Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 January 2026
168. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an overview of the additional affordability and activation supports he plans in coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4923/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraDelivering Homes, Building Communities, is Ireland’s new national housing plan. It is a wide-ranging action plan focused on housing supply and targeting homelessness and provides detailed information on additional affordability and activation supports.
Affordable housing supports have been delivered via Approved Housing Bodies, Local Authorities, the Land Development Agency, through the First Home Scheme, the Cost Rental Tenant-in-Situ Scheme and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
My Department will continue to engage with all delivery partners to further the development of the affordable housing delivery pipeline.
In addition, activation supports through the Croí Cónaithe Scheme and the Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental investment scheme will remain to support apartment delivery. The Ready to Build Scheme and the Living City Initiative which also support the additional supply of affordable homes will be strengthened and enhanced.
The Living Cities initiative has been extended to 2030 and expanded to five regional centres, it now covers residential properties built before 1975 and a new tax relief under the scheme supports converting over the shop units into homes.
The Ready to Build scheme will be enhanced, local authorities will service sites and support new build developments, creating communities that will include affordable purchase homes.
The Housing Activation Office has been established and is developing a coordinated programme of to address infrastructure barriers. Under Delivering Homes Building Communities, I have brought forward a €1 billion Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund which will seek to complement investment by infrastructure agencies, such as Uisce Éireann and ESB Networks. This will help unblock infrastructure constraints and ensure that the investment has the greatest impact.
