asked the Minister for the Environment his policy to reverse the falling number of completions in recent years in respect of local authority dwellings.

17.

asked the Minister for the Environment the nature and extent of the reassessment of local authority housing needs and analysis of the approved waiting list of housing authorities as referred to in paragraph 5.11 in the recent Government White Paper, which led to the conclusion that there was a general lessening in the degree of urgency of local authority housing needs, even though there has been little or no falling off in general demand and significant arrears still exist in some areas.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions No. 16 and 17 together.

The general level of activity on the local authority housing programme is determined each year by the Government in conjunction with the provision for this purpose in the Public Capital Programme. The level of activity, as measured by average monthly number of dwellings under construction throughout the year and average monthly employment, was maintained in 1977 and 1978 at a higher level than in 1976. The average monthly number of dwellings in progress was 8,702 in 1977 and is estimated to have been 8,611 in 1978. In 1976 the corresponding figure was 8,195. Average monthly employment was 6,295 in 1977 and an estimated 6,400 in 1978 compared with only 5,634 in 1976. The capital provision being made by the Government in the Public Capital Programme for local authority housing in 1979, combined with a generally more favourable cash position for housing authorities at the end of 1978, should enable building activity in 1979 to continue at about the same level as in 1978.

The reassessment of local authority housing needs and analysis of the approved waiting list of housing authorities referred to in paragraph 5.11 of the Government's White Paper and the conclusion stated in that paragraph were based on (a) the latest detailed assessments of housing needs carried out by housing authorities under section 53 of the Housing Act, 1966; (b) the 1976 report on housing needs by the National Economic and Social Council; (c) annual analyses made by my Department of detailed statistics submitted by housing authorities of conditions and family circumstances of approved applicants on their waiting lists, and (d) special detailed local reviews, discussions and checks by officers of my Department.

There are two separate issues here. First regarding the number of completions of local authority dwellings, how can the Minister relate the information he has given us—unless it has been given in the context of Shakespeare's maxim that "The Devil can cite scripture for his purpose"—with paragraph 5 of the White Paper in which we are informed that local authority housing completions totalled 8,794 in 1975, 7,263 in 1976, and 6,333 in 1977 while the estimation for 1978 was to be of the order of 6,000, a figure which I consider to be totally exaggerated? This shows a clear decline in the numbers. Is there any plan to reverse that decline?

The figure for completions is 6,038. Again, completions can level off. The best guide is the average number in progress.

That is no consolation to people on the housing list.

The average number can be affected by factors such as weather, industrial disputes or material shortages which can occur any year but there is usually a levelling off during a two- or three-year period.

Would the Minister accept that the figures are for a four-year period and that apart from last night's weather conditions there has not been any marked decline in weather conditions in those four years?

The figures for 1977 and 1978 are 6,333 and 6,038 respectively.

Would the Minister accept that the figures have been declining yearly?

The average number in progress and which I consider to be more indicative of what will be achieved during a period of two or three years was 8,611 in 1978 compared with 8,702 in 1977.

One can hardly live in a house that is in the process of construction.

Houses must be in progress at some stage if they are to be completed.

We are talking about statistics for completions.

What is the average time for the commencement of the building of a house to its completion? Would I be correct in saying that in Dublin city the process is a three-year span on the basis that in regard to the figures that are being criticised today the Minister has to refer back over a three-year period?

I have no details of the average time.

It is a separate question.

Is not the answer "about three years"?