John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 936: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will take a new housing initiative in an effort to combat ongoing housing shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23598/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, and the National Development Plan 2007-2013 (NDP) reflect the strong commitment to expand social and affordable housing provision contained in the social partnership agreement Towards 2016. The NDP provides the resources — some €18 billion in total — which will support increased output from social and affordable housing measures and result in the needs of some 140,000 new households being met in this period.

Within this, a significant programme of activity to assist house purchase is provided for. In particular, over the period of the NDP, some 40,000 households will benefit from affordable housing. While the supply of affordable housing has increased consistently over recent years and further expansion is envisaged, my Department continues to work closely with local authorities and the Affordable Homes Partnership (AHP) to achieve the significant increase in delivery required to meet these ambitious targets.

In that context, the AHP 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. Preparations for the introduction of a new Incremental Purchase Scheme, to be targeted at households with an income lower than that required for affordable housing, are also underway.

In addition, the NDP resources will be used to meet the needs of some 100,000 households through a range of social housing measures. A total of 63,000 new social homes will be commenced/acquired in the period 2007-2013, through a combination of local authority, voluntary and co-operative housing and new units for the Rental Accommodation Scheme. Further households will benefit either as they transfer to the Rental Accommodation Scheme with their existing landlords or from naturally occurring vacancies.

The impact of the record levels of investment that the Government is committing to these housing programmes is now being seen. Last year, some 13,000 social and affordable housing units were delivered — a record level of output — and the resources allocated this year will allow for the commencement of a significant number of new social housing units, further progress under regeneration programmes, and the completion of a large number of units under both the local authority and voluntary housing programmes.