Construction BUSINESS

The Government’s Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness, ‘Rebuilding Ireland’ was launched today by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Housing Minister Simon Coveney, Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe and Minister of State Damien English. The plan supplies a multi-stranded, action-oriented means to obtaining many of the Government s key housing aspirations.

It aims to significantly increase the supply of social housing, to double the output of overall housing from the current levels to at least 25,000 per annum by 2020, to service all tenure types, and to tackle homelessness in a comprehensive manner. This whole-of-Government Plan has been developed in close collaboration with other key Government Departments and Agencies, under the oversight of a dedicated Cabinet Committee chaired by An Taoiseach.

The Plan was also informed by the Report of the Special Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessness (published on 17th June), as well as through extensive consultation with stakeholders, including at two national stakeholder events hosted by both Ministers Coveney and Damien English earlier this month. The Plan is comprehensive and addresses all aspects of the housing system under five Pillars: Address Homelessness, Accelerate Social Housing, Build More Homes, Improve the Rental sector, and Utilise Existing Housing.