Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2018
133. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Finance the number of residential properties owned by a bank (details supplied); if an audit of the number of residential properties owned by the bank will be carried out by his Department; the plans the bank has to place those properties on the market to help ease the housing shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8067/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Central Bank of Ireland that from its perspective, specifically in relation to the number of residential properties owned by the subject bank (Ulster Bank), under Section 33AK of the Central Bank Act 1942 the Central Bank is not in a position to provide any specific information in this regard. However, on the 14th December 2017 the Central Bank issued the latest statistical release of the Residential Mortgage Arrears and Repossessions Statistics: September 2017. The release reports the total number of PDH and BTL residential properties in possession for banking entities at the beginning of Q3 2017 is 2,374. For more information the referenced statistical release can be found here.
I understand that the Housing Agency which is under the remit of the Minister for Housing, Planning & Local Government is currently assessing the suitability of a number of empty properties which are being offered to the State for purchase as social houses by banks and private equity funds.
