Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 September 2007
1084 Deputy Shane McEntee asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number on the housing waiting list in each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19716/07]
View answer1085 Deputy Shane McEntee asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of people seeking social and affordable housing in each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19717/07]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1084 and 1085 together.
There are a number of social housing options available to households who cannot meet their own accommodation needs. The main options are social rented accommodation provided by local authorities, by voluntary and co-operative housing bodies or under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS).
A statutory assessment of housing need is undertaken by local authorities on a triennial basis. The most recent assessment of need for social housing was undertaken by local authorities in March 2005. The results of that assessment indicated that there were 43,684 households on local authority housing waiting lists. More comprehensive data in relation to the 2005 assessment at an individual local authority level was published in the Annual Bulletin of Housing Statistics 2005, a copy of which is available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie.
Detailed information on the number of people seeking affordable housing in each local authority is not available in my Department.
1086 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an offer of affordable housing has been withdrawn from a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; if same is in accordance with equality legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19743/07]
View answerThe administration of the Affordable Housing Schemes in individual cases is a matter for each local authority, which must assess applications on their merits, having regard to the relevant eligibility criteria. I understand from Dublin City Council that the information supplied by this applicant on his application form was incorrect and as he was unable to satisfy the Council's eligibility requirements, the offer of an affordable home was withdrawn.
