Vol. 543 No. 2
553 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of housing starts completed in each of the past five years; if there has been any rollover of starts; if he has satisfied himself that each local authority has met the starts allocated; the plans his Department has to ensure such action is completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26951/01]
The total number of local authority houses started and completed, including acquisitions, for the years between 1996 and 2000 is published in my Department's annual housing statistics bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. Prior to the introduction of the four year multi-annual housing programme, 2000-03, local authorities were given a one year allocation of starts with no indication of what they could start in the following year. They could, however, generally carry forward uncommenced authorised starts from one year to the next. The principal reason for the introduction of a four year multi-annual approach, which replaced the annual allocation of starts, was to allow local authorities more scope to plan their housing programmes in order to meet increased needs. Local authorities have been strongly encouraged to front load their housing programmes as much as possible and have been given the greatest degree of flexibility in ordering their programmes. Progress to date in the delivery of the four year programme of starts is satisfactory and 12,000 starts are expected to be mobilised during the two year period, 2000 and 2001.
554 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if research has been implemented in regard to the constitution of housing lists within local authority areas in any of the past five years; if so, the results of such research; the plans his Department has to initiate such research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26952/01]
The statutory assessment of housing needs, undertaken by local authorities every three years, provides comprehensive information in relation to the composition of social housing need. Following the results of the 1993 assessment of housing needs, my Department commissioned the ESRI to carry out further analysis of the results, inter alia, so as to inform the methodology and approach to future needs assessments. The recommendations of the report were taken into account in the guidelines which issued to local authorities on the carrying out of the 1996 assessment of housing needs.
Local authorities are required to undertake these assessments of housing needs in accordance with section 9 of the Housing Act, 1988. This requires local authorities to have regard to the need for housing for persons who are homeless, are Travellers, are living in accommodation that is unfit for human habitation or is materially unsuitable, are living in overcrowded accommodation, are sharing accommodation where there is a requirement for separate accommodation, are young persons leaving institutional care or without family income, are in need of accommodation for medical or compassionate grounds, are elderly, are disabled or handicapped or are unable to afford the accommodation which they are occupying. The next comprehensive assessment of housing needs is due to be undertaken by local authorities at the end of March 2002 in accordance with detailed guidelines to be issued by my Department by the end of this year.
555 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of housing starts in Kildare for each of the past five years; the number on the housing list of the three housing authorities within Kildare for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26953/01]
The numbers of house starts or acquisitions by the local authorities in County Kildare for the past five years are set out in the first table. The last statutory assessment of housing needs was undertaken by local authorities at the end of March 1999 and the previous assessment was undertaken at the end of March 1996. The number of households in need of local authority housing in County Kildare as per these assessments is set out in the second table. The next statutory assessment of housing needs is due to be under taken by local authorities at the end of March 2002.
Table 1 Housing Starts-Acquisitions
|
Local Authority |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Kildare County Council |
125 |
128 |
101 |
152 |
177 |
|
Athy UDC. |
14 |
1 |
3 |
40 |
2 |
|
Naas UDC. |
29 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
11 |
|
Local Authority |
March 1996 |
March 1999 |
|
Kildare County Council |
850 |
1126 |
|
Naas UDC |
153 |
193 |
|
Athy UDC |
83 |
79 |
