Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 19 January 2023

Public Accounts Committee

Financial Statements 2020: Housing Agency
Financial Statements 2021: Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority
Chapter 7: Housing Agency Revolving Acquisition Fund
Section 2 Report – Unauthorised Release of Funds from the Central Fund of the Exchequer

9:30 am

Photo of Paul McAuliffePaul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I might stay with Mr. Baneham regarding the questions Deputy Burke asked concerning the acquisition fund. On the issues relating to local authority vetting or auditing, I was a member of a local authority when that took place. I recall some of the reasons properties were refused. Those included not being wheelchair accessible or not being on the ground floor.

I remember Fingal County Council referring to properties in the Finglas area, which is in the council's functional area, but it would have said that its housing demand was, perhaps, for Blanchardstown or Swords. In hindsight, those reasons almost feel like a huge luxury when you look at the housing waiting lists. When Mr. Baneham looks five years on, does he regret not being stronger with some of those local authorities in order that we might have acquired more housing?