Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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116. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the degree to which he expects to meet the imminent demand in respect of housing following the displacement of tenants from private accommodation for a variety of reasons and the immediate needs of such tenants as of now; if he is satisfied that the various local authorities can meet this need as required and, at the same time, deal with those who have been on local authority waiting lists for several years and keeping in mind the lack of appropriate emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25137/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In line with a commitment given under the Social Housing Strategy 2020 (published in 2014) the Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) is now being carried out on an annual basis from 2016 onwards. The preparation of the SSHA every year will assist in providing a more comprehensive picture of the dynamic numbers applying for social housing supports and of emerging trends. This will enable housing authorities and my Department to ensure that the pipeline for social housing delivery over time matches the profile of those in most need. The Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness sets ambitious targets to deliver a range of housing across the public and private sectors and the data obtained from the SSHA is of crucial importance in ensuring that the right type of housing is delivered in the right areas.

Pillar 2 of the Action Plan aims to accelerate social housing delivery and provides that over the period of the plan (2016-2021) 47,000 homes will be delivered under the various social housing programmes. Together with an expansion of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme nationwide, this will ensure that the supply of appropriate social housing supports meets demand.

19,055 social housing supports were provided in 2016, supported by expenditure of €935 million. This exceeded the target of 17,240 for 2016, giving a very positive start to the challenge of meeting the ambitious targets in Rebuilding Ireland. I am confident that the robust system of monitoring of the Plan's progress that has been put in place at every level should help to ensure that the early progress made can be maintained and built upon in the coming months and years.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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117. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the extent to which he has received notification or information from the local authority in County Kildare regarding provision of emergency housing on a large scale such as modular housing units; if sufficient sites have been identified in or adjacent to existing centres of population with a view to meeting the combined demands of those already on local authority waiting lists and those being displaced from private rental accommodation for a variety of reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25138/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The social housing construction projects currently underway by Kildare County Council are included in the recently updated Status Report on Social Housing Construction Projects, which is available at the following link: .

This includes 17 construction projects delivering 301 new social homes for the county, which are at various stages of advancement including on site, undergoing planning and design, and projects recently completed.

I expect that Kildare County Council will continue to bring forward new projects which will continue to be focussed on their areas of greatest need. This may include projects under the rapid delivery programme where, I understand, the Council is examining options in relation to suitable sites.

I have assured Kildare County Council that funding is available to support them in the delivery of all such projects, both those already in train and further projects that they develop through the range of delivery streams.