140. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average processing time for approvals under the mortgage to rent scheme and CALF prior to the introduction of DION, compared with current processing times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44414/26]

141. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of cases under the mortgage to rent scheme and CALF currently awaiting approval; the average and longest waiting times for such approvals, the number of cases outstanding for more than twelve weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44415/26]

144. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether delays in approvals under the mortgage to rent scheme and CALF have been attributed in whole or in part to the operation and/or full implementation of the DION system; if so, whether his Department is taking specific steps to remedy such delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44529/26]

145. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of approval letters issued under the mortgage to rent scheme and CALF in each of the past three years; the average time from application to approval in each year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44530/26]

147. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has assessed the impact of DION-related delays on delivery of social housing units, including those under mortgage to rent and CALF; the estimated number of units delayed as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44532/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 140, 141, 144, 145 and 147 together.

Project Díon is a large scale digital transformation project being led by my Department with relevant stakeholders including local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) and the Housing Agency to introduce more streamlined, efficient and automated processes and enhanced reporting capabilities across over 30 housing programmes including MTR and CALF.

To support the implementation of Díon and the Change Management process, significant engagement with both internal and external stakeholders including Department Business Units, local authorities and AHBs has taken place which involved in-person roadshows, analysis and development workshops, one-to-one training and familiarisation sessions, along with continued and post go live communication and support.

The initial post-go-live period for any large-scale digital transformation project naturally involves a phase of user familiarisation and system embedding. As users transition away from long-standing legacy processes, some operational and user issues are to be expected. My Department is dealing with any such issues as they arise so as to ensure the Díon solution maximises the benefits of a modern ICT solution for all users.

The MTR scheme is administered by the Housing Agency on behalf of my Department. The Housing Agency publishes, on a quarterly basis, detailed statistical information on the operation of the MTR scheme, which can be accessed on their website at the following link:www.housingagency.ie/housing-information/mortgage-rent-statistics .

From the inception of the Mortgage to Rent scheme in 2012 up to Q1 2026 a total of 2,971 cases have been completed and a further 307 cases are actively being progressed.

From Q1 2023 to date, my Department has issued a total of 721 approval letters regarding MTR applications to Approved Housing Bodies and private companies operating in the MTR Scheme. 630 of these MTR cases are now completed.

It is not possible to determine the average time between a MTR application being lodged with the Housing Agency to a funding approval letter issuing from my Department over a three-year period. Approval dates are frequently updated on MTR cases due to requests for extensions by the MTR provider, or active MTR cases being revised or withdrawn.

However, in 2025, the average timeframe, from when a MTR case was lodged with the Housing Agency to its completion, was approximately 8 months. More complicated MTR cases, for example involving marital breakdown or other changes in circumstances, generally take longer than 8 months to complete.

On the 19 March 2026, which was the go-live date for the MTR scheme on the Dion system, there were no MTR cases awaiting issue of funding approval letters from my Department. Since that go-live date, my Department has issued 53 MTR approval letters.

Currently, my Department has 11 MTR cases on hand which are being worked through in line with normal due diligence. In respect of these 11 cases the average time period they have been with my Department is 36 days.

CALF has not yet transitioned to Díon. Nevertheless, since 2023, my Department has issued 510 new CALF approvals, with the average processing time of 33 working days, and continues to approve projects.

As with all Exchequer-supported projects, my Department as sanctioning authority, assesses each project proposal for suitability as determined by the local authority, value for money and compliance with the various requirements of the funding programme.

There will always be projects on hand with my Department which are either under assessment or the subject of further engagement with LAs or AHBs. This is perfectly normal in the context of the circa 2,500 Social and Affordable housing projects which have been or are being handled by my Department currently which are scheduled for delivery in the period 2025–2027.

My Department publishes a quarterly Social Housing Construction Projects Status Report, which sets out the continuing progress being made in advancing the national local authority and AHB new-build pipeline. The latest report, setting out the position at end Q4 2025, can be accessed at the following weblink: www.data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q4-2025 .

My Department continues to work with the AHB sector to deliver social housing through CALF funding at scale, with a view to achieving Housing for All targets.