Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

The moneys available to local authorities and the voluntary groups in 2009 for housing programmes is close to €1 billion. The sum for the leasing programme amounts to €20 million. The home choice loan is provided through the local authority system. The equity loan will be dealt with under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 that will be before the Dáil in a couple of weeks.

The €20 million will deal with over 2,000 people on the housing list and I am happy that this represents good value for money. Everybody knows there are many vacant properties, perhaps 40,000. There are over 56,000 people listed on the local authority waiting lists that were submitted to me. I am responsible for addressing the needs of all those on the list and I have proposed this additional measure because I am satisfied on the question of value for money.

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