Management and maintenance arrangements for projects, such as the Cúid project at Clarion Quay, which was provided under my Department's capital loan and subsidy scheme for voluntary housing projects, is a matter for the relevant approved housing body.
Management and maintenance costs are met from the rental income generated by the project as well as an annual management and maintenance subsidy allowance which is paid to approved housing bodies in respect of each dwelling funded under the scheme. For the year 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004, this allowance is €607 per dwelling in the administrative areas of all city councils including Dublin. This amount is adjusted each year in line with movements in the consumer price index. Housing authorities pay this allowance to the approved housing bodies and recoup their expenditure from my Department.
Under the terms of the capital and subsidy scheme, the rent payable to an approved housing body, by a tenant, is based on household and subsidiary income in the previous tax year. There is no maximum on the rent payable on the principal household income. However, the contribution to the rent by each subsidiary earner is subject to a maximum of €25.39 per week.
Where a tenant of a capital loan and subsidy scheme project produces satisfactory evidence of a fall in income to an approved body and of the likelihood of such a fall being sustained for at least four weeks, the weekly rent may be adjusted to the level appropriate to the reduced rate of income for the full duration of the reduction in income.
