Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 115: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of social housing units completed in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7406/07]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department is currently compiling figures from local authorities on social housing output for 2006. Current indications are that there were in the region of 6,200 local authority and voluntary housing units completed/ acquired in 2006. Detailed figures on a local authority basis will be published in due course in my Department's Annual Housing Statistics Bulletin for 2006 and on the Department's website at www.environ.ie.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 116: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the estimated cost to the State of implementing all of the proposed measures in Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities between now and 2012, between now and 2016 and for each year up to 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7458/07]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 195: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the current annual cost to the State of the provision of social housing, provision of affordable housing, the RAS scheme, rent supplement, mortgage interest relief and all other forms of housing assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7459/07]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 195 together.

The programme of investment and the policy priorities reflected in Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities underpin the approach to increased housing investment set out in the National Development Plan 2007-2013. The NDP envelope provides for an investment programme of some €21 billion, including the provision of €3 billion for SWA Rent Supplement.

As agreed in Towards 2016, some 27,000 new social homes will be commenced or acquired and 17,000 new affordable units will be delivered in the initial 2007-2009 period. The resources being made available under the NDP will allow for similar levels of activity post 2009 and in total, it is estimated that the needs of some 140,000 households will be met over the full period of the Plan. The actual delivery will be determined as part of the mid-term review of the NDP in accordance with the commitment in Towards 2016 to review progress taking account of market developments and capacity.

The total Exchequer provision for housing in 2007 is €1.495 billion. In addition, more than €700m in non-Exchequer finance will be available to local authorities primarily in the form of HFA loan finance for on lending to purchasers under the various affordable housing schemes. The Department of Social and Family Affairs provision for SWA Rent Supplement in 2007 is €405m and it is estimated that mortgage interest relief in 2007 will cost some €480m.

Full details of the 2007 Exchequer and non-Exchequer investment programme for housing are set out in the Revised Estimates for the Public Services 2007 and the Public Capital Programme 2007 which were published on 22 February 2007.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 117: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures his Department plan to take to monitor whether social integration of different income groups in new housing developments as guaranteed in Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 is being implemented to its fullest capacity. [7334/07]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Earlier this month, I published a new housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, the central objective of which is the creation of sustainable communities — places where people want to live and work, now and in the future. A key element of the sustainable communities agenda is the achievement of integrated housing developments meeting the needs of people from a variety of social backgrounds.

A broad programme of actions is being implemented to support the realisation of that sustainable communities vision. Among the key elements involved is the effective implementation of Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2006.

Under Part V, each planning authority is required to prepare a housing strategy to ensure that the authority's Development Plan, into which the strategy is incorporated, provides for the housing requirements of the existing and future population of the area. Among the factors which planning authorities are statutorily obliged to take into account when preparing housing strategies are the need to ensure that housing is available for persons with different levels of income and the need to counteract undue social segregation in housing.

In the context of finalising individual agreements with developers under Part V, each planning authority must give careful consideration to its housing strategy. In particular, where the agreement would provide for Part V to be satisfied by means other than the provision of land on-site, the planning authority must consider a range of factors, including whether the agreement will contribute effectively and efficiently to the achievement of the objectives of the housing strategy, and whether the agreement would constitute the best use of the resources available to the authority to ensure an adequate supply of housing.

On the basis of the information available, I am satisfied that, in overall terms, Part V is being implemented in a manner which delivers effectively on social integration objectives.