Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

246. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government with regard to the land aggregations scheme, it provides that a local authority, may transfer residential land, on which there are outstanding Housing Finance Agency loans due for redemption; in relation to Cork City Council, where this scheme is at, the land that has been transferred; the cost that has been incurred by Cork City Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51511/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Land Aggregation Scheme was introduced in 2010 as part of revised arrangements for the funding of land for social housing purposes.

Since the introduction of the scheme, an estimated total loan value of €162m has been approved into the Scheme in respect of 73 sites in nineteen local authority areas . The figure of €162m includes €111m in respect of loans which have been fully redeemed by local authorities with funding recouped from my Department, under the original terms of the Scheme. The remaining €51m is in the form of annuity loans with the Housing Finance Agency (HFA), for which local authorities are making repayments to the HFA, and may recoup these payments from my Department.

Cork City Council has applied to have some 7 sites and 9 associated loans included in the Land Aggregation Scheme. I understand the combined outstanding value of these loans is in the order of €37m.

My Department is engaged in a review of the Scheme, which will shortly conclude, and pending its completion is not in a position to progress applications.

Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

247. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will contact county councils requesting the following information in tabular form, numbers of their social housing stock; numbers on the housing list; and numbers of tenants in the rental accommodation scheme. [51605/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department publishes a wide range of housing statistics, including data on the social housing stock. The most recent data relate to 2012 and are available online at

My Department does not hold any current information on the number tenants on local authority waiting lists. This number fluctuates continuously as households are allocated housing and new households apply for housing support. I directed all local authorities to prepare a summary of social housing assessments carried out in their areas as at 7 May 2013. The results of this assessment are expected to be available in the near future and will detail the number of households on local authority waiting lists at that date. The last summary assessment carried out, at 31 March, 2011, found that there were 98,318, households in need of social housing support . The full results of this assessment are available on my Department’s website and the Housing Agency’s website .

It is not possible to give a specific breakdown by county of the number of units tenanted at any given time under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). Numbers in RAS constantly vary as contracts end, tenants move on to other properties, landlords withdraw from the scheme, new tenancies are allocated or vacancies in contracted units are filled. Figures in relation to RAS units are generally provided as the number of household transfers from Rent Supplement (RS) to RAS and other forms of social housing support. Data on the total number of households which have been transferred from RS to RAS and other social housing options since the scheme was initiated are available online at

Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

248. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of social housing units being planned, by county, in tabular form. [51606/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In addition to the funding levels set out in the Abridged Estimates for 2014 in respect of my Department’s social housing investment programme a further €30 million in additional investment has also been approved for the delivery of social housing next year. The combined funding will facilitate the construction of a substantial number of new homes in 2014. I intend to announce details shortly of an ambitious programme of new house construction for the 2014-2016 period. This will include new local authority and voluntary homes as well as new replacement homes in regeneration areas. My Department will be liaising with local authorities with a view to shortlisting projects for inclusion in the new construction programme. I will announce details of the projects to be progressed across all local authorities in due course.