Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2699. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing units that have been acquired under the housing agency vacant housing purchase initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33830/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Actions 1.1, 2.5 and 5.6 of Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, the Housing Agency is actively engaging with banks and investment companies in relation to its acquisitions programme. An Acquisitions Fund of €70m, which is a revolving fund, has been established with the objective of acquiring some 1,600 units over the period to 2020 for social housing use.
As of 30 June 2018, the Agency had bids accepted on 645 properties. Contracts have been signed for 454 units and 404 of these purchases have closed. The process of selling properties on to Approved Housing Bodies is underway. As of 30 June 2018, the Agency had signed purchase option agreements for 238 properties with Approved Housing Bodies and these units are now under Caretaker Leases. To date, the onward sale of 132 units to AHBs have been completed in full and the Agency has received €27.7m from AHBs for these units to recycle back into the Acquisitions Fund.
