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, measureable 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 builds on the projected delivery for 2015 and commits to providing 35,000 new social housing units over the period to 2020, at a projected cost of €3.8 billion, marking a fresh start for social housing in Ireland. The strategy will be delivered in two phases. Phase 1 targets the delivery of 18,000 additional housing units and 32,400 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) units, by the end of 2017. In phase 2, spanning the years 2018 to 2020, the strategy targets the delivery of 17,000 additional units and 43,000 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) units.

The Government has already committed to increased Exchequer funding to underpin delivery during the strategy’s initial phase, through the €2.2 billion announced as part of Budget 2015. The provision of this funding will allow time for the work to be carried out to move towards more off-balance sheet funding, through the extension to the NAMA Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), a large scale Public Private Partnership (PPP) and the establishment of a ‘Strategic Housing Fund’.

The strategy provides a clear governance structure, which as Minister I will personally oversee, to ensure delivery of all actions. Action 6 in the Strategy relates to the establishment of a finance working group to progress, inter alia, off-balance sheet funding mechanisms. This working group, which will be established without delay , will be resourced with appropriate expertise in order to progress the establishment of the ‘Strategic Housing Fund’ and the Public Private Partnership, including the consideration of any legislative requirements that might arise.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The funding that is provided by my Department to local authorities for social housing on an ongoing basis supports both the development of new social housing units and the acquisition of units based on the priorities set by the local authority. It is a matter for each local authority, as the housing authority for its area, to identify the social housing need and to respond as required. Looking forward, Budget 2015 has seen the provision of capital funding for social housing increased by €180 million. This will see an acceleration of local authority direct development and acquisition, and of the provision of social housing units via approved housing bodies. My Department will be working with all local authorities, including Waterford City and County Council, regarding their priorities for social housing across their areas of responsibility in the short term and over the life of the new Social Housing Strategy 2020, which I published last week.