My Department’s role in relation to the voluntary housing capital funding schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds to support the annual construction and housing acquisitions programmes by the sector. It is a matter for the relevant housing authority to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the schemes, and to have appropriate oversight and liaison arrangements in place for the effective administration of the schemes and for ensuring that the investment in voluntary housing is safeguarded.
At the end of 2012 a total of 25,371 units of accommodation had been provided by Approved Housing Bodies (AHB’s) under my Department’s capital funding schemes since the inception of the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) in 1984 and the Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) in 1992. Exchequer funding of €1.3 billion was provided under the CAS for the provision of some 15,262 units of accommodation for persons with specific categories of housing need such as older people, the homeless and persons with a physical, intellectual or mental health disability.
Under the CLSS, mortgage finance was provided to AHB’s by way of loans from the Housing Finance Agency (HFA) to meet the cost of providing social rented accommodation for low-income families. At end 2012, AHB’s had provided some 10,109 units of accommodation and loans to the value of around €1.4 billion had been drawn down from the HFA. The CLSS was terminated in 2009 and expenditure in respect of projects over the period 2010 to end 2012 relates to projects at construction or approved to commence construction prior to the decision to terminate the scheme.
In 2011 the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) was introduced to facilitate the securing of finance by AHB’s from sources other than the Exchequer, including from the HFA and private lending institutions. The CALF provides a capital equity injection which assists in securing such finance. To date over €10 million has been advanced to AHBs using this facility which has supported the provision of 158 social housing units.
In accordance with legislative provisions set out under Section 58 of the Housing Act, 1966, local authorities are responsible for the management and maintenance of their social housing stock. A number of AHB’s have entered into service level agreements with local authorities for the management and maintenance of social housing units which may be either leased or owned by the relevant authority. Details of these arrangements and the numbers of properties involved are not available in my Department.
With regard to regulating the management and operation of AHBs, my Department has developed, in consultation with the AHB sector, a voluntary regulation code as a precursor to a statutory regulatory framework for the sector to support its long-term
growth.
The voluntary regulation code – Building for the Future - was published on 15 July 2013 and it is anticipated that the majority of AHBs will engage with the code as it will present an opportunity to influence the final shape of statutory regulation which, it is intended, will be in place by 2016.
