Jerry Cowley
Question:386 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his proposals to draw up a register of local authority and county council land banks. [19029/02]
Written Answers. - Public Property Register.
Jerry Cowley
Question:387 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if there is to be a register of local authority and county council land banks; and whether it will be possible for interested parties in the provision of social housing to have access to it. [19030/02]
Jerry Cowley
Question:388 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if there is to be a register of local authority and county council land banks; and the way in which interested parties in the provision of social housing will have knowledge of council held land banks at local level. [19031/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 386, 387 and 388 together.
The Government decided in 2000 to establish a national public property register, under the aegis of the Department of Finance, which will contain information on lands and buildings in the ownership of Government Departments and State agencies, including non-commercial State bodies, health boards, local authorities and certain education bodies. I understand that while a number of local authorities have provided information for this register others are currently collating the necessary information, which includes information on all land and buildings in the ownership of the local authority.
As part of their move towards the introduction of a new accrual accounting system, local authorities are in the process of identifying and quantifying their recently acquired and historical assets, which would include land. From 1 January 2003, all assets purchased by local authorities must be accounted for in their financial accounts. By mid-2003 I expect that every local authority will have all historical assets in their accounts, including information on land holdings. While I have no proposals to establish a separate register of local authority land banks, the voluntary and co-operative housing sector, who in partnership with local authorities provide social housing, can obtain information on land banks held by local authorities by direct communication with the authority concerned.