Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question which deals with a very important matter. I am well aware of the issues in Tipperary.

The statutory summary of social housing assessments in 2013 showed 89,872 households on local authority waiting lists as at 7 May 2013, representing a decrease of 9% on the previous summary of 2011. It is the most up-to-date figure available on waiting list numbers which are subject to ongoing fluctuation due to households being allocated housing and new households applying for housing support in the intervening period. The results of the 2013 summary, including breakdowns by each local authority across a range of categories, are available on my Department’s website if the Deputy wishes to access that information.

On the question of providing social housing for those on the waiting lists, a new social housing strategy is currently in preparation with the intention that it will be considered by the Government in the coming weeks.

The strategy will contain clear, measurable actions aimed at increasing the supply of social housing and they will be based on innovative solutions that will harness new funding streams in order that we might continue to protect the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society. In the meantime, my Department is continuing to oversee the provision of social housing - through local authorities and other providers - for people on housing waiting lists and homeless persons. Overall, I expect some 6,000 social housing units to be delivered across the range of programmes in the calendar year 2014.

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