Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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233. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the accessibility of the LDA cost rental model for those living with disabilities if they can only receive a maximum of 24% of the housing adaptation grant for people with a disability (details supplied). [26913/24]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to administer the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, which support older and disabled people living in private houses to adapt their home to meet their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, which are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority.

The schemes are means tested and operate on a sliding scale with the highest percentage grants available to those with the lowest incomes and vice versa. Evidence of household income must be submitted to local authorities with all applications under the scheme. This documentation is not shared with my Department.

The Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability can provide funding for newly constructed houses, for adaptations which may become necessary to facilitate the needs of a disabled person. In such cases, where the newly constructed dwelling is less than 12 months old, the maximum level of grant aid available is €14,500.

The detailed administration of these schemes, including assessment, approval and prioritisation, is the responsibility of local authorities. Local authorities, in administering the scheme, work with qualifying applicants to secure the most beneficial outcome possible in line with applicants' financial circumstances and within the parameters of the Grant Scheme.

The Exchequer funding provision of €74.5 million for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme has been increased by €8 million for 2024, continuing the year on year increases since 2014.

Housing for All commits to reviewing the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme and a report on the review has been prepared by my Department. Among the areas which the review considered are the income thresholds that apply and the grant limits. My Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on the recommendations in the report with a view to bringing forward amendments to the relevant Regulations governing the schemes as soon as possible with a view to also publishing the final report.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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234. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the six remaining houses are to be finished at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26936/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that 42 new social homes were completed by Carlow County Council at the location referred to. Additionally, a further 6 new age-friendly homes were undertaken by an Approved Housing Body. My Department provided funding of €1.4m for the 6 additional age-friendly homes and I understand they were completed in Quarter 4 of 2023.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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235. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when a loan (details supplied) will be open for application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26939/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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On 5 June the Cabinet approved the expansion of the Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan to all Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant eligible homes.

This supports the key policy objective in Housing for All in bringing vacant homes back into use.

The eligibility of applicants is broadly the same as the Local Authority Home Loan with some specific amendments to accommodate renovation projects. Eligibility criteria are set out in the Press Release at the link below.

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The new Purchase and Renovation Loan is expected to be implemented in the coming weeks.

Further details will be announced and will be available on the dedicated website www. .

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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236. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to outline all of the supports available to a person building a house for the first time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26980/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Affordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of the Government’s housing policy. As detailed in the Housing for All strategy, the Government has introduced a number of measures to support households and individuals wishing to purchase or build a home, as well as increasing the overall supply of new homes, with a target of 300,000 new homes up to 2030.

The First Home Scheme supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. In addition, since September 2023, the First Home Scheme now supports those who wish to build their own home. The scheme is available nationwide and more information can be found at .

The Local Authority Home Loan (LAHL) 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 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used for both new and second-hand properties, or for self-builds. More information on the Local Authority Home Loan is available on the website:

In addition, the Ready to Build Scheme was launched in September 2022. Under the scheme, local authorities make serviced sites in towns and villages available to individual purchasers. These sites are available at a discount up to a maximum of €30,000 below market value of the site for the building of a property for occupation as the principal private residence of the purchaser.

The Help to Buy incentive supports first time buyers in meeting the deposit requirements for newly-built houses or apartments, as well as self-build homes. Further details of this scheme are available here: .

Finally, 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, including self-build and one off rural houses, 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 up to 31 December 2024 and the refunding of Uisce Éireann water and waste water connection charges in respect of residential development commenced up to 30 September 2024.