Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for attending. Approved housing bodies are playing a massive part in Rebuilding Ireland and in the local authority sector. Last year, they provided 3,219 social homes. Local authorities are no longer building, which is a massive issue as we need to build local authority housing. Reference was made to the number of meetings which had taken place with the Department. My understanding is that approved housing bodies themselves meet with developers and revert to the local authorities. Most of the work is done through local authorities and it then goes back to the Department. Sometimes the local authorities do not even go back to the Department. That needs to be clarified. It is definitely the case that a lot of the work is done through the 31 local authorities with which approved housing bodies engage. The bodies then work with builders before going back to the local authorities. It is an issue I encountered recently. It is important to build the houses. The more we build the better.

I note that the ICSH and the Housing Alliance proposed that a working group be established to report within six months. We need to do that as soon as possible. The houses approved housing bodies provide are of excellent quality, which is important also. It was stated that a local authority can nominate 75% or more of the tenants of an approved housing body. My understanding is that local authorities nominate 100% of the tenants. There is a bit of confusion there and it is important to get that clarified. The approved housing bodies work through local authorities which give the names and then the meetings take place. All AHBs go through the local authorities. It is important to look at all areas, including bungalows for elderly people or people with disabilities. It is important to build more of them.

When the Bill addresses building, it should envision a lot more bungalows as people are living longer. I find it very hard to find a house for people with disabilities who are on the housing list, particularly a bungalow that is wheelchair accessible.

The delegates spoke about guidelines, rents and settings. Only last week, a lady appeared with me on our local radio station, KCLR 96FM. There is a beautiful housing estate which was built by one of the approved housing bodies and I have to say it is excellent. Two local authorities, those in counties Carlow and Laois, worked together. I note, however, that the rent for someone on the Carlow local authority housing list has been capped at €180 per week, whereas in County Laois it has been capped at €92 per week. Some people are paying double the amount their neighbour is paying. It is becoming a huge issue. We have to be very careful where neighbouring counties are involved, although I know that the matter has to go back to the Department. I have approached the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, about the matter, about which I am very concerned as it is causing hassle in estates. We need to be wary of it.

Recently an approved housing body scheme fell through because the developer pulled out. I do not know why, but he had his reasons. Seemingly, 36 houses were left in Wexford. What happened in that instance? I think the houses were put up for private sale. Perhaps the delegates might give me more information.

Lately a lot of local authorities have started to buy houses. What is the reason for this? Is it because they are cheaper? Sometimes buying houses is fine. However, we have to make sure people who do not qualify for inclusion in the local authority housing list or find it hard to get a mortgage will be in a position to buy a house. Will the delegates update me on that matter?

There is a question I wish to ask again. What have been the main impacts of AHB reclassification? It is something about which I am very concerned. Overall, great work has been done and there has been great management. That has not been mentioned this morning, but the Housing Alliance has a great management team, which is so important and on which I compliment the delegates. It is doing a really good job, whether the issue is anti-social behaviour or help with payments. Perhaps they might come back to me with the answers to some of those questions.