Vol. 513 No. 5
59 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of persons on the housing lists of Waterford County Council, Waterford Corporation and Dungarvan Urban District Council; the number of new houses which will commence construction in each of the local authority areas in Waterford in 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2902/00]
According to the assessment of local authority housing needs undertaken in March 1999 the numbers of households on the housing lists for Waterford County Council, Waterford Corporation and Dungarvan Urban District Council are 255, 1,037 and 155 respectively.
Waterford County Council, Waterford Corporation and Dungarvan Urban District Council have been allocated 198, 500 and 80 housing starts respectively under the multi-annual housing programme for the four years 2000-03. This allows local authorities to plan their housing programmes in advance over a four year period rather than on an annual basis. Exact figures for the number of new houses that will commence construction in 2000 in each of the local authority areas in Waterford are not yet available to my Department as the local authorities are still in the process of finalising their housing programmes. However, I expect these details to be available in the near future.
In addition to the construction-acquisition of houses, the Waterford authorities will also be able to use vacancies, estimated in excess of 100 units per annum, arising in existing local authority housing and output under other social housing measures to meet the needs of households on the waiting lists.
