Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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350. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he has considered low cost solutions for social housing units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26605/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Government is committed to responding more quickly and on a larger scale to social housing needs through a variety of mechanisms. In terms of the delivery of social housing, the main focus in terms of supports provided by Government will be on meeting the most acute needs – the housing support needs of those unable to provide for their accommodation from their own resources. Under Action 8 of the Government’s Construction 2020strategy, a Social Housing Strategy is to be published by Q3 2014. To assist in the development of this Strategy the Housing Agency has invited submissions by 31 July 2014. This invitation for submissions is available at the following weblink:

I am determined to ensure that the Strategy 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 financial parameters within which we continue to operate will not facilitate a return to large-scale capital funded construction programmes.

As a result of the economic downturn there has been an associated significant decline in construction activity. As the extent of social housing gain from Part V of the Planning and Development Acts is directly related to private housing construction, the current situation is that Part V is delivering little in terms of social housing. Action 9 of Construction 2020provides that a review of Part V will be completed by the end of Q2 2014. I am committed to the principle of a social housing gain from private development but to maximise that gain we need a properly functioning and sustainable construction sector. I believe that the Part V mechanism has the potential to again be a significant contributor to social housing in the context of a recovering housing market.

It is anticipated that any legislative changes required on foot of the review will be incorporated into the General Scheme of a Planning Bill, which is currently in preparation.