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 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).

The social housing new build target for 2024 is 9,300 homes and the overall leasing target for 2024 is 2,130 homes, inclusive of 130 units to be delivered under the Repair and Leasing Scheme. An LA breakdown of the build and long-term leasing targets issued under Housing for All are attached.

Under Housing for All, each local authority was required to prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan. This Plan sets 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 planned LA, AHB and Part V delivery for social housing schemes. The Plans have been published on the local authority’s own websites.

For 2023, the Government agreed that there would be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department provided funding local authorities to acquire at least 1,500 social homes. The additional acquisitions have primarily focused on properties where a tenant is in receipt of social housing supports and has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. My Department issued a circular letter in March 2023, setting out details of these arrangements and each local authority was provided with a provisional allocation for social housing acquisitions in 2023.

For 2024, Government has again agreed to an increased provision to acquire 1,500 social homes with the primary focus on properties where a tenant is in receipt of social housing supports and has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. Local authorities have delegated sanction in relation to these acquisitions, subject to those acquisitions being within Acquisition Cost Guidelines (ACGs) issued by the Department. My Department issued a circular letter in March 2024 providing each local authority with a provisional allocation for social housing acquisitions in 2024.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities for the leasing of houses and apartments.

Under the Housing for All plan, leasing delivery targets for 2024 are 800 units under Long Term Leasing and 200 units under Short Term Leasing (RAS Type agreements).

The Targeted Leasing Initiative is separate and additional to Housing for All targets and seeks to delivery up to 1,000 additional units for homeless households up to the end of 2024.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Housing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing out to 2030 comprising of 54,000 affordable homes to be delivered by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through the First Home Scheme, which is a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks. The overall target for Affordable and Cost Rental Homes for 2024 is 6,400.

Local authorities have published 5 year Housing Delivery Action Plans (HDAP) setting out affordable housing delivery targets up to 2026. The Housing Delivery Action Plans do not include additional affordable homes that will be delivered by the LDA, AHBs, First Home and via the higher Part V requirements introduced in the Affordable Housing Act 2021. The plan for each Council is available on their individual websites.

The Department continues to liaise with all local authorities and other delivery partners in relation to the further development of an affordable housing delivery programme that will respond effectively to all affordable housing requirements identified at a local level.

In addition, the First Home Scheme, 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. Since September 2023, the First Home Scheme now supports those who wish to build their own home.

The scheme is available nationwide and more information can be found at www.firsthomescheme.ie/

Finally, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, launched in July 2022, supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes, with support of up to €50,000 being provided for the refurbishment of vacant properties and a further €20,000 available where the property is derelict. The grant is making the refurbishment of these properties into homes an affordable option for buyers and owners.