Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

965. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government how many applications under the cost rental equity loan scheme are under consideration by his Department or relevant agencies; the number of housing units associated with each application; the location of each; the value of funding requested; the date on which each application was submitted, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12658/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) funding is available to AHBs to provide affordable rented accommodation to those on middle incomes. The nature of the cost rental model means that cost rental homes are made available at a certain rent level, which is needed to cover the costs of delivery and provision, and must be at least 25 per cent below prevailing market rents.

Applications for CREL are regularly received by my Department and as such the assessment and approval of applications on hand is continual. For reasons of commercial sensitivity, details of specific proposals awaiting approval cannot be released. However, my Department can confirm that it continues to work with the Approved Housing Body sector to deliver social and cost rental housing at scale, with a view to achieving Housing For All targets.

There will always be projects on hand with my Department which are either under assessment or the subject of further engagement with LAs or AHBs. This is perfectly normal in the context of the circa 2,500 Social and Affordable housing projects which have been or are being handled by my Department currently which are scheduled for delivery in the period 2025 – 2027.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

966. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government how many applications under the cost rental equity loan scheme have been approved by his Department or relevant agencies in 2024, and in 2025, respectively; the sponsor and location of each approved application; the number of units in each; the level of approved funding for each; the date of submission and the date of approval, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12659/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Cost Rental Equity Loan funding Scheme is available to Approved Housing Bodies to provide affordable rented accommodation to those who meet the income eligibility requirements for cost rental homes. The nature of the Cost Rental model means that Cost Rental homes are advertised and made available at a certain rent level, which is needed to cover the costs of delivery and provision. Cost rents must be at least 25% below prevailing market rents.

Applications for CREL are regularly received by the Housing Agency, who manage the Scheme on the Department's behalf, and as such the assessment and approval of applications on hand is continual.

In 2024, 26 applications were approved for funding for the delivery of 1,750 units due for delivery in 2024, 2025 and 2026 in the following local authority areas:

Cork City - 51 new cost rental homes

Dublin City - 424 new cost rental homes

Fingal - 421 new cost rental homes

Galway - 14 new cost rental homes

Kildare - 25 new cost rental homes

Kilkenny - 25 new cost rental homes

Laois - 28 new cost rental homes

South Dublin - 663 new cost rental homes

Waterford - 49 new cost rental homes

Westmeath - 21 new cost rental homes and

Wicklow; 29 new cost rental homes.

The associated funding for these cost rental homes is just over €401 million.

To date in 2025, 16 projects (1,108 units) have been approved across 10 different local authority areas for delivery in 2025, 2026 and 2027, as follows:

Cork City - 441 new cost rental homes

Cork County - 40 new cost rental homes

Dublin City - 189 new cost rental homes

Fingal - 239 new cost rental homes

Galway City - 75 new cost rental homes

Limerick -12 new cost rental homes

Louth - 23 new cost rental homes

Meath - 51 new cost rental homes

South Dublin - 30 new cost rental homes and

Westmeath - 8 new cost rental homes.

The associated funding for these homes is just over €255 million.

For reasons of commercial sensitivity, details of specific proposals cannot be released. However, my Department can confirm that it continues to work with the Approved Housing Body sector to deliver cost rental housing at scale.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

967. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the budget allocation for the cost rental equity loan scheme in 2024; how much was used; the allocation for 2025; the current available amount outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12660/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Including additional funding made available as part of a Supplementary Estimate last year, the total 2024 budget provision for the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) scheme was €435m, all of which was expended. 2024 Housing expenditure is currently being finalised as part of the annual audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General and details of final out-turns will be published in due course as part of the 2024 Appropriation Account.

The 2025 allocations for housing programmes are detailed in the Revised Estimates Volume for the Public Service (REV) which is available at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/collection/e20037-revised-estimates/#2025

and sets out a provision of €300m for the CREL scheme. In addition, Government recently agreed to the provision of additional capital funding of €450m for 2025 to support the delivery of 3,000 social, affordable and cost rental homes over the period 2025-2027. This includes additional capital funding of €295m for CREL which will be provided by way of a Further Revised Estimate Volume (FREV) in due course.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

968. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the budget allocation for the capital advance leasing facility scheme in 2024; how much was used; the allocation for 2025; the current available amount outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12661/25]

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

969. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government how many applications under the capital advance leasing facility scheme, CALF, have been approved by his Department or relevant agencies in 2024 and in 2025, respectively; the sponsor and location of each approved application; the number of units in each; the value of funding provided; the date of submission and the date of approval; when local authorities have been reimbursed for the CALF moneys, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12662/25]

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

970. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government how many applications under the capital advance leasing facility are currently under consideration by his Department; the number of housing units associated with each application; the location of each; the requested funding level; the date on which each application was submitted by a local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12663/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 968 to 970, inclusive, together.

CALF funding is capital support provided to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) by local authorities to facilitate the funding of construction and purchase of new social housing homes. This loan facility can support between 25% and 30% of the eligible capital cost of the housing project, with the remaining finance sourced by the AHBs from private lenders (usually the Housing Finance Agency (HFA)).

The houses are provided to local authorities for social housing use under long-term lease arrangements known as Payment and Availability Agreements. A nominal interest rate of 2% fixed per annum is charged by the local authority on the initial capital amount. Repayments on either the capital or interest are not required during the term of the loan (between 10 and 30 years), although where an AHB chooses to, repayments can be made during the term. At the end of the term, the outstanding capital amount plus the interest accrued, is owed and repayable to the local authority. The local authority issues the CALF monies to the AHB and the local authority, in turn, recoups same from the Department.

Applications for P&A-CALF funding is made by AHBs directly to my Department, with the support of the Local Authority, following a consultation period with the Local Authority. Local Authorities, as the statutory housing authorities, are the decision makers in relation to the suitability of a proposed social housing project. For example, Local Authorities are required to ensure that any project appropriately reflects the housing need in that particular area and that there is sufficient need in the area to support the units over time; provide a level of assurance around the costs associated with projects; the properties comply with relevant standards and regulatory requirements; and the objectives of creating and maintaining sustainable communities are being met.

As with all Exchequer-supported projects, my Department as sanctioning authority, assesses each project proposal for suitability as determined by the local authority, value for money and compliance with the various requirements of the funding programme.

It is important to note that owing to the nature of the CALF, delivery of new housing does not always arise in the same year as expenditure and/or approval. Projects delivered under phased programmes may cross a number of payment periods/delivery years.

Details of specific proposals awaiting approval cannot be released due to reasons of commercial sensitivity. However, my Department can confirm that it continues to work with the AHB sector to deliver social housing through CALF funding at scale, with a view to achieving Housing for All targets.

My Department publishes a quarterly Social Housing Construction Projects Status Report, which sets out the continuing progress being made in advancing the national local authority and AHB new-build pipeline. The latest report, setting out the position at end Q3 2024, can be accessed at the following link:

data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q3-2024

Details of 2024 housing expenditure will be available following finalisation of my Department’s 2024 Appropriation Account. The 2025 budget allocations for all Housing subheads are set out in the 2025 Revised Estimates Volume (REV) which is available at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/collection/e20037-revised-estimates

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

971. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government how many applications under the capital assistance scheme are currently under consideration by his Department; the number of housing units associated with each application; the location of each; the stage of the process each is at; the date on which each application was submitted and the estimated value/cost of each, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12664/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government is fully committed to working with all stakeholders to deliver social homes at scale, as well as new affordable and cost rental homes and we have a record level of investment being provided for the delivery of Housing in 2025 with a capital funding provision of €6.5 billion supplemented by current funding of €1.65 billion.

The number of new build social homes in the pipeline for delivery in the three year period 2025 to 2027, circa 36,000 homes, is the highest ever for a three year period. The strongest national delivery of social housing since 1975 was recorded in 2022 with 10,254 social homes delivered and this was exceeded in 2023 with 11,938 homes.

There will always be projects on hand with my Department which are either under assessment or the subject of further engagement with LAs or AHBs. This is perfectly normal in the context of the circa 2,500 Social and Affordable housing projects which have been or are being handled by my Department currently which are scheduled for delivery in the period 2025–27. Under Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), my Department has approved 26 projects since September, 2024 and continues to approve projects. the number of projects on hand and being assessed is not significant in the context of the 180 CAS projects being managed by my Department for the delivery of some 1,662 new homes for priority and special needs tenants in the period 2025 - 2027. My Department is working with the LAs and AHBs to finalise the approval of the projects on hand and to deal with the new project proposals that are received on an ongoing basis.

Detailed information on all social housing projects - including those being funded under CAS - that are either undergoing design, planning or procurement processes before starting on site, those that are currently on site or those that are recently completed, is published quarterly by my Department in the form of a 'Construction Status Report'. The last published report was up to the end of Q3 of 2024 and is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/1e0ab-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q3-2024/

The report up to Q4 of 2024 will be published shortly and will provide further information on the status of all individual CAS projects that are in pre-construction and those on site or completed.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

972. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the budget allocation for the capital assistance scheme in 2024; how much was used; how many housing units it supported; the allocation for 2025; the current available amount outstanding, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12665/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In 2024, the Budget allocation for the Capital Assistance Scheme was initially €140m but due to strong activity under the scheme, an additional €20m was provided as part of the Supplementary Estimates process. Ultimately, the full year spend under the scheme for 2024 was €152.2m. The final social housing build delivery data for Q4 of 2024, including delivery under the Capital Assistance Scheme, is currently being finalised and will be published soon.

For 2025, the allocated budget for the Capital Assistance Scheme is €156m, of which €13.1m has been spent to date.