Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2025
85. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement his Department has had with Fingal County Council in relation to the tenant-in-situ scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35779/25]
View answer92. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide clarity on the funding provided to Fingal County Council for the tenant-in-situ scheme for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35777/25]
View answer96. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown of the spending by Fingal County Council on the tenant-in-situ scheme in 2024; if he will provide a projection for the spending in 2025 (specifically the number of dwellings that will be purchased); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35376/25]
View answer475. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding allocated to the tenant in situ scheme in Fingal for the years 2023 and 2024; and the amount ring-fenced for 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35738/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 92, 96 and 475 together.
The clear focus of Government is to increase the supply of new build social and affordable homes. This is key to addressing the housing challenge and in particular preventing and ultimately eliminating long term homelessness, and that unquestionably must be the priority for all local authorities including Fingal County Council.
Over the last three years, my Department has provided funding for second hand acquisitions for a number of priority categories, including Tenant -in -Situ, demonstrating a clear commitment to respond to shorter-term pressures that can arise. In 2023, my Department provided funding to local authorities to acquire 1,500 social homes nationally, an increase of 1,300 units over the number provided for under Housing for All. In 2024, funding was again provided for 1,500 acquisitions, with each local authority issued an allocation of units which may be acquired. Fingal was issued an allocation of 100 units.
This year we are providing €325 million to local authorities for second-hand acquisitions which has been apportioned across all 31 local authorities. Under revised arrangements for 2025, my Department has provided an individual funding allocation to each local authority. Fingal County Council has been given an initial capital funding allocation of €20 million for their acquisitions activity this year and this gives them the flexibility to respond to these acute situations, while we continue to support their construction programmes.
Local authorities were also issued a circular in April 2025 setting out the arrangements for 2025 and my Department continues to be in regular contact with Fingal County Council regarding the operation of the programme.
Details of the funding recouped by Fingal County Council for second hand acquisitions, including acquisitions by AHBs under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), from 2023 to 2025 are as follows:
|
2023 |
2024 |
2025 (to end May) |
|
€11.7m |
€46.8m |
€8.6m |
Fingal County Council has recouped €8.6m of their €20m allocation from my Department by end May 2025. It is a matter for local authorities to decide on how they use their funding allocations within the priority categories supported by the programme and the decisions made by Fingal County Council will determine the final outturns for 2025. In making such decisions, local authorities will have regard to the scheme criteria and their funding allocation while at the same time supporting anyone who is in threat of homelessness via their Tenancy Sustainment and Placefinder services.
My Department continues to engage with all local authorities to address any challenges which have emerged in order to ensure that tenant in situ acquisitions can continue in 2025 where no other solutions exist for the affected households.
