Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 January 2012
144 Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Dublin City Council has not passed on the November interest rate cut to everyone entitled to it and has told those inquiring that DCC is unable to pass on this cut due to a new system it is implementing. [4181/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department understands that Dublin City Council will be implementing an interest rate cut of 0.25% from 1 February 2012 for all variable loans; a further rate cut of 0.25% is scheduled to be implemented on 1 April 2012. It is understood that the Council's Loan Accounts Section is required to contact all 3,000 borrowers regarding changes to rates and new instalments. Borrowers with Direct Debit arrangements must notify their bank of the new instalment rate and adjust their Direct Debit accordingly. All accounts will be updated on the Loan Accounts IT system. The time frame to complete all tasks associated with changes to interest rates is 8-10 weeks.
145 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a detailed report on the operation of the capital assistance scheme in 2009, 2010 and 2011 detailing the total amount of money allocated to the CAS in each year; the amount of money spent in each year; the amount of the allocation for each year which was already committed to projects approved in the previous year; the amount of each annual allocation which was available for new and unapproved projects in that year; with respect to 2012 if he will indicate the total amount of CAS funding for this year; the amount of this allocation which has already been committed to projects approved in 2011 and the amount of this money available for new and as yet unapproved projects in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4236/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra147 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has yet determined the amount of funding to be made available under the capital assistance scheme for 2012; if this will allow projects to be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4266/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 147 together.
The voluntary housing sector is a significant provider of social housing for persons with specific categories of need and the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) has provided a significant proportion of the capital for the provision of these units over the years. The table sets out the Exchequer allocation for CAS from 2009 to 2012 and the amount of actual expenditure by my Department for each of these years.
|
Year |
CAS Exchequer Allocation |
CAS Actual Expenditure |
|
2009 |
€110,000,000 |
€158,512,741 |
|
2010 |
€145,000,000 |
€113,647,625 |
|
2011 |
€90,000,000 |
€38,441,598 |
|
2012 |
€70,000,000 |
It is not possible to give figures as to the estimated level of commitments carried forward on the CAS going into 2009, 2010 and 2011. Work is currently underway on preparing the Social Housing Investment Programme for 2012, including projects funded under CAS. Information submitted for the 2012 programme is still being collated and it will be some time before all the necessary material has been examined. I will, in the context of an examination of existing programme commitments under CAS, give consideration to the financial scope for new CAS projects during 2012. I envisage making announcements in relation to budgets or allocations for the various housing supply programmes in early March.
