Vol. 499 No. 2
25 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of applications for local authority housing; and the number of persons, including children, involved in January 1999 and the equivalent figures for each of the years from 1994 to 1997. [2043/99]
29 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has satisfied himself that the number of families re-housed by the local authorities in the past 12 months is sufficient to make meaningful impact on the total number on housing waiting lists; if his proposals for funding the housing programme are calculated to address the situation in full within a specified period; the methodology he proposes for so doing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2171/99]
39 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 at the latest date for which figures are available; the number of local authority dwellings expected to be completed during 1999; the numbers it is estimated will be on local authority waiting lists at the end of 1999; his views on whether the local authority house building programme is adequate given the numbers on local authority lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2048/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 29 and 39 together.
I have directed that the next comprehensive assessments of local authority housing needs should be carried out by local authorities on 31 March. Guidelines on the undertaking of the assessments have been issued to all local authorities. The assessment will provide details of the extent and nature of housing needs in each local authority area.
The last statutory assessment of local authority housing needs was carried out on 29 March 1996 and disclosed that the number of households assessed then as in need of local authority housing was 27,400. Details of that assessment, including a breakdown of need by category and household structure, including the number of dependent children, is given in my Department's housing statistics bulletin for 1996 which is available in the Library. Similar information in relation to 1993 was published in the housing statistics bulletin for that year.
On foot of the commitment in the Government's Action Programme for the Millennium to a continuing house construction programme by local authorities and voluntary groups and in response to increasing needs, the local authority housing programme for 1999 is being expanded to 4,500 starts. This is the highest number of starts in any year since 1986. Significantly increased capital resources are being provided for the local authority housing programmes in 1999; almost £230 million is now available, an increase of £35 million on last year. This will meet expenditure commitments on the ongoing programme at end 1998 as well as the starts authorised for 1999.
In meeting social housing needs, the local authority housing programme is supplemented by a range of other social housing measures, such as voluntary housing, shared ownership, etc. It is for each housing authority to develop the full potential of the various measures open to them to respond to housing needs in their area and I have regularly exhorted authorities to do so. Improvements I have made during 1998 in the voluntary housing capital assistance and shared ownership schemes will result in increased housing output from these schemes in 1999.
I expect that about 3,700 houses will be completed or purchased by local authorities in 1999. These, together with output from the complementary social housing measures and vacancies occurring in the existing housing stock, will enable some 10,250 households to be catered for in 1999 compared to 9,300 in 1998.
