Written answers

Thursday, 8 July 2010

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Housing Policy

10:00 pm

Photo of Terence FlanaganTerence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 510: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the priorities in the area of housing for the remainder of this Government's term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31154/10]

Photo of Michael FinneranMichael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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In overall terms the significant transformation of housing programmes underway will continue as the major priority in the medium term, with the shift away from new build projects towards more flexible forms of housing provision such as leasing. As part of this process, available capital funding will be increasingly targeted at regeneration, special needs housing and improving the environmental performance of the housing stock.

Specifically, a number of key policy objectives will be pursued: · The expansion of delivery through leasing and Rental Accommodation Scheme programmes; · Continuing progress towards the achievement of the Government's objectives in relation to homelessness as set out under the strategy on homelessness, The Way Home; · The introduction of the supporting secondary legislation required to give effect to major policy reforms set out in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009; · The publication of new strategies in relation to Housing for People with a Disability and in relation to Sheltered Housing for Older People, and a progress report on Delivering Homes: Sustaining Communities; · The active implementation of phase 1 of the Limerick regeneration programme, and pursuit of other regeneration initiatives; · The introduction of a new lending facility to enable the Housing Finance Agency lend directly to approved housing bodies; · Delivery of a number of key measures to improve the energy performance of the housing stock, including proposals for a 60% improvement in energy efficiency requirements for new dwellings, development of a draft Framework Strategy towards achieving a Carbon Neutral Standard for Dwellings in 2013 and a 10 year strategy for retrofitting the social housing stock; · Development of a new house price database, in line with the commitment set out in the renewed Programme for Government; and, · Preparation of a General Scheme of a Bill to reform Residential Tenancies Acts, particularly in relation to the operation of the Private Residential Tenancies Board.

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