John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government his plans to reduce the numbers on the housing waiting lists, which currently stand at 96,000; if he is proposing a maximum waiting time for housing applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31263/12]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 20: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government his plans to reduce the numbers on the housing waiting lists, which currently stand at 96,000; if he is proposing a maximum waiting time for housing applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31219/12]

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government his plans to reduce the numbers on the housing waiting lists, which currently stand at 96,000; if he is proposing a maximum waiting time for housing applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31264/12]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government his plans to reduce the numbers on the housing waiting lists, which currently stand at 96,000; if he is proposing a maximum waiting time for housing applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31261/12]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 20, 23 and 29 together.

It is a matter for each housing authority to determine, in accordance with its scheme of letting priorities, the manner in which households are allocated social housing in its area.

I am currently overseeing a programme of social housing reform and as part of this, it is my intention to review the operation of allocations policy with the broad objective of putting a greater emphasis on time on the list as a criterion for allocating local authority housing.

In terms of the delivery of social housing, the Government's housing policy statement, published in June 2011, clearly identifies that the priority for Government will be to meet the most acute needs of households applying for social housing support.

Delivery of social housing will be significantly facilitated through more flexible funding models such as the rental accommodation scheme and leasing, but the Government is also committed to developing other funding mechanisms that will increase the supply of permanent new social housing. Such mechanisms will include options to purchase, build to lease and the sourcing of loan finance by approved housing bodies for construction and acquisition. There is also obvious potential, across a range of housing programmes, for the Government's objective of sourcing and providing suitable residential units for use as social housing to be aligned with the commercial objectives of the National Asset Management Agency.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister for that reply. I am inclined to agree with her about the time on the list issue because we have seen the mess that happened in Dublin City Council, particularly with single males or single females being left on the housing list almost indefinitely, and people with smaller families being subjected to the points system. I know cases can be prioritised, be it on medical or welfare grounds, but that should remain if we examine the idea of time on record. I believe Dublin City Council is changing the time on record; Fingal County Council uses that system. I understand that may change at the end of this year but it is long overdue because some people have been on the housing list for 15 years. That does not make sense, and they are going nowhere. It is appalling. The problem of homelessness is being addressed separately but at one time there were huge queues on the homeless list in a similar way. I do not know whether this is a recommendation from the Minister of State to the local authorities. Is it the Minister of State's suggestion that time on record should be used by the local authorities? Is that what she is pressing them to do?

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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It is one of a range of areas. We are looking at the whole allocations policy currently and I had a meeting with officials recently in that regard. This is one area we will consider. It is always a matter of figuring out how to allocate priority and different local authorities have different ways of doing it. This is certainly one area under consideration. We must leave some flexibility to each local authority in terms of how they allocate housing, but guidance will be provided at national level. We are looking at the issue and are very aware of the number of people in need of social housing and the economic downturn has contributed greatly to this need. We must find ways of addressing the issue. I referred to the voluntary sector and believe there is capacity there to raise funding in a way the State cannot. We want to use the voluntary and co-operative sectors more than they have been used in the past as well.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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There is too much emphasis being placed on the voluntary housing sector now, rather than on delivery of social housing by the local authorities. The way we are going, we are building large conglomerates in terms of the voluntary housing groups and they will end up with huge portfolios. I disagree with that approach. Social housing should be dealt with by the local authorities. We should not hand it over to voluntary housing groups all the time. There is a case to be made for the voluntary housing groups, but all social housing delivery seems to be heading in that direction and I am concerned about that trend.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Not all of it, but we want to use the voluntary groups because they can leverage funding that the State cannot. If we had to provide 100% funding for every new social housing scheme, we would not have the money to address the need. Therefore, we must see if we can leverage funding in other ways. However, we also intend to regulate the voluntary groups and that is important.