Local Authority Housing Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 November 2016

Thursday, 17 November 2016

Questions (151, 158)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

151. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the extent to which he has sought and or received confirmation from the local authorities, currently having the highest number of applicants for local authority housing, information relating to their respective programmes in terms of new house acquisitions, building starts and existing house acquisitions with particular reference to addressing the most serious aspect of the housing crisis; if further initiatives are required to accelerate the house building programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35584/16]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

158. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the extent to which each local authority has advised him and his Department as to the maximum number of housing units likely to be provided by them in the next 12 months; if existing targets need to be revised upwards to meet the challenge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35591/16]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 158 together.

I have previously acknowledged the good start made on social housing delivery in 2015 with 13,000 households’ needs met, but my ambition is that the delivery of homes under each of the social housing programmes will be accelerated and that the target of 17,000 units for 2016 will be fully achieved.

More broadly, the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan has put an even more intensive focus on the work to tackle the housing crisis. The increased target of 47,000 new social housing units by 2021 is backed up by €5.35 billion funding. My Department is engaged on an ongoing basis with all local authorities concerning their plans and programmes for the delivery of those targets. I have met directly with the local authority chief executives and assured them that funding is available to advance new projects and to urge the swiftest possible progress on their overall programme of projects.

Our efforts to significantly ramp up social housing construction nationally are taking effect. In 2015, only 74 units were constructed by local authorities. In 2016, circa 1,400 units will start or have already started on site. More than 3,000 additional units will start on site in 2017. The continuous contact between my Department and all local authorities is focused on both the existing projects and on bringing forward additional, new proposals through a range of delivery means. This contact also includes a focus on housing acquisitions, which are providing a strong and immediate stream of delivery. Over 1,000 new social homes were delivered last year through acquisitions and I anticipate a significant programme again this year. Local authorities and AHBs are also undertaking new turnkey construction projects with private developers.

The targets for social housing under Rebuilding Ireland represent a substantial increase over previous targets. While a challenge for all of us who are involved in their delivery, I am confident that the range of measures provided for in Rebuilding Ireland provide a solid basis for the full achievement of our targets.