Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount which the capital funding limits for voluntary and co-operative sector housing will be raised under the new housing strategy; the extent of consultation with the sector in determining these new limits; if the limits are reflective of the real cost of building currently and the expected costs in the short to medium future; and how often the limits will be reviewed in future. [18667/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Since the publication of the Housing Policy Framework — Building Sustainable Communities, funding limits for voluntary and co-operative housing were increased in line with the Building Cost Index by some 20% with effect from 1 February 2006. In consultation with the sector, these limits will be reviewed periodically or as the need arises.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the funding arrangements planned to support increased delivery by the voluntary and co-operative sector; the arrangements and measures which have been developed to date; the arrangements, which have been put into place and are operational; and when he hopes to have the completed suite of arrangements operational. [18668/06]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 313: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures to be introduced in respect of housing for those with special needs, including travellers, to improve inter-agency co-operation where there is a care dimension additional to accommodation needs; and when he expects these measures to be introduced. [18669/06]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 316: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the new Housing Strategy Framework will include energy efficiency systems and installations, such as the provision of double glazing for all social housing stock, both existing and planned, under the commitment to better quality social housing in the framework. [18672/06]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the provisions which are laid down in the new Housing Strategy Framework to prioritise the management and maintenance of social housing estates; the timeframe for the rejuvenation of all run-down social housing estates and remedial works to improve local authority housing; the estimated cost of the proposed regeneration of all run down social housing estates nationally and remedial works to improve local authority housing; the amount of this funding which will be provided by his Department or by central funds; and the amount local authorities will be expected to provide themselves. [18673/06]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 318: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the role that public private partnerships are expected to play in regenerating areas as laid down under the new Housing Strategy Framework. [18674/06]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 319: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the supports, including resources, guidelines and other measures, that will be available to local authorities under the new Housing Strategy Framework in their attempts to tackle anti-social behaviour. [18675/06]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 320: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reforms that will be brought into force in respect of the new Housing Strategy Framework indicating which ones will require the bringing forward of legislation and when such legislation will be expected to be drafted and to come before Dáil Éireann in respect of improvements in the provision of housing advice; new means of assessing need; implementation of a fair rents policy across all social housing tenures; and improved management and maintenance of local authority housing stock and services to tenants. [18676/06]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 321: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the new proposals for improvements in the governance of the voluntary and co-operative housing sector under the new Housing Strategy Framework. [18677/06]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 322: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the operation of and the conditions for qualification under the new tenant purchase scheme proposed in the new Housing Strategy Framework; when he expects this scheme to be piloted; and when he expects it to be fully operational. [18678/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take to Questions Nos. 312, 313 and 316 to 322, inclusive, together.

The new housing policy statement to be published later this year will set out more detailed approaches to implementing the range of initiatives outlined in the Housing Policy Framework: Building Sustainable Communities, published in December 2005. In addition, some of the initiatives outlined in the Framework are also the subject of discussions currently at the Partnership Talks.

Work is already underway in relation to key elements of the framework, building on positive achievements to date such as with regeneration, including the use of public private partnerships to advance regeneration projects. Other elements will require new legislation, for example provisions in support of a new tenant purchase scheme which will allow for the sale of local authority flats under certain conditions will be made in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill currently being prepared in my Department.

The proposed Bill seeks to support the creation of a flexible and graduated system of housing supports for those in need of housing. This aims to improve customer choice in order to meet changing requirements over a person's lifetime, to streamline, and in key areas strengthen, the powers of housing authorities while at the same time making clearer their responsibilities as social landlords and regulators of social housing generally. To these ends, the Bill will provide the legislative basis for the new Rental Accommodation Scheme and strengthened powers for local authorities to combat anti-social behaviour.

Work on the Bill is now under way, including consultation with housing authorities and other key stakeholders, detailed drafting and discussions with Government colleagues.