Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the extent to which he has measured the total number of families on the various housing lists in local authorities here against the total number of houses vacant, completed or near completion in estates with a view to purchase by the local authorities through the local loans fund with a view to achieving nett savings when setting the annual cost of rent support against such expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37413/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I am determined to ensure that the housing programme continues to be framed in a manner which optimises the delivery of social housing. To achieve this, it is essential that we tailor the use of available Exchequer supports to prevailing market conditions, and explore alternative solutions to address housing 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, in 2009 I announced the introduction of a new Social Housing Leasing Initiative, through which it is expected that a substantial number of dwellings, including newly completed but not yet occupied dwellings, will be provided in the years ahead to meet housing needs, matching up oversupply, where it exists, with existing housing need. The leasing initiative, together with the Rental Accommodation Scheme, complements the traditional capital funded programmes operated through local authorities and the voluntary and co-operative housing sector. In this context there will continue to be provision for the selective acquisition of completed properties by housing authorities and bodies, subject to available capital funding.

I will be keeping the leasing initiative and all the other housing programmes under ongoing review to ensure that they continue to align oversupply of new housing, where it exists, with existing housing need, and that they are appropriately geared towards meeting the maximum level of housing need.