Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 260: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way, and the arrangements through which, he will ensure that a consistent supply of homes for social housing applicants will be delivered through the social housing leasing schemes. [42236/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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For some time now the social housing investment programme has been undergoing a significant restructuring to shift the focus increasingly towards more flexible delivery mechanisms, including through the introduction of long term leasing arrangements, with a lesser reliance on construction and acquisition. This is in line with the reform agenda clearly set out under the Government's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities.

I am confident that there is a considerable supply of suitable available vacant accommodation around the country which can be made available for leasing. This is evidenced by the sourcing of almost 2,800 units, to the end of October 2010, and of these almost 1,000 are operational with agreements signed. I expect further substantial numbers of units to be provided in the years ahead to meet housing needs.

My Department has engaged the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency to provide on-going support and advice to local authorities on the leasing initiative, in general and also on an individual project basis. Given the work which my Department has undertaken to support the leasing initiative and its extension to include the voluntary and co-operative housing sector, and given the impact of the establishment of the National Asset Management Agency, I am satisfied that a solid basis is being put in place to support increased delivery under the initiative.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the date and format planned for the 2011 housing needs assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42237/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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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 and involves local authorities assessing all households on their waiting lists, to determine whether they are/remain eligible for and in need of social housing support.

The social housing reform programme, which was given legislative effect by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, provides for a new process of housing needs assessment. Regulations which will set out the detailed provisions of the assessment process will be made later this year. They will include provisions on –

- how applications for social housing should be made including which authority an applicant may apply to;

- the manner in which an authority will conduct housing needs assessments;

- the criteria for determining eligibility for social housing support ;

- the determination of what form of social housing should be provided;

- when a housing authority should carry out an update or review of a social housing assessment; and

- rules for carrying out the statutory summary of social housing assessments.

The regulations will provide a standard approach to the carrying out of assessments across all housing authorities.

In September 2010, my Department issued a circular letter to housing authorities advising them of the intention to undertake an assessment of need as of 31 March 2011.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the procedures he has put in place to ensure that capital funding allocated under the various social housing programmes in his Department is drawn down and spent; the way the process is monitored to ensure all allocations are spent and there is not significant underspend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42238/10]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the purpose of the review of the local authority housing action plans; the way the Departments funding allocations are linked to these reviews and performance under the action plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42239/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 263 together.

My Department monitors activity and expenditure across all programmes on an ongoing basis to ensure productive spend and value for money for the resources invested.

In the area of housing a number of procedures are in place. The specific allocations for each authority are informed by both the level of contractual commitments for the following year and the extent of social housing need in each authority's functional area. Following the notification of allocations to all local authorities at the start of the year, my Department then monitors drawdown on a continual basis through direct engagement at official level.

Each year as part of the Housing Action Plan (HAP) review process my Department meets twice with each housing authority, in spring and autumn, to discuss their social housing programmes.

In January, prior to the spring HAP meetings, my Department issues provisional allocations and expenditure projections. These figures are to be used as the basis for the operational programmes for housing authorities and are discussed at the spring HAP meetings.

The primary purpose of the spring 2010 HAP meeting was to:

· agree the work programme for the year;

· confirm financial and physical outputs;

· outline the parameters within which the investment programmes for 2011 – 2013 are to be prepared; and

· agree a list of projects that have been deferred until such time as budgetary conditions improve to enable these projects to advance.

Final allocations are issued after the spring HAP meeting and all local authorities are advised of their allocation under each of the social housing programmes.

The primary purpose of the autumn 2010 HAP meeting was to:

· confirm financial and physical output for the current year, including progress under the Social Leasing Initiative; and

· further outline the parameters within which the investment programmes for 2011 – 2013 are to be prepared.

Additionally, the HAP process is supplemented by continuous and ongoing engagement between my Department and the Local Authorities.

Local authorities also receive a monthly statement of expenditure which clearly shows drawdown in monetary terms by subhead item and the percentage of their allocations drawn down to date.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has provided guidance to local authorities to proactively involve the voluntary housing sector in delivering through the local authority action plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42240/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The voluntary and co-operative housing sector are valued partners in the delivery of social housing solutions for low-income families and persons with specific categories of housing need including older people, persons with a physical, intellectual or mental health disability, homeless persons and elderly returning emigrants. To date, over 25,000 units of accommodation have been provided under my Department's funding schemes which provide up to 100% of the cost of the construction or acquisition of properties.

The voluntary housing sector is centrally involved in the delivery of social housing units under my Department's Rental Accommodation Scheme and in the Social Housing Leasing Initiative. To date, almost 600 housing units have been approved for leasing by approved housing bodies.

In order to facilitate the active involvement of approved housing bodies in all aspects of the provision, management and maintenance of social rented accommodation, my Department has issued a series of Circular Letters and Memoranda to the local authorities, outlining the procedures to be followed in this regard.