Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

It is a framework document outlining our thinking. If one reads Towards 2016, one can get a greater flavour of that. The final document will be issued early in the new year. Legislation is required and we will introduce a housing miscellaneous provisions Bill to give legal effect to some aspects, such as the sale of flats scheme. What we are doing will complement the funding announced last week for housing programmes and continued investment across the range of infrastructure necessary to support the housing demand from our growing population.

The announcement last week was a 9% increase, so the amount of social housing we are committed to providing is considerable. Resources are no longer a problem. In fact, the problem has been to drive the local authority and voluntary housing sector to spend the money. There were times in the past, when other Governments were in office, when the Department seemed to slow the plans of local authorities. They would get them to send in the plans repeatedly for various matters to be approved. I recall that during my 20 years as a member of a local authority tactics were used that appeared from the outside to be delaying tactics. I am sure they were for loftier reasons but that has not been an issue in recent years. The problem has been to drive the local authorities to spend the money, whether it is on new build, turn key developments or buying secondhand houses. We are driving them to spend the money. There is no shortage of money, although we will not let them blow it. We want quality and numbers.

The spend on housing under the national development plan over recent years has been above target. I accept the output was below what we thought would be achieved but over recent years the housing section of the Department has got more resources than it was promised. Its allocation last week is another reflection of that.

We have been innovative and dynamic in our response to the unprecedented circumstances of recent years. There has been a booming economy for a number of years. The census figures show an 8% increase in the population, after an 8% increase in the previous census. That previous census showed an 18% increase in the population of 25 to 34 year olds. Naturally, housing is struggling to keep up with a booming economy and such a population increase. However, the Department has done a considerable amount to look after those who are unable to buy a home while at the same time being innovative with affordable schemes and encouraging more of them.

The Affordable Homes Partnership was established last year. It advertised a call for lands in the media some months ago. It has received a number of submissions from owners of land that was not previously zoned.

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