Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 October 2012
414. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the number of long term supported residential accommodation units that have been opened since he took office; and his plans for further works. [42803/12]
View answerUnder my Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) funding is provided to Approved Housing Bodies, through the local authorities, for the provision of accommodation for persons with specific categories of housing need, including older persons, persons with a disability or homeless persons. In 2011 capital funding totalling some €38.44m was provided under the CAS to assist with the construction and acquisition of properties. In July I announced details of a €35 million programme of special needs housing provision which is intended to deliver some 377 housing units at 55 locations across the country. A total of €50m is available under the CAS in 2012.
Given that in any one year funding is recouped in respect of projects which are at various stages in the project lifecycle, including projects at construction or those being advanced through the planning and design stages, it is not possible to indicate the actual number which have been completed or opened during the time period specified . However, over the course of 2011 a total of 587 CAS funded units were completed.
