Minister for Housing and Planning, Jan O'Sullivan, TD, has said that the priorities in the housing budget for 2013 focus on the core themes of reform and protecting the most vulnerable.

She said: "In keeping with other Government Departments savings have had to found in the housing budget to contribute to the overall Government goal of fulfilling our commitments and exiting the bailout programme. While that has involved tough choices I am determined that our focus in the coming year will remain on reform of the housing sector and protecting the most vulnerable."

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The State's capacity to meet housing need through capital construction and acquisition has been significantly reduced in recent years as outlined in the Medium Term Exchequer Framework for Infrastructure and Capital Investment and this will apply in 2013.

The housing budget provides a €310m allocation in current spending while €275m will be invested through capital expenditure in 2013.

Minister O'Sullivan estimates that in excess of 5,000 units will be provided for social housing in 2013.

This will include:

• 350 units for people with special housing needs

• 150 units specifically for people leaving institutional care

• an additional 400 permanent homes delivered through capital expenditure under the Social Housing Investment Programme

• 300 transfers under the Mortgage to Rent Scheme

• some 4,000 units will be delivered under social leasing, including property transfers from NAMA, the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and mortgage to lease.

(CD/GK)