Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

I wish to share my time with Deputy Mary White. I welcome the Minister of State.

The Bill has many beneficial features and will likely add value to the management of local authority housing and provide a governance framework for the delivery of housing services by local authorities. However, there are some gaps in how the Bill will affect the delivery of housing services on the ground. The most pressing one is that the Bill is in essence a local authority housing Bill and it overlooks the fact that currently, housing associations are responsible for providing between one quarter and one third of new social housing each year and there are now in the region of 20,000 units of social housing being managed by this sector.

The sector, through the Irish Council for Social Housing, has identified that a strong legislative framework is now required to underpin the work of housing associations and it would be a shame if the opportunity to address that gap in this Bill was missed. Voluntary housing associations are active in every county providing much-needed social housing and support services to some of the most vulnerable and deprived people. The voluntary housing sector has a special role in providing much of the social housing for the elderly, people with disabilities and homeless people. In addition, the impact of these schemes on local communities is immense, often ensuring smaller towns remain vibrant by providing community facilities on-site and by providing employment locally, for example, in the construction sector, in developing such new projects.

Housing associations are involved in serving more than 400 communities throughout the country from larger urban areas to a small rural parish and the cumulative effect of their work extends well beyond the mere provision of social housing as they provide significant social capital to local communities.

There are currently 718 approved housing bodies which have been granted approved status by the Minister under section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002. The Government's statement on housing policy, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, as part of its overall reform of social housing, states the intention on page 15 to, "improve governance of the voluntary and co-operative housing sector". There are numerous powers for the Minister regarding governance of social housing delivered by local authorities. However, the governance of the voluntary and co-operative housing sector has been overlooked. It is still not clear from the Bill what is the proposed governance framework for approved housing bodies in this Bill.

Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992, is the relevant legislative power. Does this provide sufficient powers to remove approved status? Clearer instruments for the governance of approved housing bodies should be set out. The powers dealing with approved status should be updated to reflect the size, scale and diversity of the sector with a need to update section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992.

The term "approved body" should be changed to "approved housing body" to distinguish from other approved bodies approved by other Departments, as it becomes confusing and the term "approved housing bodies", would provide greater clarity about the role and function of the organisation.

The basis for housing association tenancies is still not clear. In the Bill they are part of the social housing sector but in legislation the status of tenancies originates in the private rented sector. However, they do not come under the auspices of the PRTB. As the status of the approved bodies' tenancies is effectively unclear, the Bill should include powers to allow for approved housing bodies access by regulation, if required, to relevant parts of the PRTB Act or relevant housing legislation.

I am currently a board member of The Irish Council for Social Housing, ICSH, which is the national federation of housing associations in Ireland. The ICSH has more than 300 affiliated member housing associations providing accommodation for families, single people, the elderly, homeless people and people with disabilities. Housing associations which in legislation are referred to as "approved housing bodies", are non-profit organisations formed for the purpose of relieving housing need and the provision and management of housing. They are established by a voluntary management board to benefit the community in which they are based. Approved non-profit housing bodies, housing associations and housing co-operatives, currently manage in excess of 20,000 dwellings. In 2007 housing associations developed 1,685 units of accommodation and are estimated to have provided a similar or greater number in 2008, especially with the additional capital funding which the Minister obtained to meet commitments for Part V projects which was very much welcomed in the sector. Projects undertaken by housing associations may be in response to the needs of the elderly, people with disabilities, homeless persons or families and single people on low incomes. Some housing associations may be formed to specialise in meeting a particular housing need while others develop with broader aims.

The specific housing services offered will depend on the aims or concerns of the members, the needs of tenants as well as the financial and other resources available for both capital costs and ongoing management running costs. Depending on the type of housing need to be met by the housing association, the accommodation provided may be in the form of ordinary rental houses or flats or specially designed supportive sheltered housing with on-site communal welfare facilities, group homes or hostels. It is a very broad range.

Along with the ICSH, I welcome the publication of the Bill and consider it a wide-ranging piece of legislation. I recognise that it seeks to add clarity to many aspects of the provision of social housing. I note that improvements in the legislative framework for the reform of social housing have been sought for some time and I recognise this Bill is a step towards providing greater legal clarity. The reform measures outlined in Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, are reflected in the Bill to some degree but require strengthening. While welcoming in general the publication of the Bill there are a number of aspects to which I seek to draw attention and which will need to be addressed. These aspects include significant areas of reform which are required but have not been included in the Bill's provisions.

The Bill as it stands requires amendment. I welcome the strengthening of the role of elected members in adopting the proposed local authority housing services plan. However, it would be useful if the same level of consultation were in place for the local authority housing action programme. This would be essential in allowing elected members to be able to measure progress of the implementation of the targets in the housing action programme which is often part of local authorities' housing-related strategic policy committee role.

It would also be essential to have consultation with the voluntary housing sector in adopting the local authority housing action programme. In many local authority areas, housing associations in the voluntary housing sector play an increasing role in delivering commitments and targets in the housing action programme. It is only logical that the organisations being asked to deliver would have a meaningful input. I know from my own experience with the voluntary housing sector that one of the greatest frustrations is not knowing or being denied information about the former housing action plans on social housing targets in different areas. It is very frustrating. In addition, the new guidelines for voluntary housing associations developing new housing projects require preliminary and detailed appraisals to be undertaken before any project can proceed and as part of this process the housing association has to show that the proposed project is in line with the commitments in the housing action plan. This will be impossible if the information in the housing action plan or programme is not forthcoming.

If the voluntary housing sector is being asked to work in partnership with local authorities then access to information in the housing action programme is crucial. The more comprehensive approach in the Bill to the future housing needs assessment process undertaken by local authorities is to be welcomed.

I ask the Minister of State to arrange for more regular or real time assessment of housing need as every three years in the current climate does not allow for up to date planning. I know from my own area in south Tipperary and west Waterford there has been an increase in the demand for social housing since the last assessment in March 2008. I ask the Minister of State that the Bill would allow for an annual assessment in this current climate.

Previously, there has been a greater emphasis on the physical aspects of social housing support. Even with special needs groups, this has focused on the very important grants for older people and those with disabilities. However, the Bill should contain a direction to local authorities to the effect that social housing also focuses on aspects such as onsite supports as well as sheltered and supported housing.

The provisions on anti-social behaviour are welcome in terms of providing reassurance for the vast majority of good tenants. A strengthened Bill will achieve a better outcome and greater clarity for the Minister of State's Department, local authorities and the voluntary housing sector as well as, importantly, for tenants and the public.

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