Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 July 2015
301. Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to build new social housing in the Dublin 2, 4, 6, and 8 areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29257/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 1 April last I announced targets and provisional funding allocations out to 2017 for the delivery of social housing for all local authorities. The target for Dublin City Council is 3,347 social housing units, supported by €292m of investment. This funding is being invested in a combination of building, buying and leasing schemes by the Council to accommodate people on their housing waiting list.
The 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 nationally, includes investment of over €35m in the Dublin City Council area.
The provision of social housing services is a matter for each local authority as the housing authority for its area. Each authority has responsibility for identifying their area’s social housing need and responding as required, including planning and undertaking new social housing developments and acquiring suitable built properties to meet this need.
With regard to the specific areas referred to, construction work on 9 new apartments at Maxwell Road, Dublin 6 is currently nearing completion, supported with capital funding from my Department. In addition, my Department is committed to the regeneration of Dolphin House and St. Teresa’s Gardens which will result in the provision of over 80 new social housing units in addition to the refurbishment of a number of existing units.
When I announced the major social housing construction programme in May, I stated that this was part of the first phase of direct-build projects under the Government’s Social Housing Strategy and that further assessments are being carried out which will result in the approval of additional projects. Local authorities, including Dublin City, are continuing to submit and refine proposals in respect of their social housing construction plans and further announcements will be made shortly, according as these are evaluated.
