Housing Provision

Tuesday, 17 May 2016

Questions (359, 390)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Question:

359. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the relief measures available for first-time house purchasers. [10821/16]

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390. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures he is considering to help first-time buyers who are being squeezed by the banks which are refusing to lend; if he will tackle the lack of construction activity and the diminishing supply of rental housing available due to the successful roll-out of the housing assistance payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9659/16]

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Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 390 together.

The Government is committed to the overall objective that every household, including first-time buyers, will have access to secure, good quality housing suited to their needs at an affordable price, in a sustainable community. Ultimately a shortage of supply of houses and apartments to buy and rent is at the heart of the challenges in the housing sector. In 2015, the private market delivered around half of the annual requirement of 25,000 new dwellings per annum.

Housing is an absolute priority for this Government and, accordingly, a key priority of the Programme for a Partnership Government, which can be accessed at the link below, is the preparation and publication of an ‘Action Plan for Housing’ within the Government’s first 100 days. The Action Plan will be drafted with input from a number of key Departments, and will draw on the work of the Special Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessness, which is due to submit a final report to the Dáil on 17 June 2016.

http://www.merrionstreet.ie/MerrionStreet/en/ImageLibrary/Programme_for_Partnership_Government.pdf

The ‘Action Plan for Housing’ will come under the overall governance of a Cabinet Committee on Housing, chaired by An Taoiseach and including all key Ministers. The Plan will build on the considerable work already carried out or underway to boost supply and will be delivery focussed. It will include actions to boost supply of all types of housing in the immediate, medium and longer-terms. While it is important to boost housing supply for all, the Plan will focus in particular on those feeling most difficulty in accessing the housing and rental market at the moment.