Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes; 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing, and 28,500 new affordable homes in the period 2022-2026.

Each local authority has prepared its own 5 year Housing Delivery Action Plan setting out their social and affordable housing delivery plans. 18 local authorities, including Louth County Council, were asked to include their planned affordable housing delivery in their Plans, in line with the five-year Affordable Housing delivery targets assigned to Louth County Council in March 2022, and additional affordable homes that will be delivered by the Land Development Agency (LDA), Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) and via the higher Part V requirements introduced in the Affordable Housing Act 2021. The plan for Louth is available on the local authority's official website.

Louth County Council has recently launched an affordable purchase housing scheme at Cois Farraige, Blackrock, Co. Louth. Applications are now being accepted until 28 February on the Local Authority's website.

Local authorities also now complete and submit data returns to my Department on delivery of affordable homes in their area in the same manner as is done for social housing. Statistical reports detailing affordable housing delivery during 2022 and for the first three quarters of 2023 are available on my Department's website at the following link - www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery. These reports show that the First Home scheme is now playing a role in the delivery of affordable homes in Louth and I expect the early momentum seen here to continue to grow as the scheme takes hold.

The First Home Scheme, launched in July 2022, 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/.

I also anticipate that the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, which includes funding for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Ready to Build Scheme, will prove valuable in addressing overall affordability needs in Louth. A Vacant Homes Officer is in place who can assist the public with bringing vacant homes back into use, with up to €70,000 in grant support available to do so.

Significant progress is being made to deliver the Government's ambitious social and affordable housing targets under Housing for All, and my Department is working to further accelerate delivery with its key partners - local authorities, AHBs, the LDA, and via the First Home scheme.