Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way in which the targets for social housing completions, as set down by the national development plan, can be met by the end of 2006, in view of the 5% increase in funding as announced in the Estimates 2006. [36657/05]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the percentage of persons currently on social housing waiting lists which he expects will be housed in 2006 based on the fact that local authority and social housing programmes received only a 5% increase in the 2006 pre-budget Estimates. [36581/05]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether the 5% increase in local authority and social housing programmes announced in the Estimates 2006 will be enough to make up for the delay and lack of delivery of the Government's commitments in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36617/05]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress which he expects to make on housing persons currently on social housing waiting lists in view of the fact that local authority and social housing programmes received only a 5% increase in the 2006 pre-budget Estimates. [36583/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 29, 86 and 113 together.

The publication of the Abridged Estimates Volume, AEV, is the first step in the Estimates process and does not take account of any further adjustments, particularly in relation to capital provision which may be announced on budget day. The 5% increase in the 2006 provision for housing, announced in the AEV, corresponds to an investment programme of €1.3 billion in 2006. This is a significant financial commitment and maintains the momentum of a sustained period of investment in housing in recent years.

Since 1997, over €7 billion in funding has been provided under a range of social and affordable housing programmes and at the end of this year that investment will have met the needs of some 100,000 households.

The 2006 provision will reinforce this progress and it is anticipated that the needs of over 13,000 households will be met next year, including some 5,500 completions under the main local authority programme; 1,850 units to be completed by the voluntary and co-operative sector; and continued focus on regeneration and delivery of some 3,000 units of affordable housing.

The commitment to multi-annual capital programmes and the introduction of five-year local authority action plans for housing provide a strong strategic framework for the major investment programme in progress. The NDP provides the development strategy at national level and while output levels for social housing have been less than anticipated, housing has made an important contribution to infrastructural development and social inclusion. Investment in the 2000-04 period under the NDP, at €6.86 billion, was almost 10% ahead of forecast expenditure and has resulted in record levels of completions.

There have been major advances in housing over the past decade. The overall supply has increased dramatically and the options open to people seeking to avail of social and affordable housing have improved. The AEV has once again provided for record levels of funding for the broad range of social and affordable housing. I am confident that with local authority action plans in place, supported by the significant levels of investment that I have outlined, real benefits will be seen in terms of both the output and the quality of social housing provision and in a reduction of numbers on waiting lists in 2006.