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Ahern Rejects Claims Of Lack Of Government Commitment To Social And Affordable Housing

Ahern Rejects Claims Of Lack Of Government Commitment To Social And Affordable Housing

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28/04/2003

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

Ahern Rejects Claims Of Lack Of Government Commitment To Social And Affordable Housing

Mr Noel Ahern T.D., Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal today (25 April 2003) rejected claims by Threshold that the Government is failing in the delivery of social and affordable housing. 

Mr Ahern said “The Government has been responding actively to the increased level of social housing need by expanding social and affordable housing output very significantly. For example, last year saw the delivery of the highest level of output under the range of social housing measures for over 15 years. The overall number of completions of local authority housing for the year, including acquisitions, at 5,074, is higher than the output in 2001. The voluntary sector also achieved record housing output with 1,360 units provided last year. It is estimated that total social and housing provision met the needs of approximately 12,600 households compared to just over 8,500 households in 2000.” 

There has been a substantial investment in social housing in recent years. Spending on the local authority housing programme alone is about 15% ahead of that forecast under the National Development Plan. The provision for this programme in 2003 is €695m which will allow local authorities to increase house starts in 2003. 

Mr. Ahern added "the Government is determined to see progress in the drive to provide both Social and Affordable Housing. There is a broad range of housing demands and there is a coherent Government response in place. For Threshold to brand the provision of affordable housing as fashionable is insulting to purchasers of affordable housing”. 

One of the main aims of the Government is to try to reduce the price of land for affordable housing and the Government has recently made that a matter for examination by the new All Party Committee on the Constitution. Over €1.7 billion will be spent on housing in 2003 and the Sustaining Progress partnership agreement contains a commitment to review the effectiveness of programmes designed to meet the needs of low income groups and those with special housing needs. 

Mr Ahern concluded “The Government is concerned with meeting the housing needs of all sectors across a range of different incomes.”