Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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130. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will proceed with annual housing needs assessments from 2016; and the additional resources he is making available to local authorities to deal with the significant administrative burden this will involve for them. [9241/16]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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The Social Housing Strategy 2020 – Support, Supply and Reform, published by the Government in November 2014, included a commitment to undertake summaries of social housing assessments on an annual basis from 2016. Arrangements to carry out the 2016 summary, which will provide updated figures of national housing need later this year, are well advanced.

I am aware of the level of work involved on the part of housing authorities in carrying out statutory summaries. In order to assist authorities in undertaking the 2016 summary, it is intended that they will have sufficient time to review their files and upload their returns. In addition, my Department and the Housing Agency will issue detailed guidance to all housing authorities on the summary process and host a number of information sessions to outline the process and to address any queries authorities may wish to raise. My Department is also examining the format of summaries to be carried out post 2016, with the aim of streamlining the reporting requirements for housing authorities

Sanction has been granted for 420 housing staff to be recruited by local authorities and it is open to local authorities to seek any further sanction from my Department if they require additional staff for housing. Each staffing request is examined on a case by case basis having due regard to the continued delivery of key services in the context of staffing and budgetary constraints.