126. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his priorities with regard to the provision of affordable housing. [69015/26]

155. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way he will ramp up the provision of affordable housing. [69287/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 155 together.

The Government's housing action plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025 - 2030, reinforces and expands the range of existing measures to tackle the issues of supply and affordability, under a new Starter Homes Programme. This programme will deliver an average of 15,000 starter home supports annually to 2030.

To achieve this, the existing affordable housing supports have been retained and developed to form a Starter Homes Programme, backed by an unprecedented level of investment by Government.

Key priorities under the programme include scaling up the delivery of starter homes for purchase, particularly for fist time buyers and fresh start applicants, 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 secure 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 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 how the need for Starter Homes within their area will be met to 2030, in conjunction with their delivery partners, including the AHB’s and the LDA.  These HDAPs, which will be completed and published 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.

The Help to Buy Scheme, administered by the Revenue Commissioners, will also remain available for first-time buyers under the action plan, to assist with the deposit required to purchase or self-build a new home. This scheme can be used in conjunction with both the First Home and Affordable Purchase schemes and allows eligible applicants to claim up to €30,000 or 10% of the property value, whichever is lower.

Scheme criteria and support levels for affordable purchase schemes are kept under regular review, taking account of developments in the housing market. I will continue engaging with all delivery partners to ensure that the Starter Homes Programme enables the delivery of a strong pipeline of affordable housing supports, over the lifetime of the plan.