John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have had the opportunity on many occasions. I must confess I was not aware that the population in the greater Finglas area is 32,000. It is a significant population centre and we need to provide additional facilities for it. Following the closure of the Church of the Annunciation in Finglas last October, Dublin City Council acquired land on two adjacent but separate sites from the archdiocese at that location. The council is now working to develop this land. I understand that the smaller site at the rear of the church will be developed for social housing and that plans are at an early stage, as the Deputy indicated, to develop 45 homes for older people on that part of the site. The initial feasibility study is currently under way and it is hoped that the study will be completed shortly.

It is a matter for the council to advance this housing project and the Department will consider its proposal on receipt of a formal capital appraisal and will assess the proposal speedily. The Department is eager to support proposals such as the one we are discussing in Finglas. Next year, funding of more than €2.6 billion is being provided by the Government to support projects such as this. The Deputy referred to Fergal's Lane, which I presume is the artery to link the site known as Fergal's Field to the wider world. Fergal's Field will be used by the HSE for the construction of a primary care centre. The development of the centre is a matter for the HSE.

Under Rebuilding Ireland, the Government has committed more than €6 billion to meet social housing needs and to support more than 138,000 additional households throughout the country. That includes 83,760 housing assistance payment, HAP, homes, 3,800 rental accommodation scheme, RAS, homes and more than 50,000 new homes under build, acquisition and leasing. It is positive to see in the latest construction status report for quarter 2 of this year that 6,439 social homes are currently on site. The delivery of those homes along with the additional 8,387 homes in the pipeline will substantially aid the continued reduction in the number of households on social housing waiting lists. Those numbers continue to decline, with a 5% reduction of households on the waiting lists between 2018 and 2019, and a 26% reduction since 2016. This progress has been possible due to the strong delivery under Rebuilding Ireland with 84,147 homes being delivered under the programme since 2016.

See this speech in context