Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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130. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of houses likely to be approved to Kildare County Council for reletting or affordable sale from the various developments currently taking place across north Kildare with particular reference to the towns of Naas, Sallins, Clane, Kilcock, Maynooth, Leixlip and Celbridge given the urgent need arising from the termination of leases which will a considerable number of households in danger of homelessness with obvious consequences; if the number of ten or twenty per cent accruals on foot of the various planning permissions could be identified with a view to meeting this emergency in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30071/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a priority for Government.

My Department does not collate the figures requested in relation to the anticipated yield of housing units arising from Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. However, the data sought may be available from Kildare County Council.

Critical to supporting households to exit homelessness and prevent homelessness in the first instance, is increasing the supply of housing. Almost 12,000 new social homes were delivered in 2023, through Build, Acquisition and Leasing, including 8,110 new build homes, the highest level of new build social homes in nearly 50 years. Including HAP and RAS, 21,733 social housing solutions were delivered throughout 2023.

Record state investment of over €5bn has been made available this year to support the largest State home building programme ever, including 9,300 new build social homes. This funding will also support the Tenant in Situ scheme, with provision to acquire 1,500 homes where a social housing tenant has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. This scheme delivered 1,830 acquisitions in 2023 and was a key prevention measure. For private tenants at risk of homelessness who are not in receipt of social housing supports, the ‘Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ’ scheme has also been introduced.

It is also worth noting that the Part V provisions were amended by the Affordable Housing Act 2021 which came into operation on 3 September 2021. The effect of the amendments is to increase the Part V contribution to 20% in housing developments of 5 or more houses, and to broaden the use of Part V to cost rental and affordable purchase as well as social housing.

At least half the Part V contribution must be for social housing provision. The other half of the Part V contribution may be used for the provision of affordable homes which will be made available to approved affordable housing candidates in accordance with the Affordable Housing Act 2021.

The contribution of Part V units to social, and in due course also, affordable housing delivery will be reflected in the quarterly social and affordable housing delivery statistics published by my Department.