Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Housing for All is a clear priority for Government and we are committed to delivering on the targets across all pathways of the plan. The delivery of social and affordable homes is central to the plan and is expected to comprise approximately half of housing delivery over the next decade. The provision of individual local authority targets and the development of housing delivery action plans, addressing delivery over the next five years, has introduced a more strategic approach to housing delivery. Local authorities are working closely with their approved housing body delivery partners and the Land Development Agency to develop the pipelines to ensure that we meet these targets, which will in turn reduce reliance on the HAP scheme.

The increase up to 1,500 social housing acquisitions will allow local authorities to focus on properties where a tenant in receipt of social housing supports has received a notice of termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. Local authorities have delegated sanction to deliver the 1,300 additional acquisitions, subject to the acquisition cost guidelines, and the approval granted for 250 additional local authority posts will support local authorities to acquire suitable properties. The Department has worked closely with the County and City Management Association, CCMA, to prioritise this initiative with a focus on prevention of homelessness and will continue to work closely with local authorities, the CCMA and all the key stakeholders to ensure the success of this programme.

I will make the Minister aware of the issues the Deputy has raised. I am well aware of them myself in Limerick, as the Deputy knows, because the same local authority covers his constituency and my constituency. As I have asked Limerick City and County Council the question, I know that last year it acquired fewer than 40 properties under the tenantin situscheme. In the past two weeks, however, I and my constituency office have referred eight cases for acquisition through the tenant in situscheme and I know that in the majority of those eight cases, the landlords have already been contacted to say they are being viewed as part of that scheme. I fully appreciate the issues the Deputy has raised but the scheme is there and is being beefed up. I am sure it will act as a very positive measure.

See this speech in context