Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 624: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he proposes to change the procedure whereby annual capital grants are allocated to town councils with housing authority status; his views on whether such a change would diminish the status of such councils; the evidence that exists to indicate that a county based allocation alone will result in greater and more efficient social housing output; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31473/07]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 666: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if it is his intention that the allocation of funding for new house starts in 2008 will be sent to individual councils that is, town councils, borough councils, city councils and county councils or if it if his intention that the money be issued to the county councils to be disbursed by them; if the latter, his views on whether this is in contravention of his stated objective for the devolution of powers and of subsidiarity and that any such change is a departure from the traditional system and a removal of another power as housing authority from town councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31179/07]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 624 and 666 together.

As early as possible in 2008 I intend to provide county and city councils with an indication of the general level of Exchequer funding that will be available over the next three years for the main housing investment programmes. County Councils will be expected to co-ordinate the planning for the various housing programmes for their county areas. My Department will then meet and discuss their plans with each housing authority as part of the Housing Action Plan review process. By the end of the first quarter of next year I expect to be in a position to announce the allocations for 2008 for each housing authority. One local authority already manages its housing programme on a county at large basis for operational reasons. For the most part, however, the allocations in 2008 will be made directly to city, county, borough, and town councils.

It is recognised that over time the management and integration of operational programmes has become more complex and some pooling of resources at a county level is required to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of the programmes. Against this background and in the context of developing further the multi-annual financial framework for the housing investment programmes, I am considering how to provide greater flexibility for housing authorities in the management of their programmes.