Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 March 2012
142 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he has studied the number of applicants on local authority housing waiting lists on a county or authority basis; when it might be expected that such applicants’ needs will be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13389/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn terms of the delivery of social housing, the Government's housing policy statement, published in June 2011, clearly identifies that the priority for Government will be to meet the most acute needs of households applying for social housing support. The Government is committed to responding more quickly and on a larger scale to social housing support needs through a variety of mechanisms, including through increased provision of social housing.
Delivery of social housing will be significantly facilitated through more flexible funding models such as the Rental Accommodation Scheme and leasing, but the Government is also committed to developing other funding mechanisms that will increase the supply of permanent new social housing. Such mechanisms will include options to purchase, build to lease and the sourcing of loan finance by approved housing bodies for construction and acquisition. There is also obvious potential, across a range of housing programmes, for the Government's objective of sourcing and providing suitable residential units for use as social housing to be aligned with the commercial objectives of the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA).
My Department does not hold information on the number of households on local authorities' waiting lists. This figure continuously fluctuates as households are allocated housing and new households apply for housing support. Detailed information on the latest statutory assessment of housing need carried out in March 2011, including a breakdown by housing authority, is available on my Department's website —www.environ.ie or on the Housing Agency’s website at www.housing.ie.
143 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent if any to which he has examined the possibility of enhancing the local loans fund as a means of facilitating those on local authority waiting lists who might be in a position to provide themselves with a home in the event of mortgage availability; if he will examine the methods used in the 1980s to address such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13390/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo funding restrictions have been placed on local authorities for the purposes of providing loan finance for house purchase or home improvement. Allocations totalling over €51m issued to local authorities for House Purchase and House Improvement lending in April 2011, an increase of almost €20m (or 61%) on the 2010 allocation of almost €31m. These allocations represent borrowings ceilings rather than financial provisions. Allocations for the provision of loan finance in 2012 are currently being prepared.
