Government announces €32m funding for social housing

The Government is making €32m in funding available for social housing.

The Government is making €32m in funding available to buy more than 260 properties for social housing.

€20m will go directly to local authorities and provide for the purchase of up to 131 homes for those on waiting lists, while €12.2m will be allocated to buy properties for those living with disabilities.

The number of people on the housing list in Ireland has risen dramatically in the past two years and now stands at 110,000.

The Minister for Social Housing, Jan O'Sullivan, said that while it's not a significant number of homes, the government is doing the best it can.

"There is pressure on the housing waiting list because of the recession," she said. "We have to respond in every way we can."

She said the Department tries to deal with housing issues in a wide variety of ways, including rent supplements and construction of new housing.

The Irish Council for Social Housing has welcomed today's announcement but said the government can do more for the sector.