Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of social houses and affordable houses provided in 2006 and to date in 2007; the number expected to be provided by the end of 2007; if his attention has been drawn to the huge increase in the numbers applying for affordable housing in some areas; the steps he is taking to deal with the backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22820/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The needs of 14,686 households were met through the full range of social and affordable housing measures in 2006. The total number of social housing units completed by local authorities and the voluntary and co-operative housing sector in the first six months of 2007, at 3,167 units, is up 33% on the first six months of 2006 and represents the strongest level of activity on the programme this decade. In addition, 450 new units were acquired under the rental accommodation scheme.

Funding has been provided in 2007 to meet the commitments in Towards 2016 to start or acquire 9,000 units of social housing. This will be through a combination of local authority, voluntary and co-operative housing units and new supply under the rental accommodation scheme. Good momentum is being made in achieving these targets, with 11,500 social housing units in progress at the end of June 2007

While comprehensive information on the numbers applying for all affordable housing schemes is not collected by my Department, the indications are that demand for affordable housing remains strong in certain areas, particularly in the greater Dublin area and near other major urban centres. In response, increased affordable housing activity is evident, supported in particular by the continued increase in momentum under Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2006.

Following a 20% increase in overall affordable housing delivery in 2006, when over 3,200 units were provided, output in the first six months of 2007, at 1,192 homes, is up 5% on the corresponding period last year. In excess of 5,000 units were in progress at the end of June 2007 and a strong focus on delivery continues to be maintained to gain further momentum towards the achievement of the 5,000 unit target for this year. This is being supported by the work of the affordable homes partnership, which has a particular focus on initiatives to increase the supply of affordable housing in the greater Dublin area.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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The programme for Government promises that 90,000 homes will be built in the lifetime of the Government, an average of 18,000 houses per annum. The figures given by the Minister of State are below that. The All-Party Committee on the Constitution reported that local authorities could be empowered by legislation compulsorily to acquire land required for housing at an economic cost. Does the Minister of State plan to act upon this report and free up property for the affordable housing sector?

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister does not intend to pursue that matter at present. The matter has not been examined by me to date. I have been, since taking up office, familiarising myself with the brief. I will undertake to examine the matter and to report directly on it to the Deputy.

In terms of the Government's overall strategy in this area, it is important to point out that the needs of some 140,000 households will be met through the housing programme during the lifetime of the NDP. We are spending €21 billion on that programme. Some €18 billion will be spent directly on housing and a further €5 billion has been allocated in respect of rent allowances, mortgage supplements and the rental allowance scheme, RAS. All of this illustrates the Government's intention to honour its commitments to the housing sector during the lifetime of the development plan.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister of State agree the housing strategies of each local authority adopted some years ago are out of date? Will he also agree that no impact is being made in respect of the number of people on waiting lists for local authority housing and that what is required is new thinking on the part of the Minister of State in the form of new proposals? Is the Minister of State considering new proposals to deal with the escalating waiting lists for houses in each local authority area, many of which were not taken into account in the housing strategies agreed some years ago?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I will take a further supplementary from Deputy Ciarán Lynch before calling the Minister of State.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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If anybody on the affordable housing list is listening to this debate it is because they are interested to hear how what is being said will affect them. The affordable housing list is increasing. This scheme was intended to facilitate those on low incomes to purchase affordable housing. The cost of purchasing a home in many areas, even under the affordable housing scheme, is quite expensive. The Minister of State said he will report back to the Chamber on this matter.

However, as Deputy Phil Hogan stated, the issue of housing output needs to be examined. Cork City Council and Cork County Council are operating two different systems in terms of administering and rolling out this scheme. Some local authorities appear to have problems in terms of processing the affordable housing scheme resulting in backlogs. Will the Minister of State address this issue?

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Two questions were asked. The Government has been innovative in terms of the provision of social and affordable housing. A whole range of new mechanisms have been introduced to address the problem. The introduction in early 2008 of the miscellaneous housing Bill will provide further initiatives including, incremental purchase by tenants of local authority houses. Measures to address the problem include the affordable housing scheme, shared ownership scheme, the Part V option and, in the future, the incremental purchase option.

Local authorities have, up to now, had indicative targets about which I am not happy. We have now given them a three-year programme within which to produce houses in their respective areas. We are underpinning those targets with funding and we will ensure those targets are met over the three year period. This is the right way forward. I was not happy that targets were not being met. The three-year programme and the underpinning funding will ensure local authorities meet the targets set by them.