Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he will take to remedy the situation whereby the capital funding limits for housing associations are based on out-of-date building prices, making it difficult for the housing associations to prepare costing; if he will adjust or increase the limits in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30373/05]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will increase capital funding limits for housing associations from their current limits, which were set in 2002, to more realistic limits as housing associations are unable to prepare costings or obtain builders at 2002 building prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30363/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 165 together.

The voluntary and co-operative housing sector has an important contribution to make in the provision of social housing. The Government is fully committed to developing and expanding the sector and to supplying the necessary resources and support to enable it to become an important and significant force and provider in the housing area. There has been a steady increase in output by the sector from a level of 579 units of accommodation in 1999 to reach a record output of more than 1,600 units in 2004. The level of assistance available to approved housing bodies under the capital assistance and capital loan and subsidy schemes remains under consideration.