Vol. 502 No. 4
144 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has sought proposals from the voluntary housing sector on ways to expand the voluntary housing programme; the total housing output to date from this sector; the projected housing output for 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8550/99]
I am writing to the Irish Council for Social Housing and a small number of individual voluntary bodies active in the provision of housing seeking proposals in respect of increasing the output from the voluntary and non-profit housing sector.
Over 10,000 units of accommodation have been provided by the voluntary housing sector in Ireland since the mid 1980s. Total output in the mid 1980s was around 100 units of accommodation per annum and reached over 1,000 units in 1995. While output has fallen back in recent years, the improvements to the unit cost limits under the capital assistance scheme which I announced in November 1998 should help to boost output this year. I would hope to see output of about 900/1,000 units this year from the voluntary housing sector.
My overall objective is to increase output from the voluntary and non-profit housing sector to 4,000-5,000 units per annum over the coming years.
