Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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95. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to outline the current position with regard to the future plans to build affordable purchase homes in County Louth and east Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11867/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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In implementing the key objectives under Housing for All, each local authority has prepared a Housing Delivery Action Plan in respect of local authority supported or overseen delivery from 2022 to 2026. Local authorities with a strong affordable housing need, including both Meath and Louth County Council, were also set affordable housing delivery targets and asked to include planned affordable housing delivery in their Plans. Both County Councils published their final Plans last July.

We have already seen AHB delivery of cost rental homes in Trim, Co. Meath in 2022 and further cost rental delivery has been approved in Navan. In addition, I recently approved an application from Meath County Council for funding to support the delivery of affordable purchase homes in Dunshaughlin which are expected to be completed and made available to purchasers later this year.

In Louth, I have also approved funding for AHB delivery of cost rental homes in Drogheda. To date, my Department has not received any affordable purchase housing proposals from Louth County Council but my Department, the Housing Agency and the Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office are available to assist with any proposals they may wish to bring forward.

The First Home Scheme, launched last July, also supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model, similar to the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme. The scheme is available to purchasers in both counties and nationwide.