Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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215. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the need for new homes each year. [4807/17]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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216. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding social and affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4831/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 216 together.

Addressing the challenges in the housing sector is an absolute priority for the Government. Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness,published in July 2016, sets out the Government’s approach to increasing the provision of housing, including social housing. This cross-Government plan is divided into five pillars, each targeting a specific area of the housing system for attention.

Rebuilding Irelandis designed to accelerate all types of housing supply – social, private and rental. By 2021, some 47,000 new social houses will be provided through a range of means involving building, leasing and acquisition, supported by investment of €5.35 billion. In tandem with this, housing output generally will be progressively increased towards the target of producing 25,000 new houses per year by 2021 or earlier if possible. Addressing homelessness is given special priority within the plan which provides for a range of early solutions to address the high number of households in emergency accommodation. In addition, specific attention is being directed to the rental sector and a new Strategy for the Rental Sectorwas published in December 2016.

Implementation of Rebuilding Irelandis being advanced across a number of Departments, under the oversight of the Cabinet Committee on Housing, chaired by An Taoiseach.  Within my own Department, an Implementation Board of senior officials, chaired by the Secretary General, monitors progress on a fortnightly basis.  In addition, Project Working Group structures for each of the Action Plan’s five Pillars are being put in place to ensure that any operational considerations relating to the delivery of actions are identified early and resolved quickly and effectively.

Rebuilding Irelandcontains a clear commitment to reporting regular progress, particularly through quarterly progress reports.  The First Quarterly Progress Report on the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness – Rebuilding Ireland(in respect of Quarter 3 commitments and actions), which was published on 1 November 2016, can be accessed at .

Further progress reports will follow on a quarterly basis, with the next due to be published early this month. Each quarterly report will focus on the actions due to be progressed or completed in the preceding quarter.