170 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Finance the percentage of the capital budget expended on the public housing programme in 1999 and in each of the past five years; the implications, if any, in terms of additional public expenditure following a recent announcement to spend an additional £22 million in this area over the following four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11979/99]
Written Answers. - Public Housing Programme.
Ceist:
The total voted capital provision for the years 1994 to 1999 and the amounts included for the Exchequer-funded local authority housing programme are as follows:
Year |
Total Gross Voted Capital Expenditure |
Local Authority Housing Provision |
Local Authority Housing as % of Voted Capital |
£000 |
£000 |
||
1994 |
1,093,765 |
92,036 |
8.4% |
1995 |
1,262,419 |
116,924 |
9.3% |
1996 |
1,449,018 |
115,883 |
8.0% |
1997 |
1,579,815 |
127,379 |
8.1% |
1998 |
1,994,696 |
147,651 |
7.4% |
1999 |
2,330,749 |
161,746 |
6.9% |
The recent announcement of a programme of 22,000 local authority housing starts over the next four years will increase starts from the 4,500 provided for in the 1999 Estimates to an annual average of 5,500. This will involve a significant increase in spending. The expenditure implications are currently the subject of discussions between my Department and the Department of the Environment and Local Government.