Written answers

Tuesday, 27 February 2018

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Housing Data

Photo of Gino KennyGino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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749. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the details of applications made by Wicklow county council to his department for funding for housing over the past five years; the number of persons on the housing waiting list in the county; the length of time each applicant has been waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9820/18]

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, my Department is in receipt of a large volume of applications for funding across a wide range of capital and current related housing programmes for all local authorities, including Wicklow County Council. Therefore, my Department is not in a position to provide details of all applications over the past five years.

In relation to applications made, my Department has approved a range of projects for Wicklow County Council and those in the pipeline can be viewed in the latest status report for social housing construction projects, as at end Q3 2017. This construction status report contains key information on social housing construction activity in all local authority areas and is available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following weblink:

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The Q3 2017 report details 772 schemes recently completed, on site, or undergoing planning, design or procurement, which will deliver some 12,300 homes across all local authorities.

In overall terms, significant progress is being made under the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness. In relation to full year outputs for 2017, provisional details on the number of social housing homes delivered across the country, were published on 15 January 2018. Over 7,000 new homes were brought into the active social housing stock through build, acquisitions, voids and leasing programmes in 2017. This is a 40% increase on what was planned for the year and a 24% increase over what was achieved in 2016. A breakdown of these homes in terms of build, refurbishment, acquisitions and leasing, across all local authority areas, including Wicklow, will be made available shortly, following completion of the necessary validation process.

Under Rebuilding Ireland, funding has been put in place to accelerate the delivery of social housing across all local authority areas, including Wicklow County Council. €6 billion in exchequer investment has been secured to support its implementation and to deliver 50,000 social housing units through build, refurbishment, acquisitions and leasing, over the period to 2021.

Further updates on progress under Rebuilding Ireland can be viewed at the following weblink:

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A wide range of social housing statistical information on the various housing schemes operated by local authorities is also available at the following weblink:

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With the increased national target of 50,000 under Rebuilding Ireland, increased targets for social housing delivery via build, acquisition and leasing arrangements have recently been issued to all local authorities. The revised targets are based on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each housing authority area as recorded in the statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA).

The most recent SSHA carried out in 2017 details the number of households on all local authority waiting lists as at 28 June 2017. The results of the SSHA are available on my Department’s website and include breakdowns by each local authority across a range of categories. The 2017 report also includes the results of the 2016 summary for comparative purposes. Full details are available at the following link and the specific information sought by the Deputy can be found at Appendix One:

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The SSHA is now being carried out an annual basis. I expect the results of the 2018 summary to be available for publication later in the year.

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