Written answers

Tuesday, 6 October 2020

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Local Authority Housing

Photo of Joan CollinsJoan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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51. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the fact that persons have been on the housing waiting list for two decades, that more than 68,000 persons and families are on housing waiting lists and that more than 8,700 persons are in emergency homelessness accommodation; and his plans to tackle the housing emergency. [27755/20]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Over the past three years (2016-2019) the number of social homes delivered in Ireland has grown from 5,714 in 2016 to more than 10,000 in 2019. The number of new build homes has more than doubled from 2,965 to over 6,000 over the same period. In addition, almost 70,000 households have been supported in their homes through HAP/RAS.

The effect of these measures can be demonstrated through their effect on waiting lists over the same period. The most recent Summary of Social Housing Assessments (June 2019) shows a decrease of 3,165 households or 4.4% on the last assessment in June 2018. More tellingly the numbers have decreased from 91,600 to 68,693, a reduction of 25%.

I published the August Homeless Report on Friday. The report showed a total of 8,702 individuals in emergency accommodation including, 6,082 adults, and 1,120 families with 2,620 dependents associated with the families. This represented a reduction of 26 people from July.

Since the introduction of the COVID response, we’ve seen a significant reduction in the numbers of families in emergency accommodation, with nearly 500 fewer families in emergency accommodation since February.

The Programme for Governments commits to delivering an additional 50,000 social homes over the coming five years and I will outline further plans in terms of affordable housing later in the Autumn.

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