Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I make the point to Deputy Duffy that the inclusion of community-led housing in the Affordable Housing Act was a significant step forward. To be fair to the Deputy, that came directly from him and the Chair. I met with community-led housing organisations. It is the first time we have included that definition in legislation. That, in itself, is very important. That said, with the new regime, any community-led housing organisation will need to be approved by the Approved Housing Body Regulatory Authority, AHBRA. I have had good meetings with a couple of organisations in Ireland and my officials recently had a follow-up meeting with them. They would be approved by AHBRA. They would have to be approved in order to operate anyway and that is right and proper.

The amendments seek to include the community-led housing organisations, housing co-ops and community land trusts. A community land trust would have to be in compliance with the Affordable Housing Act provisions we put in. I do not have the Affordable Housing Act here with me but I remember it well. For clarity for members, amendment No. 905 refers to Part 6(2) of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 but the organisations would have to be in compliance with those elements of the Affordable Housing Act provisions, one of which is the registration. If an organisation is registered with AHBRA, that is fine. Even community-led housing trusts have to be so registered. There would be no need for this additional amendment because the organisations are in already. As for organisations not registered with AHBRA, we have a concern about including that definition of "community land trust" here because we want to ensure, as the Deputy has done in his other amendment, that they are compliant with it. Those organisations could submit observations to the development plan anyway at a relevant local authority level.

Amendment No. 892 seeks the insertion of "community-led housing organisations, housing co-operatives and community land trusts" but once they are approved by AHBRA they are included already, so there is no need for that amendment. If I set such an organisation up today I would want to ensure it is compliant in dealing with the Approved Housing Body Regulatory Authority as well. That is why I cannot accept amendment No. 892 as it stands. I understand the thrust of the amendment.

With regard to amendment No. 905, Deputy Matthews also made reference to Part 6(2) of the Affordable Housing Act 2021. That refers to three types of housing support that may be provided by a local authority as per section 10 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and does refer to potential developers, whether they be public or private. We are covered. I understand the thrust of the amendment but I want to read into the record that section of the Affordable Housing Act when I get a copy of it. I do not want to give a mention, not special status, to groups that would not be registered. As a result of what we have done under the Affordable Housing Act, thanks to the Deputies, it is the first time community land trusts have been mentioned in primary legislation and rightly so. They are covered under this as long as they are approved.