Vol. 568 No. 1
729 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the way in which he expects local authorities to house families which have been on the housing list for several years or have to meet their requirements in view of current financial allocations by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15612/03]
Information published as part of the most recent assessment of local authority housing need undertaken at the end of March 2002 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 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, it is anticipated 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 12,000 households compared to just under 8,700 households in 2000.
