Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide this Deputy with a complete copy of a review (details supplied). [32215/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government, the operation of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 was reviewed to ensure that it was meeting its objectives in relation to social and affordable housing.

Officials in my Department in consultation with the major stakeholders undertook the review. As part of the review, a wide range of interested bodies including local authorities and representatives of the house building industry, professional institutes and social housing providers were consulted.

On foot of the review a paper was prepared for the Government addressing the options available and setting out how the Minister proposed to proceed. By reason of Cabinet confidentiality it is not possible to release this document to the Deputy. The Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2002, which came into force on 24 December 2002 made the resulting modifications to Part V.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his Department's policy in relation to funding for voluntary housing projects; the policy in relation to the provision of heating by geo-thermal methods versus oil, gas and electricity; the guides for his Department in making a final decision on that issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32216/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides capital funding to assist voluntary and co-operative housing associations to deliver high quality housing for low income families as well as for vulnerable groups such as elderly people, people with disabilities, the homeless and travellers. Earlier this year I substantially increased the capital funding limits for voluntary and co-operative housing projects. My Department's involvement with the capital funding schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The administration of the scheme, and the certification that particular projects comply with the terms of the scheme, are the responsibility of the local authority.

My Department's Social Housing Design Guidelines provide general design guidance at the level of both the overall scheme and the individual dwelling unit. The guidelines state that the choice of heating system and fuel should be determined primarily by expected capital and running costs, including possible servicing and maintenance costs and the preferences of the likely occupants. Regard should also be had to efficiency in use, ease of operation and expected emissions of smoke, carbon dioxide and other harmful gasses. Where natural gas is available on-site, it should generally be the preferred fuel for space and water heating, unless there are particular reasons for the use of an alternative fuel. Consideration should also be given to the possibility of using solar panels or other renewable energy technology to provide a proportion of the energy for space and water heating, where economical and practical. The use of geothermal or other alternative systems should be determined on the basis of technical merit and cost and will be considered for funding by my Department following a technical assessment by Sustainable Energy Ireland.