Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 May 2023
228. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will create a webpage to centralise all information and applications for affordable housing, including cost-rental, considering the different streams of delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20565/23]
View answerThe Housing Agency, on behalf of my Department, is managing the delivery of a public facing information website which will provide explanatory information on each of the affordable housing options available as set out in the Affordable Housing Act 2021, including Cost Rental housing. It is anticipated that this will be operational shortly.
The Housing Agency, on behalf of my Department, is also managing the delivery of a centralised application web portal for affordable homes. This web portal is intended to cater for applicants for affordable purchase homes and cost rental homes throughout the country and will involve a substantial IT procurement process. A working group consisting of local authorities, the LGMA and my Department with input from the AHB sector has been established to assist in the identification of the requirements for this web platform. It is anticipated that a tender document will be ready to issue in June 2023.
Specifically in relation to the advertisement of Cost Rental homes, all Cost Rental providers are legally obliged to make Cost Rental homes available in line with the provisions of Part 3 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021. The process of advertising a tenancy under Cost Rental is set out the Cost Rental Letting and Eligibility Regulations 2021.
Under these regulations, vacancies in all Cost Rental properties must be advertised online for a period of at least 7 days, during which time households can express their interest in leasing the properties in a form designated by the landlord, including through the submission of applications by electronic means. The manner in how these obligations in relation to the advertisement of Cost Rental vacancies are most effectively met is matter for the individual Cost Rental landlords.
