Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 42 together.

My Department provides capital funding through local authorities to approved housing bodies which provide accommodation in accordance with the terms of my Department's schemes for voluntary and co-operative housing.

Funding is no longer a constraint on progress as far as implementation of the voluntary and co-operative housing programmes are concerned. In February of this year, I substantially increased the capital grant maxima for new projects. In 2006, my Department provided a record €243 million in funding for the sector.

There are currently four projects with 48 units of accommodation under technical examination and awaiting approval in my Department. Otherwise, my Department has approved some 48 projects to proceed to tender stage for the delivery of 966 units of accommodation. There are, in addition, a further 49 projects with 947 units of accommodation where the Department has sought clarification and further documentation from the local authorities. In all cases, the Department works with the local authority and the voluntary body to progress these projects to completion as quickly as possible.

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