John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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556. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on whether increased rents are now the main cause of increased homelessness here; his views on whether the reduction in capital spending on social housing between 2007 to 2012, which is estimated to be in the region of 70%, is a driving force resulting in increased levels of homelessness; if the use of National Asset Management Agency-controlled properties as affordable accommodation could be considered, perhaps even as an interim measure; the portion of NAMA's housing stock that would be suitable for use as affordable accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40256/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The fundamental reason behind the rise in rents is a lack of housing supply.  Increasing both public and private housing supply is a critical issue and that is why, earlier this year, the Government published Construction 2020 - A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector. 2015 will see Government aggressively tackling the housing crisis with a major investment of €800 million for a range of housing initiatives, coupled with long-term committed funding of €2.2 billion, as announced in last week’s Budget. Over 7,500 new homes will be provided in 2015 under a range of housing programmes. A Social Housing Strategy, as committed to under Action 8 of Construction 2020, is currently being finalised and will provide the basis for an enhanced approach to social housing delivery and financing over the next five years. The Government is acutely aware of the issue of rising rents and the difficulties being experienced by households. The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PTRB) was asked by my predecessor to conduct a study to explore options to address the difficulties being experienced. That report, Rent Stability in the Private Rented Sector was submitted to me last month and is one of two reports commissioned by the PRTB, the second of which, Future of the Private Rented Sector, is currently being finalised. The options put forward in these reports will require careful consideration, together with stakeholders, before deciding on the best policies to address the current difficulties in the market.  The Government’s overriding objective in relation to rents is to achieve stability and sustainability in the market for the benefit of tenants, landlords and society as a whole.

With regard to homelessness, the Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessness was published in May and outlines the Government's approach to delivery on its objective of ending involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016 was outlined.  A copy of this plan is available on my Department's website at, .

The Plan sets out a range of measures to secure a ring-fenced supply of accommodation to house homeless households and mobilise the necessary supports by 2016. I am very pleased that the funding available in 2015 for homelessness accommodation and related services across the country has increased by over 20% to €55.5 million.  This funding will be used to achieve the Government’s objective outlined in the Implementation Plan.

My Department, the Housing Agency and NAMA will continue to work together with housing authorities and approved housing bodies to identify suitable NAMA housing units and bring them into social housing use. By the end of Q3 2014, 669 housing units have completed transfer with a further 257 units contracted with completion work on-going. This brings the overall total delivery of social housing from NAMA-sourced units to 926 units (completed or contracted) since the process began.