John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 499: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the funding provided for the construction of social and affordable housing in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005; the way in which the increase compared with the increase in house prices over those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14324/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The total amount of funding, Exchequer and non-Exchequer, for the construction or acquisition of social and affordable housing in 2002 to 2005 and the percentage changes in house prices over the same period are set out in the following table. This includes capital spending on regeneration and traveller accommodation.

Fluctuations in funding between 2002 and 2004 are explained in part by variation in the levels of commitments brought forward between years which affected Exchequer funding and varying demands for shared ownership loans which impacted on non-Voted capital spending. In addition, savings of some €40 million, which arose in 2004 across the range of housing capital programmes, were carried forward into 2005 from 2004 under the new multi-annual capital envelope arrangements.

The level of funding available in 2005 under the various housing programmes will ensure that the needs of in excess of 13,000 households will be met through the various social and affordable housing measures. The Government will continue to promote strong programmes of social and affordable housing for those who cannotprovide for their own accommodation by other means.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 500: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the proportion of social housing allocated to persons living alone; the average cost of such housing units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14325/05]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is estimated that between 20% to 25% of first-time lettings by local authorities to households are allocated to single persons. While it is a matter for individual local authorities to decide on the allocation of houses to single persons and other categories on their waiting lists in accordance with their schemes of letting priorities, my Department has advised local authorities of the need to provide a reasonable mix of dwellings suited to the different kinds of households already on waiting lists and to plan their future programmes taking account of the estimated size and type of households likely to be seeking housing in the future. The average cost of a housing unit provided in 2004 under the local authority housing construction programme is estimated at €147,000.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 501: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the additional costs which would be incurred by raising the loan ceiling for the shared ownership scheme to €250,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14326/05]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 502: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if an upward readjustment of the income limits for the shared ownership scheme and the affordable housing scheme would incur any additional costs to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14327/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 501 and 502 together.

In July 2004, I announced significant improvements to the loan and income limits for shared ownership and affordable housing schemes. The eligibility limit for applying for these schemes is now €36,800 for a single income household. In the case of a two-income household, both incomes are assessed in determining eligibility on the basis of a formula whereby two and a half times the main income and once the second income cannot exceed €92,000.

The maximum loan which may be advanced by local authorities for the acquisition of a house under these schemes is €165,000. In the case of shared ownership loans, where appropriate up to above maximum may be advanced by a local authority in respect of the purchased equity in a house. As ownership is shared between the purchaser who buys at least 40% of the value of the house and the local authority from whom the purchaser rents the remaining share, the house price can in such cases be significantly in excess of the loan.

It is a matter for each local authority to administer house purchase loans in its area having regard, as appropriate, to the housing needs and circumstances of its area. In determining the maximum mortgage loan in each case, local authorities should have regard to the purchaser's ability to repay by reference to their net household income. My Department continues to monitor the various housing schemes taking into account the movement in house prices, the effectiveness of various schemes in meeting the needs of the relevant target group and the availability of mortgage finance in the private sector.