I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
Access to affordable housing for first-time buyers is an important objective of Government housing policy and we will continue to monitor and review housing developments and policies, as necessary, to achieve this aim. Our policy has been to make housing supply more responsive to demand and to moderate house price increases and improve affordability and access to housing, particularly for first-time buyers.
It is evident that the measures introduced by this Government to boost supply are having an affect. This year is likely to be the tenth year of record overall house completions with approximately 80,000 completions forecast. Between 2001 and June 2004, a total of 195,935 houses were completed. This increased supply supported by Government measures means the market is supplying houses in many areas at affordable prices. Furthermore, survey data available to the Department indicate that first-time buyers are active in this market with approximately 43% of new houses purchased by this group.
In addition to measures to support a market response to the unprecedented demand, the Government has placed an emphasis on the delivery of targeted schemes of affordable housing. These include the shared ownership scheme and 1999 affordable housing scheme and, more recently, schemes introduced under Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2002 and Sustaining Progress.
Part V, which deals with housing supply, came into force on 1 November 2000. It was amended in December 2002 to ensure increased delivery of affordable housing in a more efficient and effective way. The legislation provided for the preparation by planning authorities of housing strategies by 1 August 2001 and the incorporation of these strategies into development plans by way of a variation before the social and affordable requirement could be applied to relevant residential planning permission applications. As a result, it was early 2002 before Part V was fully operational countrywide.
Between 2002 and June 2004, a total of 209 affordable units and 106 social units were acquired by local authorities under Part V agreements with developers. The provision of Part V housing units is dependent on the level and commencement of private sector residential development and the nature of Part V agreements.
Substantial progress also continues to be made on the affordable housing initiative under the Sustaining Progress agreement. Part V affordable units are an important contribution to the initiative. More than 50 projects on State and local authority lands are planned at this stage which, together with 2,100 affordable Part V units, will deliver a total of approximately 8,900 units under the initiative. My Department is engaged with a number of other Departments and State agencies with a view to securing further lands to reach the agreed target of 10,000 units. In particular, the Department of Health and Children is examining an inventory of health board lands to identify sites, which could potentially yield 1,500 units under the initiative. It is envisaged that more than 11,000 units will be delivered under the various affordable schemes between 2005 and 2007.