Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 September 2021
312. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if section 48 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 will apply to houses purchased through affordable housing schemes; when he expects section 48 of the Act to be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43311/21]
View answerThe Affordable Housing Act 2021 was signed into law by the President on 21 July 2021. On 18 August, I signed the Affordable Housing Act 2021 (Commencement) (Parts 1 and 3) Order 2021, which commenced Parts 1 and 3 of the Act from 19 August.
On 2 September 2021, I signed the Affordable Housing Act 2021 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) Order 2021, which commenced Part 2 (other than subsections (2)(c), (6), and (7) of section 6) and Parts 4, 6, 7 (which includes section 48) and 8 of the Act from 3 September.
Section 48 allows housing authorities to enter into arrangements with a bank/mortgage provider to enable the purchaser of a dwelling under the older affordable housing arrangements (Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 or Part 2 of the Housing Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2002) to obtain a top-up mortgage/re-mortgage or to change mortgage provider. This provision has taken effect from 3 September 2021. There are similar provisions (in section 13) in Part 2 of the 2021 Act in relation to dwellings that will be purchased under Part 2, which as stated above, was also commenced with effect from 3 September 2021.
