Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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1202. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if priority will be given to critical skills workers such as teachers, nurses and Gardaí in upcoming affordable housing schemes: the way in which such a priority would work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45845/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is acutely aware of the housing challenges faced by many sectors of society. The Government's current housing plan, Housing for All, contains a suite of actions that have increased, and will continue to increase, the provision of housing through accelerating supply and increasing the affordability of homes.

The 2025 Programme for Government includes a commitment to target Cost Rental homes at key local workers, and my Department is working to explore options for achieving this.

I would note that the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 included new provisions related to the Cost Rental sector aimed at improving access for certain cohorts, including those who may be categorised as key workers.

To give effect to this legislation, on 2 July this year I made the Affordable Housing Act 2021 (Cost Rental Allocation Plan) Regulations 2025. These Regulations allow Cost Rental landlords to employ bespoke 'Allocation Plans' which may give priority for particular homes to those with a link to an area through residence, place of employment, or children’s education. This will enable cost rental providers  to better support households to live and work in their local area.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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1203. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to respond to concerns that existing housing schemes functionally exclude many single individuals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45856/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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1236. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to cases whereby single people cannot qualify for affordable housing schemes due to their lower income relative to couples; if he is conscious of the need to support all prospective homeowners, regardless of relationship status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46174/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1203 and 1236 together.

The Government is acutely aware of the housing challenges faced by many sectors of society. Housing for All, Ireland's housing plan to 2030, contains a suite of actions that continue to increase the provision of housing through accelerating supply and increasing the affordability of homes for our citizens.

Under the Programme for Government published in January 2025, the Government committed to introduce a new, all of government, national housing plan to follow Housing for All.

While work is being undertaken to progress a new housing plan, which will build on progress to date, the measures detailed in Housing for All continue to be progressed to accelerate and increase delivery of secure and affordable housing.

In the case of affordable homes purchased under the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme and the First Home Scheme, applicant eligibility is not dependent upon income or household size/composition.  A variety of homes at a range of prices is often made available.  Eligibility for these schemes are property-specific and work from a household's purchasing capacity – calculated according to the Affordable Housing Regulations 2023.

Each local authority will have a Scheme of Priority for the allocation of homes which comes into effect when a development is oversubscribed, i.e. there are more eligible applicants than properties available in a given scheme. The Affordable Housing Act 2021 allows for the Scheme of Priority to include matters such as priority be given to applicants based upon date and time of application and priority given to eligible applicants in relation to a particular dwelling, or class of dwelling, having regard to the size or composition of the eligible applicant’s household.