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

Question 211: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of home choice loans approved by each local authority in the past 12 months; the number of such houses purchased on the open market by the applicants; the number of purchases in respect of houses specifically identified by the local authorities or his Department under affordable or other schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22631/10]

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

The principal terms and conditions of the scheme are set out under the Housing (Home Choice Loan) Regulations 2009. Loans are available to first time buyers of new and second hand houses or new build houses, other than houses available for sale under tenant purchase, shared ownership or any of the affordable housing schemes. The scheme is administered by designated housing authorities acting on behalf of the authorities generally. Activity since its commencement, by designated authority, is set out in the following table.

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

Question 212: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of housing units funded from the capital programme or otherwise which have been made available to each local authority to address housing needs on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22632/10]

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

Information in relation to the number of housing units funded under the range of housing programmes supported by my Department is set out in my Department's annual and quarterly Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas library and on my Department's website, www.environ.ie. This information is broken down by local authority area.

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

Question 213: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the funding provided by his Department in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and likely spending for 2011 and 2012 in respect of meeting the needs of people on the local authority housing list in respect of each local authority throughout the country; if housing units transferred from the private sector to local authorities are done on the basis of actual market values or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22633/10]

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

Question 214: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the anticipated funding by his Department to meet the local authority housing construction programme or alternative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22634/10]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together.

Total Exchequer expenditure across the various housing programmes was €1,710m in 2008 and €1,392m in 2009. The Exchequer allocation for 2010 is €1,165m. The provision for 2011 and subsequent years will be determined in the context of the determination of the Estimates for Public Services for those years. The Exchequer allocation is supplemented each year by a non-voted allocation comprising loan finance channelled to local authorities from the Housing Finance Agency and local authority own resources. Details of allocations for 2010 to each local authority under the various subheads is available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie(http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/SocialHousingSupport/LocalAuthorityHousing/News/MainBody,22699,en.htm http://www.environ.ie/http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/SocialHousingSupport/LocalAuthorityHousing/News/MainBody,22699,en.htm Local authorities source units for use as social housing from the wider housing market under both the main local authority programme and under the leasing initiative. The price paid for any units acquired under the main programme is determined on the basis of market value. In terms of units sourced under the leasing initiative lease payments are based on a discounted market rent.