Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 364: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of affordable houses and apartment units that remain unsold including those in which contracts have issued to purchasers but sale is not complete; the unit cost paid by local authorities for each and the date of completion; the current market value and date of valuation for each unit; and the total purchase cost of all such units held by local authorities. [43530/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for the operation of the affordable housing schemes is primarily a matter for individual housing authorities. Accordingly, detailed information in relation to the position regarding contracts for sale or other matters in relation to individual affordable homes is not available in my Department.

It is a feature of the operation of the schemes that individual authorities would ordinarily have a certain quantum of completed affordable homes on hands at any given time, principally comprising units either being prepared for, or in the course of, sale. In the context of my Department's ongoing monitoring of progress on the various schemes, and against the current market background, my Department will be reviewing the overall position in regard to activity in the affordable housing sector at year-end. However, the information available from local authorities would suggest that the strong level of affordable housing delivery in 2008 and wider market considerations are combining to increase the stock of homes on hands. As an input to reviewing the end year position, my Department has requested the Affordable Homes Partnership to examine the position in selected areas, in conjunction with the relevant housing authorities, with a view to identifying actions that might assist in the sale of such units or in their deployment for other housing purposes.