Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

In December 2011 NAMA identified more than 2,000 properties as being potentially available for social housing. While most of these are located in the greater Dublin region and in Cork, properties are identified in a total of 15 local authority areas throughout the country. A steering group was then established to monitor progress, identify and address any obstacles that arise in particular cases and deal with any general policy implementation issues. My Department, NAMA and the housing agency are represented on the group and it will serve as an ongoing point of contact between NAMA and the bodies responsible for the delivery of social housing.

At present, a number of projects have been identified as being suitable for social housing, and these are being advanced for inclusion in the leasing scheme. These projects are at various stages of development, from early discussions with developers on the type and number of units required, to negotiations on price, inspections, contract negotiations, completion works and fittings.

Once a developer or receiver and the housing authority are interested, the basis for a contract will be created which can be negotiated between the parties. This contract can take the form of a lease only or, where an approved housing body is involved, there is the potential to acquire units which are then made available to housing authorities under a payment and availability agreement. A systematic process is being used and I expect that housing units will start to be delivered under this arrangement by the middle of this year.

Funding is available for both housing authorities and approved housing bodies under the social housing leasing initiative to meet the cost of leasing these units. Funding is also available under the capital advance leasing facility to assist approved housing bodies which want to purchase units for social housing purposes from NAMA.

The social housing leasing initiative, facilitated in this case by NAMA, will make an important contribution towards meeting the demand for social housing support.

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