Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 31 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 2

Written Answers. - House Sales.

Richard Bruton

Question:

123 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of new houses built in the past five years, distinguishing between those sold to first time buyers, those sold to investors and those sold to persons moving house. [3034/02]

Richard Bruton

Question:

124 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the estimated sales of second hand houses in each of the past five years, distinguishing between those sold to first time buyers, to investors and to persons moving house. [3035/02]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 124 together.

Information on the number of new houses built from 1997 to 2000, and the number of new house grants paid to first-time buyers, which is the best indicator of the number of new houses purchased by first-time buyers, is set out in my Department's annual housing statistics bulletin 2000, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. Last year, 10,172 new house grants were paid to first time buyers. I expect to be in a position to publish the final house completion figures for 2001 shortly.

The numbers of new houses sold to owners occupiers or investors, or the numbers of second-hand houses sold over the past five years, are not available in my Department.