Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the work and objectives of the new Centre for Housing Research; its annual budget and membership of the board of management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9475/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The new Centre for Housing Research replaces the housing unit which was set up as a joint initiative between my Department and the local authorities in 1998. The overall purpose of the centre is to facilitate the improved management of the public and social housing sector and, in this regard the centre will continue to undertake tasks previously done by the housing unit. These tasks include the publication of guidelines for housing practitioners on best practice for the management of social housing; working with local authorities and other social housing sectors to identify training needs for both local authority staff and tenants and, devising programmes and strategies to meet those needs. In addition, the new centre will now be enabled to expand its research role and conduct and commission relevant research as appropriate.

Funding of up to €300,000 will be provided this year for the centre. Its board of management consists of the following members: Eddie Lewis, principal officer, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government; Peter Humphreys, executive director, Institute of Public Administration; a representative of the County and City Managers' Association who has not yet been nominated; Donal McManus, executive director, Irish Council for Social Housing; and David Silke, director, Centre for Housing Research.