Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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58. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if an allocation of €500 million will be made to local authorities for the direct building of social housing, in view of the reports that the majority of social housing units are currently being built by approved housing bodies that are more limited than local authorities in their capacity to deliver new units on a large scale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17098/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I have published details of the 504 approved social housing construction schemes which were advancing nationwide as at end Quarter 4, 2016. This list can be accessed at the following link:

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These schemes, when completed, will deliver circa 8,430 new social houses, some of which were completed in 2016, with others in the pipeline to be completed in 2017 and subsequent years.

The list also highlights that local authorities are to the forefront of the direct build of new social housing construction schemes. 313 of the 504 schemes listed are being advanced by local authorities, delivering over 5,300 new social housing units, with 191 schemes being implemented by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), delivering over 3,100 units.

Further project approvals are being added to the pipeline as they are developed by local authorities and AHBs, all of which are being funded through the €5.35 billion that is available for social housing delivery under Rebuilding Ireland.

Local authorities and AHBs both have vital roles in the delivery of the targets set out in Rebuilding Ireland and this is reflected in the delivery pipeline already in place.  I am keen that all social housing projects are advanced as speedily as possible and I have assured local authorities with regard to the funding that is in place to support their activity in this regard.