Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2017
1952. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 65 of 13 July 2017, the estimated percentage of the population paying more than a third of their income for housing. [36833/17]
View answer2006. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to introduce an affordable housing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37744/17]
View answer2018. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress his Department has made on the reintroduction of the affordable housing scheme that was suspended during the recession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38083/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1952, 2006 and 2018 together.
The Government recognises the housing affordability pressures faced by many households, particularly in certain parts of the country. It is for this reason that the overarching objective of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is to increase the supply of new homes to 25,000 per annum by 2020. In particular, the aim is to increase the supply of high quality social and affordable homes, to buy or rent, as quickly as possible, in areas where demand is greatest.
As signalled, the issue of housing affordability is being examined by my Department, including consideration of the latest data on household incomes, observed rents and house purchase prices, in the context of the ongoing focused review of Rebuilding Ireland. I expect this work to be concluded in the coming weeks and I will be considering the potential role of new initiatives in that context.
