Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 December 2004
231 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the percentage growth in the number of households on local authority waiting lists since 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32877/04]
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Assessments of housing needs are undertaken on a triennial basis by local authorities. The last assessment was undertaken in March 2002 and earlier ones were carried out in 1999 and 1996. The next assessment of housing need will be undertaken by local authorities in March 2005.
The results of the 2002 assessment indicated that a total of 48,413 households were in need of social housing compared with 39,176 in 1999, an increase of 9,137 households or 23.5%. The results of the 1996 assessment indicated a total of 27,427 households in need of social housing. The period from 1996 to 2002 has seen an increase of 20,986, or 77%, in numbers of households on waiting lists.
The Government has been conscious of the increased level of social housing need and has responded actively to this situation by expanding social and affordable housing output. 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 around 13,000 households. That compares with some 7,000 in 1993.
The Government is allocating record levels of funding to local authorities for their social and affordable housing programmes in 2005. The total Exchequer capital funding available for social and affordable housing in 2005, taking account of the additional resources announced in the budget, will be almost €1.18 billion, which represents an increase of 17% on the likely outturn in 2004. That provision will allow for 5,500 new local authority houses to be started in 2005, which compares to an average of 4,700 starts in the last three years.
