John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 496: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are 699 persons on the housing list in Sligo County Council and 618 in Sligo Borough Council; the steps he has taken to remove the inequalities in the housing system here; the directive he has issued to increase the social housing budget in County Sligo to tackle the growing numbers of persons on the lists who can never afford to purchase their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7707/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The last triennial statutory assessment of housing needs was undertaken by local authorities in March 2005. The results of the 2005 assessment are available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. The number of households in need of social housing in Sligo County Council and Sligo Borough Council at that time with comparative figures for 2002 are set out in the following table.

In December 2005, the Government launched a new Housing Policy Framework: Building Sustainable Communities, which outlines key principles underpinning housing policy and investment over coming years. Substantial increased investment in social and affordable housing is outlined in the framework. This will allow for some 23,000 new social homes to be commenced between 2006 and 2008 and some 15,000 affordable homes to be delivered. In total, some 50,000 households will benefit over the coming three years from an Exchequer capital investment package of close to €4 billion. Allied to this, a package of reforms is proposed to improve equity, efficiency and effectiveness. The focus is on improving community participation, improving services to ensure personal choice, autonomy and responsibility.

Given the substantial funding available, I have urged local authorities, including Sligo Borough Council, to accelerate progress on the implementation of their housing programmes in order to commence construction and secure completion on as many social housing schemes as possible in 2006. In addition, the council has a number of refurbishment projects currently under way or due to commence in estates, including St. Edward's Terrace, Brigid's Terrace-Jinks Avenue, St. Joseph's Terrace, Garravogue Villas and Cranmore.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 497: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will give a firm commitment that funding will be ringfenced for the refurbishment/regeneration programme to include extensive programme in Sligo borough including proposed Cranmore regeneration, Sligo; the moneys that will be sanctioned; the timescale involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7708/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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It is understood that Sligo Borough Council are finalising proposals on the scope of the regeneration work to Cranmore Estate for submission to my Department. The question of committing funding to this project is dependent of my Department's assessment of these proposals. In the meantime, my Department has approved the council's proposals to refurbish a small number of vacant houses in the estate prior to the main regeneration work to the estate. The council is currently in the process of seeking tenders for this refurbishment work.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 498: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of local authority houses currently vacant in an area of County Mayo; the number of people on the housing list in that area; the reason the local authority is not re-allocating vacant houses particularly when there are so many people on the housing list; and if the local authority will be instructed to re-allocate these houses immediately. [7740/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Information on the number of local authority vacant houses in the area in question in County Mayo is not available in my Department. The action plan on social and affordable housing for 2004-2008 for County Mayo details the numbers, but not the location, of local authority vacant houses in the four authorities in the county. It is the responsibility of the local authorities concerned to ensure that their houses are relet to households on their waiting lists as quickly as possible after they are vacated. Some houses may require refurbishment before they are relet and this is a matter for individual authorities.

My Department provides capital funding, subject to conditions, to local authorities for the refurbishment of houses that have remained vacant for periods longer than six months and require major refurbishment. Local authorities are required to meet from their own resources the first €10,000 of the cost of such refurbishment in respect of each dwelling.

The results of the 2005 housing needs assessment which indicates the number of households in need of social housing, including information on the number of households in need of social housing in the four authorities in County Mayo, is available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. The area referred to is not a separate housing authority administrative area and separate data in relation to it is not available in my Department.