Written answers

Wednesday, 20 April 2016

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Housing Provision

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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460. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applicants awaiting housing assistance in each county here in January 2016, January 2015, January 2014 and January 2013, in tabular form; the average waiting time for the provision of social housing within each county in the case of single one-bed applicants, two-bed applicants, three-bed applicants and four-bed applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7376/16]

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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461. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the average waiting time for the provision of social housing within each county here for single one bed applicants, two bed applicants, three bed applicants and four bed applicants in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7377/16]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 460 and 461 together.

The oversight and management of housing waiting lists, including the allocation and transfer of tenancies, is a matter for the relevant housing authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated regulations.

My Department does not collate the data sought on an on-going basis. The numbers and household breakdown on housing waiting lists in individual local authorities are subject to on-going fluctuation as households are allocated housing and new households are added to the list.

The results of the statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments carried out as at 7 May 2013 provided details on the number of households on waiting lists in each housing authority area, including the length of time spent by households on each housing authority list. Only those households which have been assessed as being eligible and in need of such support following the carrying out of the prescribed application process by the relevant housing authority are placed on the list. The results are available on my Department’s website at the following link:.

The 2013 figures are the most up-to-date figures available on waiting list numbers. Further summaries of social housing assessments will be carried out on an annual basis from this year and will provide up-to-date and comprehensive data on the numbers of households qualified for social housing support on an on-going basis.

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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462. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government regarding the provision of social housing in County Waterford, how many new properties were built or purchased in County Waterford in 2015; how many properties are planned to be built or purchased over the next five years and at what cost; his views on whether this is sufficient to meet the growing demand for social housing in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7378/16]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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In April last year, as part of the Social Housing Strategy 2020, I announced over €1.5 billion in funding allocations in respect of social housing to be provided by all local authorities for the period out to 2017 via a combination of building, buying and leasing schemes. Those allocations and associated targets for each local authority, including Waterford, are available on my Department’s website at the following link:.

Following this notification of targets, I made announcements for substantial new social housing projects in May 2015, in July 2015 and in January 2016. Between these three announcements, almost €680 million has been allocated for over 3,900 social housing new builds, turnkey developments and acquisitions. Details of these project approvals, including those for Waterford, are available on my Department’s website at the following links:

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I am keen that local authorities advance these projects as soon as possible and have assured them that funding is available to fully support their efforts in this regard.

In 2015, social housing construction projects were completed in Waterford at Chairman’s Arch/Cathedral Square and St. John’s College. While such construction projects are being advanced, acquisitions of new and second-hand houses and apartments remain an effective means of meeting immediate social housing need and information on the acquisitions undertaken last year by Waterford City & County Council is published on my Department’s website at the following link: .

Under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP), my Department, together with local authorities, can support AHBs to construct, purchase or lease housing units and make them available for social housing. The housing units are secured under long-term leases/availability arrangements between local authorities, AHBs and private property owners. A total of 14 social housing units were delivered under the programme in the administrative area of Waterford City and County Council in 2015. To date, a total of 187 units have been delivered in Waterford since the SHCEP programme began including 36 AHB constructed units which recently became operational. In addition, a total of 41 units have received funding approval under the programme and will be delivered in Waterford over the course of the next two years. 21 of these are new units that will be purchased by AHBs with assistance from my Department’s Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) and made available to Waterford City and County Council under long-term lease arrangements funded by SHCEP.

Photo of Maurice QuinlivanMaurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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463. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to provide an updated list of housing units that have been demolished by the implementation of the Limerick regeneration framework implementation plan; the number of units that have been constructed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7396/16]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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The Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan was adopted in 2014 and provides a roadmap for the physical, social and economic regeneration of the four regeneration areas in Limerick over the coming years. The Plan identifies those strategic demolitions required to deliver appropriate housing in these areas, as well as construction projects to advance its goals. Since the adoption of the Plan, I understand that 144 houses have been demolished by Limerick City and County Council in the areas concerned. I understand also that 108 Units have been constructed, 94 units are currently under construction and construction is due to commence on a further 53 units shortly. The next two years will see a significant ramping up of build activity in the Limerick Regeneration areas.

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