Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 May 2012
137 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the main approach with which the housing list across Ireland will be addressed in 2012; the number of persons and families that may expect to be rehoused in social housing during 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24478/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra138 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the high numbers of applicants waiting for rehousing through social housing programmes across local authorities; the number by which he expects the lists to be reduced in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24479/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together.
The Government's housing policy statement, published in June 2011, clearly identifies that the priority for Government will be to meet the most acute needs of households applying for social housing support. I am determined to ensure that the social housing programme is framed in a manner which optimises the delivery of social housing and the return for the resources invested. To achieve this it is essential that we tailor the use of available Exchequer supports to prevailing conditions and explore the full range of solutions to address housing needs. The social housing capital budget has been reduced from €1.535 billion in 2008 to just over €333.7m this year, and the financial parameters within which we will be operating for the coming years rule out a return to large capital funded construction programmes. Nevertheless, the Government is 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. In spite of the challenging circumstances within which local authorities are forced to operate, a tentative projection of 4,000 to 4,500 housing units is anticipated for 2012.
Delivery of social housing will be significantly facilitated through more flexible funding models such as the Rental Accommodation Scheme 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).
My Department does not hold information on the number of households on local authorities' waiting lists at any given time. This number inevitably continuously fluctuates as households are allocated housing and new households apply for housing support. Detailed information on the latest statutory assessment of housing need carried out in March 2011, including a breakdown by housing authority, is available on my Department's website – www.environ.ie or on the Housing Agency’s website at www.housing.ie.
