I propose to take Questions Nos. 1051, 1066 and 1120 together.
The number of households on a local authority's waiting list continuously fluctuates as households on the list are allocated housing and new households apply for housing support. My Department does not hold information in relation to the numbers currently on waiting lists in local authorities. A statutory assessment of housing need is carried out every three years by all housing authorities in accordance with the terms of the Housing Act 1988. The last assessment took place in 2008 and indicated that there were 56,249 households in need of social housing support, an increase of some 30% on these corresponding figure in 2005. Further information regarding the assessments is available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie, including a breakdown of the net need figure by housing authority.
I am advised by the Department of Social and Family Affairs that, at the end of 2008, 31,345 households were in receipt of rent supplement payments for more than 18 months. Information on the number of people seeking affordable housing in each local authority area is not collected by my Department.