Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019
88. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of social housing units completed in 2018 nationally; the number constructed under the aegis of local authorities; the number of voids refurbished and re-allocated in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54556/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra106. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of new homes completed in 2018; the number of social housing units completed; the number of market housing units completed during 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1091/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 106 together.
During the 9 months to the end of September 2018, data published by the CSO indicates that new dwellings completed totaled 12,582, representing a 28% increase on data for the first 9 months of 2017. These figures do not include homes reconnected, houses completed in unfinished housing estates, or new student dwellings. Data for the fourth quarter of 2018 is expected to be published shortly.
Over the course of the 6-year Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan, the Government is committed to meeting the housing needs of over 137,000 households. The implementation of Rebuilding Ireland is well underway and significant progress has been made. Annual delivery targets were exceeded in 2016 and again in 2017. By end September 2018, over 63,700 of the 137,000 additional social housing solutions envisaged under the Plan had already been provided.
The latest data in relation to social housing delivery to end Q3 2018 is published on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
Some 18,781 additional housing solutions were provided across all local authorities in the first 9 months of 2018. This is 74% of the target for 2018 and an increase of 6,423 on the position at end Q2.
Looking specifically at build, the cumulative output to end Q3 2018 was 2,369 homes, or 48% of the target for 2018. It should be noted that new build output over the first three quarters of 2018 was up significantly on the same period in 2017. The 2,369 homes comprised 1,764 new build homes, including 833 local authority build, 582 approved housing body build and 349 Part V homes. In addition, 605 homes were delivered under the Department funded voids programme, which provides exchequer funding to support local authorities in remediating vacant houses. The voids figure does not reflect the number of vacant properties or the full extent of vacant properties repaired or refurbished as local authorities undertake significant activity in those areas from their own resources. The tenanting of social housing homes is a matter for individual local authorities.
Social housing delivery data in relation to Q4 2018 is currently being compiled and will be published shortly.
