Vol. 537 No. 3
78 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress made to date by the housing forum established under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness; when it is expected that the forum will complete its work and publish a report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15972/01]
The Housing Forum has met on five occasions. It was agreed in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness that the forum would meet quarterly over the lifetime of the programme and, accordingly, it is not intended to produce a specific report or reports by particular dates. However, the forum, in the context of its ongoing work, will decide the timing and nature of any reports.
The forum has considered a range of issues to date, including the report on social and affordable accommodation, Building the Future, which was published by the National Economic and Social Forum and the report of the Commission on the Private Rented Residential Sector. The most recent meeting on 10 May 2001 considered the issue of homelessness. Progress reports on the implementation of the measures contained in the Government's Action on Housing have also been considered by the forum.
