Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 June 2026
330. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of requests for increased CALF and CAS funding on individual projects after construction has commenced, where costs have increased above initial stage 1 approval in the past 12 months, by local authority and by funding request approval/rejection. [48554/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department operates a number of funding programmes that assist local authorities to work in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to construct and purchase new homes and make them available for social housing. One such programme that local authorities and AHBs progress Social Housing projects through is the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF).
CALF funding is capital support provided to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) by local authorities to facilitate the funding of construction or purchase of new social housing units. This loan facility can support between 25% and 30% of the eligible capital cost of the housing project, with the remaining finance sourced by the AHBs from private lenders (usually the Housing Finance Agency (HFA)).
In general, CALF applications for increased costs are the exception rather than the norm. If a request for increased costs is being considered, they will be subject to review by the Department QS team. Between 23 June 2025 to 23 June 2026, CALF did receive requests for increased costs on projects where construction had commenced and those which received approval are outlined below.
|
Local Authority |
Number of Projects |
|
Dublin City Council |
1 |
The Capital Assistance Scheme provides up to 100% capital funding to Approved Housing Bodies for the construction and targeted acquisition of social homes for priority needs categories including persons with a disability ,older persons, persons/families who are homeless, and care leavers.
Applications for increased costs under CAS are in the first instance submitted to the respective Local Authority (LA) by the Approved Housing Body (AHB) concerned, and if the increased costs are supported at LA level and deemed in order and appropriate noting the complexities around a particular project then forwarded to my Department for review at QS level.
Between June 2025 to June 2026, the Department received requests for increased costs on a small number of CAS projects whereby construction had commenced or was completed and the number that received approval by LA are outlined below.
|
Local Authority |
Number of Projects |
|
Cork County Council |
1 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
1 |
|
Dublin City Council |
1 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
1 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
1 |
