Vol. 566 No. 4
133 Ms McManus asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on the recent claim made by Threshold that the Government is failing in the delivery of social and affordable housing; the steps the Government is taking to increase the supply of social and affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12957/03]
The Government has responded actively to the increased level of social housing need by significantly expanding housing output. Last year more than 12,700 units of social and affordable housing were provided compared to less than 8,700 units in 2000. Local authority housing output of 5,074 units was achieved in 2002, the highest level for 16 years. The voluntary and co-operative housing sector continued to play an increasingly significant role in the provision of social housing with output of 1,360 units, the highest level ever recorded. Activity is also increasing significantly under the affordable housing and shared ownership schemes. As many as 882 affordable housing units were built in 2002, three times the output in 2001, and some 1,686 households benefited under the shared ownership scheme.
The total capital funding for housing this year is €1.7 billion an increase of almost 7% on the amount provided in 2002. It is anticipated that this funding will enable the needs of more than 12,000 households to be met this year. Spending on the local authority housing programme alone is about 15% ahead of the forecast under the National Development Plan 2000-06. The provision for this programme in 2003 is €695 million which will allow local authorities to increase house starts in 2003.
