Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 December 2020
335. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will work with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to ensure that the remaining tenants at a location (details supplied) are not evicted; if he will further explore taking the whole apartment block into public ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44224/20]
View answerAs housing authorities, local authorities are responsible for the identification of the social housing need in their area. The statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) carried out annually since 2016 captures the total number of households qualified for social housing support to better inform policy and to allow local authorities, such as Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, to develop appropriate responses to meet this need.
Through the supports made available from my Department, funding is available to deliver additional social housing stock through a range of initiatives, including, where appropriate, the acquisition or leasing of new and previously owned houses/apartments from the private market. As housing authorities, it is a matter for each local authority to determine the suitability of any units for acquisition and similarly for leasing, on the basis that the houses are suitable for social housing use and are suitable also in terms of a range of other considerations, including family size, sustainable communities and value for money.
As such, it is a matter for Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to determine the most appropriate response to the need for social housing supports in their area and to make the necessary application to my Department for consideration.
