Written answers

Wednesday, 4 June 2014

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Photo of Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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110. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the way the Construction 2020 plan will contribute to the social housing needs; the way the plan will stimulate construction of social housing units in order to alleviate the housing crisis, particularly in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23829/14]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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On 14 May, 2014 the Government published Construction 2020 – A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector. The strategy contains 75 Actions in total and my Department, together with the Housing Agency, will be involved in the delivery of a significant number of these.

Under Action 8 of Construction 2020, a Social Housing Strategy is to be published by Q3 2014, setting out a vision for the sector and identifying specific measures to enhance the delivery of social housing. To assist in the development of the Social Housing Strategy, the Housing Agency has invited submissions from stakeholders and indeed members of the public.

It is clear that the present and foreseeable economic context in which we must address social housing need is such that innovative, and indeed challenging, solutions must be found which will harness new funding streams. While the local authorities will continue to have the lead role in addressing social housing need, in their capacity as statutory housing authorities, the growing role of the not-for-profit sector, as represented by the Approved Housing Bodies, and other potential investors must also be further developed. My intention is that the Strategy will be both challenging and innovative, and will provide the basis for an enhanced approach to social housing provision in Ireland. It with contain clear measurable actions that are to be taken to increase the supply of social housing and, most importantly, reduce the number of people on waiting lists over the next five years.

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