Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he will take to increase voluntary housing output; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16463/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The voluntary and co-operative housing sector has an important contribution to make in the provision of social housing. By working in close partnership with local authorities, it plays a significant role in supplementing the efforts of local authorities in providing social housing in areas where particular housing needs have been identified. It is supported by my Department through two separate funding schemes, the capital assistance scheme and the loan subsidy scheme.

The Government is fully committed to developing and expanding the sector and to supplying the necessary resources and support to enable it become an important and significant force and provider in the housing area. This commitment is reflected in the National Development Plan 2000-2006, which includes ambitious targets for output by the sector for each year of the plan. There has been a steady increase in output by the sector from a level of 579 units of accommodation in 1999 to a record output of over 1,600 units in 2004.

Capital spending on these schemes has been increased significantly from €47 million in 1999 to €183 million in 2004. In conjunction with this funding for the voluntary housing programmes, my Department has also initiated the development by local authorities of five year action plans, commencing in 2004, for the delivery of social and affordable housing, including the voluntary programme, to ensure a systematic and integrated approach to the effective use of these resources. I am concerned to ensure that the considerable investment involved will continue to increase output of the sector and reach the targets contained in the current and subsequent action plans.