Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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519. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the housing schemes, including social, affordable, cost rental or other supports, which are currently available in the Ballina municipal area and the Claremorris municipal area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33893/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Social Housing is delivered through a range of local authority and Approved Housing Body (AHB) delivery programmes. Where a local authority such as Mayo County Council is seeking to deliver social housing, Exchequer funding is made available under the Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP), my Department provides 100% of these costs to local authorities.

Social housing is also provided by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). Under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) up to 100% Capital funding is provided to AHBs to provide new social homes for priority categories to include homeless, disability and age friendly housing.

CALF funding is capital support provided to AHBs by local authorities to facilitate the funding of construction, acquisition or refurbishment of new social housing units. This loan facility can support from 25% to 30% of the eligible capital cost of the housing project.

The Affordable Housing Fund is available on an open, rolling basis to assist local authorities towards the cost of developing affordable housing for purchase or for rent in key urban areas where affordable housing needs have been identified. My Department and the Housing Agency are available to assist Mayo County Council in this regard and will consider any evidence presented by the Council in respect of a demonstrated need for the provision of affordable housing with AHF support at these locations.

In support of City and Towns regeneration policies, such as Towns Centre First, the Ready to Build serviced sites scheme is available which supports local authorities to provide sites at a discount to people who want to build their own home. Further information with regard to the scheme is available on my Department's website at the following link: or by contacting directly the Vacant Homes officer at Mayo County Council.

The First Home Scheme supports first-time buyers in purchasing new homes on the private market through the use of an equity share model, similar to that employed in the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme. The Scheme aims to support in the region of 8,000 households in acquiring new homes in the private market in the years 2022 to 2026 with an overall budget of €400 million. The scheme is available nationwide.

Other measures such as the Local Authority Home Loan, the Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Scheme, the Help to Buy Incentive, and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant are also available nationwide to help make home ownership more affordable.