asked the Minister for the Environment the total number of local authority housing units for (a) senior citizens, (b) single parents, and (c) families of two or more expected to be completed in (1) 1988 and (2) 1989; whether this is adequate; the numbers in each category awaiting housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

97.

asked the Minister for the Environment the number of local authority houses completed by Offaly County Council in each year from 1985 to 1987 inclusive; and those estimates for completion prior to the end of 1989.

98.

asked the Minister for the Environment the number of local authority houses which were completed in each of the years 1980 to 1987 inclusive; the number which have been completed this year to date; and the number it is anticipated will be completed in 1989.

99.

asked the Minister for the Environment the number of new houses completed by Cork County Council for each year from 1980 to 1987 inclusive; and the number of new houses started in 1988.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 97, 98, and 99 together.

Details of completion are not available to my Department in the format requested by Deputy Sherlock. In 1988 it is expected that completions overall will be about 1,500. It is not possible at this stage to give precise figures for houses to be completed in 1989; however, it is anticipated that completions nationally will be in the region of 1,000.

I expect local authority housing completions together with dwellings becoming available from the existing stock for reletting to provide a reasonably adequate level of housing provision in 1989 given the present reduced level of needs. At 31 December 1987, the latest date for which details are available, there were approved applications for local authority housing from 3,951 single parents, 4,337 elderly and 13,706 families of two or more persons. The numbers of local authority houses completed each year from 1980 to 1987 by individual housing authorities were given in reply to Question No. 218 of 19 April 1988; the number of dwellings commenced by each housing authority each year, 1982 to 1988 were given in reply to Questions Nos. 13, 20 and 120 of 26 October 1988. Regarding completion this year, housing authorities provide details of activity on their housing construction programme to my Department on a quarterly basis. In the nine months to 30 September 1988 1,095 houses were completed.

Will the Minister agree that devolved housing is no longer available to local authorities? I do not have to explain what that means but, in view of the fact that there has been a reduction in the number of local authority houses constructed because of the £5,000 grant made available by the Department to people who wish to vacate local authority houses——

Please, Deputy Sherlock.

——the housing stock coming back to local authorities is very limited. Will the Minister agree that because the local authority SDA loan is practically unavailable, there will be a greater need for local authority housing? Does he accept that the provision of housing is a great social need and that lack of housing can contribute to the break up of marriage in many instances?

Deputy Sherlock is going on too long.

I agree that housing is an important matter and that the number of houses becoming available for reletting is slowing down because of the end of the £5,000 scheme. Local authorities are expected to make about 3,000 relettings from existing dwellings which become vacant this year. That is a rough estimate but it seems to be adequate to deal with our requirements at present. However, things are changing and the matter must be very carefuly watched. I do not agree with the Deputy's remarks in relation to the SDA. I agree that there is not as big a take-up of these loans despite the fact that quite a substantial sum of money was — and is — available. That has been replaced by very active participation in mortgage funding by the other institutions. I understand, from notice given to me, that there is going to be quite an amount of increased activity by other institutions in that regard again next year.

Would the Minister agree that on the basis of his figures — there were in the region of 20,000 housing applicants at the beginning of this year — no more than 5,000 local authority houses will be made available? Would he agree that, as a result, in 1989 there will be in the region of 15,000 housing applicants looking for a local authority house while only 1,000 houses will be built. This Government have laid the foundations for a housing crisis as we approach 1989.

I do not accept that. I accept that the whole question of housing programmes has to be monitored continually because it can change over the years. There has not been as big a demand for local authority housing in the last few years but that may change and if it does there certainly will be an obligation on the Government to pay attention to it.

I wish to ask the Minister if his figure of 20,000 applicants includes people who are on transfer lists within local authorities?

I mentioned the number of single parents, elderly people and families of two and more.

The Minister may not have the information that I request. The gross number of people on the housing list is approximately 22,000. Does that include people who are already housed by local authorities but who are on the transfer list?

It includes people who might be already in local authority housing but who wish to change to different locations.

There are 22,000 families in Dublin alone looking for transfers.

Please, let the interruptions cease. Let us hear the Minister.

I gave the figures that are available to me, as of 31 December 1987 — the last set of figures available to me — of approved applications for local authority housing.

For first-time applicants?

Yes, for the various categories that are involved.

May be I can assist the Minister. Perhaps if he does not have the information he could clarify it at a later date. Would the Minister not agree that the figures he is quoting relate specifically and exclusively to first-time applicants for accommodation from local authorities and exclude the many thousands of people who are living in inadequate accommodation and who seek a transfer on grounds of overcrowding and otherwise and that the scale of housing demand is far greater than he indicated to the House?

I presume the figures are as the Deputy says. I have one figure which is worth quoting. At the end of 1982 the number of applicants on the waiting list was 29,944 and at the end of 1987, the last year for which figures are available, it was 18,561.

Plus transfers.