Phil Hogan
Ceist:102 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the reason he has not set up a national housing authority as proposed by the National Economic and Social Council. [16619/03]
Written Answers. - National Housing Authority.
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)
I am aware that the National Economic and Social Forum, NESF, recommended some time ago the establishment of a national housing authority. The Government's efforts in support of housing have prioritised the adaptation and strengthening of institutions and structures to enhance the efficiency of local authority housing, increase the funding of housing programmes and the re-design of incentives and supports so as to secure the required levels of housing output across all tenures. In relation to strengthening the structures, we have developed a wide range of administrative arrangements and new initiatives, including the setting up of set up a cross departmental team on housing, infrastructure and public private partnerships and another on social inclusion; the creation of a Cabinet committee on housing infrastructure and public private partnerships and on social inclusion, each chaired by the Taoiseach; the publication of the Residential Tenancies Bill 2003 and the establishment of the Private Residential Tenancies Board on an ad hoc basis pending the enactment of the Bill; new organisational structures within my Department with enhanced focus on housing supply, voluntary housing, affordable housing and social inclusion; additional resourcing and continued support for the enhanced role of the housing unit, particularly in the area of research.
In addition, as part of the implementation of the new partnership agreement, Sustaining Progress, arrangements are being made to reconstitute the national housing forum, as established under the PPF, to provide the social partners with an opportunity to contribute to housing policy development by my Department. This approach has delivered consistently higher levels of overall housing output and a major expansion of both the local authority and voluntary housing programmes. 2002 was the eighth consecutive year of record housing output when 57,695 units were completed, an increase of 9.7% on 2001. In addition, we expect to provide more than 12,000 units of social and affordable housing in 2003 compared to just short of 8,700 units in 2000.
At the most recent meeting of the national housing forum, considerable reservations were expressed by the forum about the concept of an executive national housing authority. The consensus, which I broadly support, was that the establishment of a national housing authority would be of questionable wisdom, particularly as housing is essentially a local issue, best delivered locally. With the development of housing strategies now forming an important component of local authorities' planning and development functions, local authorities are now placed to deliver on overall housing objectives and to deliver social and affordable housing objectives in partnership with the voluntary and co-operative housing sector. Nonetheless, it is recognised that further progress in the housing sector could be better achieved by improving capacity for housing research; dissemination of best housing management practice, etc. in local authorities; support for the voluntary housing sector; and synergies between existing housing agencies.