Update: Homelessness – Environment 17th September, 2014

Question No.     7  
 
 
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 has evaluated the current housing needs in terms of dealing with the already large number of persons on local authority housing lists and increasing on a daily basis, the increased incidents of homelessness arising from supply and demand; if he expects to be in a position to deal with the serious problem of homelessness on a county basis; if he will develop a strategy to address these issues by way of short term plans such as the purchase of existing units where available and medium to long term, the identification of suitable sites, where possible zoned or with the prospect of acquiring such sites under the strategic infrastructural deficit heading with a view to ensuring a comprehensive housing programme on an ongoing basis thereby eliminating the prospect of a repeat of the current crisis which is due to the pursuit of incorrect policies over a fifteen year period; and if he will make a statement on the matter.  

 
For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 17th September, 2014.  
 
Ref No: 34320/14  
 
 

 
Minister for the Environment, Commu   nity and Local Government (Mr. P   . Coffey   )  
 
 
Action 1 of Construction 2020 €“ A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector  provides for a National Framework for Housing Supply to be established on a statutory footing with an annual National Statement of Projected Housing Supply and Demand published every June. The Housing Agency has been asked to take the lead in implementing this Action.  
 
The proper management of all State land is critical; accordingly, both lands that have been transferred to the Housing Agency and local authority held lands suitable for development will be the first sites considered in any future targeted social housing building programme. In line with the commitments under the Construction 2020 Strategy , a Housing Supply Co-ordination Task Force for Dublin has been established with an immediate focus on addressing supply-related issues.
 
On 20 May 2014, the Implementation Plan on the State’s Response to Homelessness  was published in which the Government’s approach to delivery on its objective of ending involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016 was outlined.   This Plan sets out a range of measures to secure a ring-fenced supply of accommodation for homeless households within the next three years and to mobilise the necessary supports.    
 
The Social Housing Strategy, to be developed under Construction 2020, will provide the basis for an enhanced approach to social housing provision in Ireland. It will contain clear measurable actions that are to be taken to increase the supply of social housing and, most importantly, reduce the number of people on waiting lists over the next five years. I expect that the Strategy will be ready for consideration by Government in the coming weeks.