Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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653. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding the tenant-in situ scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48015/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I recently secured an additional €50 million as part of the National Development Plan process to expand the social housing second-hand acquisitions programme this year, bringing the total budget available to €375 million.

I have decided to ringfence and target this additional funding at acquisitions supporting households, particularly larger families with children, to exit long-term emergency homeless accommodation. To this end, the funding will be allocated to the eight city and city and county councils, which have the highest number of households that have been emergency accommodation for longer than 24 months in the Dublin region and 12 months or more in the remaining four authorities. Acknowledging the limited time to complete such acquisitions before the end of the year, any unspent monies from the allocation can be carried forward into 2026 so as to maximise the impact of the funding for households. Funding carried forward will be ring-fenced and separate from any allocation provided under the second-hand acquisitions programme in 2026.

I am satisfied there is adequate scope within the original €325 million budget to support all acquisitions that can be contractually completed and drawn down by local authorities before the end of this year. Accordingly, where local authorities have indicated to my Department that they are likely fully commit and draw down their original allocation this year but could progress additional acquisitions if further funding were available, they are being approved do so (e.g. for tenant in situ and other priority cohorts) where these acquisitions can be contractually completed and fully drawn down from my Department in 2025.

I have also written recently to local authorities authorising them to enter into acquisitions that are more likely to close and fall due in 2026. Accordingly, local authorities can now enter into financial commitments for 2026 to a value of up to 30% of their original 2025 acquisitions budget. This will allow priority acquisitions to continue in the closing months of 2025, with certainty on funding availability in 2026, should such purchases not complete this year.

I am satisfied the funding available this year, coupled with the flexibility to enter into commitments falling due in 2026, is adequate to meet all potential tenant in situ and other acquisitions that can be completed this year.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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654. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the average cost per unit of new build social housing delivered in 2024 by social housing investment programme, by type (details supplied), in tabular form. [48022/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department assesses, approves and records local authority social housing delivery on a project basis, rather than on the basis of individual unit types.

SHIP-funded construction projects by local authorities must, like all publicly-funded construction programmes, comply with the Infrastructure Guidelines (Public Spending Code) and Capital Works Management Framework. My Department periodically issues Basic Unit Costs (BUCs) for each local authority area, for use as a key benchmark for the development and costing of scheme designs at capital appraisal stage. While not a record of actual delivery costs, BUCs are based on an analysis of returned data from tendered social housing schemes over an extended period and updated based on published tender index information as required.

To monitor tender cost trends and to inform BUC levels, my Department analyses the tender data for the construction cost element of new build schemes approved under the SHIP & CAS four stage approval processes for each unit type, where sufficient information is available to allow such costs to be extrapolated and where the information available is appropriate for comparison purposes.

Outlined in the table below are average construction costs (incl. VAT), recorded as part of the aforementioned analysis for projects tendered in 2024 (1-4 bedroom houses and apartments).

The table also sets out the range of average unit costs (across different projects). The range of costs recorded vary, depending on design, mix of unit types (e.g. bedroom numbers, apartment/house); and on the level of abnormal requirements for each scheme, for instance existing site conditions, demolitions, service diversions, site access requirements. Average abnormal costs are also separately identified in the below table.

SHIP Construction 2024

• Design/technical fees: Design fees vary from project to project, depending on the location, size and complexity of a scheme (and depending on whether design services are provided by a local authority in-house or via external appointment). As a guideline/indicator, design fee are generally expected to range between 7.5% to 12.5% of construction costs.
• Land cost: Land costs will vary significantly from project to project, depending on location and ownership status (i.e. land costs could vary from existing local authority land at no cost to land purchased at market value).
• Utilities: Connection fees for Irish Water, ESB, gas, etc. As a guideline/indicator, utility connection costs are generally in the order of €7k per unit.
• Other Costs: Other items that make up the all-in delivery cost can include site investigations/surveys, archaeological requirements, Percent for Art contributions - and will vary from scheme to scheme.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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655. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there are schemes or loans available to persons (details supplied), to financially assist with purchasing a property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48026/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is acutely aware of the housing challenges faced by many sectors of society. 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. This Department is currently examining that commitment, its implementation and the potential timeframe.

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 will continue to be progressed to accelerate and increase delivery of secure and affordable housing.

A list of affordable housing supports currently in place is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/0d279-doors-open/, which includes information on the various schemes, a number of which are aimed at first time buyers or Fresh Starters buying a home and can be combined, thereby providing additional affordability support.

The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for first-time buyers and certain other eligible applicants who have been refused a mortgage through a regular mortgage lender. The scheme is for the purchase of new or second-hand residential properties and for self-builds. It also allows for the purchase of new homes through Affordable Housing Schemes, with the exception of the First Home Scheme. The Local Authority Home Loan is available nationwide from all local authorities. More information on the Local Authority Home Loan is available at the following link: localauthorityhomeloan.ie/.

The Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan is a Government backed mortgage and loan for the purchase and renovation of derelict and non-habitable homes. The property must be eligible for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, whether derelict, non-habitable or simply vacant. For more information visit: purchaseandrenovationloan.ie/.

Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme - Local authorities make newly built homes available at a reduced price for first-time and other eligible buyers who cannot afford to purchase a home at its open market value with a maximum mortgage and 10% deposit. The local authority takes a percentage equity share in the home equal to the difference between the open market value of the home and the reduced price paid. This means that if a home is purchased at a 20% reduction on the open market value, the local authority will have a 20% equity share in the home. For more information visit www.affordablehomes.ie.

The First Home Scheme provides finance to help first time buyers, self-builders or those making a fresh start to bridge the gap between a deposit and mortgage, and the price of a new home. The Scheme takes a percentage ownership of your home, which you can buy back later. For more information on the scheme visit www.firsthomescheme.ie.

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is a payment available for turning a vacant house or building into your permanent home or a rental property. A grant of up to €50,000 is available. If the refurbishment costs exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available. For more information visit www.gov.ie/en/service/f8f1b-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant/.

The Help to Buy scheme can help with a deposit for a new or self-build home for first-time buyers. It is a refund on income and DIRT tax paid in Ireland in the last four-years. The scheme comes within the remit of the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Finance. Information on Help to Buy is available at the following link:

www.revenue.ie/en/property/help-to-buy-incentive/index.aspx.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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656. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is creating a dedicating funding stream for local authorities to help provide storm community hubs during extreme weather; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48044/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Local authorities are designated as the lead agencies for coordinating a response to flooding and severe weather emergencies.

My Department undertakes the Lead Government Department role, as set out in the Strategic Emergency Management (SEM) Framework (2017), in relation to the coordination of national level responses to severe weather and flooding emergencies, where warranted. The Department's National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management undertakes this role and works closely with local authority Severe Weather Assessment Teams and Met Éireann.

Since 2009, my Department has made financial support of over €100 million available to assist local authorities in meeting the unbudgeted costs of clean-up and necessary immediate works, including for exceptional overtime payments, the hire of plant and heavy machinery, the purchase of materials required for the clean-up and the hire of contractors associated with significant severe weather emergency events.

This is in recognition of the exceptional nature of the activities carried out by local authorities in responding to these types of emergencies and the fact that the costs of these un-programmed activities could not be foreseen in annual expenditure planning. This practice is considered a vital enabler of the local authority action, providing the assurance that availability of resources is not a limiting factor in providing a very effective local response.

While my Department makes every effort to support local authorities in their activities during severe weather events, it does not currently have a dedicated funding stream available to assist with the provision of community hubs. However, as always, my Department, in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, continues to work with local authorities to provide necessary funding where it can.

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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657. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if data is available for first home scheme participants on the distribution of applicants’ credit card limits; the relationship between such limits and approval outcomes, and the guidance given to applicants on managing revolving credit during the application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48083/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The First Home Scheme, which launched in July 2022, is a shared equity scheme designed to help bridge the gap between a purchaser’s deposit and mortgage, and the price of their new home, for eligible first-time buyers, Fresh Start applicants and those who wish to build their first home, within regional price ceilings.

The First Home Scheme Designated Activity Company is responsible for the operation and management of the First Home Scheme on behalf of its shareholders - the State, Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB and, as such, is responsible for First Home Scheme reporting.

The rules of the First Home Scheme are detailed in the First Home Scheme brochure, and available on the First Home Scheme website at:

www.firsthomescheme.ie/media/5gndvobr/your-guide-to-the-first-home-scheme-2024.pdf