Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 419: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made regarding the long term lease scheme announced by him in 2009 nationally and in County Kerry; the number of applications that have been received in respect of LTS; the number that have been successful; the number of same that have unsuccessful; the reason for same; when he expects to roll out this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22916/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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To the end of quarter 1 2010, my Department has received some 112 applications, comprising 2,801 units, under the Social Housing Leasing Initiative. Of these, 71 applications have been given approval, 25 are under consideration, 12 have been placed on hold and a further 4 refused. In Kerry, 1 application has been given approval with a further application under consideration.

Applications have been refused when they do not comply with the conditions governing the Social Housing Leasing Initiative. It is essential that the use of the leasing option complies fully with the sustainable communities philosophy at the heart of Government housing policy, as outlined in Delivering Homes Sustaining Communities. Leasing proposals must ensure that accommodation is in a location and of a type that can appropriately meet the needs of persons on local authority housing lists and does not conflict with the overall sustainable communities objective. The progress made in 2009 will be built on and developed further in the year ahead. It is anticipated that the leasing initiative and the RAS programme will together deliver some 4,000/4,500 units in 2010, accounting for 50% of the total social housing output expected this year.