I thank the Deputy sincerely for asking this question. Social housing is a key priority for the Government, and the social housing strategy targets the supply of 35,000 additional social housing units. I have managed to get €4 billion in the teeth of very difficult economic times. Even the Deputy, I hope, would acknowledge that that is a substantial amount of money to get in these difficult times. It is an absolute priority for me. The targets for local authorities that I announced recently are fully in line with those in the social housing strategy, which were developed having regard to the nature and scale of social housing need, as measured by the most recent statutory assessment of housing need. In total, some 22,900 units are targeted for delivery in the 2015-17 period, 7,500 through capital-funded schemes and 15,400 through current-funded programmes.
A key reason for the variation in the impact on local housing lists lies in the variation in the levels of housing need locally. Certain areas have lower numbers on 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 had considerably higher targets set for them, including the Dublin local authorities, the impact is proportionally not as high given the number on the housing lists of those areas.
In overall terms, the targets I have announced for Dublin are extremely ambitious and challenging. I am determined that they will be achieved. Delivery on these targets will have a major impact on the housing waiting lists in the four local authorities concerned and reflect the fact that addressing social housing need is accorded the highest priority by the Government. In that regard, Dublin is ultimately the highest priority.
