Vol. 534 No. 2
15 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the capital moneys available to local authorities to purchase land banks for the development of local authority housing; the total moneys available to Dublin Corporation for such acquisitions over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10064/01]
Capital funding for the acquisition by local authorities of land for housing purposes is available by borrowings from the Housing Finance Agency. Local authorities can also fund land acquisition costs from their own resources. Local authorities may subsequently recoup the full cost of expenditure on land acquisition including rolled up loan charges when the land is used for local authority housing development.
My Department has approved one application from Dublin Corporation in the past five years for a borrowing facility of £14.8 million from the Housing Finance Agency for the acquisition of housing land.
the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of local authorities which have drawn up housing strategies under Part V of the Planning and Development Act, 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10158/01]
Part V of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, was commenced with effect from 1 November last. In accordance with section 94 of the Act, planning authorities have until the end of July this year to prepare their housing strategies. They then, in accordance with guidelines from my Department, have a further three months to vary their development plans. Planning authorities have been urged to complete this process as soon as possible so they can operate the social and affordable housing provisions at the earliest date.
Guidelines for planning authorities on the preparation of their housing strategies along with a model housing strategy were issued by my Department in December last. Regional seminars were held in January to give further assistance to them.
Each county and city manager has reported to my Department setting out the position at the end of January in relation to the preparation of their strategies. All of the authorities expect to complete their strategies by the end-July deadline. Good progress is being made in Dublin where the affordability issue is most pressing. Fingal County Council and Dublin Corporation have published notices to vary their development plans to incorporate the housing strategies for their areas.
