Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each housing authority area are provided in the statutory summary of social housing assessments, which are now being carried out an annual basis.
The most recently published statutory summary of social housing assessments relates to the assessment carried out in 2016. This records the number of households on all local authority waiting lists, as at 21 September 2016. The results show that there were 91,600 households deemed qualified for, and in need of social housing support. 39% of all households qualified for social housing support are in the four Dublin Housing Authorities, over half (56%) of whom are in the Dublin City Council area.
As the Deputy will be aware, under Rebuilding Ireland, a total of 50,000 new social housing homes will be delivered out to 2021 and an additional 80,000 new households will be supported under the Housing Assistance Payment scheme. These tenancies will support and meet the needs of households on waiting lists across the country, including Dublin.
My Department is encouraging the use of rapid build methodologies, including modular build, for accelerated delivery of social housing units generally. The question of utilising rapid build methodologies and other innovative construction technologies, including modular is, ultimately, a matter for consideration by each local authority and Approved Housing Bodies (AHB's) in the context of individual projects. Utilising innovative construction technologies can accelerate housing provision, as timeframes are considerably less than for traditional build.
In December last year, the Government introduced limits on rent increases in designated Rent Pressure Zones, those areas of the country where rents are highest and rising fastest. The measure was introduced to slow the increase in rents which is a significant driver of increasing homelessness. The coverage of the Rent Pressure Zones is substantial. Nearly 57% of all registered rental properties, involving approximately 180,000 tenancies, are currently in designated areas.
In addition, we will shortly introduce the requirement for landlords to notify the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) when issuing a notice terminating a tenancy. Where this happens, the RTB will contact the affected tenant and provide them with the relevant contacts for homelessness prevention services in their area.
My Department also funds tenant advice and homelessness prevention services provided by Threshold. The Department has made a total of more than €800,000 available to Threshold in 2017 and plans to provide a similar level of support in 2018.
My Department and I will continue to work with local authorities and AHB's to accelerate the delivery of all housing, including rapid build, in order to tackle the current housing waiting lists and to deliver homes, as quickly as possible, to those who need them.
