James O'Connor
Ceist:9. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for the expansion of the local authority home loan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12856/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing Schemes
Ceisteanna (9)
Freagraí scríofa
The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for creditworthy applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. It is a successor loan to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.
The Programme for Government 2025 commits to several measures regarding the Local Authority Home Loan. These include:-
• Creating a new central national administration point for the scheme;
• Ensuring the maximum loan values align with current house prices, thus keeping the scheme accessible;
• Examination of the expansion of the Local Authority Home Loan to allow a separated or divorced person to buy the full mortgage on a home; and
• Examination of how the Local Authority Home Loan could support non-bank lender mortgage holders.
My officials have commenced work on reviewing the maximum income and property price limits to ensure the scheme remains accessible and relevant for aspiring homeowners. This review should be completed by the end of Q2 2025. They are also developing proposals on improving the administration of the scheme.
A examination of the expansion of Local Authority Home Loan eligibility to include the other objectives set out in the Programme for Government to expand the Home Loan will commence in due course.
Questions Nos. 10 to 13, inclusive, answered orally.
Housing Provision
Ceisteanna (14, 69)
James O'Connor
Ceist:14. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he will take to increase the availability of affordable housing in east Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12855/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Aindrias Moynihan
Ceist:69. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can increase the supply of cost-rental properties in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12873/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 69 together.
The Government has put in place a comprehensive range of supports for affordable home ownership and cost rental homes, which are being delivered by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency, via the First Home scheme, and by bringing vacant homes back into use. Significant public funding is being made available to support all of these delivery streams.
My Department is supporting the acceleration of affordable housing delivery with funding and other practical measures, both by Cork County Council, and more widely, by key delivery partners alongside local authorities.
Cork County Council has published its Housing Delivery Action Plan 2022-2026 on its website and it has been very successful in terms of its delivery of affordable housing to date. It has put a strong affordable housing delivery programme in place with the support of the Affordable Housing Fund that is anticipated to deliver over 650 affordable homes including 130 cost rental homes. By end September 2024, almost 200 of those homes were already delivered. Affordable purchase and rental homes are being delivered in key urban centres across the county, including Midleton and Youghal, in East Cork; Mallow and Macroom in North West Cork and Clonakilty and Bantry in Cork South West.
Funding approval under the Cost Rental Equity Loan Scheme is in place to date to support the delivery by approved housing bodies of 597 cost rental homes in Cork City and 40 in Cork County.
Furthermore, affordable home purchase opportunities have been delivered to over 600 eligible households in the Cork County Council area via the First Home scheme up to the end of September 2024. The First Home Scheme is available nationally and applies to any new home, bridging the gap for households. I anticipate that First Home will continue to be an increasingly significant delivery solution for eligible affordable purchase candidates in the Cork County Council area in the coming years.
Given the profile of the county, I also expect that the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Ready to Build serviced sites schemes will also contribute strongly to addressing overall affordability needs in County Cork. Both of these schemes have been advertised by Cork County Council on its official website.
My Department continues to work closely with Cork County Council and delivery partners to build on the strong momentum now in place and deliver increasing numbers of affordable homes for purchasers and renters across the county.
The affordable housing pipeline continues to grow as new schemes are identified, planned and approved and will be enhanced further as the higher Part V requirements introduced in the Affordable Housing Act 2021 begin to yield affordable housing dividends.
Question No. 15 answered orally.
Housing Schemes
Ceisteanna (16)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:16. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of tenant in situ applications approved in Cork city and county for the months of November and December 2024 and January and February 2025, in tabular form; to clarify if the Department will continue to insist on ceilings for the number of allocations permissible or if flexibility will be afforded to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12396/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Tenant in Situ Acquisitions were introduced by way of Government decision in 2023 as a short term response to the reported uplift in sales by landlords of homes which were within the HAP and RAS schemes in order to prevent potential homelessness where other solutions could not be found for the affected tenants.
A further Government decision extended such acquisitions into 2024 with approval granted for 1,300 Tenant in Situ acquisitions in addition to the 200 priority acquisitions target for 2024 contained in Housing for All.
Tenant in Situ acquisitions have been an important measure in the prevention of homelessness since its introduction in 2023. Government has therefore agreed to continue such acquisitions in 2025.
My Department has notified local authorities on the extension of the second hand acquisitions programme and a circular setting out the arrangements will issue shortly. Arrangements for acquisitions, including the capital funding allocations and acquisitions initiated in 2024 and not yet complete, will be clearly set out in the circular.
Figures for 2024 are being collected and collated and will be available in due course. As such, statistics relating to delivery in Q4 2024 and Q1 2025 in Cork City and County are not yet available.
Rental Sector
Ceisteanna (17)
Cathy Bennett
Ceist:17. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his proposals to support renters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12939/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Significant changes have been made to the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 - 2024 (RTA) in the past number of years to enhance tenancy protections and increase the powers of the Residential Tenancies Board.
The RTB was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts to regulate the rental sector; provide information to tenants and landlords; maintain a national register of tenancies; resolve disputes between tenants and landlords; and conduct research and provide information to inform policy. My Department continues to work with the RTB to ensure it is sufficiently resourced to discharge its functions.
The Programme for Government - Securing Ireland's Future, published on 23 January 2025, commits to continuing its support for renters and landlords. This includes measures to protect renters and landlords from abusive practices by enhancing the enforcement powers of the RTB.
I will work with my colleagues in Government to implement changes as necessary for the sector during this Government’s term and my Department and the RTB keep the operation of the RTA and the residential rental sector under constant review and will work to ensure that we maintain an appropriately balanced policy and legislative framework.
Question No. 18 answered orally.
Housing Policy
Ceisteanna (19, 59)
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Ceist:19. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which he intends to promote modern methods of construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12906/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSeán Ó Fearghaíl
Ceist:59. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which modular housing will be utilised to meet housing targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12905/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 59 together.
The use of Modern Methods of Construction is a key measure to support the delivery of housing under Housing for All and the Programme for Government.
Modern Methods of Construction or MMC is the term used to describe a range of manufacturing and innovative construction alternatives to traditional construction. MMC has the potential to boost productivity, increase efficiency and improve sustainability in the construction sector. MMC includes dwellings constructed from both three dimensional modular systems and two dimensional panelised systems. All MMC systems must comply with Building Regulations and have a 60 year durability.
The coordination of initiatives across Government to promote MMC adoption is led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment through the interdepartmental MMC Leadership and Integration Group.
These initiatives support the development of the supply chain for MMC through the Construct Innovate Technology Research Centre hosted by the University of Galway; the National Demonstration Park for MMC at the National Construction Training Campus in County Offaly; the Built to Innovate initiative for innovative management led by Enterprise Ireland; the development of standardised approaches for the design of housing led by my Department, and training for industry led by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science.
MMC is central to the Government’s Accelerated Social Housing Delivery Programme. This programme is led by my Department and will see the delivery by 13 local authorities of at least 1,500 social homes using Modern Methods of Construction across approximately 36 sites. It is intended to expand the use of the Design and Build procurement approach to enable greater use of MMC in social and affordable housing delivery.
Separately, the Department is engaging with Wexford Local Authority with regards to piloting a number of three dimensional modular units which are expected to tender in the first half of 2025.
A standardised design approach is key in facilitating the ease of adoption of MMC. To support a standardised approach, my Department has identified a number of designs from the Design Manual for Quality Housing, which have been adjusted to allow for ease of delivery utilising different forms of MMC, including three dimensional modular systems.
The Programme for Government also includes a range of initiatives to support the use of MMC. This includes binding targets for the use of MMC which includes modular units in at least 25% of all State-backed housing and a MMC Innovation Fund via the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund to directly fund new housing factories, and the expansion of existing factories.
Housing Provision
Ceisteanna (20)
Martin Daly
Ceist:20. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans in place for the provision of affordable housing in Roscommon and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12574/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is supporting the acceleration of affordable housing delivery with funding and other practical measures, both for local authorities, and more widely, by other key partners such as Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and via the First Home Scheme.
Funding support is available to all local authorities from the Affordable Housing Fund to deliver new affordable purchase and cost rental homes where an affordable housing need is evident.
Galway City already has funding approval in place for three schemes to deliver 124 affordable purchase homes. Galway County has funding approval to support delivery of 61 homes at Claregalway. Both Local Authorities have further proposals in development. In addition, approval is in place for the delivery of the first cost rental homes by an Approved Housing Body in Galway City this year, with further cost rental homes to be delivered in 2026 and 2027.
I also understand that Roscommon County Council recently met with my Department to discuss the development and delivery of a potential affordable purchase scheme.
My Department, in conjunction with the Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office of the Local Government Management Association and the affordable housing team in the Housing Agency, continues to be available to advise and support all local authorities in developing affordable housing schemes that will respond effectively to affordability needs identified.
Vacant Properties
Ceisteanna (21)
Gary Gannon
Ceist:21. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in view of the potential for vacant homes, as identified in census 2022, to contribute to housing supply with minimal additional labour requirements, the way in which the Government has assessed the effectiveness of its current plans to address vacant properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12889/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Pathway 4 of Housing for All identified tackling vacancy and reusing existing property as a key priority for Government and the subsequent Vacant Homes Action Plan, published in 2023, set out the various actions being pursued to return vacant properties back into use.
According to the CSO, the number of vacant dwellings recorded in Census 2022 had fallen to 8%. Other measures of vacancy tend to be lower again. The latest available vacancy data is from GeoDirectory and in their Quarter 4, 2024 report, they note that the national vacancy rate in their surveys has dropped to 3.8% - the lowest recorded since 2013.
The vacancy rate is undoubtedly falling but we must continue to ensure that we bring all available residential stock back into use. Significant progress has been made. My Department publishes annual progress reports on the Vacant Homes Action Plan outlining what has been achieved each year and plans for the year ahead, and in the coming weeks I will publish the 2025 Progress Report.
The Report will include updates on the successful delivery of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. By the end of 2024, over 1,400 grants were paid out nationwide, supporting people to return previously empty dwellings into use as homes.
In addition, there are now over 1,200 properties approved for local authorities’ Urban Regeneration and Development Fund Call 3 Programmes, with the expected yield of approximately 4,800 residential units by 2030.
I welcome that Local authorities Vacant Homes Officers are actively pursuing all avenues to bring vacant homes back into use. and note that the range of measures being taken by Government are having real success in tackling vacancy.
Housing Schemes
Ceisteanna (22)
Martin Kenny
Ceist:22. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the tenant in situ scheme will be operational again for local authorities to purchase houses for families facing eviction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12024/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Tenant in Situ Acquisitions were introduced by Government in 2023 as a short term response to the reported uplift in sales of homes with the HAP and RAS schemes and has been an important measure in the prevention of homelessness since its introduction. Government has therefore agreed to continue such acquisitions in 2025.
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, elderly and disabled persons, exits from homelessness and Buy and Renew acquisitions which tackle vacancy. The provision of a capital funding allocation will help promote best practice in obtaining value for money and provide local authorities with the flexibility to respond to needs and priorities locally within the categories of need being prioritised.
My Department has notified local authorities on the extension of the programme and a circular setting out the arrangements will issue shortly.
Tenant in situ acquisitions continue to be supported and prioritised where other solutions cannot be found for the affected tenants. The arrangements for 2025 will ensure a more targeted and focused acquisitions programme.
Housing Provision
Ceisteanna (23)
Gary Gannon
Ceist:23. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific measures that will be used to ensure that the increased housing targets of 50,500 homes annually between 2025 and 2030 are met alongside the current labour market constraints. [12891/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Programme for Government commits to delivering a revised target of 300,000 new homes between 2025 and 2030. It also commits to a new national housing plan to build on the robust platform laid by Housing for All and support delivery of the revised targets.
In the meantime, we have begun work on priority actions in the Programme for Government with the potential to make the most immediate impact and deliver the uplift in supply needed. This includes establishing a new Strategic Housing Activation Office. This office will help secure the enabling infrastructure needed for public and private housing development and unblock infrastructure delays on the ground, maximising the number of homes delivered from the supply pipeline already in place.
Continued targeted support to grow the construction industry’s capacity will also support the delivery of 60,000 homes per annum by 2030. Government has already introduced measures to support Modern Methods of Construction, which can boost productivity and enhance efficiency in the construction sector, while the Government's Careers in Construction Action Plan outlines 20 actions to help boost employment in the construction sector.
Additional measures to help meet Government’s targets will be considered in the context of the new housing plan.
Defective Building Materials
Ceisteanna (24)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:24. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will bring forward amending legislation to ensure homeowners approved for a defective block remediation grant can avail of the most recent Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland square meter costs. [12584/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 commenced on 22 of June 2023 and contains the current grant scheme and the related Regulations, which were adopted on 29 of June 2023.
Following updated cost reports from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and advice from the Expert Group established to consider the matter, a further increase was provided for on 23 October 2024.
The Scheme Cap has risen by 10% to €462,000. An increase in the scheme grant rates of between 7.4% and 8.7% that are set out in the 2023 Regulations was also approved on 7 November 2024.
The Act provides that any increase in the scheme cap or grant rates will apply to eligible relevant owners that are yet to receive a determination in respect of a remediation option and grant amount. My Department sought legal advice that confirmed that extending these increases to a wider group of relevant owners requires amending the Act.
The Spring 2025 Government Legislation Programme has included the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Bill for priority drafting. This Bill will contain details of the wider group of relevant owners that can avail of the increase in the grant scheme cap and rates and will be progressed as quickly as possible.
Housing Provision
Ceisteanna (25, 79)
Albert Dolan
Ceist:25. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new homes completed in the Athenry-Oranmore, Ballinasloe and Tuam local electoral areas in 2024; his expectations for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12709/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAlbert Dolan
Ceist:79. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new homes completed in the Gort-Kinvara and Loughrea local electoral areas in 2024; his expectations for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12710/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 79 together.
Increasing the supply of new homes is key to addressing many of the challenges in the housing market.
Supply has increased significantly in recent years, with some 125,000 new homes delivered since July 2020. This includes 92,500 homes delivered from 2022 to 2024, exceeding the combined target for new homes for the period by 5,500 or so homes.
This progress is mirrored across the country, with 1,244 homes completed in Galway City and County in 2024. Some 971 of these were delivered in Galway County, the highest level of delivery in the county since the CSO completions data series commenced in 2011.
This includes 109 new homes completed in Athenry-Oranmore, 201 new homes completed in Ballinasloe, and 172 new homes completed in Tuam. It also includes 180 new homes completed in Gort-Kinvara and 94 completed in Loughrea.
My department does not forecast new home completions for any given year.
That said, sectoral commentators have already forecast a wide range for home completions this year, with published forecasts of completions anywhere between from 32,000 to 40,000. The most recent narrative from the sector suggests new home delivery closer to the lower end of this range, though a more certain picture will only emerge towards the end of the year.
Government's focus is to build on the significant increase in delivery of the past three years, supporting the construction sector to ramp-up delivery further to meet the 60,000 new homes needed per year by 2030. While the revised targets are ambitious, Government believes they can be achieved with appropriately targeted measures. These measures include supports to grow the construction industry’s capacity year on year, helping establish a platform from which housing supply can be ramped-up to the higher levels needed.
The Programme for Government commits to introducing a new national housing plan to build on the successes of Housing for All. In addition to priority Programme for Government measures already being progressed, including the new Strategic Housing Activation Office, the plan will include a mix of pragmatic short-term and strategic long-term measures to boost and sustain delivery over the decade and beyond.
Pending completion of the plan, measures under Housing for All will continue to be progressed. These will support innovation in construction, improving the pace and efficiency of home building; increase the construction sector’s capacity to build housing at scale; increase the delivery of social and affordable homes; and, tackle vacancy and dereliction.
Housing Schemes
Ceisteanna (26)
Grace Boland
Ceist:26. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm whether a house that was sale agreed under the tenant in situ scheme before the scheme expired can still complete the sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12405/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Tenant in Situ Acquisitions were introduced by way of Government decision in 2023 as a short term response to the reported uplift in sales by landlords of homes which were within the HAP and RAS schemes in order to prevent potential homelessness where other solutions could not be found for the affected tenants.
A further Government decision extended such acquisitions into 2024 with approval granted for 1,300 Tenant in Situ acquisitions in addition to the 200 priority acquisitions target for 2024 contained in Housing for All.
Tenant in Situ acquisitions have been an important measure in the prevention of homelessness since its introduction in 2023. Government has therefore agreed to continue such acquisitions in 2025. Local authorities will be able to progress acquisitions initiated in 2024 that fall within the approved parameters.
My Department has notified local authorities on the extension of the programme into 2025 and a circular setting out the arrangements will issue shortly. Arrangements for acquisitions initiated in 2024 and not yet complete will be clearly set out in the circular.
Tenant in situ acquisitions continue to be supported and prioritised where other solutions cannot be found for the affected tenants. The arrangements for 2025 will ensure a more targeted and focused acquisitions programme.
Housing Provision
Ceisteanna (27)
John McGuinness
Ceist:27. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing projects submitted to his Department by Kilkenny County Council and by Carlow County Council that are currently awaiting approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12880/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As with all Exchequer-supported projects, my Department, as approving authority, assesses each project application for suitability, value for money and compliance with the various requirements of the applicable funding scheme.
No applications submitted by Carlow County Council are awaiting approval.
Kilkenny County Council submitted two proposals for social housing projects in late February, 2025 both of which are currently under evaluation.
My Department continues to approve proposals and work with all relevant stakeholders to deliver social, affordable and cost rental housing at scale.
Planning Issues
Ceisteanna (28)
Paul Lawless
Ceist:28. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of IPAS developers circumventing the planning process, and if he will take action to end this practice. [12474/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under planning legislation, enforcement of planning control is a matter for the relevant planning authority, which can take action if a development does not have the required permission, where the terms of a permission have not been met, or if development has otherwise been undertaken in breach of planning control.
There are extensive enforcement provisions provided for in Part VIII of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (the Act), with a view to ensuring that works pertaining to permitted developments are carried out in accordance with the planning permission granted and any associated conditions and that no unauthorised development takes place.
Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act) the Minister with responsibility for planning shall not exercise any power or control in relation to any particular case, including an enforcement issue, with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.
Where it is indicated that a developer(s) may have undertaken development that is not authorised under the provisions of the Act, this is matter for the relevant planning authority to investigate as appropriate under Part VIII of the Act.
Land Development Agency
Ceisteanna (29)
Paul Lawless
Ceist:29. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of hectares of land owned by local authorities which is zoned for housing nationwide by each local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12475/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It should be noted in the first instance that the zoning of land within a statutory city or county development plan or a local area plan is not broken down on the basis of individual sites or parcels of land by individual ownership. My Department therefore does not have the requested details for local authorities available.
However, the Land Development Agency (LDA) has developed the State Lands Database which provides a detailed and mapped representation of the extent and location of lands owned by public bodies, including local authorities.
The constraints and limitations regarding data and ongoing land registration means that the LDA will continue to update the State Lands Database to take account of information from local authorities and other public bodies on entries/records provided and as new publicly owned sites are added to the webmap.
The zoning status of lands identified in the State Lands Database is available as part of the information provided by the LDA. This is sourced from my Department’s MyPlan.ie platform which amalgamates the zoning information from statutory City and County Development Plans nationally.
The LDA has also completed the Register of Relevant Lands, being lands owned by local authorities and bodies listed under Schedule 1 and 2 of the Land Development Agency Act 2021, in urban population areas greater than 10,000.
Both the State Lands Database and the Register of Relevant Lands are available in an online map format on the LDA website: lda.ie/register-of-relevant-lands/map
Housing Schemes
Ceisteanna (30, 46, 49, 72, 76, 113)
Willie O'Dea
Ceist:30. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to report on the extra €265 million funding recently announced for housing acquisitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12539/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Conor Sheehan
Ceist:46. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of tenant in situ properties acquired in 2024; the number he expects to be completed in 2025; to provide a breakdown of the €265 million announced for housing acquisitions, including unit allocation, by local authority; if the allocation of funding for tenant in situ includes funding for refurbishments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12702/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Tony McCormack
Ceist:49. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when local authorities will be informed of their specific allocations from the extra €265 million he announced in funding for housing acquisitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12708/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Catherine Connolly
Ceist:72. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the tenant in situ allocations for each local authority in 2025; the number of acquisitions that, although the process had commenced, did not complete as a result of the Government decision to suspend the scheme, by local authority area, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12807/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Paul Murphy
Ceist:76. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will increase funding for the tenant in situ scheme to meet demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12670/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraJohn McGuinness
Ceist:113. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown, on a local authority basis, of the number of tenant in situ purchases made by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12881/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 46, 49, 72, 76 and 113 together.
Tenant in Situ Acquisitions were introduced by way of Government decision in 2023 as a short term response to the reported uplift in sales by landlords of homes which were within the HAP and RAS schemes in order to prevent potential homelessness where other solutions could not be found for the affected tenants.
A further Government decision extended such acquisitions into 2024 with approval granted for 1,300 Tenant in Situ acquisitions in addition to the 200 priority acquisitions target for 2024 contained in Housing for All.
Tenant in Situ acquisitions have been an important measure in the prevention of homelessness since their introduction in 2023. Government has agreed therefore increased funding for second hand social housing acquisitions from the €60m allocated under Housing for All to €325m through the allocation of an additional €265m. My Department has notified local authorities on the extension of the second hand acquisitions programme and a circular setting out the arrangements will issue shortly.
Under revised arrangements for 2025 local authorities will receive a capital funding allocation for the acquisition of homes for priority categories; tenant in situ, elderly and disabled persons, exits from homelessness and Buy and Renew acquisitions which tackle vacancy. The provision of a capital funding allocation will help promote best practice in obtaining value for money and provide local authorities with the flexibility to respond to needs and priorities locally within the categories of need being prioritised. Details regarding this capital funding allocation will be clearly set out in the circular that will issue shortly.
Local authorities have delegated sanction in relation to acquisitions within their funding allocation subject to those acquisitions being within Acquisition Cost Guidelines issued by my Department.
Tenant in situ acquisitions continue to be supported and prioritised where other solutions cannot be found for the affected tenants. The arrangements for 2025 will ensure a more targeted and focused acquisitions programme.
Local authorities take appropriate steps to ensure that their first response will be to support households to prevent homelessness in cases where tenants have been served with a notice of termination by their landlord. A local authority will assess the options available in each case and decide the appropriate action.
My Department does not hold data on the number of social housing acquisitions applications that have been considered, withdrawn or rejected, nor does it hold data on the timelines for such acquisitions. This information, and the details for requesting a review on decisions made, may be available from individual local authorities.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority. Comprehensive data on social and affordable housing is published on my Department's website up to Quarter 3 2024, including completed acquisitions.
Data for all of these schemes up to Q4 2024 is being collected and collated.