Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

That area is very much at the top of the Government's agenda. We have fundamentally redirected policy in this area, for which I am responsible, in developing a sustainable housing policy, which, first and foremost, recognises the mistakes that were made in the past. Our housing policy statement published in June 2011 emphasises choice, equity across housing tenures and delivering quality outcomes for the resources invested. Equity across housing tenures includes the rented sector Deputy Ó Snodaigh mentioned and the various measures we have taken to ensure better quality.

The financial parameters in which we will be operating for the coming years rule out a return to very large capital-funded construction programmes by local authorities at least in the near future. As such, there is no single solution to increasing the level of social housing supply and flexible and diverse approaches are required. These approaches include a continued focus on the social housing leasing initiative and other flexible funding models that deliver social housing solutions in the here and now. While Opposition Members may not like leasing it means we can deliver now many more houses to people on housing lists than we could by any other method. It does not mean it has to be the method forever, but for the moment it is a method that delivers. The approaches also include further transfers of tenants from rent supplement to the rental accommodation scheme, which is important; working with a range of public, private, voluntary and co-operative housing bodies on innovative approaches to provision of social housing; gaining a dividend for social housing where possible from vacant and unfinished properties and from the overhang in the property market; and obtaining a social dividend from NAMA - I accept that has been very slow but it will certainly speed up this year.

The Government is also committed to developing other funding mechanisms that will increase the supply of permanent new social housing. Such mechanisms will include options to purchase, build to lease, the sourcing of loan finance by approved housing bodies for construction and acquisition. I am open to any reasonable suggestions from both sides of the House.

Regeneration is by no means dead. While there are problems in some of the Dublin regeneration sites, regeneration is certainly continuing in certain parts of the country. I am also working on stimulus and a targeted programme to improve the energy efficiency of existing local authority housing stock could be a real win-win in terms of protecting the State's investment over decades and creating real employment activity as well as improving people's lives. We are working at refurbishing and retrofitting works which are labour-intensive and will improve the social housing stock.

In 2012 my Department invested approximately €150 million in improving the existing social-housing stock with €100 million invested in the physical and social regeneration of large estates and flat complexes in disadvantaged communities in seven cities and towns around the country. We have spent approximately €52 million over two years on enhancing the energy-efficiency standards of local authority housing. However, much more could be done and I am engaging with my Cabinet colleagues to put together a package of measures to extend the benefits of energy-retrofitting measures.

In working to meet housing needs, I wish to refer in particular to something mentioned in the motion - the accommodation needs of Travellers, a section of our society which experiences particular problems, and as we have sadly witnessed in recent weeks downright discrimination and racism regarding social exclusion and disadvantages. I emphasise the State's commitment in this area which has been backed up by a spend of over €190 million on Traveller-specific accommodation since 2005. We are continuing to protect funding in that regard. Deputies will appreciate that in addition to Traveller-specific accommodation, the vast majority of Travellers are also accommodated in standard social housing which is funded by my Department's local authority housing programme. The 2011 annual count of Traveller families identified only 3.4% of families were living on unauthorised sites in 2011 - it was a much larger figure in the recent past.

Providing a sustainable framework for future housing policy is a priority for me as Minister of State. That will not be achieved by pie-in-the-sky economics or by ignoring the damage previous administrations inflicted. It will be achieved by working in partnership with many sectors to deliver homes for people, not profits for speculators. I will work with Deputies from all sides of this House to achieve that goal.

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