Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 May 2021
125. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of his engagements with members and plans for houses with an association (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that loans on these properties will mature in five years; and if a handover or option to purchase will be considered by him. [24991/21]
View answerThe approved housing body referred to delivered new build social homes through the Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme. This funding model involves local authorities accessing loan finance from the Housing Finance Agency to support approved housing bodies to deliver homes for social use. The funding arrangement is secured by way of a mortgage agreement between the relevant local authority and the approved housing body. My Department supports the local authorities in the repayment of the loan finance to the Housing Finance Agency.
Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, allows local authorities to sell local authority owned dwellings to existing social housing tenants. The Scheme only provides for the purchase of houses owned by the relevant local authorities and does not extend to houses owned by approved housing bodies as the ownership of these properties remains with them.
If a property is owned outright by an approved housing body and it is not subject to public funding, the approved housing body may choose to sell that property, once this is allowed for in their constitution. It should be noted that approved housing body must have, as their primary objectives, the relief of housing needs, and the provision and management of housing included within their memorandum of association or registered rules, as the case may be.
