Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019
54. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a cost benefit analysis of the provision of funding to approved housing bodies towards the construction of social homes in 2018 built for local authorities has been conducted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1361/19]
View answerApproved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are an important social housing delivery partner, working closely with local authorities throughout the country to deliver new homes. In 2018, they again contributed significantly to the output of new build social housing and there was a clear demonstration of increasing capacity to deliver. Of particular importance are AHBs' potential to harness non-Exchequer investment in social housing, as well as their specialist expertise in tenant and estate management and in the provision of special needs housing.
Through local authorities, my Department provides AHBs with access to a range of funding streams to assist with the delivery of social housing, including construction activity. All funding schemes seek to secure value for money for the Exchequer and the highest quality social housing homes for those on local authorities' waiting lists. This is done by ensuring that the relevant local authority is fully supportive and approves of the project, requiring independent valuations of costs for all construction, acquisition and leasing projects, adhering to unit cost ceilings which also apply to local authorities, and undertaking an independent financial appraisal of certain projects.
As part of the 2018 Spending Review process, an analysis of current and capital expenditure on social housing supports, including the supports available to AHBs, was carried out by the Irish Government Evaluation and Economic Service (IGEES). The findings of this review, together with the work of my own Department and local authorities in respect of the management of the individual funding streams, provide assurance that appropriate value for money scrutiny is in place in relation to AHB activity in the provision of social housing.
