Latest ‘Rebuilding Ireland’ figures for 2017 released

FIGURES from the Government’s ‘Rebuilding Ireland’ programme were realised this month painting a positive picture overall of progress in key sectors of housing such as delivery, social housing and new home indicators for 2017 which are compared with 2016.

The report states that the government exceeded its overall target for new social housing supports in 2017 by 23%, adding an extra 4,800 tenancies on 2016’s figure. A figure of 25,892 is given for the number of new households that had their housing needs met under Rebuilding Ireland in 2017.

Over 7,000 new homes were brought into the active social housing stock according to the report which was achieved through builds, acquisitions, voids and leasing programmes. This represents a 40% increase on 2016. The number of social housing homes built in 2017 is more than three times the number built in 2016.

Given the huge demand there is right now for the construction of new homes and apartments, the construction figures are also likely to please the government’s stated targets and ambitions to build more. The report states that from September 2017 3,700 new social housing homes are being built across 190 sites, which is being added to on a weekly basis.

Moreover, 2017 saw the levels of registration for larger developments rise in a manner not seen since March 2009. There were over 9,500 registrations in 2017, representing an increase of 600% since Ireland exited its financial assistance programme in January 2014.

Planning permissions also rose by 13% on 2016 (excluding direct applications to An Board Pleanála); while ESB connections increased by 29%.

The report further stated that progress in housing in 2017 was facilitated by €1.4 billion in investment through taxpayers’ money, including an additional €100 million provided in December 2017. There was also a 100% spend on both capital and current housing programmes.