Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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499. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details on envisaged temporary solutions to assist persons in need of housing support while the new housing strategy is being rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40957/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The Social Housing Strategy 2020 , approved by Government and published last week, builds on the provisions contained in Budget 2015 and sets out clear, measurable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the housing list. The total targeted provision of over 110,000 social housing units will address the needs of the 90,000 on the housing waiting list in full , with flexibility to meet potential future demand. The strategy provides a clear governance structure, which as Minister I will personally oversee, to ensure delivery. Action 1 of the Strategy requires the agreement of targets for delivery of social housing next year and in subsequent years. These specific targets will be agreed through the governance structure, in collaboration with local authorities and with input from the approved housing body sector.

For 2015, I expect that some 7,400 new social housing units will be provided under the range of existing initiatives, with a further 8,400 households assisted through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). The specific funding to be provided next year across all the various housing programmes will shortly be published in the 2015 Revised Estimates Volume.

Pending the finalisation of allocations for 2015, local authorities are continuing to work on projects announced in 2014. These include 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. Local authorities are currently undertaking a programme of targeted acquisitions, which will see in the region of 240 units of accommodation being acquired to accommodate people on the social housing waiting list, with particular emphasis on providing accommodation for homeless persons, people with special needs and other priority cases as identified by the housing authorities.

My Department has also made available an investment of €30 million in 2014, through funding allocated under the stimulus package for the construction sector and allocations to refurbish vacant properties, which will result in some 1,960 vacant local authority owned units being returned to productive use.