Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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562. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the way the allocation of funding for the social housing building programme was decided; the criteria applied; the reason there was such a difference in allocation between counties Tipperary and Wicklow, in view of the fact that both have similar populations; and if instructions have been issued to local authorities with respect to their building programmes and where building would take place. [18185/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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On 5 May, 2015 I announced a major social housing construction programme with €312 million investment nationally, covering all 31 local authorities, and with over 1,700 housing units to be built across some 100 separate projects. That announcement included projects for Tipperary covering 45 units at an estimated cost of €6.9 million and 50 units in Wicklow at an estimated cost of €8.2 million.

The announcement followed the submission by all local authorities of proposals for their planned delivery of new social housing out to 2017. Local authorities had been requested to focus on projects that would -

- be suitable for early commencement and completion;

- meet social housing need in the area; and

- represent good value for money.

The proposals were reviewed by my Department based on the above criteria.

No instructions issued to local authorities with regard to locations for individual building proposals. It is a matter for local authorities themselves to identify need across their area and propose social housing delivery to meet that need.

The announcement of 5 May 2015 was the first such announcement under the SocialHousing Strategy 2020. Further announcements will be made as local authority proposals for the delivery of social housing units are evaluated.