Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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104. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he can detail, the expected increase in social housing applicants as a result of the recent changes to the income thresholds; the measures his Department is taking to deal with any increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3717/23]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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An estimated 16,000 additional households may be eligible as a result of recent changes to the social housing income eligibility thresholds.

Under Housing for All, the Government is providing significant investment to support the delivery of some 90,000 social homes over the lifetime of the plan. This includes 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 homes through long-term leasing between 2022 and 2026. In 2023, funding is available to deliver 11,800 social homes, including 9,100 new build homes. This substantial uplift in supply will help meet demand for social housing over the period to 2030.

It is estimated that a total of 28,000 public and private dwellings were delivered in 2022, significantly exceeding the Housing for All target of 24,600. Recognising the ongoing challenges in the sector, Government's priority is to ensure that the robust delivery to date is maintained in 2023 and into 2024.

To this end, the Housing for All Action Plan Update focuses on actions that will secure the required levels of supply. The plan includes, for example, a new action to support increased use of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in public housing, which should accelerate the delivery of social and affordable housing and help meet demand arising in the coming years.