Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Social housing is a key priority for Government, as evidenced by the increased provision made for the area in Budget 2015. The overall social housing funding provision for 2015 has been increased by in excess of €200 million, with capital funding increasing by €180 million, which will allow for significant expansion in social housing provision. The Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Reformbuilds 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 Strategy provides for a total targeted provision of over 110,000 social housing units, through the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units and aims to meet the housing needs of some 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme, consequently addressing the needs of the 90,000 households on the housing waiting list in full, with flexibility to meet potential future demand.

In committing to provide 35,000 new social housing units, at a projected cost of €3.8 billion, the Strategy marks a fresh start for social housing in Ireland. Action 1 of the Strategy requires the agreement of targets for delivery of social housing for 2015 and subsequent years. These specific targets will be agreed through the Strategy’s governance structure, which is currently being put in place, in collaboration with local authorities and with input from the approved housing body sector. I expect that, nationally, some 7,400 new social housing units will be provided under a range of initiatives for 2015.

Local authorities are responsible for the detailed planning of social housing provision based on the needs of their areas. Accordingly, it is a matter for Meath County Council to set its target and plan for its delivery through, for example, local authority/approved housing body social housing developments, built, acquired, leased, etc. My Department is working with Meath County Council and all other local authorities within the context of the increased funding now available to support them and provide appropriate funding to address their housing need locally and to meet the Social Housing Strategy targets for 2015 and beyond.

As regards the issue of Homelessness, on 20 May 2014, the Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessnesswas published in which 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:



In addition, on 4 December 2014, my Department hosted a special Summit on Homelessness to reaffirm the Government's commitment to end involuntary long-term homelessness. The Summit was attended by Oireachtas members, elected members and officials from the four Dublin Local Authorities, representatives from Government Departments, State Agencies and the NGO sector, and the Catholic and Church of Ireland Archbishops of Dublin.

A number of actions arising from the Summit were considered at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform on 8 December and were then formalised into an Action Plan to Address Homelessnesswhich was noted by the Government at its meeting on 9 December 2014. A copy of this Plan is also available on my Department's website at the link provided above.