In 2015, I expect that 7,400 social housing units will be delivered across all 31 local authority areas, broken down as follows:
- 3,000 units under the Social Housing Leasing Initiative - leases, rental agreements and agreements with Approved Housing Bodies to facilitate leasing, build and acquisition
- 2,000 Rental Accommodation Scheme
- 1,400 to be built or acquired by local authorities and approved housing bodies
- 1,000 Remediating void properties to return them to productive use.
In addition, a target of 8.400 units has been set for the provision of social housing supports in 2015 under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).
Each local authority has responsibility for identifying their area’s social housing need and responding as required, including planning and undertaking new social housing developments to meet this need.
Delivery proposals for the years 2015 to 2017 have been sought and obtained from all local authorities and their proposals are being assessed in my Department. The precise details of the 2015 delivery will be agreed on a local authority by local authority basis, with funding allocations provided in respect of the approved proposals.