Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2015
647. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the process and criteria employed to decide the county, council by county, and council allocation from the social housing fund announced on 1 April 2015; the reason for the significant inter-county / council variation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15746/15]
View answer655. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he accepts that he provided misleading information regarding the percentage impact on local housing waiting lists of the new housing targets for each local authority on 1 April 2015 at the launch of the social housing targets for local authorities to 2017. [15755/15]
View answer656. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has instructed his Department to review the figures he gave for the percentage impact on local housing list numbers of the new build figures for social housing units that he provided on 1 April 2015 at the launch of the social housing targets for local authorities to 2017. [15756/15]
View answer657. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an up-to-date breakdown of the expected percentage impact on local housing waiting lists of the new housing targets for each local authority on 1 April 2015 at the launch of the social housing targets for local authorities to 2017. [15757/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 647, 655, 656 and 657 together.
Social housing is a key priority for Government, as evidenced by the increased provision made for the area in Budget 2015. The Social Housing Strategy 2020 targets the supply of 35,000 additional social housing units at a cost of €3.8 billion over the next 6 years, as well as meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through local authority provision via the private rented sector, using the Housing Assistance Payment and the Rental Accommodation Schemes.
The overall targets in the Social Housing Strategy were developed having regard to the nature and scale of social housing need, taking account of analysis of the most recent statutory Assessment of Housing Need, which was carried out by the Housing Agency. The social housing targets for each local authority area out to 2017 that I recently announced are fully in line with the targets of the Social Housing Strategy. Targets identified for individual local authorities were determined in consideration of the potential impact that delivery over 2015–2017 would have on social housing need as evidenced by local authority waiting lists recorded in the most recent statutory Assessment of Housing Need. The target setting process also took account of specific housing unit targets and building projects out to 2017 proposed by each local authority.
A key reason for the variation in regard to the impact on local housing lists lies in the variation in the level s of housing need locally. Certain areas have relatively lower numbers on local housing lists, with a consequence that the targets set for such authorities have a relatively high percentage impact on the lists. Conversely, while other authorities have had considerably higher targets set for them, the impact is proportionally not as high given the higher number on the housing lists of those areas. It is the case, however, that the targets that I have announced illustrate once again that housing is of the highest priority for the Government. Ambitious targets have been set for each local authority and they will have a major impact for those on the housing waiting lists, with a national reduction of 25% targeted over the period through these targets alone.
In terms of monitoring progress against these targets into the future, including the impact on housing need, it is important to note that the governance of the Social Housing Strategy includes monitoring and review arrangements. Specifically, a review of the strategy will take place in 2017 to assess overall progress. In addition, we will carry out housing needs assessment s on an annual basis from 2016 which will support the continuous monitoring of social housing delivery against need.
