Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 June 2021
120. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing units by type, that is, house, apartment, flat and so on, that are leased from private entities by each local authority in each of the years 1991 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [32246/21]
View answerWhile the Government’s objective is to focus strongly on local authority led build activity, long term leasing is an important option available to local authorities to supplement delivery and secure high quality social housing on a long term basis.
The social housing leasing programme, which began in 2009, allows local authorities and approved housing bodies to lease suitable properties from private owners for periods of up to 25 years.
Local authorities lease dwellings taking account of local need, the suitability of dwellings, sustainable communities considerations and value for money. These properties are allocated to households on the social housing waiting list. As such, the type and size of dwelling leased, and the allocation of those dwellings, is a matter for the relevant local authority having regard to its most recent housing needs assessment.
Data on social housing leasing delivery, funded by my Department, in respect of all local authorities to end Q1 2021 is published on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
