Council reacts after housing plan falls short

DUBLIN City Council has said it is absolutely committed to meeting the challenges posed by the capital’s housing crisis after figures revealed a shortfall in the number of homes to be delivered under an ambitious four-year plan.

The Minister for Housing is also coming under pressure to ensure that all possible supports are provided to the council after targets set for the first year of their four-year housing programme 2018-2021 were missed.

The figures obtained by Fianna Fáil’s Crumlin-based Senator Catherine Ardagh last week revealed how the council have fallen short by 306 off their own total target delivery for the first year of the programme.

 “It is worrying that in the first year of the new programme that Dublin City Council’s own figures reveal a shortfall of 306,” Senator Ardagh said.

“The plan put in place by Dublin City Council is comprehensive and ambitious. I am confident it will go some way to supporting families caught in the housing crisis.

“However, for the plan to succeed the local authority needs support from central Government.”

Senator Ardagh added: “The housing crisis is all encompassing. Homelessness figures have been above 10,000 for the fifth month in a row.

 “I am calling on the Minister for Housing to ensure that all possible supports are provided to the council to aide them in meeting their housing programme targets.”

A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said the current four-year Housing Delivery Programme under Rebuilding Ireland commenced in January 2018.

“The delivery target for Dublin City Council in 2018, across the various funding programmes was 1,763,” the spokesperson said. “While targets were exceeded in some programmes in 2018, some delivery streams did not perform as expected, particularly leasing and new build completions. However, The council achieved 83 per cent of the overall target for 2018, with a shortfall in delivery of 306. 

“We are absolutely committed to meeting the challenges over the lifetime of the four-year programme and we work very closely with the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government, who provide support and assistance in overcoming these challenges.”

A spokesperson a for the Department of Housing added: “Deputy Ardagh’s party control Dublin City Council.

“It should be noted that Dublin City Council exceeded their targets for their 2015 – 2017 programme and they have indicated in their current report that they are confident of achieving their overall targets for 2018 – 2021.”