Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question and wish to reiterate the Minister's comments, in that the provision of housing units is a high priority for the Government. Action No. 1 of Construction 2020: A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector provides for a national framework for housing supply to be established on a statutory footing, with an annual national statement of projected housing supply and demand to be published every June. The Housing Agency has been asked to take the lead in implementing this action.

The proper management of all State land is critical. Accordingly, lands that have been transferred to the Housing Agency and lands held by local authorities that are suitable for development will be the first sites considered in any future targeted social housing building programme. In line with the commitments under the Construction 2020 strategy, a housing supply co-ordination task force for Dublin has been established, with an immediate focus on addressing supply-related issues.

On 20 May, the implementation plan for the State's response to homelessness was published. In it, the Government's approach to delivery of its objective of ending involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016 was outlined. This plan sets out a range of measures to secure a ring-fenced supply of accommodation for homeless households within the next three years and to mobilise the necessary supports.

The social housing strategy referred to by the Minister, to be developed under Construction 2020, will provide the basis for an enhanced approach to social housing provision. It will contain clear, measurable actions to be taken to increase the supply of social housing and, most importantly, reduce the number of people on waiting lists over the next five years. I expect that the strategy will be ready for consideration by the Government in the coming weeks.

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