Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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223. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the value of funding ring-fenced under the capital assistance scheme to provide housing for young persons exiting State care in 2017 and 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22027/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There is no ring-fenced amount set aside under the Capital Assistance Scheme in relation to young persons exiting State care. My Department is working with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on the promotion of suitable projects for this particular housing need and the approach that is being followed is to monitor the demand and requirement for such housing and to meet the need from within the funding provision available under the Capital Assistance Scheme.

The funding provision for the Capital Assistance Scheme for 2017 is €66 million and good funding availability is also anticipated for 2018, as part of the €5.35 billion secured under Rebuilding Ireland. It is preferable that the Capital Assistance Scheme funding is made available on a demand-led basis to ensure it is used to the maximum, but with a commitment to respond to the needs identified in respect of housing for young persons exiting State care.