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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 16 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 5

Adjournment Debate. - Local Authority Housing.

Martin Ferris

Ceist:

39 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the Government's position on the increasingly common practice of local authorities moving away from the provision of social housing and relying ever more on voluntary housing agencies to fulfil this service; if his attention has been drawn to the plans by local authorities to sell or hand over to housing associations their housing stock in the coming years; if he has discussed this matter with local authorities or local authority managers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23535/03]

The role of the voluntary and co-operative housing sector in the provision of social housing is reflected in the national development plan where it is indicated that the sector should complement the role of local authorities in social housing provision. Approved housing bodies provide social housing in partnership with the relevant local authority. It is a matter for individual local authorities to decide on whether, and to what extent, to support proposals by approved housing bodies for the provision of voluntary housing with assistance under my Department's capital funding schemes for voluntary housing projects having regard to housing need. The Government has increased social housing provision by expanding both local authority and voluntary housing output very significantly.

It is estimated that the total social and affordable housing output under the local authority housing programme, taken with housing outputs from the voluntary housing sector and other social housing measures, as well as vacancies arising during the course of the year, will meet the needs of some 13,000 households this year. This includes an estimated 1,700 houses provided by the voluntary sector. My Department will continue to strongly support the provision of social and affordable housing by the voluntary sector.

These are no proposals with my Department from local authorities for the transfer of their own housing stock to approved housing bodies. While I am aware that there has been a public reference to this matter in the case of one local authority, no specific proposals have been made to my Department. Such an approach would raise complex issues which would require detailed consideration both at local authority level and by my Department.

Question No. 40 answered with Question No. 8.

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