Vol. 568 No. 1
720 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if he will consider giving approval to Dublin City Council to raise the ceiling on the affordable housing loan from ?130,000 to ?180,000 in line with the shared ownership loan; if he will consider amending the clawback on affordable properties to allow banks and other lending institutions to provide mortgages for these homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15453/03]
734 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to difficulties with the operation of the affordable housing scheme, especially in the Dublin area, due to the current low ceiling of ?130,000; if he will consider raising this to ?180,000 in line with the shared ownership scheme; if he will further consider amending the clawback provision to allow banks and other lending institutions to provide mortgages for affordable homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15684/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 720 and 734 together.
The 1999 affordable housing scheme is one of a range of affordable housing measures which also include the shared ownership scheme, affordable housing delivered through arrangements under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and the affordable housing initiative contained in the new partnership agreement, Sustaining Progress. Under the 1999 affordable housing scheme a loan limit of €130,000 applies. This limit is currently being considered by my Department in the context of reviewing and defining the eligibility criteria applying to each scheme within the broad range of affordable housing measures.
The clawback provision of the 1999 affordable housing scheme was first introduced in June 2000 and is the same for all schemes. The provision for a clawback is necessary to ensure there is no short-term profiteering on the resale of a house provided on a subsidised site. It is not intended to alter this provision.
721 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if his Department is considering an application for funding from Respond or Kilkenny County Council to carry out an extension and other works at a location (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if a decision will be expedited in this case. [15481/03]
I understand Kilkenny County Council has received this application but is still clarifying aspects of it with Respond. If a proposal is submitted by the council for my Department's approval, it will receive due consideration.
722 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the amount allocated to the next phase of the Ossory Park refurbishment works in Kilkenny; the number of houses included in this phase; and if his Department has an overall plan for the works to be undertaken on the houses and the general external work on roads and parking. [15482/03]
My Department issued a revised budget cost of €1.1 million to Kilkenny Borough Council in April 2003 to enable the pilot phase of the Ossory Park refurbishment scheme to be completed. The borough council was recently notified of a capital allocation of €800,000 to meet the funding requirements arising in 2003. Further phases of refurbishment works to the remaining houses in the scheme and external environmental works will be undertaken on the basis of an evaluation of the pilot phase and it will be necessary for the borough council to seek new tenders in due course.
