Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to address the issue of the long waiting list for local authority houses; if he has issued directions to the local authorities with a view to tackling this housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16472/05]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he will take to increase the local authority social housing output; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16461/05]

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the housing need statistics will be published; the likely level of housing need it will depict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16435/05]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures which have been put in place to ensure that the record increase of 19.3% in local authority housing plans will result in a commensurate increase in output; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16382/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 297: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of families on the local authority housing list; when it is expected that their needs will be met in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16710/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 95, 111, 139, 161 and 297 together.

The results of the statutory assessment of local authority housing need, which was undertaken by local authorities in March 2002, indicated that a total of 48,413 households were in need of housing. The latest triennial statutory assessment of need took place in March 2005 and I anticipate publishing the results in September this year. The deadline for the return of information by local authorities to my Department was fixed for early May and many returns are still outstanding; it is not yet feasible to anticipate the level of housing need which will arise from this year's assessment.

The Government has responded actively to this increased level of social housing need and by expanding social and affordable housing output. New multi-annual action plans have been prepared by local authorities for the provision of social and affordable housing over the period 2004 to 2008. These are designed to assist local authorities in identifying priority needs over the coming years and providing a coherent and co-ordinated response across all housing services, including delivery of housing by the voluntary and co-operative housing sector.

I have secured financial envelopes for the next five years to underpin the multi-annual approach in the action plans. Capital allocation of €841 million has been provided for the construction of local authority housing in 2005, an increase of €100 million on last year's allocation. This will support the commencement of the construction of 6,000 new units by local authorities and the achievement of some 5,500 completions. In addition, house completions by the voluntary and co-operative sector is expected to be some 1,800 units. Overall, in 2005, it is anticipated that total social housing provision, including new local authority housing, vacancies arising in existing houses and output under other social housing measures, will meet the needs of in excess of 13,000 households. In addition, it is anticipated that a number of households currently in private rented accommodation will transfer to the new rental accommodation scheme now being introduced. These households will continue to be mainly accommodated within the private rented sector.