Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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40. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the position regarding a small development of social houses in Kells, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9033/17]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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44. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to provide more social housing in County Meath. [9034/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 44 together.

Social housing need, is in the first instance, a local issue and local authorities must respond to the nature and extent of that local need by devising and implementing appropriate targeted proposals that best fit the specific needs in their areas.

For that purpose, my Department has put in place a wide range of programmes that are available to all local authorities to generate increased social housing supply. In addition, my Department has put in place the structures and funding required for the early advancement of social housing supply proposals put forward by local authorities.

In relation to the Deputy’s specific query, my Department has been working closely with Meath County Council to facilitate and accelerate the delivery of social housing in the county. Meath County Council already has a strong pipeline of construction projects in development and is being encouraged by my Department to prepare and submit additional construction proposals to further strengthen that pipeline. Details of the County Meath construction pipeline are available at the following weblink:

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With regard to the project in Kells, Co. Meath referred to by the Deputy, my Department is working closely with Meath County Council with a view to having it advanced as quickly as possible. I am advised that Meath County Council will be making a further submission on the project shortly, which my Department will consider and revert to the local authority, at the earliest opportunity.