The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly TD, has said that “As the Irish economy continues to recover strongly and as the Government’s fiscal and borrowing position improves dramatically, we have earmarked social housing as a prime area for delivery of the social dividend from the recovery to our people”.

The Minister was speaking at the international conference entitled ‘Financing and Delivering Ireland’s Social Housing Strategy’ in the Mansion House, in Dublin.

The Social Housing Strategy 2015-2020 commits to a six-year investment of some  €4 billion on the provision of 35,000 new social housing units as well as the provision of accommodation for 75,000 households under long term rental contracts between local authorities and private landlords. Apart from the substantial Exchequer financing, the Strategy provides for new and innovative ways of funding social housing without adding to direct Government borrowing.

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The conference is being attended by more than two hundred domestic and overseas financiers and investors as well as developers, voluntary housing associations, local authorities, Government departments and public bodies.

Mr Kelly  told the conference he wanted to encourage developers, financiers, investors, local authorities and approved housing bodies to network and work with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government – and with each other – with the aim of generating social housing investment and delivery proposals.  The Minister said “We are open to all ideas, we are ready to take up the challenge and find a way of making these proposals a reality.”

The Minister added “In working together, we can build and provide the social housing  we need  and restore the construction of affordable homes and social housing to a meaningful and balanced place in public policy.  The Social Housing Strategy sets out an ambitious agenda for delivery but it is one that the Government, myself and all the key stakeholders are determined to meet.”