Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

24. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide an updated list of all social housing capital projects currently within the four stage approval process, stating the status of the process, when the funds for each project will be drawn down, the value of these funds and when these units will be tenanted. [28701/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Following the launch in late 2014 of the Social Housing Strategy 2020, announcements in respect of a substantial new set of social housing projects were made in May 2015, July 2015 and January 2016. Between these three announcements, details of which are available on my Department’s website, almost €680 million has been allocated for over 3,900 social housing new builds, turnkey developments and acquisitions. Since those announcements, I have continued to approve further additional projects and details of these latest approvals will be provided shortly on my Department’s website. All of these projects are now undergoing planning and development work by local authorities; in parallel, the authorities are engaging with my Department in relation to the funding approval process. On an ongoing basis, projects are moving through the four stages of the approval process according as they are advanced by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies, and considered by my Department.

I am keen that these projects are advanced as soon as possible and I have assured the local authorities that funding is available to fully support their efforts in this regard. I am pleased to see the increasing number of such projects that are now starting on site and advancing through construction. Funding is drawn down on these projects separately over the course of the planning, development and construction work involved and similarly, tenanting is undertaken as soon as construction and fit-out is complete on each project.

With the project approvals referenced above, I anticipate a notable ramping up in terms of both construction spend and delivery over the next year. The Deputy can be assured that I and my Department are committed to ensuring that construction projects are advanced in the most effective and efficient manner.

My priority is to deliver quality value for money social housing in as speedy and efficient a timeframe as possible.