Oireachtas Housing Activity - Summary Q2 2024

Posted: Jun 26, 2024 / By: Communications Categories:
Oireachtas Housing Activity - Summary Q2 2024

April  

  • On 11th April, €100m in funding was announced for almost 550 new affordable cost rental homes. The funding announced will provide for developments in Laois, Kildare, Kilkenny, Cork City and Dublin City. 

  • The commencement data for Q1 2024 was released and shows that 11,956 homes were commenced in the first three months of 2024, up 63% on the same period in 2023. In the last twelve months (April 2023 to March 2024), 37,408 units were commenced, up 37% on the prior twelve months. 

  • The Homeless Report for March 2024 was published and found that 13,866 people were accessing emergency accommodation during the week 25-31 March 2024.  

  • The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage published the Housing for All Q1 2024 Update report. Key updates include the extension of waiver on development levy, 12,000 homes started construction in Q1 2024, 4,376 applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, and additional €40m in state funding committed to the First Home Scheme.  

May 

  • On 22nd May, the Housing Commission published its report, including its overall review of Ireland’s housing system, together with a number of reports in relation to the wording of a referendum on housing.  

  • Under the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme (THRIVE), twenty-six town centres were awarded funding of up to €200,000 each. This funding was awarded under Ireland’s two European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Regional Programmes.  

  • The Homeless Report for April 2024 was published and found that 14,009 people were accessing emergency accommodation during the week 22nd – 28th April 2024.  

June  

  • The Homeless Report for March 2024 was published and found that 13,866 people were accessing emergency accommodation during the week 25-31 March 2024.  

  • On 5th June, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD today announced that he received Government approval for a Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan (LAPR). The loan, which is an expansion of the Local Authority Home Loan, will support both the purchase and renovation of homes which are eligible under the existing Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant 

  • Under the third call for the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), more than 1,200 vacant and derelict properties have been identified and approved under the scheme. The residential yield from these properties is 5,406 homes.  

  • €93 million has been allocated to local authorities for Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People.  

  • The Build 2024 Construction Sector Performance and Capacity Report was published, showing there were over 41,000 planning permissions for housing units in 2023 and 17,601 homes were upgraded to a BER rating of B2 or above in 2023, an increase of 108% relative to 2022. 

Relevant publications