Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

33. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department has proposals to bring forward and accelerate the construction of local authority housing. [52071/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Rebuilding Ireland targets the delivery of 50,000 social homes by 2021, supported by investment of €6 billion, with almost 33,500 to be delivered via construction activity, both by local authorities and by approved housing bodies.

The target of 50,000 is an increase over the originally targeted 47,000 social homes and under the review of Rebuilding Ireland, I announced in September that the budget will be more heavily weighted to direct build activity rather than acquisitions.  I also announced that Minister of State English will lead a new delivery team in the Department to work with local authorities and approved housing bodies.  That team is now being established and will focus on accelerating the social housing construction programme. 

My Department has also been encouraging the use of Design and Build contracts under the Rapid Build Framework, which includes modular design, set up by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). An increased uptake on this programme is now evident.

My Department has also worked with local authorities to review the processes and procedures for the approval of construction projects and has agreed an overall target programme of 59 weeks for progressing typical social housing construction projects from stage 1 all the way through to getting on site. We have also produced more detailed guidelines on submissions to be made to my Department and have revised the single-stage approval process for projects under €2m, on foot of feedback from local authorities.

The Deputy can be assured that my Department is committed to the accelerated delivery of all social housing projects and will work with all local authorities and approved housing bodies to ensure that quality and value for money projects are delivered efficiently and effectively.