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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Nov 1990

Vol. 403 No. 2

Written Answers. - Private Sector Housing

Brian O'Shea

Question:

70 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the private sector in the construction industry is no longer building low cost housing for sale; that real demand has now dramatically increased for this type of housing; the action, if any, he proposes to take to promote such house construction, having regard to the cessation of the local authority house building programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Private housing completions this year are showing an increase of some 7 per cent compared to 1989. The price mix of these new houses should generally reflect the nature of demand in the market. It should be noted, however, that large numbers of starter type houses have been provided over the past 20 years and now form a big element of the housing stock. The availability of these starter type houses on the second-hand market is at present meeting much of the demand referred to in the question. This is borne out by the fact that, in 1989, 28 per cent of second hand houses for which loans were advanced were priced below £25,000 and a further 18 per cent were priced between £25,000 and £30,000.

I would also point out that there has been a substantial increase in the level of the local authority house building programme in 1990 as a result of the increased capital provision. Additionally the voluntary housing programme has been further increased this year.

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