Vol. 498 No. 3
137 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 154 of 3 December 1998, the last time he encouraged each of the local authorities in areas of severe affordable housing shortage to distribute private serviced sites; the authorities with which he corresponded in this regard in the past six months; their response, if any, in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27194/98]
Most recently, all local authorities were requested to adopt a flexible and pro-active approach to advising and supporting housing applicants whose needs can be met by options such as the sale of sites scheme in my Department's circular N8/98 of 17 November. Similar requests would have issued in January and March last. Local authority managers and officials are regularly encouraged at meetings and otherwise of the need to utilise the full range of social housing measures, including the sale of sites scheme, to meet the needs of their areas. I anticipate that there should be an increase in the use of this scheme by local authorities in 1999.
