Vol. 507 No. 2
196 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps, if any, he will take to guarantee that each local authority is capable of meeting the targets set out in the Government's programme for the building of local authority houses for the period 2000 to 2003, particularly those local authorities where it is obvious they have not sufficient land under their control to meet their target. [16675/99]
197 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has satisfied himself that there is sufficient land owned by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to meet the Government's target set out in its multi-annual programme for the period 2000 to 2003 for the provision of local authority houses. [16676/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together.
Local authorities, including Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, have been notified by my Department of the introduction next year of a multi-annual local authority housing programme and have been requested to set in train the necessary preparatory work to produce a streamlined delivery of housing output over a four year period. This includes a key requirement to identify any necessary land acquisition at an early stage and also includes, for example, considering of the need to vary existing development plans in regard to the availability of zoned residential lands to facilitate the provision of housing. Where necessary, local authorities may borrow from the Housing Finance Agency to acquire land and acquisition costs along with rolled up interest charges are recoupable as part of the cost of individual housing schemes. It is now a matter for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to set in train the necessary preparatory work, including any necessary land acquisition for their future housing programme.
