Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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55. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on the latest pillar of the Rebuilding Ireland action plan, that is housing supply; the way it will address the housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35430/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Pillar 3 – Build More Homes – of the Rebuilding Ireland:Action Plan for Housing and Homelessnessseeks to accelerate the increase in the supply of housing in order to overcome the current supply shortfall and increase annual output to over 25,000 new homes by 2021 or earlier if possible. Annual housing output for 2015 was 12,600 homes, meaning that housing supply must be effectively doubled during the lifetime of the Action Plan. A number of actions are already being progressed by my Department in conjunction with other Departments and Agencies, local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies and the construction industry. Last week, I announced details of 23 Major Urban Housing Development Sites with the potential to deliver up to 30,000 additional homes on existing zoned lands and close to the key areas of demand over the next 3-4 years. These sites will be highlighted as exemplars for the co-ordination and delivery of plan-led housing development and active land management.

In order to quickly get these and other key sites moving, a €200 million Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) has been established. Twenty-one local authorities, working in conjunction with housing providers, including private developers, home builders and Approved Housing Bodies, have now submitted proposals for funding which are currently being evaluated. Successful bid proposals will be announced before the end of 2016.

Separately, the NTMA and ISIF are currently exploring opportunities to support the delivery of housing-related on-site enabling infrastructure in large-scale priority development areas, with a view to kickstarting the development process.

The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 was published earlier this month and is a legislative priority during the current term. The Bill provides for streamlining the planning process in a number of ways, including by facilitating (for a limited time-period) planning applications for large-scale (100 or more units) housing developments and student accommodation developments units (200+ units) to be made directly to An Bord Pleanála.

The combined effect of these and other actions under Pillar 3 of the Action Plan will help reduce costs and deliver more housing at affordable prices where it is most urgently needed.