Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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138. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will ensure that Tathony House is acquired for social and affordable housing despite the fact that some of the tenants are not currently eligible for either social or affordable homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11869/23]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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140. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the extent to which the National Housing Building programme in both the public and private sector can be augmented to produce at least double the number of houses anticipated in the next twelve months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11927/23]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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230. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the further steps that can be taken to dramatically increase the housing output to meet the requirements of both the public and private housing programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12212/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 230 together.

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

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

- In 2022, nearly 30,000 homes were completed. That is an increase of 45% from 2021 and 41% from 2019, pre-pandemic. The 2022 total exceeds the Housing for All target by 21%;

- Planning permission has been approved for over 40,000 homes in the year ending Q3 2022. This is a 2.4% increase when compared to the same time period to Q3 2021;

- Commencement Notices for over 27,000 new homes were received in the 12 months to end of January 2023. In January alone, 2,108 Commencement Notices were received, the highest number received in the month of January since the data series began in 2014.

The plan is delivering increased housing supply through a range of affordable purchase and rental measures; new initiatives to tackle homelessness; and ongoing, long-term reforms of the housing and planning systems.

This week, I announced further measures to increase the supply of social homes including:

- an increase in the number of social housing acquisitions to 1,500 in 2023 to reduce the number of households at risk of homelessness;

- an additional 1,000 homes through Targeted Leasing initiatives in 2023 and 2024; and

- the amendment of the Capital Advance Leasing Facility used by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to assist them in their efforts in delivering social homes.

I have also informed Government of plans to give a number of new opportunities to tenants who wish to become homeowners. These include:

- requiring a landlord selling a property to first offer it to the tenant on an independent valuation basis for sale;

- working with AHBs and local authorities to develop a bespoke ‘cost rental’ model for tenants at risk of homelessness but not on social housing supports to continue to rent their homes at existing or market rates.

The Government recognises, however, that there are challenges. Price inflation, rising interest rates and other inter-related factors arising from the war in Ukraine have increased the cost of construction, leading to a very uncertain and unstable environment. The first annual update of Housing for All 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.

Acting now, with measures like the extension of the LDA’s Project Tosaigh; the Croí Cónaithe (Cities) initiative; increasing the subvention to local authorities under the Affordable Housing Fund; and the recent increase in the Cost Rental Equity Loan for AHBs, will further improve viability, and get sites activated that might not otherwise be developed.

In parallel, we will continue to deliver on the fundamental reforms set out in the Plan, such as addressing the cost of construction; accelerating the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction, particularly in the delivery of public housing; and reforming the planning system to ensure a simpler, more streamlined process for all stakeholders.

A record €4.5 billion in State housing investment has been made available for 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. Over €1 billion will be spent on affordability measures, supporting homeownership in 2023.

The challenges arising in the housing market are under constant review right across Government and the Government and I continue to explore options to ensure that housing policy can and is being modified to deliver at an accelerated pace.

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/

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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142. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of new commencements across the Cork east constituency; the number of completions in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11967/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department publishes commencement notice data, broken down by local authority area, on a monthly basis which can be accessed at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/a5cb1-construction-activity-starts/

Similarly, the Central Statistics Office publishes quarterly data on dwelling completions, which is available on a Local Electoral Area Basis, at the following link: www.cso.ie/en/statistics/buildingandconstruction/newdwellingcompletions/