South Dublin County Council was allocated 1,420 starts under the four-year multiannual housing construction programme for the period 2000-03. In the first three years of the multiannual programme, the county council started or acquired almost 800 houses. It is expected that the council will achieve over 230 house completions this year and commence construction of a further 500 units. My Department has allocated €55 million to the county council this year for their local authority housing programme. It is a matter for the county council to identify the individual locations for the construction/acquisition of housing on the basis of the particular housing needs of an area. Officials of my Department are in regular contact with the authority in relation to their housing programme.