Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 April 2016
143. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of social housing in County Kerry and in Daingean Uí Chúis (details supplied) in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8684/16]
View answerIn April last year, I announced over €1.5 billion in funding allocations in respect of social housing to be provided by all local authorities via a combination of building, buying and leasing schemes. Those allocations and associated targets for each local authority, including Limerick, are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.environ.ie/housing/social-housing/minsters-kelly-coffey-announce-eu15-billion-social-housing-targets-local.
Following this notification of targets, I made announcements for substantial new social housing projects in May 2015, in July 2015 and in January 2016. Between these three announcements, almost €680 million has been allocated for over 3,900 social housing new builds, turnkey developments and acquisitions. Details of these project approvals, including those for Kerry, are available on my Department’s website at the following links:
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,41340,en.htm
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,42225,en.htm
http://www.environ.ie/housing/social-housing/ministers-kelly-coffey-announce-further-1000-social-housing-units.
I am keen that all local authorities, including Kerry County Council, advance these projects as soon as possible and I have assured them that funding is available to fully support their efforts in this regard. While social housing construction projects are being advanced, acquisitions of new and second-hand houses and apartments remain an effective means of meeting immediate social housing need. In 2015, Kerry County Council secured the purchase of 29 housing units. In addition, under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme, approved housing bodies can purchase, lease or construct housing units and make them available for social housing - 51 new units became operational for Kerry under this programme in 2015. I understand also that six social housing units in Daingean Uí Chúis, to be managed by Camphill Communities of Ireland, will be tenanted soon.
The development of further social housing proposals in all areas of need in Co. Kerry is a matter for the local authority in the first place and under the Social Housing Strategy, my Department remains keen to see further projects advanced.
