Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 January 2023
235. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if plans can be put in place to arrange for modular-or chalet-type wooden housing as a means of addressing the severe housing shortage as well as the shortage of accommodation for asylum seekers, with a view to reducing the dependence on high priced rental accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3899/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra237. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which housing availability to the local authority under the part 5 procedure continues to be made available to Kildare County Council or approved housing bodies; the extent to which this is impacting on the numbers on the local authority housing waiting list; the extent to which regulations affecting their allocation to suitable applicants continue to be determined by way of statutory regulations or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3901/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra238. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of houses provided by approved housing bodies in County Kildare for suitably qualified applicants in each of the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3902/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra239. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of houses provided by approved housing bodies, by county, for suitably qualified applicants in each of the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3903/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra242. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which it is expected to address the large numbers of applicants for local authority houses currently on waiting lists over the next two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3906/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 235, 237, 238, 239 and 242 together.
Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.
Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes; 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing and 28,500 new affordable homes in the period 2022-2026. In September 2021, I issued social housing targets to each local authority for the period 2022-2026.
A key action of Housing for All is that local authorities developed and submitted Housing Delivery Action Plans to include details of social and affordable housing delivery. The Plans set out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. The Plans also include details of the locations and delivery streams for social housing schemes. The Plans have been published on the local authorities own websites.
Modern methods of construction (MMC) has been identified as a key measure to address increased housing delivery and methods to support increased use of MMC are set out in Pathway 5 of Housing for All. The development of MMC will improve productivity in construction and increase efficiency in residential construction.
The Housing for All Action Plan Update and Quarter 3 2022 Progress Report, which was published on 2 November, includes a new action to develop a roadmap with targets for increased use of MMC in public housing. My Department is now working closely with the local authorities to increase the use of MMC in social and affordable housing.
Modern Methods of Construction is used to describe a range of offsite manufacturing and innovative onsite techniques that provide alternatives to traditional house building. Modern Methods of Construction can be completed dwelling units manufactured in a factory setting and transported to site, or panelised components manufactured in a factory and assembled on site. All Modern Methods of Construction systems must be of a high quality, comply with all requirements of the Building Regulations and have a 60-year durability.
Funding of €94m was provided to local authorities to address legacy land debts in December 2022. The provision of this funding was linked to the immediate development of a housing proposal, a commitment to use MMC and construction to start in 2023 or no later than 2024.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and approved housing bodies in each local authority. This data is available to the end of Quarter 3 2022, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
Further details on Part V delivery by each local authority is also published on my Department's website. This provides details on Part V delivery by each local authority and approved housing body delivery in each local authority area. This is available at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/fd048-affordable-housing-and-part-v-statistics/
My Department also publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 3 2022. All Construction Status Reports are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/
The oversight and practical management of housing waiting lists, including the allocation and transfer of tenancies, is a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and associated regulations.
Section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 requires all local authorities, as a reserved function, to make an allocation scheme determining the order of priority to be accorded in the allocation of dwellings to households qualified for social housing support and to households approved for a transfer, the allocation of which would, in the opinion of the authority, meet the accommodation needs and requirements of the households.
It is the local authority which assesses housing applicants, taking into account factors such as the condition and affordability of existing accommodation, medical and compassionate grounds, etc. The authority then prioritises the needs of approved applicants in accordance with its allocation scheme.
