I thank the Deputy for raising this question. I know housing delivery in particular is something he is very passionate about and that he has always been dedicated to. As part of the programme for Government, the Government committed to launching a new, comprehensive starter home programme across the public, private and approved housing body, AHB, sector. This promotes home ownership and secures long-term rental tenures for young people and fresh start applicants. As stated in the programme for Government, the starter home programme will support and deliver an average of 15,000 starter homes per year, including through the first home scheme and the help to buy support, in addition to other affordable purchase and cost-rental schemes. The Government is fully committed to delivering affordable housing at scale and to continue accelerating housing supply across all tenures. The Government’s ambition is to build on the progress made to date under Housing for All, and deliver more than 300,000 homes in the period from 2025 to 2030 equating to an annual average of more than 50,000 homes per year, building up to 60,000 in 2030. Work on translating these revised national housing targets into local, tenure-specific targets is ongoing and at an advanced stage. This work is expected to be completed in the coming months and will be published after the work on the revised national planning framework is complete. These tenure-specific targets will both inform the revision of existing affordable housing targets and further inform the development of the starter home programme supports set out in the programme for Government which will be set out in the new housing plan.
Sentiment score: 0.47
The Deputy is right. The trends relating to the cost of purchasing properties is concerning but we firmly believe the best way to address that is by delivery. That is why we are committed to delivering 300,000 homes from 2025 to 2030. Since Housing for All started we have delivered 10,000 affordable solutions and that is gathering momentum. Keys for many of the affordable housing schemes in our county of Cork have been given out over the past 12 months or so and there are more in the pipeline. That is something we have to focus on. A total of 15,000 starter homes a year will make a difference as well as the expansion of the first home scheme and repurposing the local authority home loan, which people have availed of but we need to make it flexible. The Deputy mentioned reviewing the targets. The Minister has committed to a flexible and agile approach to this so that if solutions need to be adapted, we can do so.
Sentiment score: 0.26
The Deputy raised a relevant point about the first home scheme. It is increasing in popularity as reflected by the numbers of people choosing to avail of it. If the goalposts seem to be moving in respect of the cost of houses and many properties are falling outside the scheme, the Minister has made a commitment to be flexible and agile in reviewing the schemes if that is needed. That will be ongoing. Decisions made on an approach to housing will not be set in stone. The previous Government and this Government have shown, and will show, that flexibility and adaptability.
Sentiment score: 0.26
I know from our time shared on Cork County Council the delivery of affordable housing was something on which the Deputy was insistent and I am glad that much of this is coming to fruition. The Government is fully committed to working with all stakeholders to deliver affordable housing at scale and to continue accelerating housing supply across all tenures. The Government’s ambition is to build on progress to date under Housing for All and deliver more than 300,000 homes in the period from 2025 to 2030 with an annual average of more than 50,000 homes per year building up to 60,000 in 2030. These revised national housing targets will inform the revision to existing social and affordable housing targets at a local authority level and work is ongoing in this regard. Since 2021, more than 10,000 affordable housing supports have now been delivered from a standing start via our delivery partners and schemes such as the affordable housing fund, the first home scheme and the vacant property refurbishment grant are making it affordable for many to purchase a home. To date, nearly 1,300 local authority affordable purchase homes have been delivered and a substantial pipeline is in place to deliver affordable purchase homes. This is being supported with resourcing for the local authorities, with more than 140 additional staff assigned to work on their affordable housing programmes, ensuring we will see delivery ramped up. My Department publishes programme-level statistics on affordable and social housing delivery activity by local authorities and delivery partners in each local authority area. Data up to quarter 3 2024 is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website. Affordable housing schemes are operating at scale and this momentum will continue as the pipeline is developed by local authorities alongside AHBs and the Land Development Agency.
Sentiment score: 0.30
I am very familiar with his passion for affordable housing. He was always an advocate for social housing of all sorts and in Cork county in particular, he has been one of the key voices in ramping up the delivery of different affordable housing solutions. There is a project to deliver 60 cost-rental homes in Kilnagleary, Carrigaline, which is very close to the Deputy's home area and is something he advocated for. Our commitment today is that such projects will be ramped up at speed and we will deliver them as quickly as we can. Since the publication of Housing for All, 10,000 affordable housing solutions have been delivered. We need to do more; we need to accelerate that delivery. That is the commitment given by the Minister and the Department today. I agree with the Deputy about homeowners who are falling between the cracks. In my previous answer, I spoke about the need for flexibility and adaptability. The momentum is there.
Sentiment score: 0.21
Before Housing for All, there were no affordable housing schemes. Many of these schemes are in the process of being designed or built, or keys are being handed over for the first time. There is momentum and we expect acceleration in terms of scaling up and the number of affordable housing schemes that will be available. I have to give credit to Cork County Council officials in particular. Their social housing delivery has been among the best, top notch, and they deserve credit for that. I also see their embrace of affordable housing schemes in my own area, which the Deputy will be familiar with, in places such as Bantry, Clonakilty and Bandon where the first affordable homes schemes are coming online. That should be replicated throughout Ireland. The Minister has committed to these types of schemes being replicated throughout the country. I appreciate the Deputy's concern about the issue and his constant dedication to pushing these housing solutions across County Cork.
Sentiment score: 0.23
I thank the Deputy for the question. I know voids and refurbishment are issues he has raised previously. The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, is a matter for each individual local authority under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure all their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. Notwithstanding this, my Department provides annual funding support to local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-let under the voids programme. Since 2014 to the end of 2024, Exchequer funding of €361.6 million has been recouped to local authorities, which has supported the refurbishment and re-let of 25,672 dwellings. The emphasis of the programme is on those refurbishment works necessary to comply with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 to ensure quick turnaround and re-letting times. All future works should be deferred and carried out under planned maintenance over the life cycle of the asset. Under the voids programme, there is no upper cap that can be spent on an individual dwelling providing the overall average per dwelling of €11,000 is maintained. Funding is also available under the energy efficiency programme of up to €48,850 and can be used in parallel with voids funding where turnaround times are not affected. As part of the programme for Government, consideration is being given to the introduction of a new voids programme with a view to further improve turnaround times of vacant social housing units.
Sentiment score: 0.30
I agree that void houses are an issue, not just from an antisocial behaviour point of view. They are low-hanging fruit in terms of getting houses back into the social housing stock, where they are desperately needed. Some local authorities are better than others but, to be fair, a lot of progress has been made. More than 25,000 voids have been returned to the housing stock in recent years, which means the schemes we have introduced are working. I do not have specific figures in respect of Limerick local authority. Certain local authorities are excellent in terms of turnaround speed, getting their voids back into the housing stock quickly and availing of the grants that are in place. To clarify, the average allowed per house is €11,000 but there is no upper limit per house for refurbishment. This can also be done in conjunction with the energy efficiency schemes. A significant amount is available under those schemes. I agree with the Deputy that we need to get all voids back into the housing stock as quickly as possible.
Sentiment score: 0.28
I thank Deputy Gould for his contribution. As I said, €11,000 is not a limit - more can be put into individual houses - but that is an average. It can also be combined with those energy efficiency grants. Much can be done in terms of improving houses with those energy efficiency grants, which, as I said, are upwards of €48,000. If there are problem areas, I know the Minister, Deputy Browne, has an open-door policy. If there are geographical areas or certain areas in which certain issues need bespoke approaches, I am sure conversations can be had in that regard. However, to say the scheme is not working is unfair. Some 20,000 voids have been brought back into use. Obviously, I was more familiar with the county council than the city council but certainly the work that Cork County Council did in bringing a lot of these long-term voids back into use was quite impressive. To say the scheme is not working is unfair, but if there are problematic areas or houses that have been void long term then perhaps there can be discussions in terms of bespoke solutions.
Sentiment score: 0.31
I thank Deputy Ardagh. Tenant in situ acquisitions have been an important measure in the prevention of homelessness since their introduction in 2023. Government has therefore agreed to continue such acquisitions in 2025 and has increased the funding available for second-hand social housing acquisitions from the €60 million allocated under Housing for All to €325 million. This is being done through the allocation of an additional €265 million. My Department has been engaging with local authorities on the operational details for the second-hand acquisitions programme. A circular setting out the arrangements will issue shortly. That may be an answer to the Deputy's specific question in respect of Dublin City Council. Under revised arrangements for second-hand acquisitions in 2025, local authorities will receive a capital funding allocation for the acquisition of homes for the following priority categories: tenant in situ, the elderly and disabled persons, exits from homelessness and buy and renew acquisitions that tackle vacancy. The provision of a capital funding allocation will help promote best practice in obtaining value for money and will 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.
Sentiment score: 0.32
I thank Deputy Ardagh. In fairness to her, she is one of the many Government backbenchers who have called for both the continuation of the tenant in situ scheme and clarification in respect of it. We are glad to be able to confirm that the tenant in situ scheme will continue this year. It is important to provide clarity for people out there. I absolutely agree with the Deputy on that. The scheme has been a success. Well over 2,000 households have avoided homelessness because of the tenant in situ scheme. That is why the Minister said earlier that there is a commitment to continue with the scheme. As to whether or not local authorities will be resourced enough to deliver what is necessary, as with all Housing for All solutions, adaptability and agility are very important. In addition, some local authorities have been better than others in terms of delivery of social and affordable homes, but that has to be the key focus. The best way we can end homelessness and provide homes for all is by housing delivery. That, along with availing of the supports available under the tenant in situ scheme and the delivery of social and affordable homes, has to be a key priority of local authorities.
Sentiment score: 0.40
I thank the Deputies. Addressing Deputy Ó Murchú on the issue of flexibility, the Minister already mentioned that in the context of any circulars or correspondence to local authorities, there will be a degree of flexibility. It will be certainly up to local authorities to implement the scheme. There is nothing at all wrong with having some form of prioritisation. Most schemes involve prioritisation. It is good practice. I do not think it is something we should row back on in the context of this scheme. Deputy Ardagh spoke about streamlining the process. Local authorities will be urged to turn around, as quickly as possible, any tenant in situ purchases where this is deemed to be a solution to avoid homelessness. The proper resources will be provided in that regard. In order that there be no ambiguity, I reiterate that the tenant in situ scheme will continue. That is down to calls from the Opposition but also from many of our backbenchers, who have, for the past few weeks, been urging the Government to continue with the scheme. That will happen.
Sentiment score: 0.14