Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 73: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will expedite the implementation of the commitments in Towards 2016 to reform social housing, including adequate funding to cover capital, maintenance and management costs for community and voluntary organisations that are providing social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35276/07]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to the reply to Question No. 65 on today's order paper.

My Department, in conjunction with the Housing Forum and related groups, has been active in progressing the social housing reform programme outlined in Towards 2016 and elaborated upon in the Government's housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities published in February 2007.

Work is well underway on the drafting of a new Housing Bill to underpin the reform process. The Housing Forum has already been consulted on developments in a number of areas including the proposed approach to a new means of assessing housing need and housing allocation policy, both of which will be central to the transformation of housing services over the medium term.

Good progress is being made also on delivery of social housing programmes with indications that there will be some 9,000 new social housing starts in 2007 which is in line with the commitment in Towards 2016 to achieve 27,000 starts in the period 2007 to 2009. Output by the voluntary and co-operative housing sector is expected to reach record levels in 2007.

In line with commitments in Towards 2016, funding levels under the Capital Assistance Scheme were increased to 100% of project cost earlier this year where all tenants are drawn from the local authority social housing list. In addition, new streamlined arrangements for the assessment and approval of schemes will be introduced early next year with the objective speeding up the delivery of projects on the ground.

Record levels of funding in 2008, when over €2.5 billion will be available for housing programmes, are also in line with the commitments to housing in Towards 2016 and the National Development Plan, and will enable local authorities to achieve the ambitious targets set for next year.