James Browne
Ceist:76. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to address the shortage of housing in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9311/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 27 February 2018
Ceisteanna (76, 721)
James Browne
Ceist:721. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if each capital application to his Department from projects in County Wexford will be provided; the type and extent of each application; the status of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9412/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 721 together.
Wexford, like many other local authorities around the country, has experienced a low level of house construction activity, both public and private, over the last number of years. However, Rebuilding Ireland is focused on accelerating delivery of housing across all tenures and a comprehensive programme of action is well underway, which will see investment of more than €6 billion to deliver 50,000 social housing homes nationally, through build, refurbishment, acquisitions and leasing, over the period to 2021. With the increased national targets and additional funding under Rebuilding Ireland, targets for 2018 to 2021 are now being finalised with local authorities.
In addition to the provision of adequate funding, the availability of suitable lands for development is key to ensuring the delivery of sufficient housing supply. All local authorities have been requested to prepare Strategic Development and Management Plans for residential lands in their ownership to ensure they are brought forward for development at the earliest opportunity. The Plans for Wexford will be reviewed by my Department once received.
As the Deputy will appreciate, my Department is in receipt of a large volume of applications for funding across a wide range of capital and current related housing programmes for all local authorities, including Wexford County Council. Therefore, my Department is not in a position to provide details of all applications received from the Council.
In relation to applications made, my Department has approved a range of projects for Wexford County Council and those in the pipeline can be viewed in the latest status report for social housing construction projects, as at end Q3 2017, which is available on my Department's website at the following weblink: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/rebuilding-ireland/minister-murphy-announces-additional-eu100m-housing-and-homelessness-2017.
The Q3 2017 report details 772 schemes recently completed, on site, or undergoing planning, design or procurement, which will deliver some 12,300 homes across all local authorities.
The report shows a significant level of activity being undertaken by Wexford County Council, in conjunction with Approved Housing Bodies, across 38 projects delivering in the region of 390 homes. In addition, the Council is undertaking feasibility work on a number of further projects, with the potential to deliver almost 180 additional homes.
In relation to full year outputs for 2017, provisional details on the number of social housing homes delivered across the country, were published on 15 January 2018. A breakdown of these homes, in terms of build, refurbishment, acquisitions and leasing, across all local authority areas, including Wexford, will be made available shortly, following completion of the necessary validation process.
Question No. 77 answered with Question No. 68.
Question No. 78 answered with Question No. 47.
Question No. 79 answered with Question No. 44.
Question No. 80 answered with Question No. 41.