Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 558: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to extend the remit of the affordable homes partnership nationwide to cover areas where affordability is a problem to accelerate the provision of affordable housing. [19377/08]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 559: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to introduce new incentives for the provision of affordable housing. [19378/08]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 560: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to put in place an appropriate tax incentive scheme to operate in areas in association with the affordable homes partnership. [19379/08]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 561: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to expand the paths to home ownership to assist the maximum number of people in gaining a stake in their own home. [19380/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 558 to 561, inclusive, together.

While continuing to have a particular focus on the Greater Dublin Area, the remit of the Affordable Homes Partnership was extended in June 2007 in relation to a number of affordable housing issues. These include issues in relation to communications on affordable housing, and common approaches to affordable housing application systems and to the implementation of Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2006. In relation to affordable housing supply, the Partnership was requested to conduct a study on ways in which the range of existing affordable housing mechanisms might be improved or expanded in order, principally, to increase supply and accelerate delivery. The study is now completed and the resultant report, "Increasing Affordable Housing Supply", has been published for public consultation with a view to submitting proposals to Government following completion of the consultation process underway. The particular issues referred to in the questions would fall to be considered in that context.

The housing policy statement of February 2007, "Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities", signalled the intention to introduce a scheme of tenant purchase for local authority apartments and a scheme of incremental purchase targeted at households with an income lower than that required for affordable housing. Work is continuing on the drafting of the necessary legislative provisions for these schemes in the context of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which is scheduled to be published in the current parliamentary session. Arrangements are also being considered for the piloting of the proposed incremental purchase scheme in certain areas.