The last triennial statutory assessment of housing needs was undertaken by local authorities in March 2005. The results of the 2005 assessment are available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. The number of households in need of social housing in Sligo County Council and Sligo Borough Council at that time with comparative figures for 2002 are set out in the following table.
Local Authority
|
2005 Assessment of Needs
|
2002 Assessment of Needs
|
Change between 2002 and 2005)
|
Sligo County Council
|
439
|
566
|
-22%
|
Sligo Borough Council
|
435
|
541
|
-20%
|
In December 2005, the Government launched a new Housing Policy Framework: Building Sustainable Communities, which outlines key principles underpinning housing policy and investment over coming years. Substantial increased investment in social and affordable housing is outlined in the framework. This will allow for some 23,000 new social homes to be commenced between 2006 and 2008 and some 15,000 affordable homes to be delivered. In total, some 50,000 households will benefit over the coming three years from an Exchequer capital investment package of close to €4 billion. Allied to this, a package of reforms is proposed to improve equity, efficiency and effectiveness. The focus is on improving community participation, improving services to ensure personal choice, autonomy and responsibility.
Given the substantial funding available, I have urged local authorities, including Sligo Borough Council, to accelerate progress on the implementation of their housing programmes in order to commence construction and secure completion on as many social housing schemes as possible in 2006. In addition, the council has a number of refurbishment projects currently under way or due to commence in estates, including St. Edward's Terrace, Brigid's Terrace-Jinks Avenue, St. Joseph's Terrace, Garravogue Villas and Cranmore.