John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)

I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on the housing issue. I congratulate the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Noel Ahern, for ensuring that the Government has been committed and has delivered more local authority housing than any Government in the history of the State. There were a record number of 77,000 housing starts in 2004. This is a functional policy and not a dysfunctional one as described by Deputy Sargent.

Deputy Crowe and others referred to a crisis. I do not believe there is one. Deputy Crowe spoke about homeless people and those sleeping rough and he asked why. There are some people sleeping rough who deserve to be accommodated. There are many others who by choice have left local authority housing provided by this State. It was mentioned that rent supplement was paid at a cost of €305 million this year. That money is paid by the Department to support those people genuinely awaiting local authority housing. It was also mentioned that 50,000 applicants were on waiting lists. I do not believe for one minute that 50,000 is the correct figure. Many are on the list for different reasons best known to themselves.

There was a time when the greatest demand for local authority housing was for family housing. That is no longer the case, however. All county councils and corporations must move towards providing more single parent homes because that demand must be met.

The council in my area, in co-operation with the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Noel Ahern, his Department and officials, is doing an excellent job in meeting its targets. The council will continue to deliver its multi-annual building programme, which runs from 2004 to 2008. A total of 114 units commenced in 2005, while the number of completions will be 134. At present, 122 units are under construction and the total expenditure during the present year will come to €16.8 million.

We must achieve high standards, as we ask local authority tenants to pay significant, and increasing, rents on an annual basis. To provide value for money, local authority houses must have proper doors and windows and central heating, and must meet the required standards. During the current year, Limerick County Council will complete the fourth phase of its programme to replace windows and doors in all its local authority housing. The total number of houses completed by the end of 2005 will be 697, at a total cost of €2.27 million. During the current year, Limerick County Council continued the delivery of its planned maintenance programme to install central heating in 710 local authority houses. At the end of this year, work on 204 houses will be completed at a total cost of €1.5 million.

Earlier, Deputy Durkan performed a song and dance about the provision of disability grants in his county. Shame on that council. I ask Members to consider the County Limerick story instead. During the current year, a total of 232 applications have been received to date. Of these applications, 216 have been approved for assistance and the total expenditure comes to almost €1 million. As for essential repair grants, 51 applications have been received and 46 have been approved. In other words, targets are being met successfully with the co-operation of the Minister of State and the departmental officials. As for voluntary housing, the Taoiseach has laid great emphasis on community efforts and community building. In County Limerick, 35 voluntary local housing groups are active. They are to be commended on providing 483 units of housing in County Limerick. I commend the Minister of State on his efforts and I hope he continues his good work.

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