Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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521. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the sanctions in place for local authorities not meeting their new build or vacant property turnaround targets in Rebuilding Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38358/18]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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522. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the target turnaround of local authority properties from void to occupancy; the sanctions in place when these targets are not met; the incentives on offer to ensure targets are met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38359/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 521 and 522 together.

The setting and publishing of social housing targets for 2018 and 2018-2021 reflects a drive towards increased transparency and accountability. Rebuilding Ireland is modelled on blended delivery across the main programmes of build, acquisition and leasing.

While it is recognised that the pace of delivery, particularly under build activity, may vary from local authority to local authority, the range of delivery options available, combined with the relevant support structures, provide the necessary resources for local authorities. All stakeholders are expected to be fully mobilised towards meeting the targets for 2018, and subsequent years.

My Department's focus, and that of all delivery agents, will remain on implementation and delivery to ensure that the range of objectives and targets set are achieved. A wide range of delivery mechanisms and a funding commitment of €6 billion over the lifetime of Rebuilding Ireland have been put in place to support the achievement of these targets.

Over the period 2016 to 2021, the national target is for the delivery of an additional 50,000 social housing units through Build, Acquisition and Leasing Schemes.

The ambition is for 33,500 of these units to be delivered through build programmes including Part V and Voids; for 6,500 to be delivered through Acquisition programmes including the Housing Agency Acquisition Programme; and for the remaining 10,000 units to be delivered under a range of leasing initiatives.

The Voids Programme, introduced in 2014 by my Department, provides additional support to local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. The maximum funding provided for each unit under this programme is €30,000. In addition, the Derelicts Programme provides funding to remediate more seriously derelict social houses. There is also another smaller 2 into 1 programme, which focuses on converting vacant old bedsit type accommodation into one bedroom units. Together, under these three programmes, exchequer funding is provided to support local authorities in remediating vacant units. The exchequer funding provided by the Department is additional to the support that local authorities provide themselves towards such work.

The Rebuilding Ireland target for Department funded Voids across the period 2016-2021 is 3,459. By end 2017 some 4,065 voids had been delivered under the programme, in addition to local authority self funded voids and re-lets, demonstrating significant activity across all local authority areas.

Management of stock at local level, re-letting programmes and timeframes are all operational matters for each local authority to co-ordinate and execute. In creating more visibility around targets and delivery against targets, it is my expectation that performance in the delivery of social housing homes at local authority level can be tracked and overseen effectively, particularly by the elected members.