Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

I move amendment No. 45:

In page 25, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following:

"(18) Before making or amending an allocation scheme, a housing authority shall provide a draft of the scheme or amendment to the scheme to housing authorities, voluntary sector housing and homeless service providers and other relevant bodies, who may respond to the proposed scheme or amendment to the scheme. The housing authority may amend the proposed scheme or amendment to the scheme. If the housing authority chooses not to amend the proposed scheme or amendment to the scheme they must explain the reasons in writing to the housing authority, voluntary sector provider of housing or homeless services or other relevant body if requested.".

This relates to an earlier amendment of mine. There is an obligation on local authorities not only to communicate correspondence to other partners in the area of social housing but to provide explanations of any submissions made. Instead of simply being presented with a finished product, there must be a draft process whereby the allocation scheme and how it is structured, if it is to be changed, can be examined by the relevant agencies and further submissions made where appropriate. It is a question of good local government practice.

If one can go so far as to describe it as a positive opportunity, the reduction in house prices has created a situation where we can look more creatively at housing strategies into the future, notwithstanding the possibility that local authorities may no longer have the resources to develop housing strategies. What is required is a dynamic between all the partners engaged in the housing sector, including homeless, voluntary and co-operative housing programmes. There must be a mechanism whereby other stakeholders can make a contribution at draft stage.

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