Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

It is expected that we will have resources available for the remainder of 2008 and for 2009 which will allow us to achieve the substantial target of 18,000 social housing starts. Having met our target in 2007, we have every reason to be confident that we can do so for the 2008 and 2009.

The Deputy inquired about affordable housing. I intend to have discussions with the Dublin city manager regarding applications for affordable housing, the number of people applying for such housing and the level of information required from applicants. It appears that some of those applying for affordable housing may not have the resources or capacity to meet their mortgage payments. I want to examine with the Dublin city manager the possibility of restructuring application forms in order to ensure additional information will be provided by applicants indicating, quite clearly, their capacity to meet the requirements of the affordable housing scheme.

I am considering introducing two new schemes. The first of these, which relates to affordable housing, is a new shared equity scheme to replace the current shared ownership scheme, which has not been operating successfully and which has gone downhill in recent years. This new scheme will provide people with an opportunity to enter home ownership and to realise the ambitions of many lower paid workers. I want to give local authority and social housing tenants a new opportunity by means of the incremental purchase scheme I intend to introduce. This will allow them to purchase as little as 30% of their homes in the future. The schemes to which I refer will be announced in due course.

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