Local Authorities

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 January 2022

Tuesday, 25 January 2022

Questions (109)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

109. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if housing delivery action plans have been received to date by his Department in respect of Galway City and County Councils pursuant to Housing for All; when these action plans will be published; the engagement that he or his Department has had with local authorities in Galway city and county with regard to the development of the action plans; the details of the targets in respect of Galway City Council and Galway County Council for the use of vacant properties as social housing through buy and renew, construction and repair and leasing schemes in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3351/22]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

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. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4b per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn in funding through the Housing Finance Agency over a five year period.

Under Housing for All, each local authority, including Galway City Council and Galway County Council was required to prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan, setting out details of social and housing affordable delivery in the period 2022-2026. This includes information on the locations where housing will be delivered in addition to information on planned delivery streams. The Plans are also required to include targets for the use of vacant properties as social housing.

I received plans from both Galway City and Galway County Councils in December 2021 and my Department is working with the Housing Delivery Coordination Office to review the Plans, having regard to Housing for All targets and policy objectives. The review will require further engagement with local authorities over the coming weeks. The Plans will be published in Quarter 2, following the conclusion of the preview process.