Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Cost information on the delivery of social homes through the various construction streams, is collated by my Department at development level rather than at individual housing unit level. The cost of constructing new homes is dependent on a range of variables, including location, scale of the development and the size and type of the homes involved in individual local authorities.

The table below sets out the average cost in 2021 of social housing delivery across a range of programmes. 

Note 1: The information provided above is based on the financial information available to the Department. Delivery does not necessarily occur in the year of approval or spend and cost information provided may be subject to change. 

Note 2: The CALF figures are based on application details and may be subject to change as the project progresses.  

Note 3: For SHIP Construction projects the averages reflect current Department approved amounts, which may be subject to final adjustment (pending conclusion of contractor final accounts, etc.). The table reflects all-in delivery costs, which include (as applicable) construction costs, along with site / property purchase costs, fees, utilities, site investigations/surveys, local authority in-house fees, public art etc.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department supports local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to acquire social housing homes through a number of funding programmes. The Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) and Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) allow local authorities and AHBs to recoup 100% of acquisition costs. The Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) funding is capital support provided to AHBs by local authorities to facilitate the funding of construction, acquisition or refurbishment of new social housing units. This loan facility can support up to 30% of the eligible capital cost of the housing project, with the housing units provided to local authorities for social housing use under long-term lease arrangements known as Payment and Availability Agreements.

The €70 million revolving Housing Agency Acquisitions Fund (HAA Fund) was established with effect from the 1 January 2017 with the objective of acquiring vacant property portfolios from banks and financial institutions that could then be used for social housing. The fund is replenished by the Housing Agency through the sale of units, primarily to AHBs, and used for future acquisitions. AHBs can utilise the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) and the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) to part fund these purchases. The cost to the Department varies depending on the funding mechanisms chosen by the AHB.  The table below sets out the average acquisition cost of social housing properties under the SHIP, CAS, HAA Fund and CALF programmes in 2021. 

Note: The information above is calculated using the financial information available to the Department. Due to the nature of the acquisition programmes, acquisition of housing does not always arise in the same year as expenditure and programmes may cross a number of payment periods. Cost information provided may be subject to change. 

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Reply awaited from Department.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Reply awaited from Department.