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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 26 Mar 1997

Vol. 477 No. 1

Written Answers. - Housing Stock.

Liam Fitzgerald

Ceist:

128 Mr. L. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for the Environment his views on whether the only way of ensuring houses are affordable for the majority of Irish people is to provide a continuing stream of new reasonably priced houses, where they are required, in the suburbs; and his views on whether, if cities cannot expand outwards, the only option is for them to expand upwards. [8649/97]

There was a record number of new houses completed in 1995 and again in 1996. In addition it is important to bear in mind that the existing stock of starter houses, including former tenant purchase and private starter houses, provides a continuous stream of reasonably priced houses in established communities with households moving to different houses as their needs and circumstances change. In fact, 58.5 per cent of mortgage loans approved for second-hand houses in 1996 were in respect of houses costing £60,000 or less, and 22.4 per cent were in respect of houses costing £40,000 or less.

Given demographic changes and the need to revitalise our inner urban areas, both apartment and suburban type housing will continue to be important components of the overall housing stock.

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