Imelda Munster
Question:15. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the need for developers and the State to prioritise housing development. [37796/18]
View answerThursday, 27 September 2018
Questions (15)
Written answers
Housing is a top Government priority and there is clear evidence that the Government's comprehensive Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, is working. Under the Plan, the social housing needs of over 137,000 households will be met, supported by over €6 billion of investment, and housing supply more generally is targeted to increase to at least 25,000 new homes per year by 2020.
Nearly 26,000 social housing supports were delivered in 2017, significantly ahead of the target of 21,000. In terms of boosting the supply of housing more broadly, the Government is investing nearly €300m in enabling infrastructure to open up key residential sites for early development, has streamlined planning systems through An Bord Pleanála for large-scale housing developments and also updated guidance to provide more flexibility in the design and siting of apartments. Development finance is also to be made available under the €750m Home Building Finance Ireland initiative and policy reforms such as the vacant site levy have been introduced to deter the hoarding of land and encourage early development.
In addition, the new Land Development Agency will bring together both public and private sector interests to deliver up to 150,000 new homes over the next 20 years, and will have access to capital funding of up to €1.25 billion to assist it in fulfilling its mandate.
All housing activity indicators continue to show encouraging trends, with almost 19,500 new residential construction commencements notified in the year to end-July 2018, up 17% year-on-year, and planning permission granted for some 26,700 new homes in the year to end June 2018, up 39% year-on-year.
Progress on the different targets under Rebuilding Ireland is kept under regular review and I meet with all housing stakeholders regularly to discuss progress. While the housing system was badly damaged in the downturn and is taking time to correct, I am confident that full implementation of the comprehensive set of actions laid out in Rebuilding Ireland will result in a sustainable housing system that can meet the current and future needs of the population, with consequential wider social and economic benefits.