Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 407: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when it is proposed to have the next housing action plan meeting between his Department and Dublin City Council; when the last one was held; and the agenda and outcomes of that meeting. [10106/09]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 412: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason for the delay in making a decision on applications (details supplied) for funding in view of the fact that some have been with his Department for more than two years; the number of housing units proposed; when a decision is expected in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10097/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 412 together.

My Department held a Housing Action Plan meeting with officials from Dublin City Council on 4 March. This was one of the present round of Housing Action Plan meetings held with all Housing Authorities.

The purpose of these meetings is to discuss the direction and content of authorities' proposed Social Housing Investment programmes and particularly to consider the prioritisation of projects and the reconfiguration of the programme as a whole, so that it can be sustained and consolidated in changing economic and budgetary circumstances.

On foot of information furnished in the course of this round of Action Plan meetings I will consider and finalise the 2009 Social Housing Investment Programme allocations and these should be announced in April.

Based on these allocations it will be a matter for housing authorities to finalise their plans for the composition, management and delivery of their programmes, taking into account existing commitments, identifying priority projects and proposals, and providing a time line for delivery and a sustainable funding plan for each project and their programme as a whole.

Further consideration by my Department of any of the projects concerned would be dependent on the priority assigned to it at that stage by Dublin City Council.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 408: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the local authority housing projects submitted for his approval by local authorities, other than Dublin City Council, awaiting decision; the date they were received in his Department; when a decision is expected; and the reason for the delay in making a decision. [10107/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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As stated in the reply to Question No. 346 of 3 March, all decisions regarding capital projects will be taken after the current round of Housing Action Plan review meetings which are currently underway between my Department and local authorities. These meetings will be completed within the next two weeks.

The purpose of these meetings is to review the individual housing investment programmes of each local authority having regard to the availability of public capital funding and the nature and extent of housing need in each local authority area. Once this process has been completed and allocations made to local authorities it will be possible to determine what new projects can proceed in 2009.