I propose to take Questions Nos. 603, 607 and 608 together.
In terms of the delivery of social housing, the Government’s Housing Policy Statement, published in May 2012, clearly identifies that the main focus in terms of supports provided by Government will be on meeting the most acute needs – the housing support needs of those unable to provide for their accommodation from their own resources.
The social housing capital budget has been reduced by 78% since 2008, down from €1.535 billion to some €332.7 million last year. The bulk of the reduction has been applied to the main local authority capital programme which has come down from €1.029 billion in 2008 to a total of €115 million in 2012. Clearly, the financial parameters in which we will be operating for the coming years rule out a return to very large capital funded construction programmes by local authorities. Accordingly, the main focus in terms of supports provided by Government will be on meeting the most acute needs through a variety of mechanisms, including through increased provision of social housing.
Delivery of social housing will be facilitated primarily through more flexible funding models. The social housing leasing initiative and, in particular, the Rental Accommodation Scheme will each play their part as long term social housing supports. The Government is also committed to developing other funding mechanisms that will increase the supply of permanent new social housing. Such mechanisms will include options to purchase, build to lease, and the sourcing of loan finance by approved housing bodies for construction and acquisition.
A three year programme of new local authority construction starts, covering the 2012- 14 period, is in train. While there will be limited funding for this initiative, the intention will be to maximise the outputs that can be achieved from what will be a targeted programme.
Given the current volatility of the market and different challenges to the channels of supply, it is difficult to estimate the likely output of new units for social housing this year. However, it is provisionally estimated that in excess of 5,000 units will be provided for social housing in 2013. This will include:
- 350 units for people with special housing needs;
- 150 units specifically for people leaving institutional care;
- an additional 400 permanent homes delivered through capital expenditure under the Social Housing Investment Programme;
- 300 transfers under the Mortgage to Rent Scheme;
- some 4,000 units will be delivered under social leasing, including property transfers from NAMA, the Rental Accommodation Scheme and mortgage to lease.
Final details regarding the level of funding which can be allocated to these projects during the year will be determined as part of the Estimates process. Local authorities will not be notified of specific allocations until after the Revised Estimates Volume is published.
My Department does not hold information on the number of households on local authorities’ waiting lists. This figure continuously fluctuates as households are allocated housing and new households apply for housing support.
Detailed information on the latest statutory assessment of housing need carried out in March 2011, including a breakdown by housing authority, is available on my Department’s website,
www.environ.ie, or on the Housing Agency’s website at www.housing.ie.
