Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
786. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what funding is available for a voluntary housing association (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17142/23]
View answerUnder the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), my Department provides up to 100% funding to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the capital development costs for new social homes in the priority categories of age-friendly housing and housing for people with disability. Lesser amounts of capital funding are also provided under CAS depending on the AHB’s preferred arrangement with the local authority on tenancy allocations. However the majority of CAS developments involve 100% funding for the accommodation development, including the project for which details are provided with this question. Funding support is also available towards communal facilities that might be developed by an AHB alongside the accommodation, for the benefit of their residents.
With my Department providing full capital costs for the housing, the AHB is thereafter the owner of the properties and has responsibility for their ongoing management and maintenance. CAS capital funding does not continue to support the maintenance costs and it is anticipated that AHBs will manage this with their rental income and maintaining a ‘sinking fund’.
It is important also that AHBs have ongoing relationships with their local authorities who also have an interest to support AHBs to maintain good quality housing in their operational areas.
