Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

214. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the funding plans for social housing in County Meath in the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43541/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Social housing is a key priority for Government, as evidenced by the increased provisions made for the area in Budget 2015. The overall social housing funding provision for 2015 has been increased by excess of €200 million, with capital funding increasing by €180 million, which will allow for significant expansion in social housing provision. T he specific allocations to be provided in 2015 across all the various funding schemes and programmes will be published in the 2015 Revised Estimates Volume in December. That will include the breakdown of my Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme and at that point, my Department will be working with all local authorities , including Meath County Council, to agree individual allocations across all the social housing activities . Specific allocations for subsequent years will be part of the normal budgetary processes for those years.

More broadly, plans in relation to the future delivery of social housing are now being developed as part of a new Social Housing Strategy, which will be considered by Government shortly. The Strategy will contain clear, measurable actions to increase the supply of social housing, based on innovative solutions that will harness new funding streams, in order to continue to protect the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our society.

Pending the finalisation of social housing funding allocations for 2015 to all local authorities, they are continuing to work on projects announced in March of this year involving a local authority housing construction programme valued at €68 million nationally and delivering 449 new units of accommodation , and over €46 million allocated to Approved Housing Bodies to provide 416 units of accommodation nationally, for people with special housing needs. Funding to Meath County Council under these measures is a combined € 4.27 million , in respect of some 30 social housing units.