Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

51. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if, in the light of the new policy approach which recommends that Councils seek to buy homes with tenants in situ when there are social housing support tenants with notices to quit, he has reviewed the capital funding that will be available to local authorities for these purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56756/22]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

70. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide a full report on any submissions or discussions that he has had with the Department Public Expenditure and Reform with regard to expanding its capital programme for the acquisition of homes for social and affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56465/22]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

84. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the way that he decided the capital allocation for housing given that Housing for All targets are being missed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48392/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 70 and 84 together.

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 investment through the Land Development Agency (LDA) and €5bn lending through the Housing Finance Agency (HFA).

Budget 2022 underpinned the annual €4 billion capital investment through the provision of €2.6 billion Exchequer funding and €1.5 billion LDA investment and HFA lending. In addition, Budget 2022 also provided for Current housing funding of €1.4 billion.

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. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) and, with this, to reduce the numbers of social homes delivered through acquisition programmes. However, acquisitions of second hand properties for social housing fall under a number of local authority and Approved Housing Body (AHB) acquisitions programmes. A circular, issued to local authorities in April this year, reinstated delegated sanction to local authorities in respect of social housing acquisitions that could be completed in 2022. The reinstatement of delegated sanction has allowed local authorities to respond more flexibility to secure acquisitions which support a household to exit or to prevent homelessness. The cost of these acquisitions in 2022 will be met from within the existing capital resources assigned to my Department.

During 2022, the construction sector has been impacted by construction product inflation, constrained supply chains and high energy costs. This resulted in delays to a number of housing projects. However, there has been a strong improvement in the delivery environment, supported by measures introduced by this Government to address material inflation and energy costs, through the introduction of the Inflation/ Supply Chain Delay Co-operation Framework.

We are looking at very strong delivery for the final quarter of the year and my Department continues to work closely with the local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to ensure that social and affordable delivery is maximised.

Budget 2023 again provides record levels of investment by this Government to support housing delivery. There will be €4 billion in Exchequer funding available to deliver capital and current housing programmes.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

53. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on Housing for All; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59117/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Housing for All was published 2 September 2021 and the Government published its first annual update of the plan's actions on 2 November 2022.

Progress reports are published quarterly. The sixth of these reports, covering progress in Q4 2022 is due for publication early next year. These reports can be accessed on

Under Housing for All, the supply of new homes is increasing:

- 27,773 new homes completed in the twelve months to end September 2022;

- 26,608 homes commenced in the twelve months to end October 2022;

- 44,715 homes granted planning permission in the twelve months to end June 2022.

The Government and I are confident the target of 24,600 new build homes in 2022 will be met. The plan is delivering through increased housing supply; a range of affordable purchase and rental measures; new initiatives to tackle homelessness; and ongoing, long-term reforms of the housing and planning systems but the Government recognises there are challenges.

Price inflation, rising interest rates and other inter-related factors arising from the war in Ukraine are increasing the cost of construction and leading to a very uncertain and unstable environment The first annual update of the plan sets out how the Government is responding to these changed circumstances and ensuring focus remains on delivery. The stability provided by a clear and comprehensive plan is now more important than ever. The Housing for All Action Plan Update prioritises measures to activate and accelerate the delivery of housing supply, whilst also continuing to deliver on the fundamental reforms set out in the plan.

A record €4.5 billion in State housing investment will be made available in 2023. This will underpin the ambitious Housing for All plan and deliver the largest state home building programme ever with 9,100 direct build social homes, and 5,500 affordable homes. €1.3 billion will be spent on affordability measures, supporting homeownership in 2023.

A copy of the Housing for All Action Plan Update can be accessed at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/da0d1-action-plan-update-and-q3-2022-progress-report/.