homes in the period 2022-2026. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.

It is envisaged that 3,500 units are to be delivered through long term leasing over the lifetime of the Housing for All plan, tapering down from 1,300 units in 2022 to 200 units in 2025. As such, annual Housing for All targets were allocated to 13 Local Authorities. Table 1 below outlines the number of long term leasing units to be delivered per annum under Housing for All by Local Authority.

Table 1: Long Term Leasing Housing For All Target allocation to Local Authorities 2022 – 2025

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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309. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the Housing for All objective to strengthen the mortgage to rent scheme to ensure it meets the needs of those in long-term mortgage arrears. [17538/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Both the Programme for Government and Housing for All commits to strengthening the Mortgage to Rent scheme and ensuring that it is helping those who need it. Building on the significant amendments already made to the scheme in 2017, the 2021 Review, which was published on the 24 January 2022, examined the impact of these changes and what further changes would benefit those in need of the scheme. While the scheme is performing well, it was assessed that some further enhancements were needed to enable more households in need of State support with their long-term housing needs to avail of this scheme.Four broad categories of actions are identified in the review, including:

a) broadening eligibility criteria;

b) improving the scheme process, structure and financing;

c) increasing communication and awareness raising; and

d) responding to developments around mortgage arrears solutions.

As part of the enhancements to broadening the eligibility criteria to ensure more households will be eligible for the scheme there is a new amendment to allow flexibility where the household concerned is over accommodated (i.e. has more than 2 spare bedrooms above the current needs of the household). Flexibility on over accommodation may be allowed where:

a) the borrower or one of the joint borrowers is aged 65 and over

b) the borrower, one of the joint borrowers or one of the borrower’s dependents has a disability and the property has been significantly and permanently adapted to their needs

c) the borrower, one of the joint borrowers or one of the borrower’s dependents has a disability and the property is specifically suitable to their needs without adaptations

In the case of (b) and (c) above, the household must also qualify for Social Housing Support on disability, medical or compassionate grounds in line with the local authority’s allocation policy. Such flexibility is subject to the local authority or AHB (as appropriate) reserving the right to accommodate the household in more appropriate accommodation, if available, in the future.

This is one of a number of changes outlined in the 2021 Review and has been implemented under the scheme since 14 February 2022.

Full details of the recommendations and associated actions are outlined within the 2021 Review of the Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme for people who have borrowed from commercial private lending institutions and this review is available on the Department's website under Publications: www.gov.ie/en/publication/ed57b-2021-review-of-the-mortgage-to-rent-scheme-for-borrowers-of-commercial-private-lending-institutions/

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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310. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the Housing for All objective to reform the tenant purchase scheme. [17539/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Tenant Purchase Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme.

The scheme was reviewed in 2021 in line with Programme for Government and Housing for All commitments. The Government approved a number of amendments on foot of the review and these came into effect on 1st February 2022.

The amendments include a reduction in the minimum reckonable income required to be eligible under the scheme from €15,000 to €12,500. This means older tenants, whose only income might be the contributory or non-contributory State pension, may qualify to buy their homes if they have the financial means to do so. The time an applicant is required to be in receipt of social housing supports to be able to apply under the scheme has also been revised. This has been increased from one to ten years.

Further changes to the scheme are currently being examined as part of the work on the broader social housing reform agenda.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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311. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the Housing for All objective to revise and reform income eligibility for social housing. [17540/22]

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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336. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is considering changing the income limits for social housing to reflect the reality faced by many persons who cannot afford housing from their own means but are over the income thresholds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17907/22]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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379. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the review of social housing income limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18192/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 311, 336 and 379 together.

I refer to the reply to Question No. 343 of 22 March 2022 which sets out the position in the matter.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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312. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the Housing for All to objective to work towards eradicating homelessness by 2030. [17541/22]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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313. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the Housing for All objective to increase Housing First targets to 1,200 tenancies over five years for homeless people. [17542/22]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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314. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the Housing for All objective to establish a new national homeless action committee. [17543/22]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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315. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the Housing for All objective to expand street outreach teams for rough sleepers nationwide. [17544/22]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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348. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on the development of a youth homelessness strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18006/22]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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349. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on the progress of the expansion of street outreach services to engage with rough sleepers in key urban areas outside Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18007/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 312 to 315, inclusive, 348 and 349 together.

Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. Through Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland,the Government’s strategic housing plan to 2030, the Government is committed to taking action to prevent entries into homelessness in the first instance and to help those experiencing homelessness to exit into secure and sustained tenancies. It also includes measures targeted specifically at those experiencing homelessness with complex needs. It commits to the continued expansion of the Housing First programme, and, importantly, ensuring that health and mental health supports are provided for homeless persons.

Under Housing for All, my Department has committed to actively participate through the newly established European Platform on Combatting Homelessness (EPOCH) to advance the Lisbon Declaration on Combatting Homelessness signed in June 2021. Under EPOCH, Ireland has committed to “promote the prevention of homelessness, access to permanent housing and the provision of enabling support services to the homeless”. Housing for All outlines how the Government will work towards ending homelessness by 2030, detailing 18 distinct actions tailored to achieve this target. This includes increasing access to supports for both individuals and families.

Ireland has committed to support EPOCH policy measures with adequate funding and, when appropriate, make use of EU funding as a lever to improve the way the EU address homelessness. Budget 2022 made provision for €194 million in funding for homeless services. This funding in 2022 reflects the priority the Government is giving to homelessness.

Under EPOCH, Ireland has committed to share good practices in combatting homelessness. I recently attended a ministerial level meeting of EPOCH, whereby I discussed the most pressing issues in homelessness today with my European colleagues, and where the work programme of the Platform was adopted.

As provided for in Housing for All, the National Homeless Action Committee (NHAC) was established in Q4 2021. The first meeting took place in December 2021 and the second took place in February of this year. The work of NHAC is informed by Housing for All. The overarching objective of NHAC is to ensure that a renewed emphasis is brought to collaborating across Government to implement actions in the Plan, along with bringing better coherence and coordination of homeless-related services in delivering policy measures and actions to address homelessness. It is intended that meetings of NHAC will take place quarterly, with the third meeting due to be held in April. Details in respect of NHAC and a note of its meetings are published on my Department’s website on an ongoing basis

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to develop a Youth Homelessness Strategy and this is articulated in Housing for All. It was agreed at the first meeting of the NHAC that the development of this Strategy would be one of the first priorities of NHAC.

The aim of this Strategy is to help young people who are aged 18 – 24 and who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

A 3-week Public Consultation ran from 22 February and further consultations will take place in the next month. My Department, with the support of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, is also consulting directly with a number of key stakeholders. The Strategy is currently being developed and is intended for publication later this year.

Housing for Allalso committed to the further expansion of Housing First. A new National Implementation Plan, which provides for a further 1,319 tenancies covering the period 2022-2026, was published in December 2021. The new Plan outlines the targets for each region and in each year.

The implementation of the Plan is a joint initiative of my Department, the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive (HSE), the criminal justice sector (the Probation Service and the Irish Prison Service) and Local Authorities, in conjunction with NGO partners. Each partner is committing the necessary resources and supports to implement the programme. A new Housing First Directorate has been established, and is based in the Housing Agency. The newly appointed Director is responsible for managing the implementation of the new Plan.

To aid in the further expansion of the Housing First approach, and in line with commitments made in Housing for All, it is planned to extend outreach and intensive engagement services to every region in the country ensuring that those most in need of the intense supports provided by Housing First will be able to avail of them.

To support this commitment The Housing Agency, in partnership with the HSE and in consultation with key Departments and agencies, is developing a good practice manual for the operation of assertive outreach services. This manual will assist regions in expanding outreach services into those urban areas in which rough sleeping is understood to be a concern. This manual is to be published by mid-2022.

Resources are being made available to expand outreach services. As part of their homelessness expenditure programmes for 2022, which are supported by Exchequer funding, local authorities were invited in November 2021 to submit proposals to my Department for additional outreach services in their annual expenditure programme for 2022.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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316. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the Housing for All objective to introduce a new national policy on rightsizing to highlight the potential of rightsizing for households that no longer fully occupy their current privately owned accommodation and exploration of options to support and incentivise rightsizing on a voluntary basis. [17545/22]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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360. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the progress of the development of a national policy on rightsizing; his plans to support and incentivise rightsizing on a voluntary basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18018/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 316 and 360 together.

Housing for All (published in September 2021) provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. The strategy sets out, over four pathways, a broad suite of measures to achieve its policy objectives together with a financial commitment of in excess of €4 billion per annum.

The Housing for All policy objective to make more efficient use of existing housing stock includes the development of a national policy on rightsizing and to explore options to support and incentivise rightsizing on a voluntary basis. Work is underway through my Department to inform and progress the development of national policy on rightsizing this year.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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317. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the Housing for All objective for a fresh start principle for applications to State affordable housing and loan schemes. [17546/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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While most affordable housing measures are primarily targeted at first-time buyers, the Housing for All strategy explicitly provides for the Fresh Start principle. The Fresh Start principle extends the supports available under both Affordable Purchase schemes and the Local Authority Home Loan scheme to applicants who are divorced, legally separated, or where the relationship has ended and where they retain no beneficial interest in a home. The Fresh Start principle will also apply to those who have previously purchased a residential property but have been divested of this through personal insolvency or bankruptcy arrangements, proceedings or other legal processes.

Specifically in relation to the Local Authority Affordable Purchase scheme, the Fresh Start principle has already been accommodated under Part 2, Section 10 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021. This scheme assists first-time buyers (as well as those eligible under the Fresh Start principle) purchasing Local Authority-delivered new homes by bridging the gap between the market value of the home and the combined value of the buyer's mortgage and deposit. Regulations setting out the detailed eligibility criteria for the scheme are at an advanced stage and will be issued in the coming weeks.

Part 4 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 provides for the establishment of the First Home scheme, which will act in a similar way to the Local Authority-led scheme, though it will apply to homes purchased through the private market. Under both schemes, an equity stake corresponding to the level of support provided is taken in the market value of the home. The supported home-owner will have an option to achieve full ownership by buying-out the equity stake in the purchased property at a timing of their own discretion. An equity buy-out will be required in circumstances where the home is sold or passed on, or ceases to the primary residential residence.

The First Home scheme will be available at a national level and will incorporate regional price caps reflecting median house price sales. Confirmation of the final details of this scheme is ongoing in conjunction with the relevant stakeholders and it is anticipated that the First Home scheme will be available for applications, including those eligible under the Fresh Start principle, in the second half of this year. This initiative is being designed to ensure support is provided to those that, because of the current income levels, cannot secure a sufficient mortgage to meet the cost of a modest newly constructed home in their preferred location.

The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage scheme for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.

The ‘Fresh Start’ principle applies for applications to State loan schemes such as the Local Authority Home Loan. The following categories of persons are eligible to apply for the Local Authority Home Loan under the Fresh Start principle:

- Applicant(s) that previously purchased or built a residential property, but is divorced and has left the property and divested themselves of their interest in the property are eligible.

- Applicant(s) that previously purchased a residential property, but have been divested of this through insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, are eligible to apply. The applicant must be discharged from bankruptcy proceedings. It should be noted that a return to solvency should not be interpreted as a return to creditworthiness, which is a separate assessment.

The final decision regarding the Local Authority Home Loan application is made by the relevant Local Authority Credit Committee on a case by case basis.

Further details can be found on localauthorityhomeloan.ie/

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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318. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the Housing for All plan to introduce radical new modern Kenny report style powers to ensure sharing of the increase in land values from re-zoning decisions and greater community gain. [17547/22]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Report to which the Question refers is that of the Committee on the Price of Building Landpresented to the Minister for Local Government in 1973. The Report considered what measures could be undertaken to ensure that a substantial portion of the increase in land value attributable to the decisions of public authorities, could be secured for the benefit of the community.

A commitment was included in the Programme for Government to review how such community gain proposals could be captured and the principle of Land Value Sharing was subsequently adopted in Housing for All. Land Value Sharing involves securing a share of the difference in land value before zoning or designation and the point at which planning permission is granted. Land Value Sharing will apply in the first instance to all newly-zoned residential land, and to Urban Development Zones which are also proposed in Housing for All. Urban Development Zones will provide for a coordinated plan-led approach to the development of areas with significant potential for residential and urban growth, where Land Value Sharing will also apply and will involve land assembly provisions to ensure that land critical to the provision of infrastructure can be secured.

In line with Housing Policy Objective 12.1 contained in Housing for All, my officials are now in the process of developing Land Value Sharing Mechanisms.

A General Scheme for a Heads of Bill was approved by Government in December 2021 outlining the general provisions for the establishment of Land Value Sharing obligations. Work is now progressing on the more detailed aspects of how this legislation may be implemented, including all necessary due diligence and scrutiny. A detailed economic appraisal of the proposed measures, involving an assessment of the potential implications in different locations and circumstances, is being undertaken to determine what uplift in value would be reasonable for the State to secure. This includes independent expert advice. This research and expert advice will provide the basis for the detail of these measures.

A key aspect of this work will include stakeholder engagement, including with representatives of Local Authorities and State agencies, through a working group to ensure a workable set of measures is progressed. Proposals for engagement are currently being finalised in parallel with the economic appraisal, with detailed drafting of the Bill to commence in Q3 2022 and the enactment of the legislation proposed for Q4 2022.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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319. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the Housing for All plan for ending strategic housing developments, returning planning decisions to local authorities and reforming the judicial review process. [17548/22]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future committed to not extending the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) arrangements beyond their legislative expiry date of end December 2021, which was subsequently extended to 25 February 2022 arising from the Covid-related extension of statutory timelines within the planning system by eight weeks in respect of the period March to May 2020 due to the shutdown of the construction sector.

The Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Act 2021 (Act of 2021) was signed into law by the President on 14 December 2021. Furthermore, the Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Act 2021 (Commencement) Order 2021 which brings the provisions of the Act into effect was signed with an effective date of 17 December 2021.

The main purpose of the Act of 2021 is to restore the two-stage planning process, with decision making for Large-scale Residential Development (LRD) type applications returning to the local planning authority in the first instance, with the subsequent right of appeal to An Bord Pleanála (the Board), thereby delivering on the commitments in the Programme for Government as well as Housing for All.

The Act of 2021 also includes a number of transitional arrangements in relation to the expiry of the SHD arrangements and their replacement by the new LRD arrangements. Under the Act:

- SHD prospective applicants/developers already in receipt of an SHD opinion under the SHD arrangements on the commencement of the Act (17 December 2021) have 16 weeks to submit an SHD application to the Board from that date.

- SHD prospective applicants/developers who had formally commenced consultations with the Board and were awaiting an SHD opinion on the commencement of the Act (17 December 2021) will have 16 weeks to submit an SHD application to the Board from the date of receipt of the SHD opinion.

On the matter of judicial review reform, it is intended that the substantive legislative changes will be enacted by end 2022 in the context of the overall Planning Review and in tandem with the establishment of the Environmental and Planning Court which is being progressed by my colleague the Minister for Justice. The Minister is considering some minor technical amendments before the Summer in this regard, mainly to align provisions with EU law.