420. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the key measures taken to expand affordable housing provision since January 2025; his priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53471/26]

425. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the key measures taken to support first-time buyers since January 2025; his priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53476/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 420 and 425 together.

Affordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of the Government’s housing policy, as embodied within the housing action plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities.

The plan builds upon the significant progress made under the previous plan Housing for All. One of the key priorities in the plan is a commitment to deliver more affordable homes to buy, particularly for first time buyers. To achieve this, existing affordable housing supports will be retained and developed to form a Starter Homes Programme, backed up by an unprecedented level of investment by Government.

Key priorities under the programme include scaling up the delivery of starter homes for purchase, through the local authorities and the Land Development Agency.

The Affordable Housing Fund is available to assist local authorities in the delivery of starter home solutions, where they identify significant affordability need.

Cost Rental, which provides homes at an affordable rent, including through the Cost Rental Equity Loan Scheme (CREL), has also contributed significantly to the delivery of starter homes in Ireland, with Approved Housing Bodies and the Land Development Agency delivering new cost rental homes at scale, with rents at below market rates, based on the cost of delivery and maintenance of the homes.

It is also worth noting that the First Home Scheme, which supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market, through the use of an equity share model, is also available to support eligible new home purchasers and has been availed of nationally.

Additionally, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports the purchase and refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties.

To ensure delivery at local level, a key action of the housing plan is the requirement on all local authorities to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans (HDAPs), to set out clear pathways to the delivery of local starter home needs, in conjunction with their delivery partners, including the AHB’s and the LDA, over the period 2027 to 2030. These HDAPs, which will be completed during 2026, will play an important role in ensuring that starter home supply is aligned with demand within local authority areas and is delivered at pace.

My Department will continue to work closely with local authorities, the other delivery partners, and the construction sector to accelerate starter home delivery.