Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of persons purchasing dwellings under shared ownership both nationally and in each of the four Dublin local authorities during the period 1997 to 2005; the amount of rent subsidy awarded under the shared ownership scheme during this period; the number of applicants obtaining rent subvention; the income thresholds for qualifying for rent subvention; the income limit to qualify for a shared ownership loan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15684/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The number of persons who purchased dwellings under the shared ownership scheme both nationally and in each of the four Dublin local authorities during the period 1997 to 2005 and the amount of subsidy and number of households obtaining rent subsidy are set out in the following table:

The qualifying income limit and the amount of rent subsidy available under the shared ownership scheme were revised in January 2002 for transactions completed on or after 1 January 2000 and are as follows:

I announced increases in the income limits for the shared ownership scheme in July 2004 together with an increase in the loan limit, in line with growth in average wage costs and house price inflation. The eligibility limit for applying for the scheme 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 terms and conditions of this scheme are being kept under review with the assistance of input, as appropriate, from the housing forum which has been charged under Sustaining Progress to review the effectiveness of all social and affordable housing programmes and in light of the NESC report was published just before the end of last year.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 280: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the percentage of the overall affordable housing initiative announced on 4 July 2003 which is planned for Magee Barracks, Kildare town; the location of the other affordable housing initiatives which are to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15694/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 456 and 457 of 10 May 2005.

The commitment under the Sustaining Progress affordable housing initiative is to increase the supply of affordable housing by 10,000 units. It is proposed that a minimum of 350 affordable housing units will be provided on the former Magee Barracks site that was made available to the initiative, which works out at 3.5% of the overall total. To date, more than 70 projects on State and local authority lands are planned, which together with the projected 2,500 housing units under Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2004, gives more than 10,000 housing units in total projected for delivery under the initiative. These projects are located in Clare, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Meath, Sligo, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow. In addition, housing units under the Part V arrangements are under way throughout the country.