Vol. 546 No. 3
262 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are in excess of 1,000 applicants waiting for housing in the Tralee UDC area, and that some of these persons will not be provided with accommodation for at least five years; and his plans to alleviate this situation. [31570/01]
According to the last statutory assessment of local authority housing needs, which was undertaken in March 1999, the number of households on the housing list for Tralee Urban District Council was 361; it is understood from the council that there are currently 389 qualified applicants for housing in its area. The next statutory assessment of housing needs will be undertaken in March 2002.
Tralee UDC has been allocated 200 starts under the local authority Multi Annual Housing Programme 2000-2003. In addition to the construction/acquisition of houses, under the programme the urban council 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. The council recently allocated 48 houses at Ballinorig and is currently planning a scheme of approximately 68 houses at Rathass. It is also understood that the council is actively negotiating the acquisition of some housing developments under turnkey arrangements.
