Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thought that the question related to Part V. I will answer and then I will give the information that I have.

My Department recently published an updated status report on social housing construction projects, containing details of all approved social housing construction projects, including in the Galway City Council area. It outlines locations and details for ten projects in Galway city, delivering 134 new social homes. The council has also recently submitted further social housing proposals, including construction projects by the council and the approved housing bodies, AHBs. These are being actively assessed and when approved will be added to the status report.

The exact timing for the advancement of each of these projects will be a matter for the council. However, I have been clear with the council that funding is available to support early delivery. I was in Galway recently to meet members of the council and I made it very clear that we want these projects to move much quicker and that we also want the number of projects to increase.

In addition to the projects listed in the status report, 73 new social homes are planned for Ballyburke. These were included in the second bundle of the social housing public private partnership programme. Also in addition to the projects listed in the status report are new social homes that have been acquired either through purchase or long-term lease directly by the council or in conjunction with AHBs from various sources, including NAMA and directly from property owners.

The development of new social homes under Part V arrangements will be dependent on the advancement of new construction projects in the private sector. While it is not possible to identify the precise numbers that will be delivered at this stage, I have assured all local authorities that funding will be made available to secure these units and my Department is in ongoing contact with the local authorities in this regard. I understand that Galway City Council anticipates an escalation to between 30 and 40 Part V units per annum from 2018 onwards depending on the level of construction of developments of ten or more units taking place.

Following my conversation with both local authorities in Galway, the lack of planning applications coming forward for both private and social housing is of major concern. They have now fully engaged with us on the Ireland 2040 process to see if we can increase the figures. We have also asked them to work with our Department to see if we can activate more sites in Galway. I am very concerned at the lack of construction activity in Galway. The councillors I met that day share the same concern. The Department is open to working with the councillors on that. We told them that the funding is there and that there will be no delay on our side.

See this speech in context