The inability of low income or medium income couples to obtain housing accommodation was one of the most damning indictments of the performance of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats during their five years in government. To belatedly address the problem, the Progressive Democrats Party promised it would increase social housing output by increasing the local authority housing programme through funding for 40,000 new start-ups, front-loaded to meet existing demand more quickly. There would be an increase in the subsidy levels on an annual basis for the shared ownership and affordable and voluntary housing schemes. Fianna Fáil likewise committed itself to a further expansion of the various social housing programmes, setting a target of meeting the housing needs of 15,000 households per annum.