Vol. 510 No. 6
73 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the local authorities operating the scheme of affordable housing which was announced on 2 March 1999; the number of applications received by local authorities to date; and the number of dwellings which will be provided under this scheme in 1999 and 2000. [23322/99]
On 8 April 1999, all housing authorities were requested to assess the extent to which the new affordable housing scheme could appropriately be used in their areas and to formulate proposals for specific developments which should be brought to construction at the earliest possible date. Responsibility for inviting, processing and approving applications under the scheme rests with individual housing authorities and, accordingly, I have no function in this regard.
The affordable housing scheme involves the provision by the local authorities of additional new houses specifically for low-income house purchasers on land provided by the local authorities. The development of suitable sites, including, where necessary, the acquisition of land and the planning and construction of houses does, of necessity, require some time to arrange. Nevertheless, the new scheme is progressing satisfactorily and the first houses under the scheme will be completed by the end of this year. There are projects under the scheme at planning stage throughout the country and construction of a substantial number of dwellings will be under way by early 2000. I envisage that some 1,100 houses will be provided under the scheme by the end of 2000.
75 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the way in which the housing requirements of first-time home seekers will be met in the future in view of the lack of affordable housing, the large number of eligible persons on local authority housing lists and those whose income does not justify mortgages sufficient to purchase homes; if cognisance will be taken of the increase in the population in the event of planning for the future; the annual housing needs in terms of housing units for these categories of persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23434/99]
The Government's Action on House Prices, published last year, and Action on the Housing Market which was published in March of this year, involve a balanced range of measures to increase the supply of housing, reduce overheating in the market and assist first-time house buyers. The important measures taken which are of direct benefit to first-time buyers include reductions in stamp duty rates, particularly at lower house price levels, significant improvements to the terms of the shared ownership scheme and the introduction of a new affordable housing scheme. The new affordable housing scheme is designed to provide houses at prices that would be less than the market price for comparable new houses in centres where house price increases have created an affordability gap for lower income purchasers. A grant of £3,000 continues to be available to first-time purchasers of new houses.
In addition, with regard to social housing needs the new multi-annual local authority housing programme will provide for 22,000 local authority housing starts over the next four years. I also recently announced significant improvements to the terms and conditions of the voluntary housing schemes. This was the third time in two years that I have improved the voluntary schemes and I am confident that this will enable output from the sector to increase to some 4,000 units per annum over the coming years.
The inclusion of housing in the national development plan for the first time and the provision of substantial funding for housing and related infrastructure is evidence of the Government's commitment to meet the needs for social and affordable housing in the coming years.
In overall terms I expect that social housing provision through the range of schemes will expand to meet the needs of some 50,000 households over the next four years.
