Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

The Government's new housing policy, launched in June, is predicated on a more integrated, choice-based and tenure-neutral approach to social housing provision. It will mean a much greater role for approved housing bodies in the voluntary and co-operative sector as providers of social housing. As such, I intend to develop an enabling regulatory framework for the sector that will provide support and assurance both for the sector and its external partners as it takes on an expanded role. I will develop this framework in consultation with the sector, but I expect that it will assist approved housing bodies to develop key governance and management structures to facilitate an expanded remit; provide independent scrutiny and validation of such bodies' competences; and place sustainable housing management policies and practices at the heart of a co-ordinated approach to the development of the sector.

The move from capital funded programmes of construction and acquisition to more revenue-funded options presents challenges for the sector. The regulatory framework will assist in meeting these challenges and facilitating the sector in attracting the loan finance necessary to deliver on its expanded remit. The development of a regulatory framework will take time. In the meantime, I wish to work with the sector on the development of a voluntary code to which, I hope, most approved housing bodies will sign up over time. This code which I would like to agree in 2012 will serve as a learning opportunity for the sector and my Department as we develop a longer term statutory framework that will best support the sector.

It is also my intention to extend the remit of the Residential Tenancies Act to those segments of the voluntary and co-operative housing sector that most closely parallel the Act's current remit.

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