Seán Sherlock
Ceist:586. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will provide correspondence in respect of two local authorities on a matter (details supplied). [46599/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 12 November 2019
Ceisteanna (586)
Freagraí scríofa
The delivery of housing, whether it be social, affordable or the advancement of mixed use housing developments, is a key priority for both Cork City and Cork County Council. My Department is committed to working and supporting both these local authorities to deliver such homes across the County. Indeed, my Department engages on a very regular basis on all matters relating to housing delivery, including project approval and funding applications.
To support delivery in the County, a Cork Social Housing Task Force has been established and is chaired by a former Secretary General of my Department. The Taskforce comprises representatives from both local authorities, the Housing Agency, the Approved Housing Body sector, as well as the Assistant Secretary leading the Housing Delivery Division of my Department. The objective of this Task Force is to identify any barriers that there are to delivery in the County and to accelerate and increase delivery across Cork.
In relation to the Deputy's request for extensive records and correspondence on all matters relating to every social, affordable and mixed use housing development, it should be noted that such records are, generally, provided under the various legislative provisions of the Freedom of Information Acts. I trust the Deputy will appreciate that the information sought is not readily available and its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work.
I am, however, attaching documents below, which provide details of the Cork City and Cork County social housing targets under Rebuilding Ireland, including progress made against these targets. Also provided are links to the most recent published quarterly Social Housing Construction Status Report - which details all social housing new build projects in the build pipeline in Cork; links to published targets and also to the statistics page on my Department's website which is updated quarterly to reflect delivery against target by local authority.
In relation to funding, I can confirm that to date in 2019, a total of €142 million has been provided to Cork City and Cork County for the delivery of housing programmes. Both local authorities have been advised that the social housing targets set for them are minimum targets and that funding is in place to support both Councils to exceed those targets.
I should say if there is a specific project that the Deputy has an interest in, my Department will be more than happy to provide that information directly to him.
Links to Social Housing Targets 2018-2021 and specific Social Housing Targets 2019:
https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-social-housing-delivery-targets-for-local-authorities-2018-2021/.
https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/social-housing-targets-2019/.
Link to quarterly statistical outputs for social housing by local authority which shows delivery against target:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
Link to most recent Social Housing Construction Status Report which outlines all social housing new build activity under Rebuilding Ireland in Cork City and County:
https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-social-housing-construction-status-report-for-q2-2019-2/.