Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael)
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484. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of homes that have been or that will be built in County Clare from 2020 to 2025 under the local authority affordable purchase scheme, in tabular form; if he will provide a breakdown for each of the four municipal districts of Ennis, Killaloe, Shannon and West Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15589/25]

Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael)
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485. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to outline details of new affordable housing schemes being supported by his Department; to provide details of submissions received from Clare County Council for the development of such schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15590/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 484 and 485 together.

Housing for All, the Government’s housing plan, puts affordability at the heart of the housing system and places priority on the supply of affordable homes to persons on moderate incomes and above the social housing income eligibility threshold. The plan commits to the delivery of 54,000 affordable homes by 2030.

The Affordable Housing Act 2021 provides the legislative basis for a range of affordability schemes that are now operational in line with Housing for All and are increasingly providing a range of affordable options for eligible prospective homeowners and renters. Delivery is being facilitated nationwide by local authorities, approved housing bodies, and via the First Homes scheme.

The Affordable Housing Fund enables local authorities to develop Affordable Purchase Schemes whereby homes are sold on a shared equity basis at an upfront price below the market value with an equity stake retained by the local authority commensurate with the discount from market value, redeemable by the purchaser at a future date, subject to certain conditions. Homes are advertised on each local authority’s website as they become available .

Similarly, the First Home Scheme uses an equity share model to support first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market. Full details of the First Home Scheme are available on the scheme website: www.firsthomescheme.ie.

The Revenue 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 and may be used in combination with the Affordable Purchase or First Homes schemes.

Given the profile of the county some of the other affordable options may be suitable for new households including the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. The grant benefits those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence. A further option available under the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund is the Ready to Build scheme whereby local authorities will make serviced sites in towns and villages available at a discount on the market value. The purchaser may then use the site to build their own home.

Finally, for those whose circumstances may be more suited to renting a home, the Government has introduced a new form of long-term sustainable home rental in the form of Cost Rental tenancies. This scheme aims to provide households, with a net income of up to €59,000, who cannot afford to purchase or rent their own home, with secure, affordable tenancies in sustainable, long-term homes. Under the Cost Rental model, rents for homes are set to cover only the cost of delivering, managing and maintaining the homes.

These affordable options are being availed of nationally and delivery is being scaled up.

All local authorities, including Clare County Council, have prepared a Housing Delivery Action Plan which sets out information on their intended social and affordable housing delivery over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All and assessed need. The Plans have been published on local authority websites and Clare's Plan can be accessed at the following link: housing-delivery-action-plan-2022-2026-48501.pdf.

While Clare does not have a specific affordable housing delivery target, it has identified localised affordability need in key urban locations where new households being formed would not be able to access housing for purchase or rent at prices/rents affordable to them. The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) is open and available to support local authorities to address such needs identified in their area.

To date Clare County Council has made affordable purchase homes available with the support of the Affordable Housing Fund at An Gallán Nua, Lahinch Road, Ennis and at Radharc Doire Shannon and plans to make further housing available.

Statistical reports detailing affordable housing delivery within each local authority area by all delivery partners during 2022, 2023 and for the first three quarters of 2024 are available on my Department's website at the following link -

My Department, and the affordable housing teams in the LGMA and Housing Agency are available to support local authorities, including Clare County Council, in developing and delivering affordable housing within the county.