Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 October 2016
20. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when he expects to publish individual targets for each local authority with regard to local authority targets for social housing, new builds and acquisitions; and the way in which the targets for the number of new build and acquisitions to be provided in each area will be determined. [28635/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll local authorities already have targets for social housing delivery out to 2017. At present, my Department is liaising with local authorities in relation to increasing social housing targets and accelerating social housing delivery over the coming years.
Having regard to the Social Housing Assessment 2016 and reflecting the increased targets and significantly increased budget of €5.35 billion provided by the Government for social housing delivery under Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, new individual targets will be formally issued to local authorities in early 2017.
I can advise the Deputy that the Summary of Social Housing Assessments 2016 is now well advanced and will provide updated figures of national housing need. This updated information will allow for social housing delivery and resources to be aligned with the up-to-date priority housing needs locally.
In the meantime, social housing building programmes across all local authorities are well underway and continue to be ramped up.
It should be noted that the exact blend of delivery on new units between, for example, new builds and acquisitions, will depend in the first instance on the approach of individual local authorities. Some authorities may, for example, pursue a greater number of new builds where the local market does not support acquisitions as strongly. Other authorities may take a different approach and it is appropriate that, having regard to overall national targets, some level of local responsiveness is available to local authorities in their pursuit of the earliest possible delivery.
