Vol. 522 No. 4
22 Ms McManus asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if the first meeting of the housing forum, promised in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, has yet been held; if the membership has now been finalised; when it is expected to report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18654/00]
The first meeting of the housing forum was held on 15 June to inform members in advance of the conclusions of the report on the housing market by Peter Bacon and Associates and the main features of the Government's action on housing which was to be launched by the Taoiseach immediately following the forum meeting.
The forum, which was agreed with the social partners on the basis set out in frameworks 2 and 3 of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, is being chaired by my colleague, Deputy Dempsey, Minister for the Environment and Local Government, or myself as alternate. Each of the four partnership pillars, trade union, employer, community and voluntary and farming have two representatives on the forum. The Departments of the Taoiseach, Finance, Social, Community and Family Affairs and Justice, Equality and Law Reform as well as my Department each have a representative on the forum.
The local authority sector, which will have primary responsibility for implementation of the majority of housing commitments in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, has two representatives on the forum, one from the County and City Managers Association and one from the Local Authority Housing Practitioners forum. The Irish Council for Social Housing, as the representative body of the voluntary housing sector also has a representative.
The terms of reference of the forum are as agreed with the social partners and as set out in the programme. Accordingly, the forum will monitor developments in relation to the supply and affordability of housing; monitor the implementation of the housing objectives and actions set out in frameworks 2 and 3 of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness in the context of the targets set in the national development plan; provide the social partners with an opportunity to contribute to the further development by my Department of policy responses in respect of the housing issues identified in the programme; and involve the social partners with Government in tackling constraints on the achievement of the housing supply targets set out in the programme and the national development plan.
