Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 457: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide the necessary permanent housing to meet the housing needs of persons on housing waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28016/09]

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

It is a matter for individual housing authorities to plan their social housing investment programmes having regard to the specific social housing priorities in their areas and to the Exchequer funding allocations available to them. €1.3 billion is being provided for the broad range of social housing programmes this year, with €760m of this earmarked for the main local authority housing programme, including €20 million for long-term leasing arrangements.

Under the social housing investment programme, local authorities traditionally met social housing needs mainly through the construction of housing in local authority estates. In recent years, the supply channels have been expanded to include an increased number of acquisitions, in particular under Part V agreements, new arrangements with private landlords under the Rental Accommodation Scheme and, more recently, the long-term leasing initiative. At the same time there has also been an expansion in the scale of accommodation provided through the voluntary and co-operative housing sector.

Taking all the social housing programmes together, including those of the voluntary and co-operative housing sector, and having regard to the capacity to access suitable housing available in the current housing market through the long-term leasing initiative, it is expected that in the region of 7,000 dwellings will be provided this year.

The scale and composition of the public housing programme in the years ahead will be dependent on a number of factors, including the level of available funding and the evolution of the housing market generally. Subject to these factors, I am determined to ensure that the programme is framed in a manner which maximises the capacity to meet housing needs, particularly in respect of the most vulnerable sections of society.