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Local Authority Housing

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 February 2021

Wednesday, 17 February 2021

Questions (256, 257, 294, 295, 305, 306)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

256. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the council housing list for County Kilkenny by town or village area, by one, two or three bedroom facilities; and the year applicants went on the list. [7983/21]

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Kathleen Funchion

Question:

257. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the council housing list for County Carlow by town or village area, by one, two or three bedroom facilities; and the year applicants went on the list (details supplied). [7984/21]

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Pauline Tully

Question:

294. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average length of time spent on the social housing list in County Cavan; the plans to reduce these times; the number on the social housing list for each of the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8560/21]

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Pauline Tully

Question:

295. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average length of time spent on the social housing list in County Monaghan; the plans to reduce these times; the number on the social housing list for each of the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8561/21]

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Denise Mitchell

Question:

305. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons in Dublin City Council area B on the housing waiting list. [8621/21]

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Denise Mitchell

Question:

306. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons in Dublin City Council area B on the housing transfer list. [8622/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 256, 257, 294, 295, 305 and 306 together.

Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area are provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recently published SSHA carried out in 2019, details the number of households on all local authority waiting lists as of June 2019.

The results of the SSHA include breakdowns by each local authority across a range of categories. The results do not provide a breakdown of the numbers by electoral area and my Department does not hold such data, nor does it record data on a month by month basis in the manner sought.

In relation to the specific question posed regarding breakdown by one, two or three bedroom facilities, information of this exact type is not held by my Department. However, tables 2.4 and A1.4 of the report provide details on household size. It should be noted that the category “Household Composition” in the previous reports, was replaced in the 2019 report by the “Household Size” profile category which provides more granular level of detail regarding the number of persons in each household type.

With respect to the year that applicants went onto the housing list and length of time spent on the social housing list, Figure 2.8 and Table A1.8 provide details on the length of time households have been on the record of qualified households (the Waiting List).

Full details in relation to the 2019 assessment are available on my Department's website at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/29da7-summary-of-social-housing-assessments-2019-key-findings/.

It should be noted that due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the 2020 assessment was delayed and conducted in November. Work is ongoing and the summary report of the 2020 assessment will be published in due course.

My Department does not hold information of the specific type as requested on transfer lists. The oversight and practical management of social housing waiting lists, including the allocation and transfer of tenancies, is a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and associated regulations.

Section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 requires all local authorities, as a reserved function, to make an allocation scheme determining the order of priority to be accorded in the allocation of dwellings to households qualified for social housing support and to households approved for a transfer, the allocation of which would, in the opinion of the authority, meet the accommodation needs and requirements of the households. Ultimately, it is a matter for the local authority to decide the conditions to be met in relation to transfer applications.

Budget 2021 provided €3.3 billion for the delivery of housing. Subject to the impact of the covid related restrictions on the construction sector, the available funding will deliver 12,750 new social homes through build, acquisition and leasing. A major focus of this investment is the delivery of new build, with an overall target of 9,500 new homes, in addition to 800 acquisitions and 2,450 homes to be delivered through leasing programmes.

In relation to the reduction of waiting times, my Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on all social housing delivery activity. This is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/. The most recent data is for Quarter 3 2020, and it shows that 1,042 social homes were delivered in Cavan and 1,388 in Monaghan for the period 2016 to Q3 2020.

The Government will be publishing a new housing strategy this year, which will set out details of social housing delivery for 2021-2025, including social housing targets for 2022 onwards.

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