Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2004
420 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has proposals to legislate for a right to housing and to remove the inequalities in the housing system here; and the housing plans for 2005. [32082/04]
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Government policy on housing has the overarching aim of enabling every household to have available an affordable dwelling of good quality, suited to its needs, in a good environment and, as far as possible, at the tenure of its choice. The general strategy for realising the overall policy aim is that those who can afford to do so should provide housing for themselves, with the aid of the fiscal incentives available, and that those unable to do so from their own resources would have access to social housing or income support to rent private housing. Existing legislation and funding programmes support this strategy.
Consequently, the Government considers that it would be inappropriate to legislate for a specific right to housing on the basis that the funding commitment to the various housing programmes is leading to increased outputs and that decisions on the allocation of financial resources are a matter for the democratically accountable Government.
The total Exchequer provision in 2005 for social housing programmes amounts to €1.3 billion, which represents an increase of 19.8% on the expected outturn for 2004. These funds will enable the needs of over 13,000 households to be met next year through the broad range of social and affordable housing programmes operated by my Department and the local authorities. In addition, the long-term needs of about 5,000 current recipients of rent supplement are to be addressed through the new rent accommodation scheme next year. Nonetheless, the terms and conditions of these schemes will continue to be kept under review and the housing forum has been charged under Sustaining Progress to review the effectiveness of all social and affordable housing programmes.
