Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2017
280. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the extent to which he expects extra local authority houses to become available in the course of the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45477/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra284. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he will take to address the acute problem of the local authority housing shortage in the short-term with particular reference to the need to identify more ambitious targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45481/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra287. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the extent to which he entered into dialogue with the local authorities with a view to ensuring the immediate implementation of a local authority housing programme sufficient to address the problem of homelessness and to reduce the existing local authority housing waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45484/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 280, 284 and 287 together.
To support and accelerate the delivery of social housing, as set out in Rebuilding Ireland, the necessary funding is in place, with a greater emphasis now being placed on direct build activity for local authorities and approved housing bodies. In 2017, funding of almost €1.3 billion is being made available to support housing programmes, including the delivery of over 21,000 social housing supports.
In Budget 2018, I secured €1.9 billion for housing programmes next year. This is a 46% increase over 2017 and will support the housing needs of 25,500 households. A large element, €1.14 billion, is for the delivery of almost 5,900 social homes through a range of construction (5,000) and acquisition (900) programmes. The balance of the funding will add new tenancies and maintain existing ones through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and long-term leasing. It will also fund other important housing supports and services in relation to homelessness, regeneration and programmes to upgrade existing housing (energy efficiency improvements, adaptation grants, housing for Travellers, pyrite, etc).
Additionally, I secured a further €500 million for investment in social housing over the period 2019–2021, which will increase the overall level of social housing to be delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies by a further 3,000 homes. The overall target for social housing delivery under Rebuilding Ireland, therefore, has increased from 47,000 to 50,000 homes, with the total funding investment increasing from €5.35 billion to over €6 billion.
The following table sets out the targets in respect of social housing under the main programme areas for each year of Rebuilding Ireland. It also includes targets for the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) under which, in addition to the 50,000 homes referred to above, a further 88,000 housing solutions will be provided -
|
Year |
Build |
Acquisition |
Leasing |
RAS |
HAP |
|
|
2016 |
Target |
2,260 |
1,755 |
225 |
1,000 |
12,000 |
|
2017 |
Target |
3,200 |
1,250 |
600 |
1,000 |
15,000 |
|
2018 |
Target |
4,969 |
900 |
2,000 |
600 |
17,000 |
|
2019 |
Target |
6,385 |
1,025 |
2,130 |
600 |
16,760 |
|
2020 |
Target |
7,716 |
800 |
2,631 |
600 |
13,000 |
|
2021 |
Target |
8,907 |
800 |
2,450 |
- |
10,000 |
The level of social housing construction activity can be seen in the status reports now published on a quarterly basis in relation to all social housing construction schemes for all local authority areas. These reports show details such as project locations and scale, as well as information relating to their advancement. The most recent report covers the period up to the end of quarter 2 of 2017 and contains information on the delivery of 11,000 new social homes, currently approved and progressing through planning, design and construction. It also contains details of the homes delivered in 2016 and to the end of quarter 2 of 2017. The report can be accessed at the following link:
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/social-housing-construction-projects-report-2017/ .
I am keen that all local authorities advance their social housing programmes as speedily as possible and I have assured them that funding is in place to support their activity in this regard.
