Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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72. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of families who have in the year to date applied for local authority or similar housing, affordable housing and or special needs housing by county with a view to responding at the earliest possible date to this need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23513/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA).

The most recent summary, conducted in November 2020, shows that 61,880 households were assessed as qualified for and being in need of social housing support. This represents a decrease of 6,813 households or 9.9% on the last assessment in June 2019. Since 2016, the numbers have decreased from 91,600 to 61,880, a reduction of 32.4%.

In relation to the question posed by the Deputy regarding the number of families that have in the year to date applied for local authority or special needs housing, information of this specific type is not held by my Department.

Below is the link to the summary report for 2020 which includes breakdowns by each local authority, across a range of categories, including details on households with a specific accommodation requirement arising from a disability. It should be noted that the SSHA is a point in time snapshot of the demand for social housing support in each local authority area and does not necessarily reflect the dynamic nature of entry to and exit from the housing waiting lists.

2020 Report

Each local authority has a Housing and Disability Steering Group to plan for and oversee the implementation of the local authority’s five-year Strategic Plan under the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD) 2016-2021. These groups were established in 31 local authorities to enhance the existing ad hoc inter-agency cooperation and to bring a more coordinated approach to the delivery of housing and related services. They are made up of representatives from the local authority, Approved Housing Bodies, the HSE (with a representative from both Disability Services and Mental Health), and sectoral representatives’ groups from the areas of the four disability categories.

The Groups are also tasked with reviewing the targets in the local authorities’ Strategic Plans to ensure that they are realistic yet challenging and that they result in increased delivery of appropriate/varied types of housing for people with disabilities, and to also ensure that while the targets are based on the identified need (Housing Waiting List) that they take cognisance of emerging need as well. Since 2016, allocations of homes to persons with a disability has ranged from 10-12% of all allocations. The existing strategy is under review and public consultation and research has begun. It is intended that a new strategy will be published by the end of 2021.

In relation to affordable housing, the Affordable Housing Bill 2021 was approved by cabinet on the 4th of May 2021 – it is the first ever comprehensive standalone legislation providing for affordable housing measures. This will give a statutory basis for the introduction of the Affordable Purchase and Cost Rental schemes.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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73. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the extent to which adequate funding and authority remains available to Kildare County Council to purchase or build sufficient housing units to meet the very high demand in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23514/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department supports all local authorities in their provision of new social homes through a range of programmes, with delivery targets set and published for each local authority. For 2021, I have set targets for Kildare County Council of 558 new social homes via build programmes and 153 homes through leasing. The precise projects that will be advanced over the course of 2021, are a matter for Kildare County Council who have direct authority in this area. The Council will be fully supported with funding from my Department based on the delivery they achieve this year and any additional delivery beyond these targets, will also be funded.

In recognition of the likely impact of the COVID-19 restrictions on all but a limited number of social housing sites, I recently announced additional measures to support the delivery of social housing in 2021 including a programme of targeted acquisitions by local authorities and an increased focus on Buy and Renew construction with a particular emphasis on rundown vacant properties that local authorities can repurpose as social housing units.

To provide transparency on new social housing projects being advanced, my Department publishes a Social Housing Construction Status Report each quarter with details of all social housing developments completed or under construction in each local authority area, including Kildare. The report for Quarter 4 of 2020 is available at the following link: .

The Government will be publishing a new housing strategy this year, which will set out details of social housing delivery out to 2025, including social housing targets for 2022 onwards. While Kildare County Council already has a social housing construction programme in train, I am keen that they are proactive in adding to this pipeline and in working with Approved Housing Bodies to advance their existing projects as speedily as possible. It is also important that the Council housing team has the continued support of Councillors and public representatives in advancing their social housing delivery projects.