Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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45. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the social housing targets for 2018, 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45251/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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To support and accelerate the delivery of social housing as set out in  Rebuilding Ireland, the necessary funding is in place, with a greater emphasis now being placed on direct build activity for local authorities and approved housing bodies.

In Budget 2018, I secured €1.9 billion for housing programmes, representing a 46% increase over 2017.  This investment will ensure that the housing needs of 25,500 households will be met next year, over 4,400 more than in 2017.

In addition to this significant increase for 2018, I also secured a further €500 million for investment in social housing over the period 2019 – 2021.  This additional funding will allow for an increase in the overall level of social housing to be delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies by a further 3,000 homes.

The overall target for social housing delivery under Rebuilding Ireland has increased from 47,000 to 50,000 homes, with the total funding investment increasing from €5.35 billion to over €6 billion. The breakdown of this 50,000 target between the main programme areas of build, acquisition and leasing, for each year of Rebuilding Ireland, is set out in the following table.

The Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Schemes are also to contribute significantly towards meeting housing needs over the course of Rebuilding Ireland. The targets for both schemes for each year 2016 to 2021 are also set out in the following table.