Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of outstanding loans under the shared ownership scheme in 2004; and the total subvention awarded towards the cost of the rental element. [18915/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Mortgage finance for the shared ownership scheme is generally provided by the housing finance agency and administered by individual local authorities. Accordingly, statistics relating to the number of loans advanced to fund shared ownership transactions or the number outstanding are not available in my Department. However, information on activity under the scheme for each local authority is available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie.

Some €2,770,818 was paid to the local authorities in respect of rent subsidy under the shared ownership scheme for 2004.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of social houses completed in 2004; and his estimates of the average cost per unit. [18916/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Some 6,117 units were completed in 2004 under both the local authority housing construction-acquisition and voluntary housing programmes. Taking account of new local authority housing, vacancies arising in existing houses and output under the range of other social housing measures the needs of over 12 ,000 households were met last year. In 2005, it is anticipated that the needs of in excess of 13,000 households will be met from the same measures.

The average cost of a housing unit provided in 2004 under both the local authority housing construction programme and the voluntary housing programmes is estimated at €150,000.