Fine Gael has welcomed the Government's €2.2bn social housing investment, however it is calling on the Govt to prioritise the areas which need it most.

Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal, Alan Farrell, said he believes that it is of the utmost importance that the areas with the longest local authority housing lists are prioritised as funding is allocated.

He said: "31,814 households are on the waiting lists in the four local authority areas in Dublin and it is my understanding that the housing lists in Fingal and Dublin City are under the most strain.

-- Advertisement --

"A new Dublin Social Housing Delivery Taskforce will be established by the Minister immediately to respond to the current supply challenges being faced in each local authority area in the Dublin region.

"In the short-term, there are 655 vacant housing units across Dublin which will be returned to use following refurbishment. Refurbishment works have already began on 245 of these units with work on the other 410 to commence within the next four to six months.

"Over the course of the next six years, 35,000 new social housing units will be delivered nationally. €42 million will be allocated to the acquisition of housing units by local authorities with the provision of a further €68 million for the construction of 449 new social housing units and €46 million for the delivery of 416 housing units for people with special housing needs.

"In addition to this, it is estimated that 29,000 jobs will be created in the construction and promotion of mixed-tenure developments."

(CD/JP)