Brian Walsh (Galway West, Independent)
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845. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views that it is realistic to set a target of constructing 18,000 new social-housing units before 2017, in view of planning and procurement requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11081/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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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 Social Housing Strategy 2020 targets the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units over the period to 2020.

Up to the end of 2017 the Strategy targets the delivery of almost 7,500 new social housing units via capital construction and acquisition programmes including new build or the acquisition of built properties by local authorities and approved housing bodies; this also includes work to return vacant local authority houses to productive use.

Given their solid track record with delivery of new social housing units, I am confident that local authorities have the capacity to progress construction projects through the various stages of planning and design to ensure that the targets as set out in the Strategy are delivered. They will be working co-operatively with Approved Housing Bodies who will also be enabled to deliver units through capital funding under the Strategy.

Each local authority has responsibility for identifying their area's social housing need and responding as required, including planning and undertaking new social housing developments and working with Approved Housing Bodies to meet this need. The precise details of the 2015 delivery will be agreed on a local authority by local authority basis in the coming weeks.