Written Answers. - Local Authority Housing.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
103
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the initiatives he has taken to ensure the availability of adequate building lands in the various local authority areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14829/00]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
104
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the extent of the availability of building land in each of the local authority areas; the extent, if any, of such lands made available in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14830/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 104 together.
A robust framework for the delivery of additional housing supply was put in place by the Government in 1998 with the publication of Action on House Prices in April of that year. The focus of Action on House Prices was on providing additional housing supply through a range of measures such as doubling the funding for the serviced land initiative from £15 million to £30 million. This was subsequently increased to £39 million later in 1998.
A sum of £5 million was provided for specific non-national roads schemes in 1998 opening land for housing development. A capital gains tax rate of 20% was introduced as an incentive to developers to bring land quickly into residential development. These measures helped sustain the increases in housing output that have been achieved with a record 42,329 units built in 1998 and a further record level of output of 46,512 achieved in 1999.
Output under the serviced land initiative is now expected to exceed the 100,000 units originally envisaged. The national development plan published in November last provides for massively increased investment in economic infrastructure such as roads, water, sewerage and public transport which is essential to support housing development in the period to 2006 and beyond.
The Planning and Development Bill, 1999, which has now completed Committee Stage will require local authorities to prepare housing strategies dealing with the housing needs of all sectors of the population in their area, including those in need of social and affordable housing. Under the Bill, local authorities will be required by law to ensure that sufficient land is zoned to meet housing needs for the period of their development plan.
The Department recently carried out a survey of local authorities on the extent of zoned residential land currently serviced or likely to be serviced within the next six years. The survey results are being finalised and the information requested will be compiled and forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
105
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the plans, if any, he has for refurbishment or replacement of existing local authority houses which are in need of restoration or replacement; if an audit has been carried out in each local authority area to determine the quality and condition of all houses in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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The management, maintenance and improvement of their dwellings is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to be defrayed from their own resources. The determination of the conditions of their housing stock is a key element of their housing stock management responsibilities. Capital is available under the remedial works scheme to assist authorities who do not have the resources themselves to carry out major refurbishment schemes to dwellings with serious design or construction defects, dwellings constructed prior to 1 January 1960 and run-down urban estates, in particular, inner city flat complexes.
Significant funding has been provided in the national development plan for the improvement of the physical condition of the social housing stock. In addition to continued funding for the remedial works scheme, funding is included for the major regeneration of local authority housing such as Ballymun and inner city flat complexes.
