Minister for Housing and Planning Jan O'Sullivan, TD, has said that increased momentum behind social housing delivery was a priority as the Summary of Social Housing Assessments 2013 was published.

The results show that 89,872 households were assessed as qualified for housing support as of May 2013. While this represents a reduction of approximately 9% on the 2011 assessment it should be noted that the results are not directly comparable given that the most recent assessment was based on a more detailed methodology to that used in 2011.

Key findings of the preliminary assessment are:

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• Single person households made up the largest household type (44%), followed by single adults with a child or children (30%);

• Social welfare was the only source of income for 72% of households;

• 75% of households were living in the private rented sector, with two thirds of these households in receipt of rent supplement.

Commenting on the figures Minister O'Sullivan said: "The number of households qualified for housing support again emphasises the priority in delivering good quality social housing. I am determined to use every avenue available to me to respond to housing need and these include:

Returning to mainstream local authority housing construction in 2014

Enhancing the role of the not-for-profit sector in the provision of social homes

"Continuing to build on my Department’s work with NAMA, the local authorities, and approved housing bodies to maximise delivery of NAMA units for social housing over the lifetime of the Government using targeted measures, such as the €15m earmarked for 2014 to bring long-term vacant housing back into social use."

(CD/MH)