Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 November 2013
429. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps being taken to reduce the six-year waiting list for local authority housing in the south Meath area; if he appreciates the undue hardship that such lengthy waiting lists place on families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48917/13]
View answerThe Government's housing policy statement confirms that the priority for Government is to meet the most acute needs of households applying for social housing support. To achieve this objective we need to ensure that the social housing programme optimises the delivery of social housing and the return for the resources invested. It is essential that we tailor the use of available Exchequer supports to prevailing conditions and explore the full range of solutions holistically to address housing needs.
In July 2012 I announced details of a three-year funding programme of €100 million to deliver some 800 new units of voluntary and local authority owned social housing. In 2014, almost 70% of the budget for my Department will go directly to support housing. The 2014 estimate for housing programme expenditure is €575.8 million which includes €302.7 million for current, and €273 million for capital, expenditure. These resources for 2014 include €50 million to fund infrastructural investment in the housing area, which includes €30 million to recommence a State house building programme; €10 million for an unfinished housing estate resolution pilot project; and €10 million for housing adaptation grants.
Delivery of social housing continues to be significantly facilitated through more flexible funding models such as the Rental Accommodation Scheme and leasing but the Government is also committed to developing other funding mechanisms that will increase the supply of permanent new social housing. Such mechanisms include options to purchase, build to lease and the sourcing of loan finance by approved housing bodies for construction and acquisition. In addition, my Department and the Housing Agency are engaged with NAMA to ensure continued delivery of housing units for social purposes. Approved Housing Bodies will also play a key role in the delivery of social housing and in particular in its capacity to attract external financial investment.
In spite of the financial constraints within which we are required to operate, I expect the final output across all social housing programmes for 2013 to be in the region of 5,000 new housing units, and it is provisionally estimated that in the region of 5,000 units will be provided for social housing in 2014.
