Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 May 2018
479. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the extent by which the local authority housing stock has increased by way of purchase of extra houses or new builds in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20079/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraData in relation to social housing delivery by local authorities is available on my Department's website. While data for 2018 to date is not yet available, detailed data in relation to 2017 is available at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/attachments/1b1-la-bld-by-area_10.xlsx.
In 2017, over 7,000 additional units were brought into the active social housing stock under Build, Acquisition and Leasing Programmes. This included 2,297 New build units, 2,214 acquired units, 827 leased units and 1,757 voids. In addition to this, over 18,800 flexible housing solutions were delivered under the Housing Assistance Payment Scheme (HAP) and the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS).
In 2018, it is expected that more than 25,000 additional households will have their housing need met, including through HAP and RAS. In this regard, I recently wrote to all local authorities setting out their individual social housing targets across build, acquisition and leasing for 2018 and also for 2018-2021. Details of these are available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link:
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-social-housing-delivery-targets-for-local-authorities-2018-2021/.
Rebuilding Ireland, together with initiatives announced on foot of the targeted review of progress which was undertaken last year, as well as additional measures announced under Budget 2018, provides a robust framework for addressing the housing and homelessness challenges we face. My Department's focus, and that of all delivery agents, will remain on implementation and delivery to ensure that the range of objectives and targets set are achieved. A wide range of delivery mechanisms and a funding commitment of €6 billion over the lifetime of Rebuilding Ireland have been put in place to support the achievement of these targets.
