Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market, or building their own home, through the use of an equity share model. Full details of the First Home Scheme are available at: www.firsthomescheme.ie

The Scheme is overseen and managed by the First Home Scheme Ireland Designated Activity Company (First Home DAC), on behalf of scheme founders (the State and participating mortgage lenders). This body is responsible for collating and issuing statistical information as it pertains to the scheme. The First Home DAC has published its Q4 2023 Public Update covering the period from 7 July 2022 to 31 December 2023, which can be found on its website at: www.firsthomescheme.ie/about-the-company/quarterly-updates/.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market, or building their own home, through the use of an equity share model. Full details of the First Home Scheme are available at:

The Scheme is overseen and managed by the First Home Scheme Ireland Designated Activity Company (First Home DAC), on behalf of scheme founders (the State and participating mortgage lenders). This body is responsible for collating and issuing statistical information as it pertains to the scheme. The First Home DAC has published its Q4 2023 Public Update covering the period from 7 July 2022 to 31 December 2023, which can be found on its website at: .

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has developed the Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) scheme for tenants in private rental homes who are at risk of homelessness because a landlord intends to sell the property but who are not in receipt of social housing supports.

The scheme was established on a temporary administrative basis from 1 April 2023 and is managed by the Housing Agency, pending further policy development over the longer term, with the intention of transitioning these homes to the standard Cost Rental model.

I am informed that the Housing Agency are engaging with more than 130 landlords across all Local Authority areas, with a view to the purchase of those homes.

Data for affordable housing delivery is published on a quarterly basis, similar to social housing delivery. This data is published up to Quarter 4 2023, including CRTiS figures, and is available on my Department's website: / .

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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706. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of applications that were made to a Land Development Agency cost rental scheme in an apartment complex (details supplied); the number of eligible applications; where the process currently stands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15199/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The policy intent of developing a Cost Rental sector in Ireland is to support the housing needs of those on moderate incomes for whom high open market rents are unaffordable and who do not qualify for social housing supports.

All Cost Rental providers are legally obliged to make Cost Rental homes available in line with the provisions of Part 3 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021. The process of allocating a tenancy under Cost Rental is set out both within Part 3 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021, along with the associated Regulations, and the process was followed for allocation of Cost Rental tenancies at the development in question.

The homes in question are managed and maintained by the Land Development Agency (LDA), which is responsible for receiving applications and entering into tenancy agreements. As with all State bodies under the aegis of my Department, arrangements have been put in place by the LDA through which Oireachtas members can request information directly from the Agency in relation to operational matters - in this regard, the LDA may be contacted directly at oireachtas@lda.ie.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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707. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide details on how he and his Department will simplify and enhance the application process and application timelines on the croí cónaithe scheme considering the worrying figures reported in a newspaper (details supplied) on the number of applicants who have successfully drawn down funding on the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15200/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock.

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes. A grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent.

Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict or where the property is already on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000. The grant is available in respect of vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007, in towns, villages, cities and rural areas.

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is available to properties which have been vacant for 2 years.

The grant process involves the local authority receiving and reviewing applications and arranging for a qualified person to visit the property to check the works being applied for and to assess the proposed cost. Once approved, a letter of approval, including the grant amount approved, issues to the applicant.

When the works applied for are completed the local authority will conduct a final property visit to review that the work has been completed in-line with the grant application. Where the local authority is satisfied, they will then pay the grant. Currently payment of grants is taking place some 13 months from date of approval, as works are completed. It is anticipated that the payment of grants by local authorities will increase significantly during 2024 as more works are completed.

When the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund was launched, a commitment was given that a comprehensive review and evaluation of the schemes under it, including the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, would be undertaken by mid 2024. That review is currently underway and is due to be completed in May 2024.