Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 December 2014
490. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will make public the National Economic and Social Council's home ownership and rental report; his views regarding the road that Ireland is on; and if he will provide an update to the House before the Christmas recess. [46150/14]
View answerThe National Economic and Social Council (NESC) advises the Taoiseach on strategic policy issues relating to sustainable economic, social and environmental development. NESC produces reports with strategic, long-term analyses of key economic and social development issues affecting Ireland. As the NESC Report No. 140, Home Ownership and Rental: What Road is Ireland On?, is not due to be published until 3 December 2014, it would not be appropriate to comment on its content in advance. However, once published, it will be important to give careful consideration to the issues raised in the report, including the need to strike a balance between the promotion of home ownership and the need to develop more secure and stable options for those renting long-term.
This report is the second in a programme of work that NESC is undertaking on housing policy. The first report, entitled Social Housing at the Crossroads: Possibilities for Investment, Provision and Cost Rental, provided a significant input into the formulation of the Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support , Supply and Reform approved by Government and published last week.
The new Strategy builds on the provisions contained in Budget 2015 and sets out clear, measurable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery, and meet the housing needs of all households on the housing list. The strategy provides a clear governance structure to ensure delivery of all actions. The private rental sector is a key pillar in the delivery of the strategy and a number of actions are committed to in relation to that sector. These include a commitment under Action 35 to the development of a national policy aimed at increasing investment in and supporting the supply of, good quality, secure and affordable rental accommodation by the end of 2015. The strategy is available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/PublicationsDocuments/FileDownLoad,39622,en.pdf.
