Vol. 558 No. 3
4 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will make a statement on the recent Local Authority Social Housing Needs Assessment published on 13 November 2002 which indicated an increase of nearly 25% in the number of households in need of local authority housing. [24079/02]
The results of the most recent statutory assessment of local authority housing need indicated that, at 28 March 2002, a total of 48,413 households were in need of housing. This represents an increase of 23.5% on the results of the previous assessment undertaken at the end of March 1999.
The Government has been conscious of the increased level of social housing need and has been responding actively to this situation by expanding on our social and affordable housing output. For example, this year we will deliver the highest level of output under the range of social housing measures for over 15 years. I anticipate 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 compared to just over 8,500 households in 2000. The Government will continue to maintain the high levels of overall social housing output in 2003 and onwards to meet needs within the constraints now bearing on public expenditure programmes.
A particular feature of Government efforts in recent years has been a diversification of instruments and increases in support of voluntary and affordable housing. This approach will continue in 2003, with increased output anticipated in these housing sectors.
How can the Minister of State reconcile the figures he gave that there was a 25% increase in the number of people on the housing lists since 1999 – 48,000 households equating to about 100,000 people? Will he confirm that does not take into account those people seeking transfers from overcrowded local authority dwellings? How can he reconcile the huge increase in the number of people waiting for social housing with the effective 10% cut in the Estimate for social housing?
The increase in the assessment is 23.5% not 25%. It does not include people seeking transfers. This is an assessment of needs and of how many new dwelling units will be needed to cater for those needs. It does not include people seeking a transfer for overcrowding, or whatever, on the basis that if a family of six looking for a transfer moved out we would be able to accommodate a smaller family in that unit. Therefore, this is not an indication of the number of allocations or transfer lists. It is an assessment of the number of new dwelling units needed.
There is no 10% cut. The expenditure on local authority housing over the last two years has doubled. It was €470 million two years ago. We will not make a huge leap forward next year but we will maintain the base. We expect that next year the number of starts will be up on this year's number although the number of completions will probably be somewhat down depending on the way the cycle goes. For a year or two our priority may be to hold the expanded base. Hopefully, as soon as resources permit we can move forward again.
How can the Minister of State say there is no cut when there is a 5% cut in actual figures and when we take building inflation into consideration, the cut is about 10%? How can he reconcile his statement with the 23.5% increase in the numbers awaiting housing? Does he agree that we are now condemning people who are nine or ten years on a housing list to waits of ten and 11 years? In view of the fact that people are being forced into the private rental sector, does he agree that local authorities now need the resources and have the responsibility to examine and vet the hovels to which people are condemned? I could take the Minister of State around this city and Cork and show him the lack of enforcement of building regulations with regard to the hovels into which people are forced.
With regard to building inflation we are getting better value this year. There is an indication in tenders coming into local authorities that they are more competitive. We expect the €900 million we are providing this year to go further than last year. Those indications are there and more builders are tendering for jobs. Some years ago we were lucky if we could get two tenders.
A large number of the 48,000 on the waiting list, 32%, are single people. That is an extraordinary figure and it has grown in recent years. Up to about eight or ten years ago a single or separated person could not get on a local authority waiting list unless he or she was over 55 or 60 years of age. We changed the law and single people over 18 can now get on the list. Along with the 32% that are single, another 29% are lone parents with one child. The length of time someone is on a list varies. It depends on the letting scheme used by the local authority.
The Deputy mentioned the private rented sector. There is nothing wrong with the private rented sector.
I did not say there was but that people were forced to live in hovels.
Allow the Minister of State to conclude. We have to move on to the next question.
The private rented sector provides good accommodation for many people. We have a procedure where those dwellings should be registered and where local authorities should enforce the regulations.
