Vol. 510 No. 6
83 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the approach, if any, he has made to any of the churches regarding the possible use of church owned land for housing purposes in view of the housing crisis; the response, if any, he has received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23324/99]
My Department is in contact with representatives of the Catholic church and the Church of Ireland regarding the making available of land or property which may be surplus to requirements for residential use or development. Officials from my Department met the Conference of Religious in Ireland on 5 October 1999 and with the representative body of the Church of Ireland on 4 November 1999. A meeting with representatives of the Irish Episcopal conference has been arranged for later this month.
This initiative was taken in the context of Government policies to increase housing supply in relation to which the availability of land, especially serviced land, is a crucial factor. Clearly, it is desirable that as large a proportion as possible of the demand would be met from land within existing built-up areas since these are often the areas of greatest need and where best use can be made of existing infrastructural and community facilities. The Department has had successful discussions with the Department of Defence and is in contact with other State agencies in relation to the release of such land or property that is surplus to requirements. On the same basis contact has been made with the religious authorities.
The purpose of the contacts is to get an estimate of the amount of land or property available and agreement that such land or property would be offered first to the local authority on terms acceptable to both parties. Thus, my aim is to have in place an overall agreed framework with which the churches and local authorities could co-operate in regard to the disposal of surplus land or property.
My Department's contacts have met with a positive response in keeping with the positive contribution which the religious authorities have made to housing for disadvantaged people in the past. The matter will be taken forward when the respective bodies have had an opportunity to ascertain the potential availability of land-property nationally.
This is very much in keeping with the positive contribution which the religious authorities have made to social housing in the past.
