Will the Minister for housing to outline the key measures to increase social housing availability under the delivering homes, building communities plan?
Sentiment score: 0.32
I particularly welcome the overall target in the housing plan of 12,000 social units per annum, building on the progress made on the Housing for All plan, which, it must be acknowledged, made significant progress in the area of social housing. There are new initiatives in this plan to help deliver social housing such as the performance fund for local authorities, which is critical. Many local authorities do a great job but others not so. It is important that recognition is given to those that do a good job. Having ring-fenced teams is also critically important. The revision of the land acquisition fund is very significant because that is a particular issue across the country in terms of local authorities having a land bank available to them for the development of social housing. Of course, the standardisation of design is critically important to make the delivery of social housing more efficient. I will be touching modern methods of construction in a further question, but it is welcome to see that also included in the delivery of social housing because we have to embrace that technology.
Sentiment score: 0.47
I think the emphasis on new builds is welcome across the House. I particularly welcome the emphasis on local authorities and indeed the approved housing bodies directly building social homes, which is critically important. Of course, to achieve the targets we need a combined approach. There will also need to be continuation of turnkey and, of course, the delivery of social housing through the Part V provision is also important. They all deliver homes for families and individuals across the country. All these measures combined are welcome and it is important that we maintain a sustained focus to ensure that we get delivery and that we achieve the overall ambition within the plan to deliver social housing targets and, of course, ultimately reduce the homelessness that there is in this country at present.
Sentiment score: 0.37
Will the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage outline the key measures to increase the use of modern methods of construction under Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 and make a statement on the matter?
Sentiment score: 0.34
I welcome the strong recognition for modern methods of construction in the new housing plan. That is critically important. The construction sector is very much up for embracing MMC and the additional measures in the plan to incentivise the construction industry to take up those measures are critically important. The Cathaoirleach Gníomhach will know a development in his constituency, Longview in Ballyvolane, where the developers are very much embracing both on-site and off-site modern methods of construction and really delivering quickly in terms of the turnaround time for new houses. That is important and it was a site the Taoiseach visited recently to see first-hand the progress that has been made there. I totally agree that this has the potential to be a more environmental form of construction and increase sustainability but also provide new employment opportunities for individuals as well in the area of modern methods of construction. Furthermore, it does, of course, help us weatherproof some of the delivery in terms of construction so that it can move apace during the winter months, which is one of the key advantages of MMC.
Sentiment score: 0.45
I strongly believe the construction sector is onboard for modern methods of construction. It recognises the advantages, cost savings and that it can deliver with greater efficiency, which is critically important. It is also important the Government is leading in this way in the provision in the plan for 25% of social and affordable units to be delivered through MMC. That message is very important. Indeed, other measures such as build to innovate by the Department of enterprise is also very important to help promote MMC. It is a sector that will continue to grow in this country. It can provide employment opportunities and use more sustainable materials as part of that, which is critically important from an environmental point of view, as well as delivering homes in a more speedy and efficient manner.
Sentiment score: 0.46