Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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On 25 April 2023, the Government approved additional measures under the Housing for All Action Plan to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and help reduce housing construction costs, including the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority “section 48” development contributions and the refunding of Uisce Éireann water and waste water connection charges.

The schemes originally applied for 1 year to all permitted residential development that commenced on site between 25 April 2023 (the date of the Government Decision approving the measure) and 24 April 2024, and is completed not later than 31 December 2025. On 23 April 2024, the Government approved an extension for the waiving of local authority “section 48” development contributions in respect of residential development commenced not later than 31 December 2024 and the refunding of Uisce Éireann water and waste water connection charges in respect of residential development commenced not later than 30 September 2024.

The date for the completion of development works on qualifying houses under the schemes has been extended from 31 December 2025 to 31 December 2026.

Further to the comprehensive package of measures introduced under Housing for All, including the waiver and rebate schemes, the latest data on housing commencements indicates that the temporary time-limited nature of the waiver and refund schemes has achieved their primary objective of influencing the speedier activation of planning permissions by the development sector since they were introduced last year, including planning permissions that have been granted for a number of years and were not activated.

In this connection, Commencement Notice data in respect of residential construction starts in 2024 shows a significant spike in activity with 18,182 homes commenced in April alone, up 605% on the same period in 2023. This is by far the highest seen in any month since the the collection of Commencement Notice data began in 2014. The previous highest ever monthly figure was 4,969 In May 2021.

In the period from January to end April 2024, 30,138 new homes have begun construction – up 204% on the same four-month period in 2023.

This higher rate of housing commencements - influenced by the time-limited nature of the two schemes - should assist towards the achievement of the Government’s housing delivery targets in the coming years. The schemes have also assisted in enhancing the viability of schemes, particularly in relation to apartment schemes, and thereby influenced the bringing forward of development that might not otherwise have been as financially viable or possible to progress.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a priority for Government. Critical to supporting households to exit homelessness and prevent homelessness in the first instance, is increasing the supply of housing. Almost 12,000 new social homes were delivered in 2023, through Build, Acquisition and Leasing, including 8,110 new build homes, the highest level of new build social homes in nearly 50 years. Including HAP and RAS, 21,733 social housing solutions were delivered throughout 2023.

Record state investment of over €5bn has been made available this year to support the largest State home building programme ever, including 9,300 new build social homes. This funding will also support the Tenant in Situ scheme, with provision to acquire 1,500 homes where a social housing tenant has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. This scheme delivered 1,830 acquisitions in 2023 and was a key prevention measure. For private tenants at risk of homelessness who are not in receipt of social housing supports, the ‘Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ’ scheme has also been introduced.

Budget 2024 allocated funding of over €242 million for the delivery of homeless services. This funding will support the provision of emergency accommodation and related supports, including increased prevention activity. Housing for All also includes measures to enhance family support and prevention and early intervention services for children and their families through a multi-agency and coordinated response. Local authorities and their service delivery partners will work closely with all households in emergency accommodation to support them to secure an exit to a tenancy.

I am continuing to work closely with the National Homeless Action Committee, which I chair, to ensure that there is a continued focus across Government to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness and to ensure that we address both prevention of entries into homelessness and exits from homelessness as a matter of urgency.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) has been identified as a key measure to address the different housing needs in Ireland and methods to support the development of MMC in Ireland are set out in Housing for All.

MMC is the term used to describe a range of manufacturing and innovative construction alternatives to traditional construction, including modular construction. MMC has the potential to boost productivity, increase efficiency and improve sustainability in the construction sector.

The coordination of initiatives to promote MMC adoption is being led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), through the inter-departmental MMC Leadership and Integration Group.

These initiatives include the Accelerated social housing delivery programme; the Roadmap for increased adoption of MMC in Public Housing; The Construct Innovate Technology Centre; The National Demonstration Park for MMC and training for industry and public sector professionals.

MMC is central to the Government’s Accelerated Social Housing Delivery Programme. This programme is being 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.

The table below shows the breakdown of the sites in the Accelerated Delivery Programme by local authority.