210 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to utilise excess housing stock, finished or unfinished, to meet the housing needs of those on local authority housing lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44631/10]

It is the Government's intention to continue to meet the accommodation needs of as many households as possible within the resources available. The current oversupply of housing is a key factor in that regard, and there is potential to make economic necessity and the response to social need work in tandem by utilising unsold housing stock to accommodate families in need of social housing support.

In the context of rising social housing need, the priority must be to maximise delivery of social housing to cater for the greatest level of need at good value. The restructuring of the social housing investment programme to allow for a greater role for the Rental Accommodation Scheme and leasing offer the most effective and efficient response to both market realities and housing need, taking account of the resources available, current market conditions, and the need for a broader range of more flexible delivery mechanisms based on the life-cycle approach as set out in the Government's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes: Sustaining Communities.