Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2004
265 Mr. O’Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to provide additional local authority housing in Tallaght, Dublin 24; if he will discuss the needs with South Dublin County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18469/04]
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My Department has allocated €55 million to South Dublin County Council this year for its local authority housing programme. It is a matter for the county council to identify the individual locations for the construction-acquisition of housing on the basis of the particular needs of an area. It is the case that the council proposes to start in excess of 500 housing starts in its area in 2004. Officials of my Department are in regular contact with the authority in relation to its housing programme.
Since 2000 local authorities have operated their housing construction programmes on the basis of a four year multi-annual programme of house starts for the period 2000-03. A new multi-annual programme is now being introduced for the period 2004-06 in the context of the preparation of action plans for social and affordable housing by local authorities. I consider that the preparation of these action plans will be beneficial to local authorities in identifying priorities over the coming years for the provision of local authority houses in areas where there are identified needs.
