Written answers

Thursday, 7 December 2017

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Housing Data

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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13. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of expected new housing starts anticipated by the end of 2017; the number of such houses for families on local authority housing waiting lists; the extent to which he expects the lists to improve over the next12 months; the extent to which the problem of homelessness can be dealt with within that period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52279/17]

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The housing activity reports, which are available on my Department’s website, show that 19,246 new homes were granted planning permission in the 12 months to end-June 2017, an increase of 49% over the same period last year.  Commencement notices are up by 37%, with notices for 17,151 new homes nationwide submitted in the year to end- October. Moreover, there were 9,441 housing guarantee registrations (an indicator of multi-unit developments) recorded nationally in the 12 months to October 2017 (up 86% year on year).  Estimates from most economic and property commentators suggest that over 18,000 new homes will be built this year, a substantial increase on the 2016 figure of around 15,000 new homes.

With particular regard to the needs of those on housing waiting lists, under Rebuilding Ireland, 50,000 social housing homes will be delivered through build, refurbishment, acquisition and leasing over the period 2016 to 2021, alongside an accelerated roll-out of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme to meet the needs of some 80,000 households. 

It should be noted that there is already strong evidence that the focus on increasing and accelerating housing supply in Rebuilding Ireland is yielding results.  In 2016, the housing needs of over 19,000 households were met through a range of social housing programmes, supported by expenditure of over €935 million.  A further €1.4 billion is being provided in 2017, to meet the housing needs of in excess of 21,000 new households, a target which I am confident will be exceeded.

I am satisfied that the delivery on the range of targets in Rebuilding Ireland  provides a strong platform for meeting the needs of those individuals and families on social housing waiting lists and those experiencing homelessness.

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