Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of the promised 2,000 to 4,000 houses that have been brought into social use as part of the general leasing scheme announced in February 2009 not including unsold affordable houses leased in partnership with the voluntary sector housing associations. [15936/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The leasing initiative encompasses a number of different strands. Dwellings are acquired by housing authorities on long term (up to 20 year) leases from private owners, dwellings are provided by approved housing bodies under long-term availability agreements and vacant and unsold affordable units are leased to approved housing bodies (in the latter case, the lease period is for 5 years initially).

To the end of March 2010, a total 2,289 units had been sourced and approved for leasing in order to meet the housing needs of persons requiring social housing support.

A breakdown by status under each of the main strands is set out in the table below. Projects are deemed operational when, following approval by the Department, all agreements have been signed and the local authority or the approved housing body, as the case may be, commences the process of allocating properties to tenants.

* This includes 64 units currently being constructed as part of a build to lease contract