SCSI Pre-Budget Submission 2022: Affordable, Viable & Accessible

Double the allocation of funding for housing to €7bn to bring more supply to the market. Based on current production levels, this would have the potential to deliver approximately 18,000 units per annum (page 13).

To incentivise the development of affordable homes, make more development land attractive for sale. Introduce a rebate on the residential development land Capital Gains Tax rate from 33% to 8% for a defined period but aimed at the delivery of affordable homes within a specific timeframe (page 11).

Allocate funding for the introduction of a Development Land Register (page 8).

Allocate separate and dedicated funding streams in line with the establishment of the circular economy protocol to address material quality, material appropriateness for reuse, and regulations and guidance for the sector to embrace a reuse policy for new constructions and renovations (page 10).

Continue to monitor the administration of tendering for public works, to ensure that the process of tendering is rigorous but not so administratively burdensome that it excludes small businesses or new entrants into the Irish construction sector (page 13).

Further extend the Living City Initiative/Bringing Back Homes. The Living City Initiative is due to run until December 31, 2022. Given the percentage of vacant buildings in Ireland, significant consideration should be given to further extending this scheme and to resourcing local authorities accordingly (page 14).

Establish a longer-term strategy with targets for the Help to Buy scheme, so that commitment regarding the lifetime of the scheme is clear to both consumers and developers when planning new housing schemes. Continued support of the Help to Buy scheme to assist first-time buyers is important and should remain in place. The introduction of initiatives to assist those looking to become homeowners, such as the Shared Equity Loan, are to be welcomed, subject to their details (page 18).

Implement changes to the Fair Deal scheme to incentivise the renting or sale of assets of the nursing home resident, to assist with providing additional supply of homes to the rental market (page 12).

Avoid a lending-only approach to retrofits and seek to adopt a tax-back option for applicants (page 15).

Develop a panel of experts for both consultancy and trades for retrofitting to protect our built heritage and ensure that works are carried out to a high standard guided by technical guidance (page 16).

Invest in funding and training initiatives to assist in creating optimal entry into the construction sector and the necessary upskilling of the sector to meet Ireland's sustainability objectives (page 9).