Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 Oct 2002

Vol. 555 No. 1

Written Answers. - Local Authority Housing.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

44 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his estimate of the total current number of applicants on local authority housing lists at the latest date for which figures are available; the amount by which he estimates the number of applicants has increased since the last assessment of housing needs con ducted in spring 1999; the number of local authority houses completed during 2000 and 2001; the projected number for 2002; the number of voluntary sector houses completed in 2000 and 2001; the projected number for 2002; when the next assessment of housing needs will be undertaken; when the results will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17353/02]

Bernard Allen

Question:

160 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the total number of families rehoused by the local authorities, excluding housing co-operatives or other voluntary housing schemes, in the 12 month period to date; the amount by which the numbers on the housing waiting lists have correspondingly been reduced as a percentage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17516/02]

Bernard Allen

Question:

168 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his estimate of the total number of applicants on local authority housing lists; the amount by which he estimates the number of applicants has increased since the last assessment of housing needs conducted in spring 1999; the number of local authority houses completed during 2000 and 2001; the number of voluntary sector houses completed in 2000 and 2001; the number expected to be completed in 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17529/02]

Bernard Allen

Question:

183 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of local authority houses completed during 2001; the number of voluntary sector houses completed in 2001; the number expected to be completed in 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17548/02]

Bernard Allen

Question:

187 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his estimate of the total number of applicants on local authority housing lists; the amount by which he estimates the number of applicants has increased since the last assessment of housing needs conducted in spring 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17552/02]

Bernard Allen

Question:

238 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his estimate of the number of applicants on local authority housing lists at the latest date for which figures are available; the amount by which he estimates the number of applicants has increased since the last assessment of housing needs conducted in spring 1999; the number of local authority houses completed during 2000 and 2001; the number of voluntary sector houses completed in 2000 and 2001; when the next assessment of housing needs will be undertaken; when the results will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17621/02]

Bernard Allen

Question:

353 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his atten tion has been drawn to the increasing waiting lists for local authority and affordable houses; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that some applicants have been on the waiting lists for the past seven years; if he envisages an early resolution to the housing problems based on performance in the past 12 months; his plans to deal with the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17760/02]

Bernard Allen

Question:

356 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the average length of time housing applicants can expect to remain on local authority waiting lists prior to having their housing needs met; the number on such lists for more than two years, four years and six years; the advice he has for those longest on such waiting lists in order to improve their chances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17764/02]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

371 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of extra houses likely to be provided through the public housing programme in the current year, excluding the voluntary sector proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17846/02]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

372 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason some local authority housing applicants have been on the waiting list for up to ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17847/02]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

373 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans he has to address the unprecedented number of families on the local authority housing waiting lists; if he has any advice to offer to those who have been on such lists for more than five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17848/02]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 160, 168, 183, 187, 238, 353, 356, and 371 to 373, inclusive, together.

I refer to the reply to Priority Questions Nos. 3 and 4 on today's Order Paper where I indicated that the results of the most recent assessment of housing needs would be published in the next few weeks. I also indicated that the preliminary results available suggest an increase of between 20% to 25% in needs since 1999. The results of the statutory assessment undertaken at end March 1999 indicated a total of 39,176 households in need of local authority housing.

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. It is expected that local authorities will complete or acquire some 5,500 houses in 2002. Voluntary bodies provided 951 units in 2000, 1,250 units in 2001 and are expected to provide 1,500 units this year. It is estimated that total social housing output this year taking account of new local authority housing, vacancies arising in existing houses and output under other social housing measures will meet the needs of approximately 13,000 households on waiting lists. While this has a positive impact on waiting lists, further new applications for social housing continue to be added to waiting lists.

Information emerging from the recent assessment of housing needs indicates that approximately 60% of households assessed as in need of local authority housing were on the local authority waiting list for less than two years. It is, however, the case that some applicants for local authority housing are on waiting lists for longer periods on the basis that their housing need has a relative lower priority compared with the needs of households who have been allocated housing. The relative priority of households on the local authority waiting lists is determined in accordance with the authorities' scheme of letting priorities, the making of which is a function reserved to the elected members.

The published results of the latest housing needs assessment will include information on the length of waiting periods on housing lists.

Question No. 45 answered with Question No. 11.