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Housing Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019

Tuesday, 15 January 2019

Questions (51)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

51. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of rapid build properties constructed under Rebuilding Ireland to date; the number tenanted to date; the number of properties delivered to date via the vacant housing funds including the rolling €70 million allocated to the Housing Agency, the repair and lease scheme and the buy and renew scheme; and the reason there is such a large gap between the targets set in 2016 and delivery to date. [1433/19]

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Written answers

Since 2016, some 40 rapid delivery projects have been added to the social housing construction pipeline and these are expected to yield in the region of 1,100 homes over the period to 2021. While data in relation to Q4 2018 outputs is currently being compiled, data up to Q3 2018 shows that 325 homes had been delivered under the programme. The allocation and tenanting of these and all social housing homes is a matter for the relevant local authority.

In relation to the repair and leasing scheme- to end Q3 2018, a total of 1,214 applications had been received from property owners; 48 homes had been brought back into use and were tenanted; and a further 122 agreements for lease had been signed. In addition, over 250 social housing homes have been delivered to date through the buy & renew scheme, including some properties that may have initially been considered under the repair and leasing scheme.

Under the Housing Agency €70 million Fund, the Agency had bids accepted on 874 homes at end November 2018, 814 of which were vacant. Contracts have been signed for 571 homes and 531 of these purchases have closed.

Each local authority now has a dedicated Vacant Homes Office, whose work includes establishing a co-ordinated approach towards the implementation of their Vacant Homes Action Plans. Having undertaken initial vacancy assessments within their administrative areas, and drilling down into the available vacancy statistical data, it appears that a significant proportion of potentially vacant residential properties are not in areas of high demand for housing. Notwithstanding this, my Department will continue to work closely with local authorities and other key stakeholders to ensure that all reasonable avenues for addressing vacancy are pursued.

Question No. 52 answered orally.
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