Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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5. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the number of households on social housing waiting lists by county; his plans for the construction of social houses to provide for this waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34562/14]

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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There is widespread agreement that we have a full-blown social housing crisis in this country. In my county of Tipperary there are 2,546 families on the local authority housing waiting list while the national figure is huge. This Government and the previous Fianna Fáil and Green Party Government have depended on privatisation and the market to deal with the issue and this policy has been an abject failure. Will the Minister commence an emergency social house building programme through the local authorities and approved housing bodies in order to build 10,000 houses per annum, as recommended by many national housing advocacy groups?

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I thank the Deputy for his question which deals with a very important matter. I am well aware of the issues in Tipperary.

The statutory summary of social housing assessments in 2013 showed 89,872 households on local authority waiting lists as at 7 May 2013, representing a decrease of 9% on the previous summary of 2011. It is the most up-to-date figure available on waiting list numbers which are subject to ongoing fluctuation due to households being allocated housing and new households applying for housing support in the intervening period. The results of the 2013 summary, including breakdowns by each local authority across a range of categories, are available on my Department’s website if the Deputy wishes to access that information.

On the question of providing social housing for those on the waiting lists, a new social housing strategy is currently in preparation with the intention that it will be considered by the Government in the coming weeks.

The strategy will contain clear, measurable actions aimed at increasing the supply of social housing and they will be based on innovative solutions that will harness new funding streams in order that we might continue to protect the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society. In the meantime, my Department is continuing to oversee the provision of social housing - through local authorities and other providers - for people on housing waiting lists and homeless persons. Overall, I expect some 6,000 social housing units to be delivered across the range of programmes in the calendar year 2014.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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The figures provided by the Minister are truly horrendous and confirm the views expressed by many advocacy groups such as the Irish Council for Social Housing, Focus Ireland, Threshold, Barnardos and Social Justice Ireland, as well as Uachtarán na hÉireann, Michael D. Higgins, to the effect that there is a social housing crisis. The President addressed this matter on two occasions during the past fortnight and is on record as stating, "One of the most basic deprivations a human being can suffer, or fear, is that of being homeless," that "people who need housing and cannot provide from their own means should not be abandoned to the marketplace" and that "You can't leave the provision of housing to a residual feature of the marketplace. We have done that and homelessness is a consequence of that." What we need to do now - I hope the Minister will provide further figures in this regard - is to ensure local authorities and approved bodies build houses for those who cannot provide for them from their own means.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I concur with what the Deputy stated in his initial contribution about previous strategies. Previous Administrations effectively stopped building social housing. That was wrong. This matter must and will be addressed. We are going to recommence building social housing and will provide a significant number of units. I have been challenged - for the remainder of the Government's term of office - with ensuring the conditions necessary to facilitate this will be created. As stated, 6,000 units are due to be delivered by the end of the year. A few months ago the Government issued a restatement of its priorities and if he consults it, the Deputy will note that housing is one of our top priorities. We will deliver on our promises in this regard. The social housing strategy will be published in the coming weeks and, as part of it, we will use every avenue possible in order to ensure the level of social housing provision will be increased. We will also use every funding mechanism at our disposal in the interests of ensuring we will have the capital necessary to allow us to provide housing units.

There is an urgent issue with regard to housing in Dublin and other urban centres. The demographics for those who require social housing have changed dramatically. Over 70% of those included are single people, single people with one or two children, etc. We must address that matter in the context of the houses we build and where we build them.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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The most important action the Minister and the Government can take is to oversee the construction of social housing by local authorities and approved housing bodies. The President has stated there is a need for a "huge increase in public rental accommodation." The Irish Council for Social Housing is on record as stating, "The over-reliance on the private market to meet social housing demand is unsustainable and ultimately unpredictable." What we need to know now is whether the Government is going to commence, via local authorities, a social housing construction programme and whether it will commit to providing the 10,000 houses the housing advocacy bodies state are required each year in order to address the crisis.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The right mix will be arrived at in the context of the provision of social housing into the future. The construction of houses will be a component in this regard. The strategy for social housing will be announced in the coming weeks. A major factor in this regard will be the contribution local authorities will make in providing houses. I have spent the past few months working with the housing departments of the various local authorities and speaking to every county manager in order to see to it that there will be no time lag in ensuring whatever land they have available will be made ready - where fit - for use in the provision of social housing.

All steps are being taken in this regard. The issue of finance will be dealt with as part of the social housing programme to be announced. Obviously, there will be budgetary considerations as part of the budgetary and Estimates process subsequent to that. Social housing is a complete priority for this Government and the social housing strategy will address that.