Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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In April last year, I announced over €1.5 billion in funding allocations in respect of social housing to be provided by all local authorities via a combination of building, buying and leasing schemes. Those allocations and associated targets for each local authority, including Limerick, 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 Limerick, 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. While social housing construction projects are being advanced, acquisitions of new and second-hand houses and apartments remains an effective means of meeting immediate social housing need. In 2015, Limerick City and County Council secured the purchase of 33 housing units. The Council has been assured of funding support in 2016 for an ambitious programme of acquisitions and I understand that this programme is currently underway. The level of funding to be provided to the Council in 2016 will therefore depend on their advancement of acquisitions, construction and other projects.