Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 November 2021
281. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps being taken to ensure the elimination of delays likely to inhibit the provision of affordable or local authority housing in each of the past six years to date; the action taken or proposed to address this issue at an early date; the expected beneficial effect of changes by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55424/21]
View answer285. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current top ten administrative obstacles to the provision of affordable and local authority housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55428/21]
View answer286. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average time taken from the initial application for planning permission to the completion of construction of all housing, recognising the need to ensure the quickest possible turnaround while meeting the necessary provisions and on-time delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55429/21]
View answer287. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and location of various housing development proposals, public and private, throughout the country that are currently delayed due to the lack of various services; the proposals to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55430/21]
View answer288. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the ready availability of and access to such services as water and sewerage facilities and that no developments, public or private are delayed due to lack of availability of such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55431/21]
View answer290. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which the attention of his Department has been drawn to the imposition of new regulations and conditions which have the effect of slowing down the provision of public or private housing developments; the extent to which his Department has received information is this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55433/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 281, 285 to 288, inclusive, and 290 together.
Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade, supported by an investment package of over €4b per annum. Supporting the delivery of housing, including social and affordable housing, is a priority for the Government. In this regard Housing for All sets targets to deliver over 90,000 social homes and 54,000 affordable homes between 2022 and 2030.
My Department does not hold details on the average time taken from the initial application of planning permission to the completion of construction of all housing or details on the numbers of projects delayed due to the availability of services.
The Deputy refers to "administrative obstacles". I wish to reaffirm that all of the Department's administrative and funding measures are put in place to support and foster the development of social and affordable housing and to ensure value for money for the taxpayer. Under Housing for All, a whole of Government approach is being take to further improving and streamlining those processes which support the delivery of housing across all tenures.
These measures and actions are identified to support delivery in the four pathways identified in the Plan:
- Pathway to Supporting Homeownership and Increasing Affordability;
- Pathway to Eradicating Homelessness, Increasing Social Housing Delivery and Supporting Social Inclusion;
- Pathway to Increasing New Housing Supply; and
- Pathway to Addressing Vacancy and Efficient Use of Existing Stock
Housing for All also includes a comprehensive range of measures to support the four pathways, which are set out in section 5 of the Plan. These measures support critical infrastructure development in the area of communications, energy and water services.
With specific regard to water services, the National Development Plan 2021-2030 commits to almost €6bn capital investment by Irish Water in the period 2021-2025 of which over €4.5 billion of which will be Exchequer funding for domestic water services. Budget 2022 allocates over €1.57 billion to support water services, which includes €1.46bn for domestic water services provision by Irish Water. This investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and waste water services. My Department is engaging with Irish Water to identify and prioritise any actions that will support the Delivery of housing under Housing for All and ensure the timely delivery of connections.
An electronic version of Housing for All is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/ef5ec-housing-for-all-a-new-housing-plan-for-ireland/
