Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to my answers to Question No. 689 on 9 April 2024 and Question No. 290 on 8 May 2024 which set out the position in this matter.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 194 together.

Data on the repair and leasing scheme in respect of all local authorities to end Q4 2023 is published on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#repair-and-leasing-scheme-rls.

While my Department issues general guidance on the scheme, it has no direct role in deciding on individual applications. Local authorities determine eligibility for the scheme by taking account of local need, the suitability of dwellings, sustainable community considerations and value for money.

With the launch of the Housing for All Action Plan and the issuing of Housing Circular 34/2021 in October 2021, local authorities were requested to provide my Department with data on proposals that do not progress. This data is collated for high level analysis with a view to increasing uptake in the scheme. It is not a detailed statistical analysis. The data collected for years 2022 and 2023 outlined the reasons for projects not proceeding. These included;

• Application not suitable
• €60,000 funding insufficient
• Proposer misunderstood the scheme
• Delivery through a different scheme
• No social housing need in the specific area

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 196 together.

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).

For 2023 and 2024, the Government agreed that there would be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department will fund local authorities to acquire 1,500 social homes this year. The additional acquisitions are focused primarily 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. My Department issued a circular letter to all local authorities in March 2024, setting out details of the arrangements for 2024 and each local authority was provided with a provisional allocation for social housing acquisitions.

It is a matter for individual local authorities to identify suitable acquisitions in line with local circumstances and their social housing allocations policy. My Department does not hold data, therefore, on the number of social housing acquisitions applications that have been withdrawn or rejected, nor on the reasons for such withdrawals or rejections. Further information may be available from individual local authorities.

My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including completed acquisitions. From 2023, this data includes a breakdown of acquisitions completed by each local authority where a Notice of Termination issued to a tenant and is available, for all local authorities, to the end of Quarter 4 2023 on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.