Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 3

Written Answers. - Local Authority Housing.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

142 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the numbers on the housing lists of Waterford Corporation, Waterford County Council and Dungarvan Urban District Council; the plans he has regarding the elimination of each waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27127/01]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy):

According to the most recent statutory assessment of local authority housing needs undertaken in March 1999, the assessed need for local authority housing in the Waterford local authorities is as set out in the table below. The next statutory assessment of housing needs is due to be undertaken by local authorities at the end of March, 2002.

Local Authority Assessment of Housing Need (March 1999)

Local Authority	Net approved need
Waterford Corporation	1,037
Waterford County Council	255
Dungarvan Urban District Council	155

The Government is giving a particularly high priority to the issue of housing. The Government's commitment under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness and Action on Housing in relation to the provision of local authority housing is to achieve a total of 25,000 house starts in a four year multi-annual programme 2000-03. A total of 918 housing starts have been approved for Waterford City and County for the four years 2000-03. This includes an additional allocation of 140 starts from the 3,000 additional starts announced in Action on Housing for the period 2000-03.

In addition to the construction-acquisition of houses, the local authorities in Waterford City and County will also be able to use vacancies arising in existing local authority housing and increased output under other social housing measures, particularly the provision of voluntary housing, to meet the needs of households on the waiting lists.