Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of affordable houses constructed since the inception of the scheme in the Dublin local authority areas and throughout the country; the net cost of the housing units to the eligible purchasers; if a profit accrued to the local authorities arising from these transactions, taking into account the original cost of the lands, the development cost and the effect of a claw-back and other factors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15782/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Information on the number of housing units provided under the various affordable housing schemes in each local authority area is published in my Department's housing statistics bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library and on the Department's website at www.environ.ie. The annual housing statistics bulletins provide, among other data, information on house prices under the shared ownership and the 1999 affordable housing schemes.

The detailed information sought in regard to profits, development costs and the effects of the claw-back are not available to my Department.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 273 of 21 April 2005, if his Department approves each individual scheme of affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15783/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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It is a matter for local authorities to provide affordable housing through the various targeted schemes. These are the shared ownership scheme, the 1999 affordable housing scheme and the provisions of Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2004. My Department's approval is not required for applications under these schemes. However, where site subsidy is being applied for under the 1999 affordable housing scheme, Department approval is required as to the level of subsidy payable. Likewise, moneys collected through Part V agreements may only be expended with the prior sanction of my Department.

Different arrangements may in some cases apply to affordable housing developments on State lands under the Sustaining Progress affordable housing initiative under which my Department will be represented on certain public private partnership project boards set up to approve and manage the larger developments.