Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has considered the recommendations of the NESC report on housing; and if it is his intention to incorporate the recommendations in an updated housing strategy. [3811/05]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if it is his intention to implement the recommendations contained in the NESC report on housing, particularly the recommendations on increasing the stock of social rental housing. [3808/05]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will make a statement on the findings and recommendations of the NESC report on housing with respect to land availability and land prices. [3814/05]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the projected percentage growth in the number of households on local authority housing waiting lists over the next five years if the Government fails to implement the recommendations of the NESC housing report on increasing the stock of social rental housing in view of the fact that the number of households on local authority waiting lists grew by 77% between 1996 and 2002. [3877/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 82, 151, 156 and 158 together.

Report No. 112 of the National Economic and Social Council — Housing in Ireland: Performance and Policy — provides an important analysis of the Irish housing system and an agenda for the future development of housing policy. Importantly, the NESC report recognises that the general thrust of existing housing policy is well directed. However, the issues raised in the NESC report will now be carefully considered by the Government, together with other recent reports which have a bearing on the housing sector.

The Government has successfully promoted a range of measures to boost the overall supply of housing, to modernise and develop the private rented sector and provide a range of well targeted schemes to meet the needs of those who cannot afford accommodation in the private sector. As a result, 2004 was a further record year for housing output, while social housing output in recent years has been at levels not seen for more than a generation.

In 2005, my Department will spend a record €1.3 billion in Exchequer funding on supports for social and affordable housing. This will enable the needs of over 13,000 households to be met through existing schemes this year and the new rent accommodation scheme will address the long-term housing needs of about 5,000 current recipients of rent supplement.

Pending conclusions of the Government's consideration and the outcome of the 2005 assessment of need, it is not possible to predict the number of households likely to be on local authority housing waiting lists in the next five years. The results of the statutory assessment of housing needs to be undertaken in March this year will inform the planning of provision over the coming years, both in terms of the overall output required and the type of need to be addressed.

While reviewing aspects of policy to ensure that measures are effective is very important, so too is a focus on delivery. Consequently, we will be ensuring through five year action plans developed by local authorities that available resources are used to best effect to deliver the optimum level of quality housing in a manner that breaks cycles of disadvantage and dependency. These mechanisms will assist in continuing the task of building strong programmes of social and affordable housing over the coming years.