David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 273: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide the most recent statistics received from local authorities in relation to numbers on the respective waiting lists for social housing; if he will also provide the most recent numbers received from local authorities indicating the number of houses in each of the respective local authorities that could be made available for social housing that were unoccupied; his plan to request the most up to date information in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7638/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department does not hold information on the number of households on a local authority's waiting list. This figure continuously fluctuates as households on the list are allocated housing and new households apply for housing support.

A statutory assessment of housing need is carried out every three years by all housing authorities. The last assessment took place in 2008 and indicated that there were 56,249 households in need of social housing support. This assessment also provides information on the waiting period for households seeking social housing support. Detailed information on this assessment, including a breakdown by housing authority, is available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie . Local authorities are currently carrying out the 2011 statutory housing needs assessment, the results of which will be published in due course.

A Report on Service Indicators in Local Authorities is published annually. The 2009 report which was published earlier this year provides a breakdown by local authority of the percentage of empty dwellings that are available for letting. This report is available on the Local Government Management Services Board website, www.lgmsb.ie . The service indicators show that there are some 121,903 dwellings in local authority stock which are available for letting of which on average 3.14 percent are empty.

Returning vacant stock to use, in as short a time as possible, continues to be one of my Department's top priorities under the Social Housing Improvement Programme. Earlier this year, my Department issued a circular to housing authorities outlining revised arrangements for the funding of works in respect of vacant units. Housing authorities were requested to prepare an Improvement Plan for Vacant Properties, setting out the proposed measures to improve both categories of vacancies, and outlining proposals for its delivery. These plans are currently under examination in my Department.