Billion euro social housing scheme hailed
A billion euro programme for social housing was today branded vital in addressing the on-going problems for homeless people in Dublin.
CentreCare, a project of the social care agency of the Dublin Diocese, said in spite of the economic boom the group dealt with over two and a half thousand cases relating to accommodation and social welfare last year.
Yvonne Fleming, head of CentreCare, said: “Two of the major problems on the ground are the lack of available flats to rent for single homeless people, and the high number of people living in long-term emergency accommodation.”
Housing Minister Noel Ahern has confirmed €942m, including an additional €100m for this year, had been set aside to provide local authority housing with €45m to be spent on traveller accommodation and support.
Ms Fleming welcomed the announcement stressing it was crucial the programmes were implemented with speed to help address the ongoing problems they encounter on the streets of Dublin.
The €942m allocated to local authority housing for 2006 would provide for work on over 7,600 housing units and for authorities to construct or acquire 6,000 houses this year.
The grants will also provide for extensions to local authority housing to relieve overcrowding.
Mr Ahern said: “I would anticipate that over 5,000 housing units should be completed by local authorities in 2006.”
Eamon Gilmore, a Labour TD, said the Government would still miss its own social housing targets despite the €100m in extra funding.
“This money is indeed significant, and is to be welcomed, but we will still only see 5,000 houses completed in 2006. Under the National Development Plan we’re supposed to have 35,000 units completed by the end of this year. Even with this investment we will be 7,500 short of that target,” he said.
Mr Gilmore said the fact of the matter was 44,000 families would remain on local authority housing lists.
The Local Government Department said funding of €46m for remedial works will allow work to continue on houses in around 80 local authority estates.
