Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of local authorities that have engaged with the leasing initiative; if participating local authorities have been unable to identify properties suitable for leasing; if local authorities have indicated that they will not participate in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2461/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to the reply to Question No. 2 on today's Order Paper.

To date, some 27 housing authorities and four approved housing bodies have had projects approved under the social housing leasing initiative. These projects comprise over 1,900 units. No housing authorities have indicated that they will not participate in the initiative.

In the first instance, many authorities rightly focused on bringing into the leasing initiative unsold affordable housing which they already had on hands themselves. In terms of rolling out the leasing initiative more widely, I am confident that there is a considerable quantum of suitable available vacant accommodation around the country which could be made available for leasing. Given the work which my Department has undertaken to support the leasing initiative, including the preparation of standard legal documentation and its extension to include the voluntary and co-operative housing sector, and given the impact of the establishment of the National Assets Management Agency in terms of addressing uncertainty in the banking and property sectors, I am satisfied that a solid basis is being put in place to support increased delivery under the initiative this year.