Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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104. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is aware of the number of homes that will be put forward for the affordable housing scheme under Fingal County Council; the timeline for such developments; the income figures that will be allocated for under this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11665/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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In implementing Housing for All, each local authority has prepared and published a Housing Delivery Action Plan in respect of local authority supported or overseen delivery from 2022 to 2026. Individual five-year housing delivery targets were set for local authorities and for 18 local authorities with a strong and identified affordable housing need, including Fingal County Council, specific affordable housing delivery targets were set. Those authorities were asked to include their planned affordable housing delivery in their Housing Delivery Action Plans. These plans were published on the local authorities’ respective websites in July 2022. Fingal County Council's housing delivery plan can be viewed on its website at Fingal County Council Housing Delivery Action Plan.pdf.

It should be noted that Fingal County Council has recently delivered one of the first affordable purchase housing schemes in the State which is located at Dun Emer, Lusk. These homes are now completed and are now being made available to the allocated purchasers at sales prices of at least 15% below market prices.

Fingal County Council have also advised that construction of 52 affordable purchase homes at Hayestown in Rush will be on site this week, with all 52 homes to be available for purchase this year. Details of this scheme and how to apply, will be announced on the Council's website in due course.

In addition, the First Home Scheme, which was launched last year, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model, similar to that employed in the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme. The Scheme aims to support in the region of 8,000 households in acquiring new homes in the private market in the years 2022 to 2026 with an overall budget of €400 million. The scheme is available nationwide and more information can be found at www.firsthomescheme.ie/

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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105. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider introducing legislation to ensure that there are not unreasonable and inexplicable delays on the part of developers in completing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11689/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act) includes several legislative provisions that relate to the duration of a planning permission.

Section 40 of the Act provides that the appropriate period for the completion of a planning permission shall generally be 5 years, unless otherwise specified by the planning authority pursuant to section 41 of the Act.

Section 42 of the Act enables the holder of a planning permission to apply to a planning authority for up to two extensions of duration of a permission to the initial appropriate period of the permission, provided that the combined duration of both extensions does not exceed 5 years.

The granting of any such extension of duration of permission is subject to the planning authority being satisfied under section 42(1) of the Act that the development has been commenced, substantial works have been carried out, the development will be completed in a reasonable time and that, under section 42(8) of the Act, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and appropriate assessment (AA) are not required for the proposed extension.

It is proposed to retain the normal 5 year duration of permission in the draft planning reform Bill.