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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 15 Mar 1977

Vol. 297 No. 10

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Statistics.

10.

asked the Minister for Local Government if there was a reduction in the number of houses completed last year as compared with 1975; and the action he proposes to take to improve the position.

In a Press statement on 8th March, 1977, which I issued with the latest Quarterly Bulletin of Housing Statistics, I explained that, because of a change in the system of recording new dwellings, it was not possible precisely to quantify the actual number of dwellings completed in 1976 but that completions recorded on the basis of the existing methodology at 22,798 understated the true level of activity. The Press statement went on to say that the total number of dwellings completed probably reached 24,000 and supported this by reference to a table in the bulletin which showed estimates of finance for new housing in 1976. I am glad to say that, through an arrangement made with the ESB, reliable figures for new house completions based on electricity connections to new dwellings are now available and will be used in future editions of the Quarterly Bulletin of Housing Statistics.

One of the main reasons for the drop in new dwellings built last year compared with 1975 was the unprecedented level of local authority building activity in 1975. The exceptionally favourable building conditions in 1975 resulted in a substantial number of dwellings being completed in that year which would normally have reached completion stage in 1976, thereby distorting the distribution of local authority completions over the two years.

There appears to be a suggestion in the Deputy's question that the Government have failed in the pursuance of their housing policy. I would like to inform the Deputy that in setting a target of 25,000 new houses a year, the Government did not envisage the completion of exactly 6,250 dwellings each quarter or 2,083 dwellings per month. What we had in mind was an average of 25,000 a year, ensuring that any shortfall incurred in one period would be compensated for by a surplus in another period. Between 1st April, 1973, and 28th February, 1977, at least 99,276 houses were completed, or an average of more than 25,340 a year. The latest figures available in my Department leave no doubt that 100,000 new dwellings will have been completed in the four years ending on 31st March and that the Government will have maintained their 100 per cent record.

In view of the foregoing, I do not think the second part of the Deputy's question needs an answer. However, I can assure the Deputy that I am keeping the position under constant review and, as I have done whenever it was necessary in the past four years, I will take action to ensure that a satisfactory house building programme is maintained.

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