asked the Minister for the Environment if, arising from the obligation placed on housing authorities by the Housing Act, 1966, he will indicate the position with respect to each housing authority in relation to (a) the scale of the need for housing in their area in the latest year in which this has been assessed indicating the year in question, and (b) each authority's assessment of the prospective demand for housing.
Written Answers. - Local Authority Housing.
299.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 18 of 15 February 1978 relating to the assessment of housing needs carried out by housing authorities between mid-1976 and mid-1977.
In January 1980 the housing authorities were requested by my Department to assess accumulated needs at 31 March 1980 and prospective needs in their areas for the period ending 31 March 1985. For this purpose the authorities were also asked to carry out sample surveys of houses relating to the age, structural condition and standard of facilities in the housing stock. These surveys were the most comprehensive housing surveys ever undertaken in the state, involving the inspection of some 25,000 houses.
Most authorities have now submitted completed assessments to the Department and these assessments are being analysed in detail, in consultation with the authorities in appropriate cases, to ensure accuracy and consistency in the methodology employed. Pending the submission of the remaining assessments and the completion of the analytical work, it would be inappropriate for me to release detailed particulars of the assessments received. I intend, however, to publish a report in due course setting out a detailed analysis of national housing needs and the Government's programme to meet those needs.