Data on local authority house completions and acquisitions are available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie, and the most recent data published in this regard relate to 2010.
Housing authorities were asked by my Department to submit their proposals for consideration for funding under the Social Housing Investment Programme for the next three years by the end of January. Once the proposals submitted have been assessed, I will be in a position to estimate the number of new social units to be built over the period. I hope to be in a position to make announcements in relation to budgets or allocations for the various housing supply programmes in early March.
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.
