Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Yes, I will raise that issue. I do not wish to debate Part V, but when we introduced Part V of the Planning and Development Act, the cry from everywhere was that it was overly restrictive and unworkable and would not provide us with a supply so we made changes to it. We were told at the time that there would be a run-through of approximately five years before those planning permissions were dealt with and that we would not get the benefit of this measure for a number of years. We are now beginning to obtain the benefits, as I demonstrated with the figures I quoted earlier.

The most up-to-date figures show that we are heading this year for approximately 90,000 completions. In Towards 2016, we committed ourselves to producing 17,000 affordable houses over a three-year period. The needs of approximately 60,000 households will be met through the various schemes. These were the figures agreed under the social partnership process, towards which the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is working.

We are examining issues surrounding developers who have land with planning permission but are not building on that land. There is an argument about how extensive this problem is but we are examining the relevant legislation to try to find a legal method of forcing people who sit on planning permissions and watch prices escalate to build on those lands. We are at an advanced stage in respect of legislation on that issue.

As we head into November, the affordable housing schemes, the affordable housing partnership, the housing programme itself and social programmes are well on target in respect of the commitments in that regard at the beginning of the year. Approximately 6,500 local authority houses will be acquired this year, including units provided under various regeneration schemes. A total of 14,000 household units will be acquired from a range of social and affordable housing schemes, representing an additional investment for the period ahead. There has been an acquisition of a further 4,000 housing units, bringing the total number for the latest period on which the Department worked up to 27,000. That is quite an increase. The Deputy stated there are 44,000 people on the housing list but that is almost a 10% decrease on the last housing statistics. That is a considerable decrease. The income threshold for eligibility under the grant schemes will be examined. They are usually considered at the end of the year but I will raise the issue with the Minister.

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