Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the basis on which it was claimed in a statement issued on 13 December 2004 that the 10,000 target under the Sustaining Progress and affordable housing initiative had been achieved; the breakdown on a county basis of the location of these houses; the number of these houses which have been occupied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3890/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The 10,000 unit target figure, proposed by the parties to the pay agreement under Sustaining Progress, was reached following the Government decision of 16 November 2004 which agreed to the release to the affordable housing initiative of a series of health board lands by my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children. The release of these lands, together with the increase in Part V activity to a projected 2,500 affordable housing units for the period 2004-6 and the more efficient utilisation of the lands already provided, means that the total potential yield to the initiative is now over 10,000.

Some time is required between a decision to build housing units and their being finally occupied. While large amounts of land have been made available to this initiative and construction has commenced on a number of projects, there are zoning and infrastructural issues which need to be resolved and local area plan considerations to be taken into account. My Department is working closely with local authorities to expedite matters, with activities being paralleled to ensure the earliest possible delivery of housing units.

In addition, affordable houses built under the Part V arrangements, are an important contributor to the initiative, and while final figures for 2004 are not yet available, it is estimated that Part V completions last year will be in the region of 500 housing units, many of which are now occupied. Alternative strategies are also being considered, including the possible use of land swaps, which could speed up the process. For example, the Harcourt Terrace site was advertised last November on a pilot basis and this project will be closely monitored with a view to the possibility of using the land swap option for other sites released to the initiative.

The information requested in relation to the breakdown on a county basis of the location of these proposed housing units is set out in the following table.