Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2025
39. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will work with Donegal County Council to ensure that affordable housing schemes can be delivered across the county as soon as possible, in acknowledgment of the growing number of families in Donegal who cannot afford to purchase their own home. [35224/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra95. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to increase the availability of affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35848/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra456. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage why County Kerry is not included in the affordable housing scheme; if it will be included, and when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35414/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 95 and 456 together.
Government is fully committed to working with all stakeholders to deliver social, affordable and cost rental homes at scale with a record level of investment being provided for the delivery of Housing in 2025; capital funding of €6.5 billion supplemented by current funding of €1.65 billion.
The number of new build social homes in the pipeline for delivery in the three year period 2025 to 2027, circa 36,000 homes, is the highest ever for a three year period. The strongest national delivery of social housing since 1975 was recorded in 2022 with 10,254 social homes delivered and this was exceeded in 2023 with 11,938 homes.
All local authorities, including Kerry and Donegal County Council's, have developed and published their Housing Delivery Action Plans setting out their plans to deliver social and affordable housing during the period from 2022-2026. This follows a comprehensive Housing Needs and Demand Assessment. A copy of Kerry and Donegal’s County Council Housing Delivery Action Plans are available on the websites at the following links: www.kerrycoco.ie/housing-delivery-programme/ and www.donegalcoco.ie/en/services/housing/plans-policies-and-publications/housing-delivery-action-plan.
While Kerry and Donegal have not been set affordable housing delivery targets, the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) is available to all local authorities to assist towards the cost of developing affordable housing at locations where significant affordability needs have been identified.
My Department met with the Housing Delivery team in Kerry County Council in December 2024 to support their work towards the identification and development of appropriate proposals which may lead to the delivery of affordable housing with the support of the AHF in response to localised needs identified by the local authority at key urban locations such as Killarney and Tralee.
I understand that Donegal County Council is proactively exploring opportunities for affordable homes with AHF support.
The Ready to Build serviced sites scheme supports local authorities to provide sites at a discount to people who want to build their own home. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant continues to support the purchase and refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties. Further information with regard to the scheme is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/33209-ready-to-build-scheme-serviced-sites-for-new-homes/ or by contacting Vacant Homes officer directly from Kerry and Donegal County Councils.
It is also worth noting that the First Home Scheme, which supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model, is also available to support eligible new home purchasers in all local authorities including Kerry and Donegal.
My Department, the Housing Agency and Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office of the Local Government Management Association continue to be available to assist all County Councils in relation to ongoing development of their response to meeting affordable housing needs.
