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Local Authority Housing

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 February 2012

Thursday, 2 February 2012

Ceisteanna (169, 170)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

170 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government how he will meet the commitment to increase the stock of social housing with a diminishing capital budget as outlined in the report on infrastructural and capital investment. [6029/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Government's new housing policy statement, published in June 2011, will serve as a framework for a sequence of legislative and policy initiatives in the short to medium term. Based on a number of fundamental principles and goals that will form the foundation of a substantial reform programme, the new framework for housing policy responds to current and emerging conditions in the housing sector, taking account of the dramatic cycle of rapid growth and sudden collapse in the residential property market. The centrepiece of the approach is to chart a way forward for housing policy in Ireland by placing greater emphasis on choice, equity across housing tenures, and delivering quality outcomes for the resources invested.

In terms of the delivery of social housing, the policy statement clearly identifies that the main focus in terms of supports provided by Government will be on meeting the most acute needs — the housing support needs of those unable to provide for their accommodation from their own resources. In light of the reduction in the social housing capital budget since 2008, it is not possible to return to very large capital funded construction programmes by local authorities. Nevertheless, we are committed to responding more quickly and on a larger scale to social housing support needs through a variety of mechanisms including through increased provision of social housing.

Delivery of social housing will be significantly facilitated through more flexible funding models such as RAS and leasing, but the Government is also committed to developing other funding mechanisms that will increase the supply of permanent new social housing. Such mechanisms will include options to purchase, build to lease and the sourcing of loan finance by approved housing bodies for construction and acquisition. There is also obvious potential, across a range of housing programmes, for the Government's objective of sourcing and providing suitable residential units for use as social housing to be aligned with the commercial objectives of the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA).

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

171 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it is necessary for those applying for local authority housing to supply leases for all rented addresses over the past five years. [6030/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

I refer to the reply to Question No. 14 of 30 November, 2011, which sets out the position in this matter.

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