Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the introduction of legislation to give local authorities powers to compulsory purchase order land at existing use value for the construction of social housing. [30321/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The ninth progress report of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution, concerning private property, NESC report No. 112, Housing in Ireland: Performance and Policy and the Goodbody Economic Consultants' report, Rationale for and Impact of a Use it or Lose it Scheme, contain analysis and-or recommendations on issues pertinent to the question and my Department is giving careful consideration to these recommendations.

In response the Government has approved the establishment of the affordable homes partnership to drive and co-ordinate the delivery of affordable housing in the greater Dublin area; the preparation of legislative proposals for additional powers should the partnership need these to deliver fully on its mandate; and the review by all local authorities of their land management strategies to maximise the availability of land for their own housing programmes, voluntary housing, and housing partnerships with the private sector.

In this context, work is proceeding on legislation which could entail compulsory acquisition of land at below market value in specified circumstances.

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the consideration he has given to the NESC report, Housing in Ireland: Performance and Policy; the legislative measures he will take arising from the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30388/05]

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will implement the recommendations made by the report of the All-Party Committee on the Constitution on the process of building land; the planned timeframe for implementing these recommendations; if he will report to Dáil Éireann on his strategy for such an implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30389/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 194 together.

The Government has been making substantial progress in addressing the concerns raised in the NESC report and the report of the All-Party Committee on the Constitution with record housing output levels and increased investment in social and affordable housing measures. The recently launched affordable homes partnership provides further demonstration in this regard. In addition consideration is to be given to approaches dealing with land options and a "use it or lose it" scheme. As part of the broader delivery of housing nationally, all local authorities will review their land management strategies to maximise the availability of land for their own housing programmes, voluntary and co-operative housing, housing partnerships with the private sector and to secure more active use of brownfield land and derelict sites.

These measures are designed to provide a practical response, focused on delivery to the policy challenges identified by NESC and APOCC. NESC also highlighted a number of issues, particular in the social housing area, for further consideration. The Government intends to address these more medium-term issues for the provision of social and affordable housing shortly. This process will be informed by the outcome of the statutory housing needs assessment being finalised at present and the work under way by the housing forum in reviewing the effectiveness of the existing social and affordable housing schemes in the context of the Sustaining Progress agreement.