Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
177. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding provided for Final County Council for the tenant-in-situ purchase scheme for 2026; the estimated number of homes which will be purchased in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17576/26]
View answer185. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the tenant-in-situ scheme for Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council; if he can commit to multiannual funding of this scheme; if allowances for the increased cost of housing in Dublin can be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16472/26]
View answer193. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding being allocated to South Dublin County Council for the Second-Hand Social Housing Acquisitions Programme 2026; how this compares to 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17870/26]
View answer263. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on 2026 funding for the tenant-in-situ scheme; if there will be an increase in funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17463/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 177, 185, 193 and 263 together.
The parameters of the 2026 Social Housing Second Hand Acquisitions Programme, including individual local authority priority category allocations were notified to local authorities via Department Circular last week.
Some €373 million will be available for drawdown by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies under the 2026 programme priorities as follows:
• Exits from Homelessness Acquisitions - €150 million
• AHB Priority Delivery Acquisitions, supporting older persons, persons with disabilities, care leavers - €50 million
• LA Priority Acquisitions including tenancy sustainment or tenant-in-situ acquisitions - €157 million.
A contingency fund of €16 million will also be retained. It will be available for local authorities that have drawndown most of their initial allocation but still have capacity to complete further acquisitions and drawdown funding from my Department this year.
The funding available is sufficient to support at least 1,000 acquisitions this year.
The multi-annual approach introduced last year will continue in 2026. Local authorities may commit up to the value of 30% of their base 2026 allocations (total c.€85 million) for acquisitions that will complete or drawdown funding in 2027. This will allow priority acquisitions to progress in the closing months of 2026, with certainty on funding in 2027, if such purchases do not complete this year.
The initial 2025 and 2026 allocations for Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, Fingal, and South Dublin are set out below:
|
- |
Initial 2025 Allocation |
Initial 2026 Allocation |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
€12 million |
€16.2 million |
|
Fingal |
€20 million |
€30.7 million |
|
South Dublin |
€25 million |
€28.3 million |
My Department's Acquisition Cost Guidelines provide cost guidance for the acquisition of second hand properties. They reference lower and upper cost ranges, as well as an average benchmark cost, and reflect the prevailing range of prices across local authorities at the time of issue. They are not applied as absolute ceilings or limits, but are benchmarks for the development and costing of scheme designs at capital appraisal stage. Accordingly, my department considers all acquisition proposals, where the cost of acquiring the property may exceed the guidelines provided, on a case-by-case basis having regard to appropriate value for money considerations. These guidelines are issued annually, with updated guidance expected to issue in Q2 2026.
