Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 140: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total number of local authority houses currently under construction throughout the country; the extent to which this compares with other years; his intentions for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37975/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Information on the number of local authority houses currently under construction is not available in my Department. At any one time, it would be impossible to know how many dwellings are currently under construction, in preparation for construction or completed during a particular local authority project. Notwithstanding this, from figures compiled earlier this year, I expect that through housing authority construction and acquisitions programmes in 2011, some 900 new accommodation units will be provided to meet the social housing needs of households on housing authority waiting lists. The numbers of units provided through construction and acquisition by local authorities from 2006 to 2010 are given in the following table.

The Government's housing policy statement, launched in June 2011, provides the framework for legislative and policy initiatives covering a range of housing supports to those in need. In terms of the delivery of social housing, the policy statement clearly identifies that the main focus in terms of supports provided by Government will be on meeting the most acute needs.

With levels of capital funding for social housing reduced by some 66% since 2008, the financial parameters within which the State is operating, and will be operating over the coming years, rule out a return to a mainly capital-driven construction programme by local authorities. Accordingly, delivery of social housing will be primarily facilitated by more flexible funding models, with the Social Housing Leasing Initiative and the Rental Accommodation Scheme providing the primary sources of supply.