Written answers

Tuesday, 6 November 2018

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Housing Issues

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1212. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the need for developers and the State to prioritise housing development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45870/18]

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Irish housing system was very badly affected during the economic downturn, with housing output falling by 90%. Reversing such a significant decline in residential activity to a more balanced supply and demand position requires a mix of targeted actions across the complex and inter-related parts of the housing system.

Rebuilding Ireland,the Government's comprehensive action plan on housing and homelessness, provides a robust framework in this regard, involving a series of significant responses that are designed to:

- Address homelessness;

- Develop a major social housing programme;

- Accelerate and increase housing delivery;

- Reform and modernise the rental sector; and

- Maximise the potential from vacant homes.

Ongoing support is being provided for our most vulnerable people, while long-term programmes are being implemented to create a sustainable pathway to a stable and consistent housing system. The Government's commitment in this regard is clear, evidenced by the nearly 26,000 social housing supports delivered in 2017, the significant increase in funding being provided in 2018 and the further substantial increase in funding under Budget 2019 for housing next year, when €2.4 billion will be invested, more than in any previous year.

A strong and growing social housing construction pipeline is now in place, as evidenced in the Quarter 2 2018 Construction Status Report. Since the end of 2016, the number of schemes and homes in the programme has doubled. Activity on-site has also increased significantly, with 1,074 homes going on-site in Q2 this year alone. The Q2 2018 Report is available at the following link:

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Housing Supply more generally is also increasing significantly . The CSO reports that nearly 19,700 new homes became available for use in the 12 months to end Q2 2018, an increase of 24% year on year. Planning permissions and site commencements are also increasing significantly. The latest housing activity data is available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link:

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In relation to affordable housing, a multi-stranded, targeted approach is being pursued in the areas of the country most affected by a lack of affordable housing supply. The measures are targeted at households earning a maximum of €50,000 for a single applicant or €75,000 for a couple. Specifically, under Budget 2019, the Government has trebled, to €310 million, the funding available for key facilitating infrastructure on local authority sites, to support the provision of affordable homes to purchase or rent, under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF).

Land is a critical residential construction input. A key initiative in this regard is the establishment of the new Land Development Agency, which will take a more strategic approach to the management and development of the publicly owned residential land bank, acting within a clear government policy framework, including that all public land disposals must deliver at least 40% social (10%) and affordable (30%) housing.

Increasing housing supply generally, and social and more affordable housing in particular, is, and will remain, a top Government priority.

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