Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

671. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the estimated Covid-19-related delays on the Rebuilding Ireland projects in County Kerry with an on-site status. [18235/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Increasing the supply of public, social and affordable homes is a central commitment in the Programme for Government. In Budget 2021, we backed this objective with funding of €3.3 billion for the delivery of housing. Subject to the impact of COVID, the funding will support the delivery of 12,750 new social homes, including 9,500 new build homes.

As part of the Government response to COVID, enhanced restrictions were introduced on 6 January, which meant that most residential construction was halted from 8 January to 12 April 2021. Essential social housing projects which were scheduled for completion by 30 April were allowed to continue and this has ensured new homes have been delivered during the period of restrictions.

However, the restrictions mean that most residential construction was halted for a three-month period, which is likely to result in significant delays to many social housing projects. I am working closely with the Housing Delivery Coordination Office and the local authorities to ascertain the impact of the delays on output for this year and to ensure that all measures are taken to maximise delivery.