I propose to take Questions Nos. 734 and 735 together.
As indicated in reply to Question No. 438 of 13 June 2006, my Department has recently met with Galway City Council to discuss their Action Plan for Social and Affordable Housing. A Review Statement is currently being finalised by Galway City Council: this will update detailed targets for numbers of social housing units to be provided by the local authority over the coming years. In relation to Question No. 437 of 13 June 2006, the information promised on the number of local authority housing schemes sanctioned and under consideration by my Department from the beginning of 2004 has been supplied to the Deputy by letter of 22 June 2006. In addition to the local authority projects, my Department has 14 projects under the voluntary and cooperative sector social housing programme for Galway City over the above period, with 50 units to be yielded by these projects. Proposals for the acquisition or construction of affordable housing do not require to be submitted to my Department for specific prior approval; consequently the question of awaiting my Department's sanction for these proposals does not arise. Information on activity, including units in progress and proposed, under the various social and affordable housing schemes in each local authority area is published in my Department's Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library and also on the Department's website at www.environ.ie.