Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
226. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which his Department will ensure strong oversight and quality standards under the new contractor-led pathway within the buy and renew scheme; the way in which this approach will support timely delivery of refurbished social homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17541/26]
View answerI recently announced an expansion of the Buy and Renew Scheme which will ensure that more long-term vacant and derelict properties across the country can be transformed into social homes.
Under a newly expanded Buy and Renew scheme, building contractors will, for the first time, be able to directly acquire and refurbish long-term vacant and derelict properties, providing a new delivery channel for bringing disused buildings back into productive use. This new pathway has the potential to bring these properties back into use as social housing, by unlocking development that might otherwise not progress without the assurance of local authority (LA) or approved housing body (AHB) purchase.
A local authority that wishes to actively seek proposals for the Contractor-Led strand of the Buy and Renew scheme can indicate from the outset whether it has a preference for a particular type of unit e.g. 1 bed, 2 bed etc. at different locations. Ideally, this would reflect the type of Units that are most needed for social housing across each individual LA. This will allow the Contractor-Led Buy and Renew scheme to deliver the best fit of social housing units where they most needed within a locality. It is also an opportunity for LAs/AHB’s to seek out priority category housing units, such as age friendly accommodation, housing for people with a disability, or exits from homelessness.
Units being offered for sale by a Contractor under the Buy and Renew scheme should be in keeping with spatial standards and the level of specification set out in the Design Manual and the Employer’s Requirements for Detail Design of Quality Housing, insofar as is possible. A central aim of standardising house and apartment types, and specifications for social housing, is to facilitate greater levels of cost control and greater cost certainty for the Exchequer.
Upon completion of works, all properties delivered under the Buy and Renew scheme, must be in compliance with all Statutory Requirements and with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 (as amended).
My Department will approve funding for Buy and Renew projects based on the new Single Approval Process for Housing Capital Projects which was introduced in January of this year. The new Single Approval Process is designed to align to particular requirements related to the delivery of social housing, providing a more seamless approval process, with a clear and intentional focus on embedding standardisation and value for money.
This new process allows for an appropriate level of oversight by my Department, and by local authorities, in the evaluation, planning and management of social housing public investment projects. Proper governance and appraisal of capital expenditure is embedded in the process to ensure that public funds are used efficiently, transparently and in line with national objectives. For more information on the Single Stage Approval Process please see:www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/single-approval-process-for-social-housing-capital-projects/.
