Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 July 2004
310 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans he has to assist the deficit of accommodation for single persons in view of the fact that priority with most local authorities is family accommodation; if there is any imaginable solution to this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20623/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Single people who are unable to provide housing for themselves from their own resources are entitled to apply for social housing, which is provided by either a local authority or a voluntary housing body. While it is a matter for individual local authorities to decide on the allocation of houses to single persons and other categories on their waiting lists in accordance with their schemes of letting priorities, my Department continues to advise local authorities of the need to provide a reasonable mix of dwellings suited to the different kinds of households already on waiting lists and to plan their future programmes taking account of the estimated size and type of households likely to be seeking housing in the future.
Local authorities have been asked to submit action plans setting out their social and affordable housing programmes for the period 2004 to 2008. Most authorities have submitted these plans in draft form to my Department. I consider that given the nature of continuous housing need, the preparation of these action plans will be beneficial to local authorities in identifying priority needs over the coming years and providing a coherent and co-ordinated response across all housing services, including delivery of housing by the voluntary and co-operative housing sector. My Department will be examining individual plans to ensure that they match the profile of need in local authority areas. It is intended to agree activity levels with each local authority in the autumn of this year.
