Minister Browne publishes social and affordable housing delivery statistics for Quarter 4 2024
- Foilsithe:
- An t-eolas is déanaí:
Over 10,500 social homes added to the social housing stock in 2024, with robust pipeline of 24,600 new-build social homes either on site or at design and tender stage
More than 7,100 affordable home supports delivered in 2024 – exceeds target of 6,400
Minister will now publish quarterly reports which will clearly outline how each local authority is delivering on individual targets for new-build social housing
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne TD today announced that over 10,500 new social homes were delivered alongside a record 7,126 affordable homes during 2024.
While the affordable homes delivery exceeded targets, the Minister acknowledged that the number of new build social homes was below target for 2024 and that he would expect each local authority to do everything possible to meet their targets for 2025.
To that end, the Minister said he will be publishing quarterly performance reports – from this year on – which will clearly outline how each local authority is delivering on individual targets for new-build social housing.
The announcement came as the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage today published its social and affordable housing delivery statistics for Quarter 4 which can be accessed here.
SOCIAL HOUSING
In 2024, 10,595 new social homes were delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies, including 7,871 new-build homes, 1,501 acquisitions and 1,223 homes through leasing programmes.
When the Housing Assistance Payment (8,121) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (1,576) are added, 20,292 housing supports were delivered across 2024.
As is traditional, much of the delivery for 2024 was delivered in the final quarter of the year. Today’s figures show that 5,751 new build social homes were delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies in Quarter 4.
The latest Construction Status Report shows that 10,614 social homes are currently onsite with an additional 13,996 homes at design and tender stage. In Quarter 4 2024, 80 new construction schemes (1,489 homes) were added to the pipeline.
Minister Brown emphasised:
“The downturn in private sector building output raised concerns that there would be a similar hit to social housing delivery. It appears from these figures that, while there certainly has been an impact, it has not been as pronounced as may have been feared with 7,871 new-build social homes delivered across 2024. That figure equates to around 96.5 per cent of the 8,110 delivered in 2023, a year that brought levels of delivery not seen since the 1970s.
“It is clear however that to ensure the sustainability and scalability of the pipeline, we need to do our best to insulate the supply of social housing from any volatility in private supply. The best way to do this is to have local authorities delivering new-build homes on local authority lands.
“My Department, working directly with the local authorities, has introduced a Design & Build framework approach in recent years. This is a form of housing delivery under which local authorities can engage with a panel of pre-qualified builders to speed up the delivery process, support innovation, and promote the use of Modern Methods of Construction solutions. This approach aims to deliver greater cost certainty, drive faster construction delivery times and increase construction sector productivity and sustainability, while maintaining high quality. So far frameworks have been established to cover 19 local authorities and work is under way to roll this out in the remaining regions.
“In addition, my Department is also overseeing an accelerated delivery programme – providing accelerated delivery of housing on local authority sites. Approaches like these are helping to drive innovation and value for money and we need every local authority in the country coming on board.
“To drive home a renewed urgency in delivering social housing, I will be meeting with the chief executives of all 31 local authorities to discuss their targets and plans to bring forward projects on their own land. Reaching our overall annual targets is dependent on each local authority meeting their target and we cannot afford for any individual local authority to fall behind.
“I also intend to begin publishing the delivery achieved by all local authorities – as set against their targets – to allow for greater engagement with the delivery of new-build social housing at a more local level, right where these homes are needed. Publishing such statistics on a quarterly basis is essential to our commitment to transparency with the public.
“In setting new targets for individual local Authorities, the recently published Revised National Planning Framework will play a critical role in that process once approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas. At that point local authorities will be in a position to update their development plans to ensure that the updated housing requirements can be incorporated into the planning system as quickly as possible to address housing need and demand.”
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
In 2024, a total of 7,126 affordable housing options were delivered, through the various affordable programmes - exceeding this year’s delivery target of 6,400.
In Q4 2024, over 2,550 affordable housing supports were delivered via Approved Housing Bodies, Local Authorities, the Land Development Agency, the First Home Scheme, and through the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
During the last quarter of 2024, this continued strong performance across the various affordable housing pathways witnessed affordable accommodation increasing by over 34% compared to the last quarter of 2023.
Minister Browne commented:
“Our delivery of affordable housing has strengthened significantly. What is a relatively new form of housing delivery has developed from a tentative start to now exceeding our targets and expectations.
“I understand that the fourth quarter of last year represented the first time - since the launch of Housing for All - that over 2,000 affordable housing supports have been delivered in a single quarter, further highlighting the continued impact of the various affordable housing programmes
“Affordable housing schemes are now operating at scale and the affordable housing delivery programme continues to be expanded and develop year on year, supported by unprecedented levels of state investment.”
First Home Scheme
The First Home Scheme in particular has proven to be a key support for first-time buyers. Over 6,000 First Home Shared Equity Scheme approvals have issued since its launch in July 2022 across all local authorities, with 74% of all approvals issued in Dublin, Cork, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. Approximately, 480 approvals were issued in Q4 2024, bringing the total number of approvals in 2024 to 2,851.
This scheme continues to support first-time buyers and other eligible homebuyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market, with continued strong performance anticipated in the second half of the year.
Local Authority Affordable Purchase Delivery
To the end Q4 2024, over 1,500 Local Authority Affordable Purchase homes have been delivered since the launch of Housing for All, with 309 homes delivered in Q4 alone.
The affordable purchase delivery pipeline continues to grow with 2,500 affordable purchase homes now approved for Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) support under construction and in planning.
Opportunities for affordable purchase homes have been advertised in 22 local authorities to-date and, overall, 5,300 affordable homes (affordable purchase and cost rental) have been approved for delivery, being supported by more than €476m in grant assistance from the Affordable Housing Fund.
Cost Rental Homes
In relation to Cost Rental, to date since launch there are 3,860 Cost Rental homes in the State delivered by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), Local Authorities, the Land Development Agency and through the Cost Rental Tenant-in-Situ scheme.
In terms of AHB delivery, since the launch of the Cost Rental Equity Loan in 2021 to the end of 2024, over 2,000 homes have been delivered across thirteen Local Authority Areas, with a further 2,500 homes approved for delivery by the end of 2027.
In Q4 2024 alone, a record 859 cost rental homes were delivered by AHBs. Overall, 2024 saw the number of AHB cost rental homes in the State more than double, with over 1,200 cost rental homes delivered.
Cork County Council also delivered their first 30 local authority delivered cost rental homes across two schemes in Bantry. Overall there is a pipeline of 1,200 approved local authority Cost Rental homes, being supported by the Affordable Housing Fund across 12 projects.
In addition, to support households at risk of homelessness, 217 bids had been accepted as part of the Cost Rental Tenant-in-Situ scheme to end of Q4 2024 since launch in April 2023.
Land Development Agency (LDA)
In Q4 2024, over 310 LDA Cost Rental homes were made available via their market engagement initiative Project Tosaigh and through the LDA’s strategic partnership with local authorities, with cost rents supported by the Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental Scheme.
More than 110 Cost Rental homes were delivered at Dun Óir, Kilternan and in Castletroy, Limerick, and 195 homes were delivered at Shanganagh Castle Estate.
This delivery demonstrates the progress made by the LDA to date in advancing affordable and social housing delivery, with a very strong pipeline now in place across its various delivery streams.
Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant
To the end of Q4 2024 since launch, 11,327 applications have been received, 7,738 approvals have been issued and 1,149 grants have been paid out under the scheme.
The level of grant drawdowns continues to ramp up, with drawdowns increasing by more than 45% from Q3 2024. This level of activity is expected to continue, with the number of drawdowns anticipated to continue to rise into 2025 as more works are completed.
Minister Browne added:
“The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, introduced by the Government in July 2022, is a key tool in our focus on addressing vacancy and bringing existing properties back into use as affordable housing. Clearly – as the 2024 figures show - the Grant is proving very popular and is successfully supporting more and more people to turn a vacant building into a vibrant home, as well as regenerating many communities.”
Social housing waiting lists
Finally, the Minister today also published figures from the 2024 Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) which show 59,941 households were assessed as being qualified for, and in need of, social housing support as of 4 November 2024. This figure has increased slightly by 1,117 (1.9%) from 58,824 households on 1 November 2023.
Although there has been a slight increase in the latest assessment period, overall, there are 31,659 fewer households on the social housing waiting list since the first annual assessment in 2016.
The full Summary of Social Housing Assessments can be accessed here.
ENDS