Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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8. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of social housing units that will be completed in Galway city in 2017 and in each of the next five years; the locations in which this construction will take place; the expected number of social housing units coming into the ownership of the city council in 2017 and in each of the next five years under the Urban Regeneration and Housing Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24802/17]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I checked with someone on the social housing waiting list in Galway before I came to the Chamber. That person went on the waiting list in 2002. That is more than 15 years ago. During that period, the person in question has never once been offered a home by either the local authority or an approved housing body. My question is very specific: in light of that extraordinary list, what direct builds will proceed on Galway City Council land this year and in each of the next five years?

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The question I was asked is different to the one I am being asked now. I will give the answer I have and try to address the other matter raised as well.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I am asking specifically how many will be built.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I thought that the question related to Part V. I will answer and then I will give the information that I have.

My Department recently published an updated status report on social housing construction projects, containing details of all approved social housing construction projects, including in the Galway City Council area. It outlines locations and details for ten projects in Galway city, delivering 134 new social homes. The council has also recently submitted further social housing proposals, including construction projects by the council and the approved housing bodies, AHBs. These are being actively assessed and when approved will be added to the status report.

The exact timing for the advancement of each of these projects will be a matter for the council. However, I have been clear with the council that funding is available to support early delivery. I was in Galway recently to meet members of the council and I made it very clear that we want these projects to move much quicker and that we also want the number of projects to increase.

In addition to the projects listed in the status report, 73 new social homes are planned for Ballyburke. These were included in the second bundle of the social housing public private partnership programme. Also in addition to the projects listed in the status report are new social homes that have been acquired either through purchase or long-term lease directly by the council or in conjunction with AHBs from various sources, including NAMA and directly from property owners.

The development of new social homes under Part V arrangements will be dependent on the advancement of new construction projects in the private sector. While it is not possible to identify the precise numbers that will be delivered at this stage, I have assured all local authorities that funding will be made available to secure these units and my Department is in ongoing contact with the local authorities in this regard. I understand that Galway City Council anticipates an escalation to between 30 and 40 Part V units per annum from 2018 onwards depending on the level of construction of developments of ten or more units taking place.

Following my conversation with both local authorities in Galway, the lack of planning applications coming forward for both private and social housing is of major concern. They have now fully engaged with us on the Ireland 2040 process to see if we can increase the figures. We have also asked them to work with our Department to see if we can activate more sites in Galway. I am very concerned at the lack of construction activity in Galway. The councillors I met that day share the same concern. The Department is open to working with the councillors on that. We told them that the funding is there and that there will be no delay on our side.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I am not clear. I welcome that the Minister of State is concerned and that he is saying that houses will be built. I am asking a very specific question, which I asked in the written form. How many city council houses will be completed this year and in each of the next five years? The most recent figure we got for the waiting list was 4,720 households going back to 2002. At a conservative estimate, this means that approximately 15,000 people are waiting for homes. Significantly, in the recent report the council has refused to give the data. I presume the position has worsened. In addition, there are 29 homeless families in Galway city who are being put up in bed and breakfast accommodation, hotels or other accommodation. It is really at breaking point. My question is very specific. How many houses will be built by the city council this year? I understood that it was 14. Will those 14 alone be completed or are there more? How many will be completed in the next five years?

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I am not being awkward with Deputy Connolly. I understood her question to specifically relate to Part V housing. She referred to the Urban Regeneration and Housing Acts. I apologise that I do not have the exact figures the Deputy has requested but I have answered the question she asked.

On other social housing, on the construction front Galway City Council currently have two local authority construction projects in the pipeline to deliver 69 units at a cost of some €16.3 million. There are two phases of one overall development at Ballymoneen Road and these are currently under construction. The other 55 units are at the design stage and will hopefully go on site at the end of this year or in early 2018. There are eight other AHB projects in the pipeline in Galway city. Two of these, involving 18 units, have now been completed. The remaining six, involving 47 units, are at various stages of development. On phase two of the Ballymoneen Road scheme which I referred to earlier there will be at least 55 units. A design team will soon be put in place to ensure that we get the maximum use of that site as well. There are other possibilities there as well.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The question is very clear. I asked the Minister of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of social housing units that will be completed in 2017 and in each of the five years thereafter. I then go on to ask for further information. At this point, we are looking at 14 houses this year, with a bit of luck, in a city which has 15,000 people on a waiting list. The only game in town in Galway is the housing assistance payment, HAP, which is putting money into the hands of the landlords. This is notwithstanding the fact that Galway has been designated a rent pressure zone and that those payments are therefore limited. One cannot rent a house in Galway for love nor money. We have the most serious homeless crisis. The figures from the Department are directly at odds with what the city council are reporting. There were 185 homeless individuals in March, and the figure from the council is 21 families.

The Department does not have a clear idea of how many are homeless or what land is zoned as residential. It cannot possibly plan for a crisis if it does not have the right figures.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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We are not trying to be awkward, as I am sure the Deputy understands. The end of her question read "under the Urban Regeneration and Housing Acts."

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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That was additional.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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It did not appear to be additional in the question we had. We answered that question. I have no problem getting all the information the Deputy wants. The question we had, which we answered, was in respect of Part V. It is a demand-led scheme and we could not give exact figures for it. If it is of help to the Deputy, I can tell her what projects are due for delivery in 2017 with approved housing bodies. Túath has two projects: 12 units at Reilean at Roscam, and another six at Maoilin, Ballymoneen Road. Co-operative Housing Ireland, which I met recently, has delivered 23 units that are being tenanted at the moment. Clúid has acquired 39 units which are being tenanted at the moment as well. There are also two more with Clúid.

I am not happy with what Galway is bringing forward across the board in social housing. The Department is not happy and neither are the authorities in Galway. That is why we met them. We have asked them to increase activity across all the schemes, even when it comes to using vacant properties. There is a new scheme which we went through in detail with them. We have encouraged them to acquire more houses so they can get value for money as well. They have land. We have asked them to activate their sites. They brought forward one project under local infrastructure housing activation fund, LIHAF, funding. It did not pass the test as it was not going to deliver enough units. They have other options and we have told them that the Department will engage with them fully to bring forward housing.