Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 13 Oct 1998

Vol. 495 No. 1

Written Answers. - Local Authority Housing.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

66 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the latest information available to his Department of the number of persons on local authority housing waiting lists; the number of local authority dwellings expected to be completed during 1998; the proposals, if any, he has to increase the number of local authority dwellings being built in view of the evidence that some people who would previously have sought to purchase their own homes are now seeking local authority accommodation because of the huge increase in the cost of private housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19359/98]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

The lastest detailed assessment of local authority housing needs was carried out on 29 March 1996 and disclosed that the number of households assessed as in need of local authority housing was 27,427. Details of the assessment, including a breakdown of housing needs for each local authority, are given in my Department's housing statistics bulletin for 1996 which is available in the Oireachtas Library. The next assessment of housing needs will be carried out by local authorities in March 1999. I will shortly issue guidelines to local authorities in relation to the carrying out of the assessment.

I expect that about 3,500 houses will be completed or purchased by local authorities in 1998. These, together with output from the complementary social housing measures and vacancies occurring in the existing housing stock, will enable up to 10,000 households to be catered for in 1998. Having regard to increasing needs, I am seeking additional resources for social housing in the 1999 estimates.