Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

The new housing policy framework, Building Sustainable Communities, launched by Government last December outlines a substantially increased programme of investment in social and affordable housing measures for the period 2006-08.

Exchequer capital resources provided by my Department for these measures for this period stand at almost €4 billion, more than 20% higher than the past three years, and this sum rises to more than €6.5 billion when non-voted and current spending provisions are included. This money will be invested in response to identified need within the region of 23,000 new units of social housing to be commenced and 15,000 units of affordable housing to be delivered over the same three year period. In addition, further households will be assisted through the new rental accommodation scheme. In total, we expect some 50,000 households to benefit from various social and affordable housing measures in the coming three years.

The strength of existing social housing programmes is demonstrated in the fact that work was in progress on more than 10,000 social housing units at the end of 2005, which augurs well for the current year.

The local authority housing programme is part of the wider social and affordable housing programmes for which the main strategy for delivery is the local authority five year action plans for social and affordable housing. The action plans, now at their midway stage, are being reviewed. The outcome of the reviews will ensure that local authorities continue to have a framework for the integrated and cohesive planning and delivery over the coming years of specific social and affordable housing measures based on their relevant housing strategy.

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