Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2005
643 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the breakdown of the house completion figures in each of the private, local authority, voluntary and co-operative categories as outlined in his Department’s statement issued on 7 March 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8638/05]
View answer662 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the most recent figures for the amount of private dwellings completed with a breakdown for the amount of second homes and holiday homes; and if he will provide same for the previous four years. [8933/05]
View answer
I propose to take Questions Nos. 643 and 662 together.
I was pleased to announce that 2004 was the tenth consecutive year of record housing output with 76,954 units completed, an 11.8% increase over 2003 levels. Of these, 71,808 were built by the private sector, 3,539 by the local authorities and 1,607 by voluntary bodies and co-operatives. Local authorities also acquired 971 units in 2004. A breakdown of these figures is available on the Department's website at www.environ.ie.
My Department does not have a definitive breakdown of house completions either by type of purchaser or whether they were second or holiday homes or intended for renting.
644 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government , further to Question No. 414 of 1 March 2005, the reason he made no reference to circular HRT3/2002 in respect of rents of local authority dwellings (details supplied); if this circular has been complied with; and if he will provide a copy of the differential rents scheme for each local authority in the State as lodged with his Department by requirement of the circular. [8696/05]
View answer
As set out in reply to Question No. 414 of 1 March 2005, the guidelines for local authorities regarding the administration of rent schemes for the letting of their dwellings were issued by my Department in 1986. These guidelines were restated and updated in a circular letter of March 2002, without changing the broad principles applying to the schemes.
In the circular of 2002 a request was made that local authorities submit their rent schemes for information purposes to the Department. Not all authorities complied with the request. My Department does not maintain a comprehensive set of current schemes.
My Department has recently asked local authorities to make their rent schemes accessible and available for viewing on their websites. A number of local authorities have already indicated that their schemes are so available. When I have further information I will communicate with the Deputy on what schemes are available for viewing on local authority websites.
