Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 998: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of social housing units delivered by the voluntary housing sector on a county basis for each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12254/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Details of accommodation provided under my Department's Capital Funding Schemes by approved voluntary and co-operative housing bodies for the years 2000 to 2006 and for the first 9 months of 2007 are published in my Department's Annual Housing Statistics Bulletin, and in the relevant quarterly bulletins for 2007, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library and on the Department's website www.environ.ie.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 999: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he proposes to change the funding arrangements in place for voluntary housing associations; and if it is his intention that funding for such developments will come in future from each local authority's capital allocation. [12255/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of accommodation by approved voluntary and co-operative housing bodies is an integral part of my Department's overall response to delivering on social housing need. Funding of up to 100% of the approved cost is available for the provision of permanent accommodation for low-income families and groups with special housing needs, including the elderly, the homeless and persons with an intellectual or physical disability.

My Department's involvement with the voluntary and co-operative housing schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The administration of the schemes and the certification that particular projects comply with the terms of the funding schemes, are the responsibility of the local authority.

In the interest of adopting a more integrated approach to meeting housing needs in individual local authority areas, my Department is moving towards a system of allocating the funding available under the Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme on a local authority basis. These allocations are additional to, and will remain separate from, allocations made to local authorities for their own social housing programmes and will be devoted solely to voluntary and co-operative housing activity within individual local authority areas.

Overall, this year, my Department is providing a record €290 million for the voluntary and co-operative housing sector. The entire allocation is ring-fenced for projects being advanced by approved housing bodies and I have no proposals to change this arrangement.