Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 6

Written Answers. - Local Authority Housing.

Ivor Callely

Question:

190 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of people on local authority housing lists; the number of homeless people on waiting lists; the number of years before suitable accommodation will be available to meet the waiting list requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10799/99]

Ivor Callely

Question:

191 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of people seeking housing accommodation placed in emergency accommodation; the area or region where most emergency accommodation is provided; the noticeable trend, if any, of those who avail of this accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10800/99]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 191 together.

Local authorities carried out their statutory assessments of housing needs on 31 March last and authorities have been asked to forward a full analysis of their assessments to my Department by 31 May. The assessment of need will provide accurate data on the extent and nature of housing needs for households seeking local authority accommodation and for homeless persons in each local authority area. It will take some time to obtain returns from all 90 local authorities and to ensure that they are comprehensive and complete. However, I expect to be in a position to have the results published in my Department's housing statistics bulletin for the September quarter.

The length of time households are on local authority housing waiting lists can vary and depends on a number of factors such as their assessed priority for housing, the number of households already on the lists, the numbers of new applicants for housing, the number of local authority houses provided each year as well as the rate of casual vacancies occurring in each local authority area.

Information is not available in my Department on the numbers of persons staying, or on the length of their stay, in emergency short-term accommodation which includes accommodation in homeless hostels and shelters as well as bed and breakfast accommodation. Most of the emergency accommodation for homeless persons is located in the Dublin area.