Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will make a statement on the progress of his aim to expand the social and affordable housing scheme to meet the needs of 90,000 households as laid down in the programme for Government. [2332/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Despite the challenges currently faced in the housing sector, significant levels of activity have been achieved under the range of housing supports funded by my Department in recent years. Through these, the accommodation needs of over 20,200 households were met in 2008, an increase of 10% on corresponding figure of 18,300 in 2007. Final data in respect of 2009 are not yet available.

Meeting housing need remains a high priority for the Government. While ensuring that we can deliver across the full range of needs, 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.

I am determined to ensure that the overall delivery programme is framed in a manner which continues to optimise the way in which needs are met. To achieve this, it is essential that we tailor the available Exchequer supports to prevailing market conditions, and explore alternative solutions to address needs, having full regard to the sustainable communities philosophy outlined in the Government's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities.

To this end, the range of delivery mechanisms continues to be adapted and expanded. For example, last year, I introduced a new social housing leasing initiative, under which in excess of 1,900 units were sourced in 2009 and through which I expect a substantial number of units to be provided in the years ahead to meet housing needs, estimated at just over 56,000 households in the 2008 housing needs assessment. This, together with the rental accommodation scheme, complements the traditional capital funded programmes operated through local authorities and the voluntary and co-operative housing sector.

I will be keeping the leasing initiative and all the other housing programmes under ongoing review to ensure that they are appropriately geared towards meeting the maximum level of housing need.

In relation to affordable housing, rather than setting targets for delivery, the emphasis this year, having regard to developments in the housing market, will be on continuing to progress measures to ensure the most effective deployment of already delivered but unsold affordable homes, including their use for social housing purposes.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of persons on social housing lists by local authority in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2462/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The number of households on a local authority's waiting list continuously fluctuates as households on the list are allocated housing and new households apply for housing support. My Department does not hold information in relation to the numbers currently on waiting lists in local authorities.

A statutory assessment of housing need is carried out every three years by all housing authorities in accordance with the terms of the Housing Act 1988. The last assessment took place in 2008 and indicated that there were 56,249 households in need of social housing support. Further information regarding the assessment, including a breakdown of housing need figures by housing authority, is available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie.