Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 May 2024
73. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will reconsider the criteria and thresholds of the affordable housing scheme, given that Louth County Council cited these issues as the reasons that only half of the houses offered under the scheme at Cois Farraige in Dundalk, County Louth, were successfully bought by scheme applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24305/24]
View answerI am pleased to note that funding approvals are now in place for the delivery of over 4,000 affordable purchase and cost rental homes by 21 local authorities with the support of the Affordable Housing Fund to secure affordable upfront purchase prices and cost rents.
This is a significant level of activity. Despite well-documented affordability and viability challenges, the arrangements in place to support local authority affordable purchase schemes are proving effective. I am also confident that delivery programmes across all delivery partners will continue to scale up in line with identified affordable housing demand and Housing for All targets.
I have of course asked my Department to engage with Louth County Council to review their recent experience in administering the scheme at Cois Farraige. This is important to ensure that any learning can be applied as further affordable purchase schemes are developed in Louth and elsewhere.
My Department, in conjunction with the Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office of the Local Government Management Association and the Housing Agency, is continuing to advise and support Louth in developing further affordable housing schemes that are well-aligned with the local housing market context and that deliver on Louth's Housing Delivery Action Plan and affordable delivery targets.
