asked the Minister for the Environment if he will publish the estimates of housing needs which were received from local authorities as indicated in the Government White Paper on National Development 1977-80.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Needs Estimates.
18.
In June 1976 my Department requested the 87 principal housing authorities to prepare and submit reports on housing needs in their areas. It is not the practice for the Department to publish reports of needs for individual housing authorities; generally, these are available locally. However, a table giving a breakdown of overall needs based on reports received from the authorities since June 1976 has been prepared and is set out in a tabular statement which I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to have circulated with the Official Report.
On the basis of these reports and of an assessment of housing needs already prepared and published by the National Economic and Social Council in February 1976 the Government indicated in the recent White Paper National Developments 1977-1980, that they will ensure that housing output is maintained at levels between 21,000 and 27,000 houses each year up to 1980.
This target is designed to meet the on-going demand and it will also make inroads into the backlog of unfit and overcrowded houses.
Following is the statement:
Assessment of Housing Needs by Local Authorities 1976-1981
|
Number of houses needed |
|
|
Accumulated Needs: Unfit houses |
21,300 |
|
Overcrowding and involuntary sharing |
23,200 |
|
Medical, compassionate and other grounds |
4,500 |
|
Total Accumulated Needs |
49,000 |
|
Annual Prospective Needs: |
|
|
Increase in number of households |
13,100 |
|
Loss of dwellings through obsolescence, demolitions, conversions etc. |
5,800 |
|
Migration |
3,900 |
|
Industrial development |
2,300 |
|
25,100 |
|
|
Less allowances for “essential repairs”, vacancies etc. |
4,900 |
|
Net annual prospective needs |
20,200 |
With regard to the section of the reply on the target figures ranging between 21,000 and 27,000, I understand that the 27,000 is likely to be met or exceeded this year. Is it envisaged that 21,000 houses will be built in 1979 or 1980?
Between 21,000 and 27,000 houses per year will be built up to 1980. In relation to this year I expect that we will exceed 21,000 without any difficulty.
Am I right in assuming from what the Minister says that there is a possibility that housing output will be reduced in 1979 and 1980?
No, that is not the intention.
Question No. 19.
Arising out of the Minister's reply——
I called the next question.
Could I ask a supplementary question?