Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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258. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has reconsidered the proposal for a dynamic housing executive for the greater Dublin region, in view of the very low delivery of new social and affordable housing in that region and especially by Dublin City Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38688/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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In direct response to the housing challenge and in order to support housing authorities deliver on their responsibilities and obligations, a number of dedicated structures have been put in place in the Dublin region and nationally.

The Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) is provided by Dublin City Council as the lead statutory local authority in the response to homelessness in Dublin and adopts a shared service approach across the four Dublin local authorities. The DRHE is responsible for the planning, co-ordination and administration of funding in relation to the provision of quality services to people who are homeless in the Dublin area, and for the development of responses to prevent homelessness. The Executive works in partnership with a range of voluntary and statutory agencies and supports the Dublin Joint Homelessness Consultative Forum and Management Group.

A dedicated Housing Delivery Office (HDO) was also established within my Department to support local authorities, approved housing bodies and all stakeholders involved in the delivery of key elements of the ambitious private and social housing targets in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan. The purpose of this office is to accelerate and monitor housing delivery, both private and social, on key sites, identify further mechanisms to accelerate delivery, and support the roll-out of complex construction projects, including identifying and resolving barriers to delivery.

In order to drive transparency and accountability at local level for the delivery of social housing, I have published targets for local authorities for 2018, and also 2018-2021, and I am publishing output against these targets on a quarterly basis. These targets have been set with regard to need in each area (as established under the Summary Social Housing Assessment Process), and also delivery pipelines established and being advanced. My Department is working closely with all local authorities to drive delivery, particularly of new build homes, and to harness any available additional capacity, where appropriate.

I believe what is critical at this stage is to ensure that all of the structures already in place are aligned, co-ordinated and co-operating towards a shared vision. This includes my own Department, the Housing Agency, the Housing Finance Agency and the newly established Land Development Agency, working with local authorities and approved housing bodies across the country. While the scale of housing delivery continues to increase significantly, I have indicated to all local authorities that I am anxious to see even further acceleration of delivery. I will continue to keep the relevant delivery arrangements under ongoing review, in consultation with key partners, particularly local authorities.