Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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46. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he intends to review the targets for and operation of the affordable purchase scheme. [53750/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Affordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of this Government’s housing policy. Since 2021 over 14,500 affordable housing supports have been delivered by a range of delivery partners through the various affordability measures in place.

Under the Programme for Government published in January 2025, the Government has committed to introduce a new, all of government, national housing plan to follow Housing for All. My Department is currently examining that commitment, its implementation and the potential timeframe. The ongoing operation of the local authority affordable purchase scheme will be addressed in the context of this plan.

The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) is open and available to support all local authorities to address affordability needs identified in their area.

Over 1,700 affordable purchase homes have been delivered with AHF support up to and including Q1 of 2025 from a total approved programme capacity of over 5,100 local authority affordable purchase scheme homes now in place. This programme will continue to expand and develop as local authorities continue to identify, develop and deliver additional projects in line with local needs.

Operating under similar principles, the First Home Scheme is a further key support for first-time buyers. Its published Quarter 2 2025 report showed that over 7,600 applicants had been issued with Eligibility Certs for the scheme and 3,691 homes had been purchased or built.

Together with the Croí Cónaithe Towns schemes and Help to Buy support, these affordable purchase measures are seeing high demand and are proving highly effective in addressing the affordability challenges so many people are facing.