Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 March 2015
668. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of new houses that need to be built to solve the social housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13262/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra669. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of social houses that will be built in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13263/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 668 and 669 together.
Social housing is a key priority for Government, as evidenced by the increased provision made for the area in Budget 2015. The Social Housing Strategy 2020 targets the delivery of over 35,000 new social housing units over the period to 2020. Of these, over 12,000 new social housing units will be delivered via capital programmes including new build and acquisition of built properties by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies and work to return vacant local authority houses to productive use.
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 and working with Approved Housing Bodies to meet this need.
In 2015, I expect that 1,400 social housing units will be delivered through either new build or the acquisition of built properties by local authorities and approved housing bodies. A further 1,000 social housing units will be remediated and returned to productive use.
