John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 9: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of affordable housing units unsold and the locations of same; if he will provide an outline of his policy on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16082/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The reply to Question No. 313 of 4 February 2010 provided numbers of unsold affordable homes by local authority area at the beginning of February this year. The total figure of 1,158 reported at that time by the authorities excludes those homes which have been approved by the Department for deployment under the social leasing and rental accommodation schemes.

The situation changes frequently as unsold affordable homes are deployed for other purposes, including temporary use under the social leasing or RAS schemes, as homes are sold and as new units come into the possession of local authorities. Revised figures, which will take account of recent decisions by some local authorities to offer unsold affordable homes on the open market, will be published when available.

In April 2009 comprehensive guidance issued to local authorities outlining a range of measures that could be considered in dealing with the build up of unsold affordable homes. In addition to sale to eligible affordable purchasers at appropriate prices, these measures included the options of the temporary transfer of affordable homes for use under the rental accommodation scheme or under the new social leasing arrangements, or in certain limited cases, for transfer to the permanent social housing stock. Local authorities may also sell homes on the open market, at open market prices, where appropriate. Recently, a pilot "rent to buy" scheme has been approved in principle for a small number of homes in the Dublin City Council area, and this will be reviewed before making a decision on whether this may be an appropriate option in other urban areas.

The Department will continue to monitor and support local authorities' work to bring unsold affordable homes into use, and will adapt and develop the approaches involved, as necessary, in the evolving housing market and economic climate.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his response. However, it is an absolute scandal that 1,100 homes are idle or unsold, with no owners, when there are 100,000 people waiting anxiously on housing lists throughout this time, as the Minister knows. I welcome that the Minister's policy will change and that these homes will be available and put on the open market.

Regarding Part V social and affordable housing, certain contracts have not been executed and local authorities are having difficulties due to funding issues. Perhaps the Minister might say what he will do in that regard.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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At around this time last year local authorities estimated there were 3,700 unsold affordable housing units so we have made some progress. My Department identified the problem and acted immediately, outlining a comprehensive range of measures designed to allow local authorities bring these units into early and effective use. Despite the fact that further stock has come into the system since then, usually under Part V, as mentioned by the Deputy, the prompt action taken has enabled local authorities to bring down very considerably the number of unsold affordable units to 1,100, as I stated in my reply.

One has to put this in some perspective. Thinking back, I remember some Private Members' debates on the social partners. Everybody wanted more affordable housing units. We were told that 10,000 units would be delivered under the affordable homes initiative and that 17,000 would be delivered between 2007 and 2009. The Deputy is aware of what has happened. The market collapsed and we had to act to deal with that issue. Under the circumstances, I believe we have made considerable progress.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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What is the Minister doing about the more traditional type of council housing? People on waiting lists for local authority housing are not likely to be able to take up any type of affordable housing option. The model of council housing whereby people rented at a low rent from the public authority with the option to buy over time has worked very well in this country over the years. What will the Minister do about front-loading actual county council houses?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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As the Deputy will know, the model has changed. Again, this comes down to the amount of money we have available. We are moving towards two models: first, social leasing and second, the rental accommodation scheme or RAS system. The Deputy's party has called for more people to be put onto the RAS and I agree it has worked well, as has the social leasing programme. We will still be on target to have approximately 9,000 units-----

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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We are all on the razz.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Does that mean we are moving away from council housing?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Of course it means that.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Why?

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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We are just out of time.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I shall tell the Deputy why. The money that was available before is no longer available. There is a thing called reality and the Deputy must get used to it.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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There are only a few seconds remaining.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister has made some progress and that is to be appreciated and commended but it is not a good to have houses lying idle-----

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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-----because they will be vandalised. Is there a deadline for the introduction of this new policy?

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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One word from the Minister.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The policy is already up and running. As I said, we have made substantial progress already. Within a year we have dealt with half the houses. The demand is there and we need to make the units available, using them for social leasing, in particular. That policy is working. People are very happy to have a good house with the highest standards and the Department wants to ensure these houses are up to that standard and that people can get into them as quickly as possible.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister, Deputy Gormley, and the Minister of State, Deputy Cuffe. I hope he enjoyed the occasion.

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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It has been a pleasure.