Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

The first question concerned housing assessments. The last was in 2005 and we await the return of the others. Some 65 out of 88 have been returned. That is the system at present but I take the point that it could be annual. It is a three year assessment at the moment.

The Deputy referred to my reply citing building starts. The target was 9,000 and the number of starts was 9,061. Social housing completions for 2007 are 9,469 so we are well ahead of target. My Department had a major input into the programme in 2007.

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