Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 441: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will allocate sufficient funds for a comprehensive local authority housing building programme in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22813/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I recently informed local authorities of their financial capital allocations for their local authority housing programmes and have urged them to accelerate progress on the implementation of their housing programmes in order to commence construction and secure completion of as many social housing schemes as possible in 2006. An allocation of €43.2 million has been notified to the Kildare authorities of which €42 million is in respect to the main housing construction programme; this will provide for an estimated 300 house completions and the commencement of over 250 housing starts in 2006.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 442: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will allocate sufficient funds to increase maximum loan available through the shared ownership scheme to a realistic level and thereby ensure that applicants are not forced to seek supplementary loans from other sources, thereby undermining their ability to repay the combined amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22814/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 238 and 239 of 4 May 2006. The loan limit for the Shared Ownership Scheme was reviewed and increased with effect from 1 January 2006. The maximum loan that may now be advanced by a local authority in respect of the share of a dwelling being purchased (minimum 40%) is €185,000. While the cost of a dwelling may substantially exceed this amount, the borrower's income must be sufficient to meet the financial commitments involved under the scheme. In determining the level of approved finance or the maximum house price, local authorities are duty bound to consider the ability of applicants to make the necessary mortgage and rent payments. I have no proposals to increase loan limits further but will continue to keep them under review.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 443: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact some applicants for local authority houses have been on waiting lists for more than seven years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22815/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The relative priority of households on the local authority waiting lists is determined in accordance with the authorities' schemes of letting priorities, the making of which is a function reserved to the elected members. It is the case that some applicants for local authority housing are on waiting lists for longer periods on the basis that their housing need has a relative lower priority compared with the needs of households who have been allocated housing.

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.