Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 5 Apr 2001

Vol. 534 No. 2

Written Answers. - Local Authority Housing.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Ceist:

43 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of local authority dwellings constructed in 2000; the number expected to be completed during 2001; the total number of persons on local authority housing lists at the latest date for which figures are available; his estimate of the likely numbers at the end of 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10147/01]

Liz McManus

Ceist:

45 Ms McManus asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of local authority houses completed during 2000; the number of voluntary sector houses completed in 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10134/01]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 45 together.

The results of the statutory assessment of housing needs undertaken by local authorities at the end of March 1999 indicated a total of 39,176 households are in need of local authority housing. From ongoing contacts by my Department with local authorities it is estimated that needs increased by around 15% between March 1999 and March 2000.

Returns made by local authorities to my Department indicate that the total number of houses completed or acquired by local authorities during 2000 was something in excess of 3,200 units. While I am disappointed with this figure, I am encouraged by the fact that at the end of 2000 more than 5,000 local authority houses were under construction. Based on this level of activity I expect authorities to complete or acquire more than 5,000 houses in 2001 and that new starts will exceed 7,000 houses. The number of houses completed under the voluntary housing schemes in 2000 was 951 compared to 579 in 1999. I expect that more than 1,200 units will be provided by the voluntary sector in 2001.

The Government is addressing the increased need for local authority housing in every way possible. This year capital funding for the local authority housing programme has increased by 44% on the original provision for 2000 and by 150% on the 1997 provision.

The Government is aware of the increased level of social housing need and priority is being given to tackling this need. The local authority housing programme is only one of a range of ways in which the needs of households on local authority waiting lists may be met and I am confident that the enhanced multi-annual local authority housing programme together with the increased output from the complementary social housing measures and vacancies occurring in the existing stock, will enable the housing needs of around 11,000 households to be met this year and that the increased social housing output over the coming four years will meet the needs of over 50,000 households. This level of social housing output will impact positively on the number of householders on waiting lists.