Vol. 543 No. 2
547 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the acreage of building land that each local authority has within its land bank; if he has satisfied himself that this figure meets the needs of the local authority in relation to his Department's policy on housing starts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26945/01]
Detailed information is not available in my Department on the land holdings of each local authority for the provision of local authority and affordable housing. My Department is satisfied, however, that local authorities generally have adequate land holdings in their ownership to meet the requirements under the four year multi- annual local authority housing programme and for the provision of affordable housing. This is underpinned by the fact that this year, up to the end of September, the housing finance agency has advanced loan finance amounting to over £100 million to local authorities to finance land acquisition requirements. My Department will continue to approve the raising of loans for necessary land acquisition by local authorities as required.
It is the case that in some instances, local authorities have encountered difficulties in acquiring lands that are suitable and serviced for housing development. In some of these instances local authorities have been able to purchase turnkey housing projects from private developers to overcome these land acquisition difficulties. Part V of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, for the first time, obliges local authorities to ensure that sufficient land is zoned to meet housing needs for the period of their development plan. In their housing strategies, authorities must set out the housing needs for the area, including social and affordable housing, and how these needs will be met.
548 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of affordable housing applications that each local authority has received in the past two years; the number of houses in this category that the local authorities have; if he has satisfied himself with these figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26946/01]
569 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of affordable houses provided for occupancy through the aegis of the various local authorities in County Kildare in the 12 month period to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26983/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 548 and 569 together.
