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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 7

Written Answers. - Local Authority Housing.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

21 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of applicants on local authority housing waiting lists at the latest date for which figure are available; the number of local authority housing units completed during 1999 and to date during 2000; the number expected to be completed during 2000; the numbers of persons he estimates will be on local authority housing lists at the end of 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14663/00]

Brian O'Shea

Question:

29 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the new initiatives, if any, he will take to provide housing for the growing number of single people coming on to local authority housing lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13364/00]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

45 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of families housed on a monthly basis with a consequent reduction in numbers on local authority housing waiting lists in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14758/00]

Alan M. Dukes

Question:

54 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will declare a national housing emergency in view of the size of the local authority housing waiting lists. [14651/00]

John Gormley

Question:

57 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has satisfied himself that the target of 22,000 new house starts in the local authority housing programme, as agreed in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, will be reached in view of the recent annual housing statistics bulletin for 1999, which shows that in 1999 local authorities fell 17.5% below the house start target and that the number of local authority houses in progress on 31 December 1999 is too low to reach the 2000 target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14655/00]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

106 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the extent to which the local authorities utilised the funds provided by him for the provision of new local authority houses in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14832/00]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

113 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of families currently registered on the local authority housing lists; the number by which these waiting lists have been reduced in recent times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14839/00]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 29, 45, 54, 57, 106 and 113 together.

The results of the assessment of housing needs undertaken by local authorities at the end of March last year indicated a total of 39,176 households in need of local authority housing. The results revealed that single person households, including elderly persons, account for 29% of the net need and that two or more person households account for 71% of net need. In addition, the housing needs of a further 6,400 households were considered by local authorities as being most suitably met by other measures including voluntary housing, rent supplementation and other social housing schemes.

Local authorities have been advised in new social housing design guidelines of the need to provide a mix of dwellings based primarily on the results of their most recent assessment of housing needs and the characteristics of households to be accommodated in their housing schemes. They were also advised that regard should be had to current best estimates regarding the size and type of households likely to be seeking housing in the future and of the need to ensure that a reasonable mix of dwelling types and sizes is maintained, both in the immediate locality and in the housing stock as a whole. Accordingly, local authorities are now providing a significantly wider range of house types including far more one and two bedroom units than in the past.
In response to the increased level of housing need, I have taken a range of measures to assist local authorities expand their housing programmes which has included the introduction of a four year multi-annual programme and a significant expansion of the voluntary housing programme. Local authorities were notified of their authorised programmes for the period 2000-03 and this programme provides for a total of 22,000 local authority houses. The purpose of introducing a multi-annual local authority housing programme is to enable local authorities to produce a streamlined delivery of housing output over the four year period and to provide a better and more effective mechanism of social housing delivery. I have also encouraged local authorities to front load their programmes as much as possible to meet the increased level of need and I have ensured that adequate capital funding will be made available for their programmes. The total capital provision for the local authority programme in 2000 is £312 million. This represents an increase of £82 million or 36% on the 1999 provision, £98 million or 46% on the 1998 provision and £137 million or 79% on the 1997 provision.
The number of houses completed or acquired by local authorities during 1999 was approximately 3,700 which compares with 3,290 in 1998 and 3,217 in 1997. The amounts allocated to local authorities in the years 1997 to 1999 were fully expended on the local authority housing programme. While progress in expanding the programme in 1999 was slower than I hoped, I expect that authorities will commence the construction of, or acquire, in excess of 5,500 houses this year and that the level of house completions, including acquisitions, will be in excess of 4,000 units.
Figures in relation to the number of starts-completions for the first quarter of 2000 are currently being compiled. Detailed figures regarding the number of families housed on a monthly basis are not returned to my Department. However, information relating to first time lettings by local authorities is available in the housing statistics bulletins.
The Government is fully aware of the increased level of social housing need and priority is being given to tackling this need. The local authority housing programme is only one of a range of ways in which the needs of households on local authority waiting lists may be met and I am confident that the enhanced multi-annual local authority housing programme together with increased output from the complementary social housing measures and vacancies occurring in the existing stock, will enable the housing needs of some 11,000 households to be met this year, compared to 9,200 last year, and that the increased social housing output over the coming four years will meet the needs of over 50,000 households.
While my Department will support and co-operate in every way with local authorities to help them achieve their housing programmes in terms of providing the necessary capital funding and forward commitment for house starts, it is a matter for each individual local authority to implement the programmes which they have nominated for provision this year and I expect local authorities to afford priority to meeting the social housing needs of this area and respond positively in this regard.
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