Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

We are building new social housing at rates not seen in a generation. Some 11,000 units were in progress at the end of June 2006 and we are well placed to deliver on the commitments in Towards 2016 to start or acquire some 27,000 new homes for those in need of social housing in the next three years. This commitment was entered into against the backdrop of the NESC report and its associated targets. We have provided resources in the 2007 Estimates to honour this commitment with a record provision of €1.5 billion — a 9% increase in Exchequer housing programmes over 2006 levels, which was one of the biggest Vote increases in my or any Department.

We are also employing innovative approaches in social housing. The rental accommodation scheme, which we have been rolling out for the past year, provides new choice to households on rent supplement in the private rented sector. In particular, it provides long-term high quality accommodation. Again, it is strange for the Labour Party to call for a new scheme when the Government has already introduced it.

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