Written answers

Thursday, 9 March 2023

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Local Authorities

Photo of Paul McAuliffePaul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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101. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of tenant-in-situ properties bought by local authorities over the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11974/23]

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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124. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of notice to quit properties that were bought since permission was given to local authorities to purchase these properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11600/23]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 124 together.

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 (AHBs).

Under Housing for All, there was provision for 200 social housing acquisitions each year. However, with increased pressures on housing and the exit of landlords from the market, my Department reinstated delegated sanction to local authorities in April 2022 to acquire social housing properties for a number of specific categories which included:

- One-bedroom units to deliver on Housing First and meet the short supply in this category;

- Other properties that allow persons/families to exit homelessness; and

- Specific housing required for/suitable for individuals with a disability or other particular priority needs;

Local authorities were also advised that limited acquisitions through the Capital Assistance Scheme will also be approved, subject to the available budget for specific vulnerable cohorts, such as housing for older people, accommodation for individuals and families who are homeless and for people with a disability.

For 2023, the Government has agreed that there will be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department will fund local to acquire up to 1,500 social homes. This represents an increase of 1,300 on the original target for acquisitions. The additional acquisitions will be focused on properties where a tenant in receipt of social housing supports has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property.

My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity in all local authorities, including information on social housing acquisitions. This data is available until the end of Quarter 3 2022 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website. Data for Quarter 4 is currently being collated and will be published shortly. For 2023, an amendment is being made to my Department's statistical returns to collate information on the number of such properties acquired.

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