Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019
60. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the roll-out of the Rebuilding Ireland programme in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1311/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraRebuilding Ireland sets out a range of actions to tackle the challenges in the housing sector across a number of key areas. Specifically the Plan sets out a number of actions, with substantial public funding support, to address the social housing needs of over 137,000 households over the period 2016 to 2021. This includes delivering an additional 50,000 social housing units, with a further 87,000 households having their housing need met through the Housing Assistance Payment and the Rental Accommodation Scheme, all supported by over €6 billion of investment.
Sligo County Council is progressing the delivery of social housing under a range of programmes, in line with the targets set for them under the Plan. Their progression in this regard can be seen through the information that is made publicly available as part of the implemention of Rebuilding Ireland. The social housing delivery targets out to 2021 for all local authorities, including Sligo, 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/. Each local authority's delivery against these targets is published on a quarterly basis on my Department’s website, with data on delivery up to end Q3 2018 available at the following link: https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision. Data on social housing delivery for end Q4 2018 is being collated and will be published shortly.
A detailed breakdown of the new social housing build programme is available at the following link, which also covers the period up to end Q3 2018: http://rebuildingireland.ie/install/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/CSR-Q3-2018-Final-Report-1.pdf.
I am pleased to see concrete progress being made on this programme by Sligo County Council, where 66 new social homes commenced construction at Knappagh Road, Rosses Point, Ballymote, Collooney and St Joseph's Terrace in late 2018. Sligo Council added a further 82 social housing homes to their construction pipeline last year and I understand they are working to bring forward more projects at various locations to meet local housing need.
In general terms, Sligo County Council had a target for delivery of 239 social housing homes in 2018. To end Q3 2018, the Council had delivered a total of 328 homes across all programmes. I am pleased to see this progress with new projects, on top of what has been already delivered, and I have assured them that the necessary funding to support their activity is available.
