Robert Troy
Ceist:2954. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to change regulations to facilitate an approved housing body being able to provide affordable homes. [33944/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 23 July 2019
Ceisteanna (2954)
Freagraí scríofa
In June 2018, I commenced Part 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, which now places an affordable housing scheme on a statutory basis.
I signed regulations in respect of the making of Schemes of Priority on 12 March 2019 and these were issued to local authorities on 22 March 2019. The purpose of a Scheme of Priority is to set out the affordable purchase arrangements at local authority level. This includes the methodology that will be applied to determine the order of priority to be accorded to eligible households where the demand for such affordable dwellings exceeds the number available.
Part 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009 does not explicitly refer to Approved Housing Bodies in the provision of affordable homes. However, Section 79 (2) (a) of the said Act states that a housing authority may enter into an arrangement with an approved body for the purpose of providing affordable homes within the terms of the Act to eligible households.
It should also be noted that Approved Housing Bodies are in no way precluded from providing homes independent of the statutory affordable purchase scheme and at prices they may consider both viable and affordable.
Question No. 2955 answered with Question No. 2950.