Written answers

Wednesday, 10 July 2019

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Local Authority Housing Data

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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421. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the estimated cost of building an additional 1,000 social housing units per year on local authority or State owned land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30346/19]

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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There are a number of variables in terms of estimating the cost of providing social housing units e.g. form of delivery, size of unit, land, funding, etc.

The Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan is based on a blended approach to delivery, under which there are a range of delivery mechanisms such as building, leasing and acquisitions. Over 50,000 social housing homes are targeted for delivery over the life of the Plan, and an additional 88,000 households will have their housing need met through Housing Assistance Payment and the Rental Accommodation Scheme. Funding of €6 billion is being provided to support the delivery of Rebuilding Ireland's social housing ambition.

In terms of construction and 'all-in' costs, the averages for a range of differently sized social housing units, based on full capital costs, are set out in the following table. These are based on the analysis of returned data from tendered social housing schemes over an extended period. Construction cost is reflective of building costs (including VAT) and also includes normal site works and site development. All-in cost includes cost of construction, land cost, professional fees, utility connections, site investigations/surveys, archaeology where appropriate, VAT and contribution to public art. Abnormal costs are excluded from these figures.

1 bed 2 bed (1 storey) 2 bed (2 storey) 3 bed 4 bed
Construction €155,818 €165,132 €174,206 €184,685 €199,491
All-in €201,359 €212,624 €222,582 €234,571 €252,047

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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422. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of HAP and RAS recipients, respectively, by council area at the end of 2017, 2018 and in 2019 to date; the projected full year numbers for 2019 in view of the fact the information is not available on the website in this format; the full year costs of each scheme in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30347/19]

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a flexible and immediate housing support that is available to all eligible households throughout the State. At the end of Quarter 1 2019, there were 45,900 active tenancies in receipt of HAP support

The following table sets out the number of active HAP tenancies by local authority area at end 2017, end 2018 and end Quarter 1 2019:

Local AuthorityActive HAP Tenancies 2017Active HAP Tenancies 2018Active HAP Tenancies Q1 2019
Carlow County Council581706707
Cavan County Council131275301
Clare County Council119313351332
Cork City Council162520632167
Cork County Council264733393427
Donegal County Council162717291727
Dublin City Council102722192594
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council165388437
Fingal County Council48812861436
Galway City Council91913511465
Galway County Council7289811052
Kerry County Council4278981002
Kildare County Council143618922042
Kilkenny County Council836869866
Laois County Council316657715
Leitrim County Council95208223
Limerick City & County Council194821752219
Longford County Council128291297
Louth County Council196926432786
Mayo County Council81711201158
Meath County Council122017401804
Monaghan County Council437530555
Offaly County Council684845862
Roscommon County Council171354370
Sligo County Council467648677
South Dublin County Council218026052657
Tipperary County Council163317671772
Waterford City & County Council160518331826
Westmeath County Council366656716
Wexford County Council53610201131
Wicklow County Council4249081036
Dublin Regional Homeless Executive240241124556
Totals312284344345915

The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) was established in 2005 and requires local authorities to meet the accommodation needs of people that are in receipt of Rent Supplement for 18 months or longer, and who are assessed as having a long-term housing need.

Data for the years 2011 to 2018 on the number and cost of tenancies funded under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) scheme is available on my Department's website at the following link: .

The most recent RAS tenancy data, broken down per local authority, is detailed in the following table. At the end of March 2019 (Q1) there were a total of 18,697 tenancies supported under the scheme. Data in respect of Q2 2019 is currently being compiled by my Department. It is not possible to accurately predict the number of tenancies that will be supported by RAS at the end of 2019 as numbers in RAS vary as contracts end, tenants move on to other properties, landlords join or withdraw from the scheme, new tenancies are allocated or vacancies in contracted units are filled. Furthermore, towards 2021, as the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme continues to be rolled out nationally and replaces Rent Supplement, it is expected that more RAS tenancies will terminate than will commence.

Nevertheless, RAS continues to be an effective and secure form of social housing support, and remains a significant part of the suite of social housing options currently available to those who are assessed as being in need of housing support. I am providing €134.3 million to support the cost of RAS in 2019 and this funding will go towards supporting 600 additional RAS tenancies targeted to be achieved by local authorities in 2019 and the ongoing cost of supporting continuing RAS contracts in place at the beginning of 2019.

Local AuthorityTotal All RAS Tenancies Q1 2019
Carlow Co Council499
Cavan Co Council562
Clare Co Council373
Cork City Council824
Cork Co Council857
Donegal Co Council547
Dublin City Council1765
Dublin South Co Council1292
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Co Council528
Fingal Co Council647
Galway City Council421
Galway Co Council324
Kerry Co Council891
Kildare Co Council578
Kilkenny Co Council911
Laois Co Council218
Leitrim Council114
Limerick City & Co Council1145
Longford Co Council207
Louth Co Council120
Mayo Co Council808
Meath Co Council407
Monaghan Co Council215
Offaly Co Council130
Roscommon Co Council404
Sligo Co Council541
Tipperary Co Council1089
Waterford City & Co Council675
Westmeath Co Council584
Wexford Co Council600
Wicklow Co Council421
Total18,697

The targets for the HAP and RAS schemes by local authority for 2019 are published on the Rebuilding Ireland website and are available at the following link:

.

The information requested in respect of the cost of the HAP and RAS schemes is set out in the following table.

YearHAP (€m)RAS (€m)
2017 152.69 142.8
2018 276.6143.4
2019 (Allocated)422134.3

HAP and RAS continue to be key vehicles in meeting housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programme outlined under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.

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