Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2019
558. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if and when the Galway housing delivery task force has met; the name of all members of the task force; the steps identified to deal with the crisis; if the minutes of the meetings will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17339/19]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, I recently established the Galway Social Housing Taskforce to support and accelerate the delivery of social housing in Galway. The Taskforce is also charged with identifying barriers and local issues that are impeding housing delivery in general in Galway. A key priority for the Taskforce will be to encourage local authorities to work together, including sharing resources and services to the greatest extent possible, in terms of housing delivery. A critical role of the Taskforce will be to increase the delivery of social housing homes, particularly new build homes, by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) and local authorities in Galway City and Galway County over the coming years.
The Taskforce is being chaired by Ms. Geraldine Tallon, former Secretary General, who also currently chairs the Cork Social Housing Taskforce. The membership of the Taskforce includes Mr. Brendan McGrath, Chief Executive of Galway City Council and Mr. Kevin Kelly, Chief Executive of Galway County Council, along with the Housing Directors of both local authorities. Mary Hurley, Assistant Secretary with responsibility for Housing Delivery at my Department is also a member of the Taskforce, as well as other relevant Housing and Planning officials from my Department. The Taskforce membership also includes Mr. John O’Connor, Chief Executive of the Housing Agency, Ms. Eadaoin Ni Chleirigh, Irish Council of Social Housing and Mr. Alan Cunniffe, Co-operative Housing Ireland.
It should be noted that a meeting took place recently between the Chair, the two local authorities and my Department in relation to the work programme for the Taskforce, which will hold its first meeting on 25 April 2019.
