Vol. 508 No. 3
75 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the local authorities operating the scheme of affordable housing which was announced on 2 March 1999; the number of applications received by local authorities to date; and the number of dwellings which will be provided under this scheme in 1999 and 2000. [18702/99]
The affordable housing scheme involves the provision by local authorities of additional new houses specifically for low income house purchasers on land provided by the local authorities.
On 8 April 1999 all housing authorities were requested to assess the extent to which the new affordable housing scheme could appropriately be used in their areas and to formulate proposals for specific developments which should be brought to construction at the earliest possible date. Responsibility for inviting, processing and approving applications under the scheme rests with individual housing authorities and, accordingly, I have no function in this regard.
The development of suitable sites, including, where necessary, the acquisition of land and the planning and construction of houses does, of necessity, require some time to arrange. Nevertheless the new scheme is progressing satisfactorily and the first houses under the scheme will be completed by the end of this year. There are projects under the scheme at planning stage throughout the country and construction of a substantial number of dwellings will be under way by early 2000. I envisage that some 1400 houses will be provided under the scheme by the end of 2000.
