Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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22. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he has explored, in the interest of addressing the large housing waiting list, the possibility of purchasing some properties for social housing areas where demand and the drop in property prices suit same. [20492/13]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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34. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which in the course of a review of the full extent of the local authority housing need arising from failure of his predecessors to make adequate provision in this regard, any plans have been put in place, to reintroduce a capital housing programme with particular reference to addressing the housing crisis affecting those who traditionally relied on local authority housing as a first step in meeting their housing needs; if he will indicate by reference the total numbers on the various local authority housing waiting lists; his plans, if any, to address this need as a matter of urgency and thereby reduce the ongoing annual rent support costs in lieu of local authority housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20416/13]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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60. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to deal with families who are in need of social housing in view of the fact that they are unable to fund suitable and affordable accommodation through rent supplement particularly due to a refusal by landlords to take rent supplement. [20486/13]

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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171. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the proposals in place for increased provision of social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20680/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 34, 60 and 171 together.

The Government's housing policy statement, published in June 2011, clearly identifies that the priority for Government will be to meet the most acute needs of households applying for social housing support. I am determined to ensure that the social housing programme optimises the delivery of social housing and the return for the resources invested. To achieve this, it is essential that we tailor the use of available Exchequer supports to prevailing conditions and explore the full range of solutions to address housing needs.

The social housing capital budget has been reduced from €1.535 billion in 2008 to €287m in 2013, and the financial parameters within which we will be operating for the coming years rule out a return to large capital funded construction programmes. The Government is committed to responding more quickly and on a larger scale to social housing support needs through a variety of mechanisms, including through increased provision of social housing. In July 2012, I announced details of a three-year funding programme of €100 million to deliver some 800 new units of voluntary and local authority owned social housing. I am monitoring expenditure under my Department’s housing programme for 2013 together with the level of contractual commitments extending into 2014, with a view to a decision later this year on approving some limited new construction and house purchases over the period to end 2014.

In spite of the challenging circumstances within which local authorities must operate, the final outcome for 2012 is expected to be in the region of 4,000 to 4,500 housing units. Given the current volatility of the market and different challenges to the channels of supply it is difficult to estimate the likely output of new units for social housing this year. However, it is provisionally estimated that in the region of 5,000 units will be provided for social housing in 2013.

Delivery of social housing will be significantly facilitated through more flexible funding models such as the Rental Accommodation Scheme and leasing but the Government is also committed to developing other funding mechanisms that will increase the supply of permanent new social housing. Such mechanisms will include options to purchase, build to lease and the sourcing of loan finance by approved housing bodies for construction and acquisition. There is also obvious potential, across a range of housing programmes, for the Government’s objective of sourcing and providing suitable residential units for use as social housing to be aligned with the commercial objectives of the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA). My Department and the Housing Agency are engaged with NAMA to ensure delivery of housing units for social purposes.

Regarding the issues surrounding the refusal by some landlords to accept rent supplement, it should be noted that while the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants in the private residential rented sector it does not refer to rent supplement. The Equal Status Acts 2000 – 2004, which come under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality, provide protection against direct and indirect discrimination outside of employment on a range of grounds. However, being in receipt of rent supplement is not among these grounds.