Vol. 560 No. 3
126 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the specific steps he intends to take to boost social and affordable housing supply and promote social integration, especially in view of the provisions of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act, 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2369/03]
The Government has been responding actively to the increased level of housing need by expanding on our social and affordable housing output. Last year we delivered the highest level of output under the range of social housing measures for 15 years. We will continue to maintain the high levels of overall social and affordable housing output in 2003, where capital funding for housing, Exchequer and Non-Exchequer, at €1.7 billion, is up 7% on the amount provided in 2002. The provisions of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2002 are designed to make the Part V system operate more efficiently and effectively, to elim inate the rigidities that were slowing down supply, to bring more social and affordable housing on stream more quickly, while continuing to promote social integration.
In addition, amendments to housing legislation contained in the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2002 enable approved bodies in the voluntary and co-operative sector to undertake affordable housing and to grant shared ownership leases on houses they provide, including houses provided pursuant to agreements entered into under Part V. These amendments will enable the sector to provide a mix of tenure types and will contribute to the objective of avoiding undue social segregation in their projects. I anticipate that the new legislation will contribute to the increase in the overall supply in the housing market and, in particular, to ensuring a continued good supply of social and affordable housing.
