Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 March 2022
221. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing developments and units currently delayed due to issues arising from the application of the availability agreement formulae; if the formulae are being reviewed; and if so, when the review will be concluded. [13680/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing For All sets out national housing policy and implementation measures for the period to 2030. As part of the objective to increase social housing delivery, the plan recognises the significant role that Approved Housing Bodies (AHB’s) have played as partners in social housing delivery and will continue to play over the next five years.
All applications under the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF), with a Payment and Availability Agreement (P&A), scheme are compliant with the scheme guidelines, and comply with the underpinning financial assessment model. Currently there are no delays on these proposals.
The CALF funding model has worked very successfully over the past 10 years, particularly for the larger AHBs that have adapted their delivery plans to utilise P&A-CALF funding. The increase in market rents over the intervening period has extended the geographic range of areas where dwellings can be delivered to the extent that projects have been completed in all local authority areas.
Under Housing For All, a specific objective, Action 4.10, is to “ review the structure and operation of CALF to assess whether any refinements to the facility are required to support delivery of social housing by the AHB sector across a wider range of Local Authority areas.”
One of the key purposes of this exercise is to review the structure of the P&A-CALF funding model to determine if it should be adjusted to support delivery by the AHB sector across a wider range of areas and what options might be available to enable this.
Work is underway on this review with the support of the Housing Agency and is on track to be completed by Q4 this year.
