Vol. 531 No. 2
123 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if an audit has taken place, or is proposed, to identify available land for housing in the various local authorities; the result of any such examinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5310/01]
124 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the total acreage of derelict or unused sites, if identifiable, in the greater Dublin area with particular reference to the need to utilise such sites for housing purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5311/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 124 together.
Details of the most recent national inventory of zoned serviced land, based on returns from individual local authorities, were published in the September quarter 2000 housing statistics bulletin, copies of which are in the Oireachtas Library. The results show that the position in relation to the stock of serviced building land is encouraging and is set to improve significantly. In Dublin, for example, the supply of zoned and serviced land currently exceeds 1,800 hectares, providing sufficient land for over 67,000 housing units.
The Government decided last year to establish a national public property register containing information on lands and buildings in the ownership of Government Departments, agencies and bodies operating under their aegis, including non-commercial State bodies, health boards, local authorities and certain education bodies. The register will determine whether there are lands or buildings in the ownership of the State which can be used for housing, education, recreation or other functions for which the State has responsibility. Returns from all Government Departments have been submitted to the Department of Finance. Returns from local authorities are due to be submitted at the end of this month. The Office of Public Works will start work shortly on compiling the register based on the returns submitted.
