Vol. 550 No. 1
26 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the recent call by the National Economic and Social Council for the establishment of a national housing authority; his views on the call; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6954/02]
The National Economic and Social Forum, NESF, report, Social and Affordable Housing and Accommodation: Building the Future, has included, as one of its recommendations, the establishment of a national housing authority.
The Government's efforts in support of housing have prioritised adaptation-strengthening of institutions and structures, increasing the funding of housing programmes and redesign of incentives-supports so as to secure the required levels of housing output across all tenures. In relation to strengthening the structures, we have developed a range of administrative arrangements and new initiatives, including: an enhanced role and additional resourcing for the housing unit; the establishment of the voluntary housing and housing supply units in my Department; the setting up of a cross departmental team on housing; the setting up of the housing forum in agreement with the social partners as provided for in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness; and the establishment of the private residential tenancies board on an ad hoc basis pending the necessary legislation arising from the recommendations of the commission on the private rented sector.
Our approach has delivered consistently higher levels of overall housing output and a major expansion of both the local authority and voluntary housing programmes. Total housing output last year, at more than 52,000 units, was the highest output ever achieved in a single year. In addition, local authority output was at the highest level for 15 years and the voluntary housing sector achieved its highest output ever.
