Housing Minister Gives Green Light for 800 New Social and Volutary Houses Costing €100M

Minister for Housing and Planning, Jan O’Sullivan, TD, today (19 July) announced the green light for proposals from local authorities for the provision of over 800 new social and voluntary housing units.  At a cost of approximately €100m, the units will come on stream between now and 2014.

These new permanent housing units are intended, in the main, to provide accommodation for people with special housing needs including the elderly, homeless persons and people with a disability.

“Everyone knows that Government finances are very restricted.  As Housing Minister I am determined that the much reduced capital budget available is targeted at those most in need as outlined in the Government’s Housing Policy Statement, published in June 2011.  Against the backdrop of a very challenging fiscal climate, I am particularly pleased to be able to provide €100 million in capital funding at this time to provide over 800 households with quality accommodation that is safe, secure and appropriate to their requirements,” stated Minister O’Sullivan.

Some €35 million is earmarked for the voluntary housing sector for the provision of 377 housing units across 30 local authorities. “Voluntary housing bodies, often in conjunction with the HSE, provide a range of services and supports to tenants, thus enabling older persons to continue to live independent lives in their own community. Adding 377 new housing units to the voluntary stock will have a positive impact for a lot of people and allow elderly people, in particular, to continue to live in and contribute to their own community. ”

Local authorities will be allocated some €65 million for the purchase of an estimated 246 houses and the construction of a further 185 houses, largely to meet special housing need. The Minister said, “ While scaling back on social housing construction programmes has, in turn, given rise to increased delivery under alternative supply routes like the Rental Accommodation Scheme and the Social Housing Leasing Initiative, there are certain gaps that can best be filled through targeted purchases of built properties or the construction of new properties to meet the specific accommodation needs of certain categories of tenants.  I am setting aside some €65 million over the next two and half years for the purchase of new houses and to support a limited construction programme.  Most construction projects are ‘infill’ development in existing communities which has the additional benefit of contributing to the vibrancy of a community, enhancing streetscapes and eliminating the risk of anti-social behaviour in neighbourhoods.”

Details of the capital allocations to local authorities are set out on the attached appendix.

ENDS

APPENDIX