Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020
341. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if provision will be made to enable community co-operatives to apply to the Housing Finance Agency for finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23437/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn respect of housing, the function of the Housing Finance Agency (HFA) is to advance loan finance to local authorities, the voluntary housing sector and Higher Education Institutions to be used by them for any purpose authorised by the Housing Acts and to borrow or raise funds for these purposes.
Regarding the voluntary housing sector, the HFA can only lend to a body which has been approved for the purposes of section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. This provision enables a housing authority to provide assistance to an approved body in respect of the provision, or management of housing accommodation, or in respect of other matters in relation to housing. Subsection (2) of section 6 sets out what constitutes assistance.
Bodies approved under section 6 are broadly known as Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). More information on lending by the HFA to AHBs is available directly from the HFA's website at:
https://www.hfa.ie/hfa/Live/Release/WebSite/HomePage/lending2approved.html
