Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

230. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of cost rental homes to be delivered in Cork in 2024. [45736/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Housing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing out to 2030, including 54,000 affordable homes for purchase and rent. These homes will be delivered by Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency, through the First Home Scheme, and by bringing vacant homes back into use. Significant public funding is being made available to support all of these delivery streams.

Local Authorities have published 5-year Housing Delivery Action Plans setting out affordable housing delivery targets up to 2026. Both Cork City and Cork County Council have set out plans to deliver 378 and 189 affordable homes respectively over this period. This Local Authority delivery does not include additional affordable homes that will be delivered by the LDA, AHBs, and the First Home Scheme, and via the higher Part V requirements introduced in the Affordable Housing Act 2021. The Delivery Action Plans for both Cork City and Cork County can be found on the respective Council websites.

AHBs have so far delivered 105 homes in Cork City with funding from my Department’s Cost Rental Equity Loan scheme, and I have approved CREL funding for another 51 AHB Cost Rental homes for delivery next year in Cork City. Further details, along with the advertisement for applications, will be announced closer to delivery.

I have also approved 5 Local Authority affordable housing projects in Cork County to assist with the delivery of 111 Cost Rental homes with support from the Affordable Housing Fund. This includes the 10 Cost Rental homes advertised recently in Bantry.

Additionally, the Land Development Agency, via Project Tosaigh, is advancing the delivery of over 300 homes in Cork City that are scheduled for completion in 2025. I understand that consideration is being given by the LDA to the appropriate mix of cost rental and affordable purchase homes.

My Department and I continue to work closely with Local Authorities, AHBs, and the LDA to develop pipelines for delivery of affordable homes across the country, including Cork City and County.