Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 May 2017
232. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if large scale housing funding projects proposed to his Department by local authorities, approved housing bodies or the Housing Agency, including acquisitions or new builds, were deferred in 2016 or have been deferred in 2017; if so, the projects concerned; the amounts requested and deferred; and the reasons for these decisions. [23111/17]
View answerWhile delays can arise in relation to projects for a range of reasons, including planning and procurement issues, I am satisfied, on the basis of social housing delivery in 2016 having exceeded targets and the substantial progress which has been made already in the early months of 2017, that the delivery of social housing continues to gather further significant momentum.
As the Deputy will be aware, €5.35 billion is being made available for housing projects over the lifetime of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan and my Department is actively encouraging local authorities and approved housing bodies to progress as many projects as possible over the coming years.
In terms of construction projects that are advancing at present, a comprehensive status list of such social housing schemes can be accessed at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/social-housing-developments/.
Further project approvals are being added to the published list as they are developed by local authorities and approved housing bodies, details of which will be outlined in the context of the next quarterly reporting under Rebuilding Ireland. I am keen that all local authorities advance their social housing projects, direct or approved housing body led, as speedily as possible and I have assured them that funding is in place to support their activity in this regard.
