Social Housing Strategy must prioritise areas where the need for investment is greatest – Farrell

Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal, Alan Farrell has stated that the Government’s €2.2 billion social housing investment should prioritise the areas which need it most, specifically those with the longest housing lists such as Fingal and Dublin City.

“I am encouraged by the Government’s social housing strategy which will see €2.2 billion invested into the provision of more social housing units and measures to tackle homelessness. I believe that it is of the utmost importance that the areas with the longest local authority housing lists are prioritised as funding is allocated. 31,814 households are on the waiting lists in the four local authority areas in Dublin and it is my understanding that the housing lists in Fingal and Dublin City are under the most strain.

“A new Dublin Social Housing Delivery Taskforce will be established by the Minister immediately to respond to the current supply challenges being faced in each local authority area in the Dublin region. In the short-term, there are 655 vacant housing units across Dublin which will be returned to use following refurbishment. Refurbishment works have already began on 245 of these units with work on the other 410 to commence within the next 4 to 6 months.

“Over the course of the next 6 years, 35,000 new social housing units will be delivered nationally. €42 million will be allocated to the acquisition of housing units by local authorities with the provision of a further €68 million for the construction of 449 new social housing units and €46 million for the delivery of 416 housing units for people with special housing needs. In addition to this, it is estimated that 29,000 jobs will be created in the construction and promotion of mixed-tenure developments.

“I am glad to see such substantial investment by the Government in social housing. However, I would urge Minister Kelly to ensure that priority is given to local authority areas, such as Fingal, where housing lists are under the greatest strain.”