Latest news with #RentalAccommodationScheme
Irish Independent
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
No guarantees that Wexford families ineligible for housing scheme will receive offer of emergency accommodation
Following changes to the conditions of the tenant-in-situ scheme, previously eligible families across Co Wexford are now facing eviction and possible homelessness. The scheme, which allows county councils to buy rented properties from private landlords so that tenants can continue to live there, was altered at the beginning of the year with the criteria for eligibility tightened. As a result, many of those previously awaiting confirmation of their acceptance onto the scheme are now ineligible and no longer qualify for this support. And in a further blow, it has been confirmed that some of these families will not receive any support from Wexford County Council (WCC) if and when they are evicted. Speaking at the April meeting of the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD) Councillor Aoife Rose O'Brien said she had been 'devastated' to learn that the council will not even provide emergency accommodation for some of those no longer eligible for the tenant-in-situ scheme. 'I have contacted one of the council officials and was extremely disappointed with one of the answers to my questions; it was confirmed to me that only in some cases will an ineligible tenant receive an offer of emergency accommodation or be offered any further supports,' said the Sinn Féin councillor. 'These tenants have been in limbo for eight months now, in some cases they're still awaiting a response (to their tenant-in-situ applications) on whether they're eligible and the purchase will go ahead. I appreciate this is not the fault of the council, this is down to the exiting government, but we have to honour the people who were waiting, whose landlords had been told the tenant would be able to purchase further down the line. "They're facing eviction now, as a local authority we need to address this and find a proper solution for those families.' Housing officer Sharon Ryan said WCC tried to 'accommodate people who haven't been approved under tenant-in-situ scheme' and that anyone who is on the social housing list was eligible for supports like Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) or the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). 'I'm surprised you were told there would be no homeless services available,' she continued, 'the only instance I can think of (where this would happen) was if someone was in arrears. But even in those cases we would work with those people.' In an email seen by The Wexford People, a county council official responded to Cllr O'Brien's concerns regarding those now deemed ineligible for the tenant-in-situ scheme. "As in all cases where a household is facing homelessness, the Homeless Services and Support Unit will work with them to identify options and offer supports, which includes access to emergency accommodation in some cases,' the email reads. 'In cases where a household /property is not eligible for acquisition, we provide landlords alternative options for consideration including HAP and RAS. 'The households that are currently ineligible will likely not receive an offer of full social housing at this time due to many other households having longer time on the list.'
Irish Independent
29-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Over €8 million was paid out to private landlords by Sligo County Council in 2024
Under the Housing Assistance Payment Scheme (HAP), €5,029,950 was paid over last year while €2,703,103 made its way to private landlords under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). A further €469,265.07 was paid to private landlords under the long-term Social Housing Leasing Scheme in 2024. The figures were revealed at the April monthly meeting of Sligo County Council following a motion from councillor Declan Bree who described the sums involved as colossal. He said the government like its predecessors has no hesitation in putting millions of euro into private landlord pockets through the HAP and RAS schemes but when it came to providing funding for the construction of local authority houses, or when it came to providing affordable housing, it was a different story. 'The report we have received points out that last year this Council paid landlords over €5 million under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), in addition to €2.7 million under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and almost a half a million euro under the Long Term Social Housing Leasing Scheme. A total of €8.2 million. This is a huge transfer of public money to private landlords. 'A similar amount was paid out the previous year. At a national level we know that in excess of €1 billion was paid out last year to corporate landlords and speculators through these government subsidy schemes. 'Indeed, it has to be pointed out that since 2015, the HAP Scheme has been the primary source of accommodation provided by government for people seeking housing. And every member of this Council know that the majority of the tenants who avail of the HAP scheme are also compelled to pay significant top-ups to landlords as the maximum monthly rent limits payable for a household is insufficient to cover the cost of rents. 'The free-market approach to housing and accommodation by the present government and the previous Fianna Fail-Fine Gael-Labour governments has led directly to the housing crisis we have today. As with any crisis it is working people, those on low and average incomes who suffer the most. Buying your own home is now beyond reach for a generation of young people. 'The only real solution to the housing crisis is a massive public house-building programme run and controlled by the local authorities along with a realistic investment in affordable housing. Rent subsidy schemes like HAP, that cost over €1 billion a year, are of no of long-term value to the State. It is the private rental sector corporate landlords who accumulates assets and profit through such schemes. Whereas investing funding in houses constructed by local authorities will provide public housing for this and future generations. 'In fact, only six months ago, the Dail Committee on Public Accounts in a report said that the HAP Scheme, the RAS Scheme and long-term leasing Scheme do not represent value for money for the taxpayer, do not provide the State with long-term assets, and are not effective long-term solutions to social housing needs. It must be now clear that the only real solution to the housing crisis is a massive public house-building programme run and controlled by the local authorities along with a realistic investment in affordable housing,' he said.
BreakingNews.ie
23-04-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Government misses target on new-build social homes by over 1,400
The Government fell short of its target on new-build social homes last year by more than 1,400. Statistics released by the Department of Housing on Wednesday show that 10,595 social homes were added to the stock in 2024 by local authorities and approved housing bodies. Advertisement This included 7,871 new-build homes, 1,501 acquisitions and 1,223 homes through leasing programmes. The building target was missed by 1,429, or 15 per cent, while 907 fewer homes than expected were leased. Minister for Housing, James Browne, said he 'acknowledged' that the number of new-build social homes was below target, adding that he expects each local authority to 'do everything possible' to meet its targets for this year. Mr Browne has pledged to publish quarterly performance reports from this year on which will outline how each local authority is delivering on individual targets for new-build social housing. Advertisement The figures show that the Government's target for affordable homes was exceeded. More than 7,100 affordable home supports were delivered in 2024, exceeding a target of 6,400. The department said that when the Housing Assistance Payment (8,121) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (1,576) are added, 20,292 housing supports were delivered. The target for 2024 was 8,800 HAP and 1,600 RAS tenancies. Advertisement The department said that, as is traditional, much of the delivery for 2024 came in the final quarter. In a statement, Mr Browne said: '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. Advertisement '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.' Minister for Housing James Browne (Brian Lawless/PA) The figures show that 5,751 new-build social homes were delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies in the fourth quarter. The latest Construction Status Report shows that 10,614 social homes are on-site, with an additional 13,996 at the design and tender stage. Advertisement In the fourth quarter, 80 new construction schemes, making up 1,489 homes, were added to the pipeline. More than 6,000 shared equity scheme approvals have been issued since the launch in July 2022 of the Government's First Home Scheme across all local authorities, with 74 per cent of approvals issued in Dublin, Cork, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. Approximately 480 approvals were issued in the fourth quarter of last year, bringing the total in 2024 to 2,851. The figures also show that 59,941 households were assessed as qualified for, and in need of, social housing support as of November 4th. This figure had increased by 1,117 from 58,824 on November 1st, 2023. Sinn Féin's housing spokesman Eoin O Broin claimed the Government fell 3,023 short of its new-build target, and accused the minister of being 'out of his depth with no new ideas'.
Irish Independent
23-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Government misses target on new-build social homes by more than 1,400
Statistics released by the Department of Housing on Wednesday shows that 10,595 social homes were added to the stock in 2024 by local authorities and approved housing bodies. This included 7,871 new-build homes, 1,501 acquisitions and 1,223 homes through leasing programmes. The building target was missed by 1,429, or 15pc, while 907 fewer homes than expected were leased. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Minister for Housing James Browne said he 'acknowledged' that the number of new-build social homes was below target, adding that he expects each local authority to 'do everything possible' to meet its targets for this year. Mr Browne has pledged to publish quarterly performance reports from this year on which will outline how each local authority is delivering on individual targets for new-build social housing. The figures show that the Government's target for affordable homes was exceeded. More than 7,100 affordable home supports were delivered in 2024, exceeding a target of 6,400. The department said that when the Housing Assistance Payment (8,121) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (1,576) are added, 20,292 housing supports were delivered. The target for 2024 was 8,800 HAP and 1,600 RAS tenancies. The department said that as is traditional, much of the delivery for 2024 came in the final quarter. In a statement, Mr Browne said: '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 96.5pc of the 8,110 delivered in 2023, a year that brought levels of delivery not seen since the 1970s. '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.' The figures show that 5,751 new-build social homes were delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies in the fourth quarter. The latest Construction Status Report shows that 10,614 social homes are on-site with an additional 13,996 at design and tender stage. In the fourth quarter, 80 new construction schemes, making up 1,489 homes, were added to the pipeline. More than 6,000 shared equity scheme approvals have been issued since the launch in July 2022 of the Government's First Home Scheme across all local authorities, with 74pc of approvals issued in Dublin, Cork, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. Approximately 480 approvals were issued in the fourth quarter of last year, bringing the total in 2024 to 2,851. The figures also show that 59,941 households were assessed as qualified for, and in need of, social housing support as of November 4. This figure had increased by 1,117 from 58,824 on November 1 2023. Sinn Féin's housing spokesman Eoin Ó Broin claimed the Government fell 3,023 short of its new-build target, and accused the minister of being 'out of his depth with no new ideas'.
Belfast Telegraph
23-04-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Government misses target on new-build social homes by more than 1,400
Statistics released by the Department of Housing on Wednesday shows that 10,595 social homes were added to the stock in 2024 by local authorities and approved housing bodies. This included 7,871 new-build homes, 1,501 acquisitions and 1,223 homes through leasing programmes. The building target was missed by 1,429, or 15%, while 907 fewer homes than expected were leased. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Minister for Housing James Browne said he 'acknowledged' that the number of new-build social homes was below target, adding that he expects each local authority to 'do everything possible' to meet its targets for this year. Mr Browne has pledged to publish quarterly performance reports from this year on which will outline how each local authority is delivering on individual targets for new-build social housing. The figures show that the Government's target for affordable homes was exceeded. More than 7,100 affordable home supports were delivered in 2024, exceeding a target of 6,400. The department said that when the Housing Assistance Payment (8,121) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (1,576) are added, 20,292 housing supports were delivered. The target for 2024 was 8,800 HAP and 1,600 RAS tenancies. The department said that as is traditional, much of the delivery for 2024 came in the final quarter. In a statement, Mr Browne said: '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% of the 8,110 delivered in 2023, a year that brought levels of delivery not seen since the 1970s. '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.' The figures show that 5,751 new-build social homes were delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies in the fourth quarter. The latest Construction Status Report shows that 10,614 social homes are on-site with an additional 13,996 at design and tender stage. In the fourth quarter, 80 new construction schemes, making up 1,489 homes, were added to the pipeline. More than 6,000 shared equity scheme approvals have been issued since the launch in July 2022 of the Government's First Home Scheme across all local authorities, with 74% of approvals issued in Dublin, Cork, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. Approximately 480 approvals were issued in the fourth quarter of last year, bringing the total in 2024 to 2,851. The figures also show that 59,941 households were assessed as qualified for, and in need of, social housing support as of November 4. This figure had increased by 1,117 from 58,824 on November 1 2023. Sinn Fein's housing spokesman Eoin O Broin claimed the Government fell 3,023 short of its new-build target, and accused the minister of being 'out of his depth with no new ideas'.
