MINISTER COFFEY ANNOUNCES €7.1 MILLION FOR MAJOR SOCIAL HOUSING CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME IN WATERFORD

Minister for Housing, Planning & Construction, Paudie Coffey, has today, May 5th, has announced €7.1 million for Waterford as part of a major social housing construction programme.

“The move is part of the first phase of direct-build under the Government’s social housing strategy. This announcement will see 54 new social housing units constructed Waterford City and County in 8 different projects and will create employment in towns and villages such as Tallow, Dungarvan, Tramore, Cappoquin, Portlaw and Waterford City.

“These projects have been subjected to a value-for-money review by officials at the Department of Environment, Community & Local Government and represent the first phase of direct build under the social housing strategy. Local authorities submitted applications for direct building programmes. Further assessments will be carried out throughout the rest of the year with some projects requiring planning approval. All will be completed by 2017.

“The move is part of the Government’s €4billion social housing strategy to deliver 35,000 housing units out to 2020 and to reduce the housing waiting lists by 25% nationally by 2017 based on the most recent housing need assessment report. The investment will be combined with further building projects under the Department’s regeneration programme, a programme of refurbishment to deliver an additional 1,000 housing units this year as well as the social housing provision provided by approved housing bodies, NAMA and part V units. There will also be a number of housing units bought or leased to provide housing for those in acute need.

Minister Coffey said “This is the first major investment in local authority housing for many years. It represents a good start but with much more needing to be done. The last major house-building announcement was for €68 million which has seen the commencement of over 50 construction projects starting in 2014, Between local authorities and the voluntary housing sector, there are now in excess of 150 social housing projects currently under construction which will in time have an impact on housing waiting lists,”

Minister Coffey continued “These projects across the County Waterford are shovel ready and will deliver much needed units by 2017. The social housing strategy is a key component of the Construction 2020 Strategy and today’s announcement is the first phase of new direct build social housing provision to be delivered by Local Authorities across the country this year. This is just one of the ways that we will be delivering social housing units and shows this government’s commitment in addressing the current housing need. This announcement will also provide much needed jobs in the construction and trades sector and will boost employment in communities around the country.”

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