Vol. 517 No. 5
35 Ms McManus asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the specific steps he will take to meet the commitments in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness in regard to social and affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10057/00]
The Government is committed to providing the necessary financial and other support to ensure the implementation of the commitments made in relation to social and affordable housing under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
The necessary investment to provide for expansion of the local authority and voluntary housing programmes, increased support to facilitate home ownership for lower income households, the implementation of the local Traveller accommodation programmes, the improvement of the physical condition of the social housing stock and other targeted home improvement measures has been provided for in the investment of £6 billion for social and affordable housing contained in the national development plan.
The programme re-iterates the Government's commitment to comprehensively address the problem of homelessness. In this regard, the report of the cross Department team on homelessness will shortly be considered by Government.
As indicated in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, the report of the Commission on the private rented residential sector, which is due by June of this year, will provide the basis for reform of the private rented sector.
