Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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43. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on introducing a comprehensive housing strategy that addresses the housing challenges that prevail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9107/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I am fully aware of the many challenges facing both the private and public housing sectors. Increasing housing supply is a critical issue and that is why, in May 2014, the Government published Construction 2020 - A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector. While the Strategy’s overarching objective is to put the construction sector as a whole on a sustainable footing, it sets out a strategic approach to the provision of housing, through the delivery of specific, time-bound actions. My Department is the lead Department for a range of actions, in the areas of housing and planning.

A key action delivered by my Department under Construction 2020, was the publication of the Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Reform in November 2014. Social housing is a key priority for the Government, as evidenced by the publication of the Strategy and the additional €2.2 billion in funding announced for social housing in Budget 2015.

The Social Housing Strategysets 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. Importantly, the Strategy restores the State to a central role in the provision of social housing.

The targeted social housing provision of over 110,000 social housing units, through the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units and meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme, will address the needs of the 90,000 households on the housing waiting list in full, with flexibility to meet potential future demand.