The Government's commitment to a strong local authority housing construction/acquisition programme is reflected in the record allocation of €942 million provided to local authorities under the programme for 2006. This should allow for the completion of over 5,000 housing units in the year. I have urged them to accelerate progress on the implementation of their programmes in order to commence construction and secure completion on as many social housing schemes as possible in 2006.
The Government have committed in the social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, to higher levels of output to meet assessed need as part of a comprehensive programme of social housing investment. This includes an additional 4,000 new housing units over the period 2007 to 2009 through a combination of local authority and voluntary and co-operative housing, and private rented accommodation using long-term contractual arrangements.