COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 14, 2019

QUESTION NO. 35

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

To ask the Chief Executive to present a report detailing his efforts to deal with the Housing crisis; will he confirm numbers currently on lists and will he make a statement?

REPLY:

The Council's target for delivery from the Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government is for 511 new social homes to be provided under Build and Acquisition programmes in 2019 through our social housing construction programme as well as though Approved Housing Bodies, Part V, turnkey purchase and aquisition of second-hand properties.  In addition, the provision of social housing through Leasing, RAS and HAP schemes will continue to be a key part of social housing supply this year and beyond.

Proposals for housing delivery on large Council owned sites at Kilcarbery, Clonburris, Killinarden and Rathcoole are at various stages of development and form a major part of future housing supply in the County.

Housing supply is the key solution to the current housing/homeless situation through the avenues outlined above and we will continue to examine additional opportunities for further housing delivery where possible.  In addition, the Housing Department continues to maximise the effectiveness of existing and new social housing stock through allocations, transfers and assiting rightsizing to help address the challenges provided by the current situation.

Our Homeless Unit provides assistance to those who find themselves homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.  This unit operates an advice clinic in County Hall and provides outreach and place-finding services across the County as well as detailing emergency accommodation options including central placement, self-accommodate, family hubs and other supported accommodation.  Staff in the homeless unit will organise emergency accommodation for those assessed as homeless through the Assessment and Placement Service.

The Housing Department in conjunction with the Dublin Region Homeless Executive and other partners continue to look for suitable locations/properties throughout the County for use as appropriate emergency accommodation for single persons and families. Additional options to support persons moving on from supported temporary accommodation continue to be explored and we are also committed to the provision of housing first tenancies where appropriate.

There are currently 6,897 applicants on our Social Housing List while 394 allocations have been made in 2019 to date (end of September).