Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

The assessment of housing need undertaken by local authorities in March 1996 indicated that a total of 27,427 households were in need of housing while the corresponding figure for March 2005 was 43,684 households. The March 2005 figure was a decrease of almost 10% on the corresponding figure of 48,413 households in March 2002. The decrease in the numbers on the waiting lists has resulted from the positive impact of the Government's investment in the provision of social and affordable housing.

Of the 33,321 new houses completed in 1996, 3,593 were social housing units, which represented over 10% of total output. In 2005, 80,957 new houses were completed, of which 5,559 units were social units, representing almost 7% of total output. The number of completed social housing units at the end of September this year was 3,340. It is expected that the total social housing output for this year, including acquisitions, will be in the region of 6,800. Overall, it is estimated that the needs of over 14,000 households will be addressed through social and affordable housing measures this year compared with 8,600 in 2000, six years ago.

Additional resources will be provided next year to address social and affordable housing need. A record provision of €1.5 billion is being made available, which is a 9% increase in Exchequer housing programmes over this year's levels and double the provision of six years ago.

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