Update: Dealing with the Housing Crisis, 31st July 2015

 Question No.    6  
 
 
Chun an Aire Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil:  
To the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government:                
 
 
 
To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the ability of steps taken to date by his Department to deal with the ongoing issue of the housing crisis which he inherited from his predecessors; his proposals in this regard in view of the extent of hardship and concerns amongst those who are on the local authority housing waiting lists or those who are about to become homeless as a result of rent increases or other circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter.  

– Bernard J. Durkan.  
 

 
For ORAL answer on Thursday, 16th July, 2015.  
 
Ref No: 28941/15
 
 

REPLY  

 
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kelly)  

 
 
The Government’s Social Housing Strategy  targets the provision of over 110,000 social housing units to 2020, through the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units and meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme. This will address the needs of the 90,000 households on the housing waiting list in full, with flexibility to meet potential future demand.
 
I have set ambitious targets for local authorities for the period 2015 €“ 2017 in my announcement on 1 April 2015, with an investment of €1.5 billion in a combination of building, purchase and leasing schemes which will accommodate 25% of those currently on the social housing waiting lists. On 5 May 2015, I announced funding of €312 million to support some 100 separate housing projects, providing 1,700 units of accommodation across all 31 local authorities. I will be making further announcements in the coming weeks and months.  
 
Ultimately, a  shortage of supply is at the heart of rising rents and t  he Government is addressing this  on a number of fronts. Construction 2020  :  A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector  , publ  ished last year, is aimed at addressing  bottlenecks that might impede the construction sector  in meeting demand  .    My Department is leading on a range of actions under Construction 2020, including two significant pieces of planning legislation, one of which – the Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill – is currently progressing through the Oireachtas.  
 
My overriding objective in relation to rents is to achieve stability and sustainability in the market for the benefit of tenants, landlords and society as a whole. The regulation of rent raises many complex economic and legal issues and I have to be satisfied that any measures proposed are balanced and have the desired effect on the rental market while being fair to landlords and tenants alike.   Ultimately, any decision in relation to rent certainty is a matter for Government and it is my intention to bring proposals to Government for consideration as soon as the necessary preparatory work has been completed.