Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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532. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to set out the progress of the recommendations contained in the construction strategy launched earlier this year, particularly on account of the housing challenges facing some parts of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44366/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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In May 2014,the Government published Construction 2020 – a Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector.Following publication, a Construction Sector Group was established to support implementation of the Strategy. The Group is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach, and includes Secretaries General and key officials from the Department of Finance; Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government; Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation; and the Department of Social Protection. To drive the implementation of the Strategy, in July, the Minister of State at my Department, Paudie Coffey, TD, was given special responsibility for coordination of the Construction 2020 Strategy. The Government has also established a Cabinet Committee on Construction 2020, Housing, Planning and Mortgage Arrears to ensure that focus is maintained at the highest levels of Government.

I am fully aware of the many challenges facing both the private and public housing sectors. My Department is the lead Department for a range of the Construction 2020 actions in the areas of housing and planning. Action 8 of Construction 2020, the preparation of a Social Housing Strategy, is of key importance. This Strategy, which is very close to finalisation, will contain clear measurable and innovative actions that are to be taken to increase the supply of social housing and, most importantly, reduce the number of people on waiting lists. In addition, a range of actions under Construction 2020 are to be progressed through two Planning and Development Bills, in respect of which Heads have recently been approved by Government.

I and Minister of State Coffey are fully committed to delivering on the Social Housing Strategy, and indeed all other Construction 2020 actions within our area of responsibility.