Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 852: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the house completions in each of the past five years; the percentage of these each year which were social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10210/06]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 853: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the house completions in each of the past five years; the percentage of these each year which were second homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10211/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 852 and 853 together.

Housing statistics, including annual completions for the past five years, are published in the housing statistics bulletins which are available in the Oireachtas Library and on the Department's website. My Department does not have a definitive breakdown of house completions either by type of purchaser or whether they were second or holiday homes or intended for renting. However, with the unprecedented demand for housing, fuelled mainly by rapid economic growth and demographic changes, it is clear that there has been significant activity over this period by investors and owners of second properties. This is to be expected in a growing economy and can offer gains in terms of the supply of private rented accommodation, tourist accommodation or revitalisation of areas.

My Department is currently compiling the output figures for social housing for 2005 on the basis of returns from local authorities. These figures will be published in due course in the Department's Annual Housing Statistics Bulletin 2005 and on the Department's website at www.environ.ie. Based on returns to date, I expect an increase in the overall number of units delivered under social housing programmes in 2005 when compared with 2004.

The Government's response to housing need cannot be judged based on the percentage of new social housings units built as a percentage of the overall supply. First, the growth in overall output of housing in Ireland over the past decade has been unprecedented and this in itself is providing greater choice and access to housing for our growing population. The year 2005 represented a further record year, with nearly 81,000 new homes completed.

Second, we now have in place a broad range of targeted measures to meet the needs of lower income groups. In addition to building new homes, local authorities also purchase some second-hand homes for social housing applicants, vacancies arise in the stock and a range of affordable housing schemes are also available. The rolling out of the rental accommodation scheme is further expanding the options available.

The record levels of housing output and increased investment in social and affordable housing measures are demonstrated by the positive impacts of which can be seen in the 10% decrease in waiting lists for local authority housing over the period 2002 to 2005.

In December 2005, the Government launched Housing Policy Framework — Building Sustainable Communities, which sets out its vision for housing policy over the coming years. The framework envisages a substantial increase in investment involving €4 billion in Exchequer capital between 2006 and 2008, which will allow for some 50,000 households to be assisted over the coming three years. We will also be implementing a programme of reforms particularly focused on improving the quality of the social housing environment.