Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2015
765. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of homes due to be built under the social housing 2020 strategy in counties Longford and Westmeath in each of the years 2015 to 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23316/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe announcement I made on 5 May 2015 in respect of a major Social Housing construction programme, involving €312m of investment, comprising some 100 projects and 1,700 housing units, included new build projects in Counties Longford and Westmeath. Full details, including specifics of the projects to be progressed, the funding allocated and the number of units to be delivered across all local authorities, are available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,41340,en.htm.
I stated at the time that this announcement was part of the first phase of direct-build projects under the Government’s Social Housing Strategy and that further assessments are being carried which will result in the approval of additional projects, details of which will be announced in due course.
It should also be borne in mind that the local authority building programme is just one of a range of mechanisms through which social housing need is to be met. On 1 April 2015, I announced targets for all local authorities to 2017, under which Longford County Council has a target of 210 units, supported by €7.6m of investment, and Westmeath County Council has a target of 542 units, supported by €30.7m of investment.
