Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 10 May 2000

Vol. 518 No. 6

Written Answers. - Social Housing Programme.

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The provisions for gross voted capital expenditure for 2000 is £3,257 million.

The percentage of capital expenditure by the Exchequer relating to the provision of social housing, which is the responsibility of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, is set out in the following table:

Capital Expenditure on the Provision of Social Housing as a Percentage of Total Voted Capital Expenditure

Year	Social Housing Capital Expenditure £000	Gross Voted Capital Expenditure £000	Social Housing as a % of Total Capital Expenditure£000
2000	406,823	3,257,173	12.5%
1999	222,908	2,430,374	9.2%
1998	197,881	1,994,696	9.9%
1997	169,319	1,579,972	10.7%
1996	156,850	1,449,257	10.8%
1995	157,055	1,259,056	12.5%

The amounts shown for capital expenditure on social housing include the following: provision and improvement of housing by local authorities and voluntary housing bodies, provision of accommodation by local authorities for members of the travelling community, the task force on special housing aid for the elderly and communal facilities in voluntary housing schemes. In addition, local authorities spend a considerable amount from their own resources on house construction. In 2000, this will amount to £80 million.

I would also draw the Deputy's attention to the national development plan which included provision for housing for the first time. Over the period of the plan £6 billion – 1999 prices – is being provided for social and affordable housing. The plan provides for a multi-annual local authority housing programme to deliver an additional 35,500 units, with 5,500 units each year in the first four years of the plan. Provision has also been made for funding to facilitate an output of 1,000 units per annum under the local authority affordable housing scheme and the shared ownership scheme run by local authorities will also provide 1,000 units per year. The plan also provides support for an increase in voluntary housing sector output so that it can increase from its 1998 level of 500 units per annum to 4,000 units per annum during the plan period.