Vol. 550 No. 1
4 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of local authority housing completions during 2000, 2001 and the projected number in 2002; the total number of persons on local authority housing lists at the latest date for which figures are available; the steps being taken to reduce the numbers on the waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7290/02]
Local authority housing output, including both new build and acquisitions, amounted to 5,022 units last year – an increase of 1,815 units or 57% on the 2000 output of 3,207 units. This was the highest level of local authority housing completions in over 15 years. In addition, 7,000 local authority housing starts were achieved in 2001 and I am confident that the high level of work currently in progress under the multi-annual programme introduced by the Government should deliver 5,500 completions this year.
Statutory assessments of local authority housing needs are undertaken on a three yearly basis, with the next assessment to be carried out by each local housing authority at the end of March. The results of the statutory assessment undertaken at end March 1999 indicated a total of 39,176 households in need of local authority housing. From ongoing contacts between my Department and local authorities, it is evident that the aggregate level of housing needs has increased since that time. However, an accurate count of needs will only be established by the statutory assessment.
The Government is addressing increased social housing needs as a priority through the voluntary housing programmes and other complementary social housing measures, as well as the local authority housing programmes. Last year also saw the highest ever level of voluntary housing output with 1,250 units completed. This compared to 951 units completed in 2000 and 579 units in 1999. Output from all social housing measures along with vacancies occurring in the existing rented housing stock enabled the housing needs of approximately 11,000 households to be met last year. Again, this is the highest level of social housing provision for almost 20 years.
As he reaches the end of his lamentable five years in office, is the Minister proud of the fact that when he assumed his position there were 26,000 applicants on local authority housing lists and that this figure has increased to almost 60,000? Will he inform the House whether any Government in the history of the State has ever had a worse record in respect of the housing problem? Has any Government or Minister for the Environment and Local Government left office with the numbers on the housing list having more than doubled during their time in power? Is it not the case that the housing provision he outlined falls far short of the commitments, which were themselves limited, contained in the PPF?
The Deputy has a habit on Question Time of drawing figures out of the air, some of which he reads in various places and others which he makes up as he goes along.
I do not rely on three year old figures. The Minister should look at the housing strategies of the local authorities.
I am not going to respond to the Deputy's baiting. The assessment we carried out in 1999 showed that the total number of applicants on the local authority housing list was just over 50,000. However, when the applicants that were not approved, those that were double counted, etc., were removed, this figure dropped to 39,000.
Yes, that was after Travellers with shared ownership applications had been taken out.
These magic figures to which the Deputy refers—
They are not magic. The Minister doctored his own figures.
I am very proud of the record of the Government in relation to Housing.
The Minister should be ashamed of it.
We introduced the four year multi-annual housing programme and increased outputs to their highest level in over 15 years. This year, €755 million has been allocated to the housing programme. That is an increase of over €186 million, or 33%, on last year's provision of €569 million. Over the period of the four year multi-annual housing programme, there will be 25,000 new starts and we have already achieved 48% of these in the first two years. We have given local authorities carte blanche in terms of front-loading their programmes.
I accept and have stated publicly that local authorities were slow to take up the multi-annual programmes, but they are now taking them up. I am sure that over the next three to four years the high levels of output to which I refer will increase and that the number of people being housed will also increase. If Fianna Fáil is returned to Government, there will not be any difficulty in this regard. If Fine Gael and the Labour Party form the next Administration, I would be interested in discovering whether Labour will remove the protections provided under Part V.
What the Minister is saying is completely untrue. Fine Gael is in favour of the provisions in Part V.
We must move to Question No. 5.
The Leas-Cheann Comhairle cannot allow the Minister to talk out the discussion on a question as he has just done.
The Standing Order is quite specific.
The Minister should be ashamed of himself.
Deputy Gilmore should remember that he interrupted the Minister which did not help.
If the Deputy listened and did not interrupt, I would be able to complete my contributions much more quickly.
