James Breen (Clare, Independent)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will make a statement on the progress of implementing the report Property Rights under the Constitution. [31504/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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In the context of its continuing commitment to meeting the range of housing needs, the Government has given careful consideration to the Ninth Progress Report of the All Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution, APOCC, concerning private property, as well as Report No. 112 of the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, Housing in Ireland: Performance and Policy, and a report by Goodbody Economic Consultants.

The Government has been concerned to develop responses which are practical and focused on delivery and which have regard also to the current background of substantial progress in housing, with record output levels and increased investment in social and affordable housing measures.

In this context, the Government has already approved the establishment of the affordable homes partnership to drive and co-ordinate the delivery of affordable housing in the greater Dublin area; and the preparation of legislative proposals for additional powers should the partnership need these to deliver fully on its mandate.

As part of the broader delivery of housing nationally, all local authorities will be asked to 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. My Department will communicate with local authorities in this regard shortly.

In addition, my Department is giving detailed consideration to a possible "use it or lose it" scheme that could entail compulsory acquisition of land for housing purposes at below market value in specified circumstances, and to the treatment of land purchase options.

In relation to recommendations in the APOCC report concerning infrastructure, my Department is preparing a strategic infrastructure Bill which, among other things, will provide a mechanism to accelerate delivery of relevant infrastructure, amend the requirement for property referencing prior to compulsory acquisition of land, and modify the right to compensation for the acquisition of subsurface property rights.