The Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Reform , approved by Government and published last week, builds on the provisions contained in Budget 2015 and sets out clear, measureable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the housing list. Initial funding, through the €2.2 billion announced as part of Budget 2015 , will underpin delivery of phase 1 of the Strategy and allow time for the work to be carried out to move towards more off-balance sheet funding, through the extension to the NAMA Special Purpose Vehicle, a large scale Public Private Partnership and the establishment of a ‘Strategic Housing Fund’. The Strategy provides a clear governance structure, which as Minister I will personally oversee, to ensure delivery. Action 1 of the Strategy requires the agreement of targets for delivery of social housing next year and in subsequent years. These specific targets will be agreed through the governance structure, in collaboration with local authorities and with input from the approved housing body sector.
For 2015, the targets for new social housing units to be delivered as part of the local authority housing construction and acquisitions programme is 946, and a further 440 through approved housing bodies under the Capital Assistance Scheme. This will contribute to the overall provision of some 7,400 new social housing units next year under the range of existing initiatives, with a further 8,400 households assisted through the Housing Assistance Payment.
While local authorities are responsible for the detailed planning of social housing provision based on the needs of their areas, my Department is working with all authorities, within the context of the increased funding now available, to advance projects already in train and to plan for further developments directly by local authorities and by approved housing bodies to meet the Social Housing Strategy targets for 2015 and beyond.
