Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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351. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he is considering a new affordable housing scheme as part of any imminent housing strategy; if he is aware that housing options are limited for many working persons who, burdened with high rents and childcare costs, cannot secure mortgages while they are also above the financial thresholds for social housing lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22383/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Today, the Government published its Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, which sets out a practical and readily implementable set of actions that aim to increase annual housing supply to 25,000 units per annum by 2020, thereby creating a functioning and sustainable housing system. The plan is available at the website www.rebuildingireland.ie.

The plan is divided into five pillars, with each targeting a specific area of the housing system for attention. Pillar 3, entitled Build More Home, has a key objective of increasing the output of private housing to meet demand at affordable prices. The range of actions are summarised in Appendix 1 of the Plan, and they include a new Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) with €200m in funding for infrastructure to facilitate housing provision at more affordable prices.

Pillar 4 of the Plan, entitled Improve the Rental Sector, has the overarching objective of addressing the obstacles to greater private rental sector delivery at more affordable rents. A key action under this pillar will be the introduction of a new model of affordable rental to provide more housing options for low income households. €10m has already been committed by Government for a pilot programme in 2016, and this is to be an on-going annual commitment. The details of the Scheme are currently being finalised in my Department for roll-out in the coming months.