Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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48. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of approved housing body applications currently awaiting approval for cost rental in his Department; the length of time each application is waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53938/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Cost Rental Equity Loan funding Scheme is available to Approved Housing Bodies to provide affordable rented accommodation to those who meet the income eligibility requirements for cost rental homes. The nature of the Cost Rental model means that Cost Rental homes are advertised and made available at a certain rent level, which is needed to cover the costs of delivery and provision. Cost rents must be at least 25% below prevailing market rents.

Applications for CREL are regularly received by my Department and as such the assessment and approval of applications on hand is continual. Thus far in 2025, some 41 applications, which will deliver more than 3,000 units out to 2029, have been approved. For reasons of commercial sensitivity, details of specific proposals awaiting approval cannot be released. However, my Department can confirm that it continues to work with the Approved Housing Body sector to deliver social and cost rental housing at scale.