Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 65: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will fast track the implementation of the commitments in Towards 2016 to reform social housing including adequate funding to cover capital, maintenance and management costs for community and voluntary organisations that are providing social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35491/07]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department, in conjunction with the housing forum and related groups, has been active in progressing the social housing reform programme outlined in Towards 2016 and elaborated upon in the Government's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, published in February 2007. Work is well under way on the drafting of a new housing Bill to underpin the reform process. The housing forum has been consulted on developments in a number of areas, including the proposed approach to a new means of assessing housing need and housing allocation policy, both of which will be central to the transformation of housing services over the medium term. Good progress is being made also on delivery of social housing programmes with indications that there will be some 9,000 new social housing starts in 2007, which is absolutely in line with the commitment in Towards 2016 to achieve 27,000 starts in the period 2007 to 2009. Output by the voluntary and co-operative housing sector is expected to reach record levels in 2007.

In line with commitments in Towards 2016, funding levels under the capital assistance scheme were increased to 100% of project cost earlier this year where all tenants are drawn from the local authority social housing list. In addition, new streamlined arrangements for the assessment and approval of schemes will be introduced early next year with the objective of speeding up the delivery of projects on the ground. Record levels of funding in 2008, when more than €2.5 billion will be available for housing programmes, are also in line with the commitments to housing in Towards 2016 and the national development plan and will enable local authorities to achieve the ambitious targets set for next year.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. As he will be aware, delivering increased social housing will prevent and alleviate homelessness. The National Economic and Social Council estimated 73,000 units would be needed between 2005 and 2012. However, the Government has failed to meet its target under the national development plan to provide 9,000 social housing units annually. The number of units delivered over the past two calendar years did not exceed 5,000, as Deputy Hogan stated. A shortfall of 13,000 units, therefore, has arisen between the Minister of State's commitment and delivery, which is not good enough.

Even the commitment made by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in the social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, to provide an additional 23,000 social rented dwellings over the next three years will fall well short of what is needed. Most social housing tenants pay relatively low rents and, therefore, rental income does not meet management maintenance costs. The Government needs to provide other adequate funding to cover maintenance and other essential costs. Given the lull in the housing market and the glut of apartments on the market, especially in my own constituency of Dublin North-East, what measures will the Minister of State take in conjunction with developers to ensure people who have been on local authority waiting lists for years are looked after? What new initiatives will he undertake?

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

This is a good news story. We set out to deliver 27,000 units between 2007 and 2009. This year we will deliver 9,000 units, which is on target. Record funding of €1.7 billion will be provided in 2008, which is a 16% increase on last year. Local authorities will deliver 6,500 social housing units and in the first nine months of the year, they delivered almost 4,500. The voluntary and co-operative sector was due to deliver 2,000 units and it has delivered in excess of 1,500 already, while RAS, which was due to deliver 500 units, has delivered 796. As a result, output has increased by 66% compared to the first nine months of 2006, which is a record achievement. More than 11,000 social housing units will be under construction at the end of 2007. This programme will continue in 2008. Local authorities will provide 6,600 units while the voluntary and co-operative sector will provide 2,000. We will continue the implementation of RAS and I have also asked the affordable homes partnership to lease 1,000 accommodation units in the Dublin area under the scheme over a three-year period to meet the need outlined by the Deputy.