I propose to take Questions Nos. 484, 485, 487 and 488 together.
On 14 May 2014, the Government published Construction 2020 – A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector . Under Action 1 of the Strategy a National Framework for Housing Supply is to be established on a statutory footing with an annual National Statement of Projected Housing Supply and Demand published every June. I have asked the Housing Agency to take the lead in implementing this Action.
The proper management of all State land is critical. Accordingly, both lands that have been transferred to the Housing Agency and local authority held lands suitable for development will be the first sites considered in any future targeted social housing building programme. My Department’s annual Housing Land Availability Survey (HLAS) gathers information from local authorities to inform the publication of the amount of zoned residential land in their areas that is currently serviced. It is currently estimated that there is in excess of 25,000 hectares of undeveloped residentially zoned land nationally, which equates to a capacity for over 500,000 new homes (based on a national average of 20 units per hectare). This capacity is considered to be sufficient to meet the housing requirements nationally for in excess of the next ten years. In line with the commitments under the Construction 2020 Strategy , a Housing Supply Co-ordination Task Force for Dublin has been established with an immediate focus on addressing supply-related issues in that area.
Under Action 8 of Construction 2020, a Social Housing Strategy is to be published by Q3 2014. To assist in the development of the Social Housing Strategy, the Housing Agency has invited submissions by 31 July 2014. This invitation for submissions is available at the following weblink:http://www.housing.ie/News/Current-News/Invitation-for-Submissions-Preparation-of-a-Social.aspx
Action 9 of Construction 2020 provides that a Review of Part V of the Planning and Development Acts, which, inter alia, deals with affordable housing and with social housing gain from private development, will be completed by the end of Q2 2014. It is anticipated that any legislative changes required on foot of the review will be incorporated into the General Scheme of a Planning Bill, which is currently in preparation.
I am acutely conscious of the difficulties caused by rising rents and of the problem of sourcing suitable accommodation, especially in Dublin and other urban centres, with growing evidence of increasing rents affecting more vulnerable tenants such as those in receipt of rent supplement. I have asked the PRTB to carry out a focused piece of research that will explore options to address the difficulties being experienced in segments of the private rented sector and to report back to me with policy recommendations in the coming weeks.
On 30 April 2014, the Government approved the publication of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 which when enacted, will provide for the introduction of the new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme. HAP will provide a new framework for the provision of rental assistance and will, in as much as it can, facilitate the removal of existing barriers to employment by allowing HAP recipients remain in the scheme if they gain full-time employment.
The statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments carried out in 2013 show s that there were 89,872 households on local authority waiting lists as at 7 May 2013. The Summary is available on my Department’s website at:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,34857,en.pdf
I expect the final output across all social housing programmes for 2014 to be in the region of 6,000 new housing units. The number and method of delivery of social housing units in future years is determined in the course of the annual Estimates process and will be informed by the Social Housing Strategy currently in preparation, which will set out clear objectives in respect of delivery over the next five years.
Earlier this year, I signalled a return to modest levels of new social housing construction with an announcement of 1,000 new housing starts over the 2014-2015 period. The Government also recognises the importance of a wider response to social housing support needs through a variety of mechanisms.
In the 2014 Estimates, funding for housing, at over €587 million, was effectively maintained at 2013 levels. This includes a €50 million capital stimulus to support construction and related programmes, primarily in the housing area, including €30 million to recommence a public house building programme. As part of the Government’s additional €200 million stimulus package for the construction sector, announced in May 2014, a further €50 million is also being provided for social housing delivery.
In March 2014, I announced the approval of some 56 social housing construction projects with an overall value of some €68 million under the Local Authority housing construction programme for 2014-2015. This will deliver 449 new units of accommodation for people on the housing waiting list. €20 million of the May 2014 stimulus announcement will be made available for further new local authority projects, details of which I intend to announce shortly.
Earlier this year I also announced details of a new measure with funding of €15 million which will be invested in bringing 952 vacant and boarded-up local authority houses back into productive use. €20 million of the additional May 2014 stimulus will be used to fund the refurbishment of an additional 1,000 vacant units.
I have also announced details of the allocations to local authorities under my Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme for the construction and acquisition of housing for persons with specific categories of housing need over the 2014-2015 period. Some €46 million is being set aside for this programme which is intended to deliver in the region of 416 new homes, of which 216 will be new build at a cost of €25 million. €10 million of this is being provided for the immediate acquisition of some 66 properties to address homelessness in the Dublin area.
