Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 June 2021
35. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new social homes delivered via build programmes that will be delivered in County Mayo in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33921/21]
View answerIncreasing the supply of public, social and affordable homes is priority of this Government. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to deliver 50,000 new social homes with a focus on new build homes. This commitment was underpinned by investment of €3.3bn towards housing programmes in Budget 2021. Subject to the impact of COVID-19, this investment will fund the delivery of 12,750 new social homes in 2021, including 9,500 new build homes. In December 2020, I issued delivery targets for 2021 to each local authority, with Mayo County Council set a target to deliver 156 new homes, including 91 new build homes.
The Social Housing Construction Status Report is published each quarter and provides scheme level detail on social housing new build activity in each local authority, including Mayo. Details on each stage of a project can be found including when a development moves onsite and when it is complete. The most recent report covers the period up to the end of Quarter 1 2020 and provides details of 62 social housing schemes in Mayo. The report also shows there are 79 homes onsite across eleven schemes, of which 57 are due to complete in 2021. A further 207 homes are at various stages of the design and pre-tender process.
The restrictions introduced to combat the spread of COVID-19 meant that most housing construction was halted from 8 January to 12 April 2021. These restrictions have meant that some housing projects, which were scheduled for delivery in 2021 may now be delayed until 2022. I have asked all local authorities to work closely with developers, contractors and AHB delivery partners to ensure that the maximum number of new social homes are delivered this year.
