Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests. Housing is at the top of the agenda. I acknowledge the role that our guests' organisations play in ensuring the provision of housing, particularly in terms of social housing alongside local authorities. Over 25 years, funding at 3.25% is a good rate that one would not get anywhere else.

Ms Carroll mentioned that 82% of housing agencies had signed up. Why is it not 95%? The Bill provides that a regulator can intervene where it deems it necessary to assess the needs on the ground. Will Ms Carroll elaborate on where intervention is necessary to accelerate the process currently, given the fact that the objective is to provide housing but that is only happening slowly? What role could our guests play in that regard?

Regarding the supply of appropriate funding through local authorities, it was stated that 25 AHBs had applied but only 12 had been approved. If the need is so great and the AHBs have met the conditions, why have only 12 been approved? It is a low rate of approval. According to the submission, 100% of loan approvals have received an offer. Did they refuse or what? Am I looking at two different matters? To date, €180 million for the acquisition or development of 1,600 homes has been approved, but only €60 million has been advanced. Could that happen faster? Speed is of the essence. The HFA's job is to be a loan financing agency and a regulator. Getting the process moving quickly should be one of its priorities. I presume that it is, just as it is the Government's priority.