Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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90. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of social housing schemes currently underway using the Part 8 derogation including the number of units to be delivered; the locations of each scheme along with commencement and estimated completion dates for each scheme. [24289/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Legislation enacted in December 2022 amended the Planning and Development Act. The provisions under sections 3, 13 and 14 of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Act 2022 which insert section 179A into the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, have commenced. These provisions provide that housing developments by, on behalf of, or in partnership with a local authority which commences construction before the end of 2024 will be exempt from planning permission and from the Local Authority ’Part 8’ process, subject to a number of specific conditions. Where a development does not satisfy the conditions set out in section 179A, the normal local authority own development arrangements under the ‘Part 8’ process will apply.

Reporting is required under article 39A of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, and data provided by local authorities set out in the table below, indicates the number of units where site notices have been issued by each local authority as of the end of Q4 2023. Data for Q1 2024 has been requested from local authorities and will be available in due course.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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92. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department is considering the upper limit of €30,000 for housing adaptation grants, and €8,000 for housing aid for the elderly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23749/24]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to support the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability which support older and disabled people living in private houses to adapt their home to meet their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People, which are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority.

Housing for All commits to reviewing the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme and a report on the review has been prepared by my Department. Among the areas which the review considered are the income thresholds that apply and the grant limits. On foot of consideration of the Review report, my Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on the recommendations in the report with a view to bringing forward amendments to the relevant Regulations governing the schemes as soon as possible with a view to also publishing the final report.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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95. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the measures he is taking to help first time house buyers; the impact of these in the twelve months to the end of March 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24326/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Affordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of the Government’s housing policy. As detailed in the Housing for All strategy, the Government has introduced a number of measures to support households and individuals wishing to purchase a home, as well as increasing the overall supply of new homes, with an ambitious target of 300,000 new homes up to 2030.

This includes, as part of Housing for All, several measures which are in place to support first time buyers.

The Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme assists first-time buyers in purchasing Local Authority delivered new homes. Affordable Purchase homes are advertised on the relevant Local Authority’s website in advance of their sale, together with eligibility requirements such as household income limits. This scheme uses an equity share model to give eligible purchasers the opportunity of home ownership at a discount.

The First Home Scheme, launched in July 2022, employs a similar equity share model in order to support the purchase of new homes in the private market. Subject to eligibility criteria, it can provide equity up to 30% of the value of a new home.

The Local Authority Home Loan (LAHL) is a Government-backed mortgage for creditworthy applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants.

Additionally, 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. In providing support to refurbish vacant and derelict properties, the grant is making the transformation of these properties into homes an affordable option for buyers and owners.

In addition to the above schemes, 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. The Help-to-Buy may be used in conjunction with the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme or the First Home Scheme.

Finally, data for affordable housing delivery is published on a quarterly basis, similar to social housing, and includes information on the measures set out in this response. The data up to end of 2023 is available on my Department's website at the following link and I expect that we will be in a position to report delivery for Quarter 1 2024 shortly. www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery