I thank the Deputy for his question on departmental approvals for social and affordable housing. The Government is committed to working with all stakeholders to deliver social, affordable and cost-rental homes at scale and to continue accelerating housing supply across all tenures. This is demonstrated by the record level of investment for the delivery of housing in 2025, with overall capital funding now available of almost €6.8 billion. With regard to approvals, the Department continues to both receive and issue approvals and, indeed, make payments to AHBs and local authorities. Only this week, a number of applications for new-build social housing projects were approved and approval letters issued. Since the beginning of the year, the Department has released funding of over €1.1 billion for the social and affordable housing build programmes to local authorities and approved housing bodies, and payments continue to be issued. It is important to note that developers and AHBs can begin their conversations with local authorities regarding projects significantly ahead of lodging a formal application to my Department. There will always be projects on hand with my Department, either under assessment or the subject of further engagement with local authorities or AHBs. This is perfectly normal. The ongoing NDP review will determine capital budgets for the period 2026 to 2030. The outcome of this review will determine the available capital funding for social and affordable housing out to 2030, and this has been communicated to local authorities and approved housing bodies.
Sentiment score: 0.34
I am happy to engage with the Deputy if he wants to give me the information on any specific case he suggests has been delayed. There may be some confusion among some bodies who put in queries or applications, or whatever the case may be, in that they believe that because they have not got approval it somehow means a delay. The funding we have is being approved. We have been providing funding for the necessary projects, be they cost-rental, CALF or local authority projects. We do encourage applications. We always have applications on hand that are going through the process to determine whether they can be approved, but that is different from saying there is a bunch of applications that have been approved but simply have not got the funding that is necessary.
Sentiment score: 0.28
Again, I thank the Deputy. I assure him I am over the detail in my Department. I think that some of the organisations presume that because they have an application in, they are entitled to funding or are automatically going to get funding. We are already providing record capital funding for this year, of almost €6.8 billion. There will be more spent. We encourage applications but the fact that an application has been submitted and has not been funded does not mean there is a delay because there is not an automatic entitlement to have a project funded. I will continue to look over any applications that are being submitted. We will continue to fund additional projects during this year but we are certainly not delaying the approval of projects.
Sentiment score: 0.09
I thank Deputy Murphy for raising this important question on whether housing delivery is at risk because of challenges regarding the electricity grid. I am committed to building more homes in Ireland and to ensuring the housing needs of our society and economy are met. The Government’s revised housing targets, aiming for over 300,000 new homes by 2030, set a pathway to deliver on this objective. While scaling up capacity to deliver 300,000 new homes by 2030 will be an enormous challenge, this can be facilitated, inter alia, through appropriate Government support to increase the critical infrastructural capacity needed to enable housing delivery in the coming years. The Government is investing record levels of capital funding in critical infrastructure and will continue to do so under the national development plan for the period 2025 to 2035, to be finalised by July of this year. Developers are guaranteed a connection by ESB Networks. It is worth noting that, over the past four years, ESB Networks has connected over 147,000 homes and businesses to the distribution network. For future connections, ESB Networks is advising developers to give as much notice of their requirements as possible. In response to increased demand, the operators have prepared business plans that propose significantly increased investment in the electricity grid for the period 2026 to 2030 for consideration by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities under its sixth price review. I look forward to the conclusion of the review, which will provide a clear framework for investment in the electricity grid for the next five-year period. In addition, the new housing activation office in my Department will engage with and align key stakeholders, including those responsible for the electricity grid, to ensure barriers to housing development are addressed in a co-ordinated way.
Sentiment score: 0.27
We are all aware that the high population growth and strong economic growth led to increased demand in terms of housing and also for our economy. Particularly with regard to delivering housing and the supporting infrastructure, there has been a growth in energy demand and the energy intensity required for modern manufacturing and large-scale servers. Delivering electricity infrastructure is absolutely key for this Government to ensure houses are delivered and also for our wider economy. In response to increased demand, ESB Networks and EirGrid have prepared business plans that propose significantly increased investment in the electricity grid for the period 2026 to 2030. Under the accelerating renewable electricity task force, the Department established in 2024 the future grid working group. This working group is tasked with accelerating the delivery of our electricity grid. This year will see the Irish regulator approve the investment in the Irish electricity grid for the period 2026 to 2030. The Deputy has raised concerns. They exist and we all acknowledge that there are challenges, but the Department, regulator and Government will be responding to them in the coming years.
Sentiment score: 0.29
I again thank the Deputy for his question. Housing is the number one priority for this Government, and that runs across all the different Departments. We have our Cabinet subcommittees where we work with the various Departments. In response to the increased demand as a result of a significant increase in population and economic demand being put on our grid, we have a plan in place, that plan is being worked out and we will deliver the electricity we need to provide the homes we will deliver and to help our economy continue to grow, which in turn gives us the funds, the taxes, that we need to help build those homes.
Sentiment score: 0.32
I thank Deputy Ó Broin for raising this important question about the tenant in situ scheme and housing first. Tenant in situ acquisitions have been an important measure in the prevention of homelessness since their introduction in 2023. The Government has therefore agreed to continue such acquisitions in 2025 and has increased the funding available for second-hand social acquisitions from the €60 million allocated under Housing for All to €325 million through the allocation of an additional €265 million a couple of months ago. In budget 2025, €60 million was allocated. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, significantly increased this funding only a couple of months ago by an additional €265 million. To date, local authorities have drawn down only 20%, or €64.13 million, of the €325 million which has been allocated for acquisitions in 2025. No local authority has drawn down all its funding or even come close to it. My Department engaged with local authorities on the operational details for the second-hand acquisitions programme, and a circular setting out the arrangements issued to them on 31 March 2025, with individual allocations for the local authorities being notified to them on 1 April 2025. Under revised arrangements for second-hand acquisitions in 2025, local authorities received a capital funding allocation for the acquisition of homes for the priority categories of tenant in situ properties that allow persons or families to exit homelessness; one-bedroom properties to deliver on housing first targets; specific housing required for people with a disability or the elderly; and vacant properties under the buy and renew scheme. The provision of a capital funding allocation will help promote best practice in obtaining value for money and provide local authorities with the flexibility to respond to needs and priorities locally within the categories of need being prioritised. Tenant in situ acquisitions continue to be supported and prioritised where other solutions cannot be found for the affected tenants. It is a matter for local authorities to assess the circumstances of each case and decide the appropriate action. The arrangements for 2025 will ensure a more targeted and focused acquisitions programme. My Department continues to engage with local authorities on any challenges which emerge in order to ensure that tenant in situ acquisitions can continue in 2025 where no other solutions exist for the affected households.
Sentiment score: 0.31
I thank the Deputy for his question. We have provided significant money for second-hand acquisitions for this year. The second-hand acquisition programme was always introduced as a temporary, short-term measure to deal with the ending of the eviction ban. Sinn Féin's own housing policy proposes a very sharp reduction in tenant in situ acquisitions to 800, far below what we have to address this situation. The Deputy needs to be honest and look at Sinn Féin's own housing policy. He wants to reduce the number of acquisitions to 800 over the coming years. Even Sinn Féin's proposal for this year would not deal with the hangover.
Sentiment score: 0.06
Then there is, as Sinn Féin proposes, the full-year reset the Deputy seems to be looking for for this year. The reality is that one engages in acquisitions, there is a significant overhang from last year, that will be worked out through this year, additional funding will be provided for next year and we will keep the matter under review.
Sentiment score: 0.22
I have not misrepresented Sinn Féin's policy. Its policy is very clear. The policy I read referred to 1,800 houses reduced by 200 each year, down to 800, so Sinn Féin's policy is to significantly slash second-hand acquisitions. It is in black and white in its own policy.
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With respect, Deputy, I did not interrupt you. This is in Sinn Féin's own policy. We have looked at the scheme-----
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You want to slash tenant in situ acquisitions down to 800. That is Sinn Féin's policy. You are now saying it is down to 1,000.
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Either way, it is a significant reduction.
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Deputy, do not try to-----
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Stop shouting, Deputy.
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Deputy, stop shouting.
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You will not shout people down.
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Do not try to shout me down, all right, Deputy?
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Show a little respect.
Sentiment score: 0.42
I know you do not like my answer, but shouting me down will not stop me giving it, okay, Deputy? The reality is that Sinn Féin's housing policy proposes to significantly reduce second-hand acquisitions. I suggest Deputy Gould read it. As to what we have done, in some local authorities, unfortunately, significant amounts of money have been used for refurbishment, €5 million in the case of one local authority. That was never the purpose of this scheme. These are houses that are already being rented out; they should not need huge amounts of money on refurbishment. I have met with the Cork City Council executive, I have been down in Cork and we have continued to engage with all the local authorities to address the situation. It is perfectly normal that local authorities continue to engage with various people who they felt needed tenant in situ usage in advance of the allocation for this year. Those acquisitions will be purchased this year for those people. Cork has significant money, as do all the local authorities. However, what Sinn Féin is doing again here - and it is fundamentally dishonest and is a trick the party has pulled before - is comparing the result at the end of one match to where we are halfway through another match.
Sentiment score: 0.08
The Deputy is comparing outturn from previous years to the funding we provided in May this year. The year is not over.
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Stop comparing the result at the end of one match to the score halfway through another.
Sentiment score: -0.30
I am not blaming the councils.
Sentiment score: 0.39
I thank Deputy McGrath for raising the important issue around expectations for the delivery of affordable housing this year. I know it is a matter that is important to the Deputy. The Government is fully committed to delivering affordable housing at scale and continuing to accelerate housing supply across all tenures. In 2024, more than 7,000 affordable housing options were delivered nationwide by a range of delivery partners, exceeding the target of 6,400 for the year. Overall, nearly 13,000 affordable housing solutions have been delivered since the launch of Housing for All, which is huge progress from a standing start in 2021. Under Housing for All, the affordable housing delivery target for 2025 is 6,400 and a strong pipeline is already in place across our delivery partners, including local authorities, approved housing bodies, the Land Development Agency and the first home scheme. Both Cork City Council and Cork County Council continue to work proactively with all delivery partners, with Cork City Council having a programme in place to deliver 465 affordable purchase homes with affordable housing fund support by 2026, of which 260 homes have already been delivered. Building on this progress, my Department will continue to engage with all delivery partners to further the development of the affordable housing delivery pipeline for 2025 and beyond and to ensure that affordable housing programme responds effectively to the affordable housing needs identified at a local level. Under the programme for Government, the Government committed to introduce a new starter home programme across the public, private and AHB sectors which promotes home ownership and secures long-term rental tenures for young people and fresh start applicants. My Department is currently progressing this commitment and it will form part of the next housing plan.
Sentiment score: 0.50
I thank the Deputy for raising the important issue of affordable housing. I also thank him for his regular engagement with me on the issue of how we can develop further affordable housing. In terms of the pipeline of delivery in Cork city, since the launch of Housing for All until the end of quarter 4 in 2024, 747 affordable housing solutions have been delivered via a range of delivery partners. To date approval has been given for ten projects in Cork city under the affordable housing fund, which will deliver 465 affordable purchase homes. In addition, ten approved housing body projects have been approved to date under the cost-rental equity loan scheme, with the potential to deliver 978 homes by 2027. Through the LDA's market engagement initiative, Project Tosaigh, 302 homes are expected to be delivered in 2025 at Horgan's Quay and a further 337 are expected to be delivered at Marina Depot in 2027, consisting of a mix of cost and social housing. I want to see more affordable homes being delivered in Cork city and the wider Cork area.
Sentiment score: 0.44
I thank Deputy McGrath for his question and I fully agree with him that in addressing our housing needs in this country, we need to deliver private houses for those who can afford them and affordable houses for those who need help to bridge the gap to own their own homes. We also need to provide social houses. We must ensure that options are there for each person in this country so that their housing needs are met and they have the homes they need, whether social, affordable, or private. We must work to ensure that people can live in the homes and communities they want to live in and can feel safe and secure growing up in their local communities. We will continue to engage with the Deputy to ensure that the afford piece is a central part of everything we do.
Sentiment score: 0.52