Publication
2016 - Funding for Social Housing
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
The combined capital and current housing allocation for 2016 will result in an Exchequer investment of almost €821 million across a range of housing programmes.
In addition, local authorities will fund a range of housing services from their own resources to the value of over €112 million, bringing the total Housing provision in 2016 to €933 million.
In line with the prioritisation of funding for social housing, the overall Exchequer provision for Housing has increased by almost €145 million in 2016.
There will be continued expansion in social housing provision under the Social Housing Strategy 2020 with over 17,000 new units expected to be delivered under a range of social housing initiatives in 2016
Latest data indicates that over 13,000 units were delivered in 2015.
- Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP): Increased funding will allow local authorities to bring a further 3,000 new units into operation in 2016
- Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS): Funding of €135 million will allow for 1,000 new RAS transfers in 2016
- Housing Assistance Payment (HAP): Funding has been increased to €47 7 million in 2016 to support the expansion of the HAP scheme and will assist an additional 10,000 households to secure suitable accommodation
- Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme: The 2016 allocation will be used to make loan repayments in respect of projects already delivered or underway
- Traveller Accommodation and Support: Funding of €4 3 million will provide for the management and maintenance of halting sites and to fund social workers whose duties are concerned with Traveller accommodation
- Homelessness: The provision of €70 million in 2016, will ensure that the increased demand for homeless services are effectively addressed
- Deinstitutionalisation: Funding of €1 million will ensure continued progress on the deinstitutionalisation programme for people with disabilities
- Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency: Allocation of €4 million in 2016 will ensure that the Agency is sufficiently resourced to support the Department and local authorities in the formulation and implementation of housing policies and programmes and to meet commitments under Construction 2020 and the ongoing implementation of the Social Housing Strategy 2020
*Local Authority Housing: Total funding of over €180 million for the capital provision for local authority housing will deliver more than 1,000 new units through a programme of construction and acquisitions
- Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS): The provision of €86 million for CAS will ensure continued focus on meeting the housing needs of vulnerable groups with some 450 units to be provided for people with specific needs in 2016
- Mortgage to Rent: Allocation of €17 million will allow for the expansion of the scheme and assist in meeting the Government’s commitments and responses to the mortgage arrears position
- Traveller Accommodation: A provision of €5 5 million in 2016 will support the progression of a range of Traveller specific accommodation schemes
- Regeneration/Remedial Works: The 2016 provision of €85 million demonstrates the Government’s continued commitment to target the country’s most disadvantaged communities
- Energy Efficiency/Retrofitting: The 2017 provision of €70 million will allow for the continued upgrading of social housing stock providing warmer and more energy efficient homes for thousands of families. Building on progress made in 2014 and 2015, a further 1,500 vacant units will be refurbished and brought back to productive use
- Private Housing Grants: Funding of €45 million will provide for some 8,500 grants in 2016 which will assist with adaptation works to enable older people and people with disabilities to remain living independently in their own homes for longer
- Pyrite Remediation Scheme: Funding of €19 million will be provided in 2016 to support activity under the Pyrite Remediation Scheme
The Government is also committed to putting in place mechanisms that are capable of raising additional finance which can be used to drive, plan and co-ordinate the provision of new social housing projects.
Work on the development of new funding models are being progressed under the Finance Workstream of the Social Housing Strategy 2020
The Government agreed its 6 year capital investment framework, Building on Recovery Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021 in September 2015.
Through direct Exchequer spending and local government investment, around €3 billion will be provided in support of the Social Housing Strategy.
