Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2017
2185. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on whether an over-rigid application of planning principles is impeding delivery of much needed social housing (details supplied); and his plans to implement a review of the reasons local authorities used for rejecting properties offered by NAMA. [27310/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo end Quarter 1 2017, the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) had identified 6,947 units, associated with the security for loans that NAMA has acquired, that could be made available for social housing. Many of these units were in unfinished housing developments or developments that required significant remediation work. All of the units identified by NAMA, regardless of their condition, location or circumstance were offered to local authorities in the first instance.
To date, demand has been confirmed by local authorities for 2,780 of the properties that NAMA has identified as potentially available. Local authorities have confirmed that 2,423 of the properties are considered unsuitable by reference to sustainable planning and housing policy, or are located in areas with no social housing demand. A further 1,744 properties have been sold or privately let by the owners or receivers since the initial offer was made to the local authority.
General information in relation to NAMA delivery for social housing is available on the website of the Housing Agency at the following link:
https://www.housingagency.ie/Our-Services/Housing-Supply-Services/NAMA-(1).aspx.
In consultation with my Department, the Housing Agency and local authorities, NAMA continues to work through its portfolio with a view to identifying units that could be made available. The local authorities and the Housing Agency have been working systematically through the units with NAMA to determine if there is a social housing demand for the properties identified as potentially suitable for social housing. However, many of these units may be in private rented use and it is not appropriate or desirable that such private tenancies would be displaced.
Where a demand is identified by a local authority, this information is provided to NAMA and efforts are made to secure as many of the suitable properties as possible for social housing.
