Vol. 531 No. 2
39 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of tenants appointed to houses built by the local authorities in the past 121 months; the number of persons housed under the voluntary housing or other similar schemes; the extent to which the local authority waiting lists have increased in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5166/01]
53 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of applicants on local authority housing waiting lists at the latest date for which figures are available; the number of local authority housing units completed during 1999, during 2000 and the number expected to be completed during 2001; the number of persons he estimates will be on local authority housing lists at the end of 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5158/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 53 together.
The results of the statutory assessment of housing needs undertaken by local authorities at the end of March 1999 indicated a total of 39,176 households in need of local authority housing. From ongoing contacts by my Department with local authorities, it is estimated that needs have increased since 1999 by around 15%.
The number of houses completed or acquired by local authorities during 1999 was 3,713. Figures in relation to houses completed-acquired, first time lettings for each local authority and voluntary housing output for 2000 are currently being compiled in my Department and will be included in the Annual Bulletin of Housing Statistics for 2000 which will be published shortly.
My Department is currently examining local authority housing programmes for 2001 for each authority. However, I expect authorities to complete or acquire some 5,000 houses in 2001 and start an additional 7,000 houses. The Government is fully aware of the increased level of social housing need and priority is being given to tackling this need. The local authority housing programme is only one of a range of ways in which the needs of households on local authority waiting lists may be met. I am confident the enhanced multi-annual local authority housing programme, together with the increased output from the complementary social housing measures, including the voluntary housing programme and vacancies occurring in the existing stock, will enable the housing needs of around 11,000 households to be met this year compared to a provisionally estimated total of about 9,000 last year and that the increased social housing output over the coming four years will meet the needs of over 50,000 households. This level of social housing output will impact positively on the number of households on waiting lists.
40 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of local authority dwellings constructed in 2000; if he will consider the establishment of a national housing authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5133/01]
Figures in relation to the construction of local authority dwellings in 2000 are currently being compiled by my Department. Final figures in relation to each local authority area will be published in my Department's Annual Bulletin of Housing Statistics for 2000.
