Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department has estimated the likely demand for local authority housing over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16589/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The most recent assessment of the need for social housing which was undertaken by local authorities in March 2005 indicated that there were 43,684 households on local authority housing waiting lists compared with 48,413 households in March 2002 a decrease of almost 10%. More comprehensive data on the assessment at an individual local authority level will be published shortly in the Annual Bulletin of Housing Statistics and on my Department's website at www.environ.ie.

The Government's commitment to addressing the housing waiting lists is reflected in the 5% increase in the provision for social and affordable housing for 2006. The 5% increase in the 2006 provision for housing 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.

In December 2005, the Government launched a new Housing Policy Framework: Building Sustainable Communities which outlines key principles underpinning housing policy and investment over the 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.