Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the local authorities which have received approval in principle to date in regard to the new leasing initiative; the number of units in relation to same; the local authorities which have entered into lease agreements; the number of properties, the leasing period and the cost involved; if these properties have been leased on a fixed price basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25056/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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To date 9 housing authorities and 1 approved housing body have received approval in principle to enter into advanced negotiations in respect of some 478 units under the new leasing arrangements. These authorities are Dublin City Council; South Dublin, Laois, Wexford, Limerick, Sligo, Meath and Leitrim County Councils; and Sligo Borough Council.

In relation to the projects approved, no lease agreements have yet been entered into and given the ongoing nature of the contract negotiations, it would be inappropriate to give further details on the cost or any other terms of the proposed lease agreements.

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason he will not collect data on the proportion of housing allocated by local authorities to people with disabilities; and if he will collect this information in future. [25111/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The data my Department currently collects in relation to allocations are limited to the total number of lettings made by an authority in an individual year. The Central Statistics Office, however, collects data on the number of people with a disability and the types of accommodation in which people with disabilities live, including local authority housing. The 2006 census shows that 12% of people with disabilities are renting accommodation from a local authority.

In addition to this, the tri-annual housing needs assessment, which is undertaken by local authorities, seeks to identify the number of people with a disability who require housing within a local authority area and the household's specific accommodation requirements. This information is used to assist the authority in its plan for addressing housing need within their functional area.

The national housing strategy for people with a disability is being progressed by my Department, with assistance from a National Advisory Group under the aegis of the Housing Forum, which involves a range of relevant stakeholders including the National Disability Authority. It is intended that this strategy will be finalised by the end of 2009, and as part of this process my Department will consider further the collection of data in relation to the housing of persons with disabilities.