David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he will take to ensure that all local authorities build an adequate amount of social or affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31004/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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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 amounting to close to €4 billion in Exchequer capital spending over the period 2006 to 2008. The Government have committed in the social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, to further additional investment in social housing with 27,000 new units to be started or acquired over the period 2007 to 2009. It is envisaged that these new units will be delivered through a combination of local authority social housing, voluntary and co-operative sector social housing and long-term contracts for new supply under the Rental Accommodation Scheme.

Further households will benefit from the full implementation of the Rental Accommodation Scheme involving contractual arrangements with landlords for existing properties transferring from rent supplement. Over the same period it is expected that some 17,000 units of affordable housing will be delivered. As a result of the various social and affordable housing measures the needs of some 60,000 new households will be met over the period 2007-2009.

The main strategy for delivery of the Governments social and affordable housing programme is through the local authority 5-year Action Plans for social and affordable housing. The Action Plans, now at their midway stage are currently being reviewed. The reviews are focusing on examining how targets have been met in the first two years of the plan and on incorporating any adjustments required for the remaining years of the plan, in light of outcomes including expected 2006 outputs, and the results of the recent Housing Needs Assessment.

An Action Plan Working Group is currently being formed to carry out national analysis of local reviews. As well as examining outcomes to date the Group will consider any actions required to improve delivery and monitoring of Action Plans. This will ensure that the action plan process continues to provide local authorities with a framework for the integrated and cohesive planning and delivery of social and affordable housing measures, based on their relevant housing strategy, over the coming years.