Minister for Housing James Browne is set to brief the Cabinet this morning on the long-awaited National Housing Plan, titled ‘Delivering Homes, Building Communities’, which is scheduled for publication tomorrow.
Key Targets and Funding
- The strategy proposes to deliver 300,000 homes over the next five years, including 90,000 starter homes.
- Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has reportedly agreed to provide €2.5 billion to the Land Development Agency (LDA) to deliver 14,000 homes by 2029.
- This new funding, if approved, would bring the LDA’s total budget to €8.75 billion. The LDA’s mandate is to support land acquisition for private and public housing sites.
Focus on Homelessness and Vacant Property
- The plan is expected to prioritize ending child and family homelessness, including a proposal to inject over €100 million next year to house families with the longest wait on the housing list.
- The strategy is anticipated to create a stable policy landscape, aiming to encourage increased private sector investment.
- Other commitments include greater use of Compulsory Purchase Orders by local authorities for derelict properties and a target to bring 20,000 homes back into use, supported by the Vacant Refurbishment Grant and an Expert Advice Grant.
Opposition’s Call for Ambition
- Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin, has called for the plan to be “more ambitious” than its predecessor, particularly regarding funding, targets, and the delivery of social and affordable homes.
- He demanded greater protections for renters against rising rents and eviction, and “clear, measurable targets to end long-term homelessness by 2030.”
- Mr. Ó Broin also stressed the need for activation measures for small and medium enterprise builders and increased staffing for planning authorities and courts to speed up decisions.
