Vol. 529 No. 1
775 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when the working group on the voluntary sector will complete its work; if it has produced term reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1096/01]
I understand the working group decided at its first meeting that recommendations on particular issues would be presented as they are finalised and that any final report would encompass the various individual reports. The working group has already advised on amendments to Part V of the Planning and Development Bill in so far as it related to the voluntary housing sector and on guidelines for planning authorities on Part V, which were issued by my Department. It is expected that reports on revisions to the terms of the voluntary housing schemes and the consolidated guidelines for the voluntary housing schemes will be finalised shortly.
Other issues under consideration by the working group include direct access to the Housing Finance Agency for funding for approved voluntary housing bodies, funding for running costs incurred by voluntary housing bodies in their housing projects and the whole issue of funding for the sector including financial support for approved voluntary housing bodies. In addition to advising on issues affecting development of the voluntary housing sector, the working group also acts as a valuable channel of communication between the sector and my Department.
