Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019
82. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his Department has conducted an activity audit of approved housing bodies in the provision of social homes for 2017 and 2018; the details of the budget provided to each AHB; the number of units provided by each body in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1362/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Rebuilding Ireland, there are a number of mechanisms used to monitor and provide details on social housing activity, including activity delivered through the Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) sector. Examples include the Social Housing Construction Status Report and the Social Housing Data on a Council-by-Council Basis report, which are published on a quarterly basis.
My Department collates detailed social housing data in relation to each local authority area from each local authority. The Social Housing Data on a Council-by-Council basis Report provides details on the numbers on the social housing list, social housing targets, social housing delivery (broken down by build, acquisition, leasing, HAP / RAS and including both local authority and AHB delivery) and the social housing construction pipeline; the most recently published reports are available at http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/quarter-3-council-by-council-social-housing-update-published/.
The number of social housing solutions delivered in 2017 and for Q1-Q3 2018, by local authority area, are available at https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision. Details for Quarter 4 2018 are being compiled and will be published as soon as possible.
Funding under the relevant schemes is provided by my Department directly to local authorities, which in turn advance the funding to AHBs, as appropriate, with robust arrangements and agreements in place in order to ensure value for money and quality delivery. Funding provided to AHBs is project specific; my Department does not provide annual operating budgets to AHBs.
In 2017, my Department provided funding of just over €228 million for the relevant funding schemes available to the AHB sector and, in 2018, some €337 million was provided.
In terms of regulation, a voluntary regulatory system is in place for the AHB sector, ahead of the introduction of a statutory regulatory regime, which will be put in place under new legislation which is at an advanced stage of drafting.
