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

We agree that we face unprecedented challenges regarding the supply of social housing. That has been the issue. Governments of different parties before the recession decided to withdraw local authorities from delivering housing and we are trying to put that capacity back into the system. We are asking local authorities, councillors such as those mentioned by the Deputy and the staff who are involved in this to get back into house building directly, as well as into greater provision of housing. They are taking on that challenge. That has meant increasing budgets and staff and we are doing that. It has taken the last 12 to 18 months to build capacity into the system but the Deputy will see far more delivery coming on stream in direct build, acquisition and voids being brought back into the system. It is important to do that.

The Deputy is correct to thank local authority members and their staff, but I ask them to do even more and to approach this in an urgent way. We are making the money available and there will be increased resources next year as well. The total national funding provision is €1.9 billion for housing next year, an increase of over 46% on 2017. It will allow us to meet the social housing needs of 25,500 households. A large element of that is for the delivery of almost 5,900 social houses - 5,000 through a range of construction and 900 through acquisition programmes. We will need local authorities to be able to fast-track more and to increase the pipeline of projects. That will require the co-operation of local authorities members to use all the powers they have, but that must happen.

I read Sinn Féin's alternative budget as well as its submission to the review of Rebuilding Ireland and its constant discussion of the magic figure of 50,000. We are on the same page with regard to the number of houses we wish to deliver. However, the Government recognises that it takes time to get the supply ramped up. I believe Sinn Féin understands that now as well. We must push it forward as quickly as we can, so I agree with the Deputy.

Unfortunately, County Cork appears to have experienced a moderate increase in its waiting list. However, we are confident that this position will change. Indeed, the level of investment in the county at present should see that change take place quite quickly. We will allocate increased resources if needed. I will give the Deputy the current figures. The construction projects planned at present will deliver approximately 262 units over the next two years with an approximate cost of €60 million. In addition, turnkey projects should deliver 350 social houses at a cost of €75 million. There are also significant acquisitions being funding by the Department through the local county council, along with an increase in HAP and voids. We wish to see more in the pipeline, as that will not be enough to solve Cork's problems. We are asking all local authorities to increase the pipeline of projects over the years ahead. The resources are available. Taxpayers' money has been allocated to this, so we must make it happen as quickly as possible.

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