Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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98. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the targets set out in appendix 1 of the Laying the Foundations: Housing Action Report produced in 2016 by the then Department of Environment, Community and Local Government were met in respect of Fingal County Council; if the proposed 1,376 units were delivered from 2015 to 2017; if not, how many were delivered; the final spend on the same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21908/23]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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114. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the targets set out in Appendix 1 of the Laying the Foundations: Housing Action Report produced in 2016 by the then Department of Environment, Community and Local Government were met in respect of Wexford County Council; if he will confirm whether the proposed 677 units were delivered from 2015 to 2017; if not, the number that were delivered; the final spend on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22071/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 114 together.

My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority. This data is available to the end of 2022, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/

The total funding provided by my Department to the relevant local authorities for the delivery of capital and current Housing programmes for the period in question is set out in the table below.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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99. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the steps he is taking to provide affordable and social housing for single people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21923/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Housing for All, is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes and 54,000 affordable homes by 2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.

A key action of Housing for All required local authorities to develop Housing Delivery Action Plans to include details of social and affordable housing delivery. The Plans set out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All.The Plans also include details of the locations and delivery streams for social housing schemes and to make adequate provision for 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes.  Housing Delivery Action Plans are published on the websites of the respective local authorities.

For 2023, the Government has agreed that there will be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department will fund local authorities to acquire up to 1,500 social homes. 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, which includes one bed properties. 

The Government recognises that more needs to be done to support home buyers, including single individuals, and, as detailed in the Housing for All strategy, has introduced a multi-faceted approach to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system. This includes the provision of 36,000 affordable purchase and 18,000 cost rental homes in the period to 2030.

Under pathway 1 of Housing For All, “Pathways to Home Ownership and Increasing Affordability”, I have introduced the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme to assist first-time buyers, including single applicants, purchasing Local Authority-delivered new homes by bridging the gap between the market value of the home and the combined value of the buyer's mortgage and deposit. Affordable Purchase homes will be advertised on the relevant Local Authority’s website in advance of their sale, including eligibility requirements. This scheme uses an equity share model to give eligible purchasers the opportunity of home ownership at a significant discount.

The First Home shared equity scheme, launched last July, employs a similar equity share model in order to support households and individuals unable to afford the purchase of new homes in the private market. Subject to eligibility criteria, it can provide funds up to 30% of the value of a newly constructed home (or 20% if the Help to Buy Scheme is used). Overall, this scheme is intended to support up to 8,000 affordable purchases in the period out to 2026, and the State has committed funding of €200m, to be matched by the participating mortgage lenders. Full details of the Scheme, including eligibility criteria, are available on the website: www.firsthomescheme.ie. 

Separately, a new form of long-term sustainable home rental has been introduced in the form of Cost Rental tenancies. Cost Rental is targeted to deliver rents at least 25% below market levels for households and individuals with incomes above social housing limits but who cannot afford to purchase or rent their own homes on the open market. It provides tenants with secure tenancies in long-term homes. Under the Cost Rental model, rents for homes are set to cover only the cost of financing, building, managing and maintaining the homes.

Other measures, such as the Help to Buy Scheme and the Local Authority Home loan are also nationally available to eligible first-time purchasers to make home ownership more affordable. 

The Help-to-Buy incentive supports First-time Buyers in meeting the deposit requirements for newly-built houses or apartments, as well as self-build homes. Subject to the level of income tax and DIRT paid over the previous 4 years, the Help-to-Buy scheme provides a maximum benefit to First-Time Buyers of €30,000 or 10% of the cost of the newly constructed home. As of the end of April 2023, nearly 39,000 first-time buyers have been supported by this incentive. 

The new Local Authority Home Loan commenced on 4 January 2022 and is a Government backed mortgage scheme for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. The loan can be used by first-time buyers for both for new and second-hand properties, or for self-builds. The scheme is open to single applicants who have an annual gross income of not more than €70,000. More information on the Local Authority Home Loan can be found on the new, improved website localauthorityhomeloan.ie/