Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2690. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a system will be introduced to ensure information on the details of land owned by approved housing bodies is obtained and made available in view of the fact the regulation office of the Housing Agency does not collect same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33697/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraApproved Housing Bodies (AHBs), approved in accordance with section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992, are independent not-for-profit organisations that provide and manage housing for people with a housing need. AHBs can be limited companies, societies or trusts. In order to be approved, it is also a requirement that their memorandum and articles of association include provisions prohibiting the distribution of any surplus, profit, bonus or dividend to members and requiring the assets of the body be applied solely towards its objectives and that, in the event of winding up or dissolution of the company, any remaining property must be transferred to another body having objectives similar to the objectives of the AHB. These requirements are designed to protect the interests of the State and tenants of AHB properties.
I understand from my Department’s regular and ongoing interactions with AHBs that most of these organisations do not have significant amounts of undeveloped lands within their own control, but rely on collaborative arrangements with local authorities to deliver social housing homes and sheltered accommodation on publicly owned lands or enter into agreements with private landowners and developers to deliver turnkey developments for similar uses. In the context of developing the new legislative proposals to establish a statutory regulator for the AHB sector, I will be making provision to enable the regulator to oversee the functions and performance of the voluntary housing sector, including statutory requirements regarding the submission of annual accounts which would include details of assets held by each Body.
