Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 March 2015
640. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied with the availability of sheltered housing and senior citizen housing in the Dublin Bay North constituency; his views that more housing needs to be provided to accommodate more elderly persons in need of housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12897/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra641. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views that the provision of more sheltered housing and senior citizens' complexes could help to free up larger homes for families on council housing lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12898/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra642. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding that has been allocated by central Government to Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council in the past three years, to construct sheltered housing and senior citizens' housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12899/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 640 to 642, inclusive, together.
My Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme provides support, through local authorities, towards the approved costs of housing bodies in providing accommodation for persons with specific categories of housing need, including older people, people with an intellectual, physical or mental health disability, homeless people, returning emigrants and victims of domestic violence. Details of the funding provided to both Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council under the Scheme for the last three years is outlined as follows. Funding provided in Dublin saw the completion of 99 units in Fr. Scully House in Dublin 1, whilst the completion of Cuan Mhuire ‘Lumen Initiative’, also in Dublin 1, provided accommodation for over 60 people.
Each local authority has responsibility for identifying their area’s social housing need and responding as required, including planning and undertaking new social housing developments both through the local authority’s own developments and through working with Approved Housing Bodies to meet this need. A ‘Call for Proposals’ to the voluntary housing sector under the Capital Assistance Scheme has recently been issued, which will identify new construction and acquisition projects for the delivery of additional social housing units to facilitate independent living for persons with specific categories of housing need. Local authorities will be aware of the opportunity that arises through providing sheltered housing for older people to free up existing social housing for re-tenanting.
Capital Assistance Scheme
|
Local Authority |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Dublin City Council |
€10,258,397 |
€9,327,326 |
€16,999,920 |
|
Fingal County Council |
€4,969,304 |
€1,625,163 |
€2,695,161 |
