Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will set down national guidelines to local authorities in respect of the application of Part V of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, and the other legislative provisions for social and affordable housing in view of the fact that delivery of the required and expected volumes of social and affordable housing has not happened. [30893/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has issued comprehensive guidelines to assist local authorities in the implementation of Part V of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 on a number of occasions since December, 2000. Guidelines have also been issued in relation to social housing and the various affordable schemes.

Housing Action Plans for the period 2004 – 2008, which set out targets and timescales for delivery of all social and affordable housing, have been reviewed and agreed between my Department and local authorities. The Plans are designed to ensure the continued momentum in the delivery of social and affordable housing output. All schemes are kept under review to ensure that they meet the agreed targets set out in the Action Plans. In addition, a number of schemes are being examined to ensure that delivery is achieved in a targeted and efficient and effective manner.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures in place to ensure that in land swap arrangements in relation to affordable housing provisions represent value for the State in terms of the volume and quality of affordable houses provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30903/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Land exchanges under the Affordable Housing Initiative are subject to a public tendering process which involves a range of rigorous assessments and evaluations. In advance of tendering each site, a feasibility report is prepared in order to examine the options available for leveraging the site for the Initiative and recommend the most appropriate course. In the event that the feasibility report confirms the appropriateness of the land exchange option, a pre-tender valuation is obtained and the site is publicly advertised.

Bids received are assessed in terms of value, the number of affordable homes involved and their location, the timeframe for delivery and the design quality of the development. As part of the evaluation process, the value of each bid, taking account of professional valuation advice, is assessed against the pre-tender valuation of the site. In addition to the design quality of the development being a criterion within the assessment process, all affordable homes provided through land exchanges are required to be covered by Homebond or a similar guarantee scheme. Furthermore, as the homes are sold directly by the selected bidder in a similar manner to that which applies to private sales, each affordable purchaser is in a position to have their home inspected and snagged in the normal way before completing the purchase transaction.