Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Several queries were raised about the core functions of approved housing bodies. Their core purpose is, essentially, the provision of social housing. Any agreements entered into are written into their articles of association to ensure that this will remain their function, namely, to provide social housing.

Deputy Barry Cowen asked if the Government is not engaging with approved housing bodies. Under the social housing strategy announced recently, the approved housing bodies will have an enhanced role in the provision of social housing. We will see further involvement from them on many fronts. The focus in tenant purchase schemes up to now has been with the local authorities. It has generally been welcomed, although not by everyone, that the scheme has been opened to long-term local authority tenants, who have the means to purchase their homes, to have the opportunity to do so.

Deputy Dessie Ellis asked if the approved housing bodies can sell the houses at the end of the mortgage. Technically, they can because they own the properties. However, by their articles of association and their core raison d'être, which is to provide social housing, they continue to rent them in conjunction with the local authorities, taking people off the housing list.

It is acknowledged there is a need for regulation in the approved housing bodies sector. That is why the Government brought forward the housing (regulation of approved housing bodies) Bill in September which will provide for an independent statutory regulator to be established with an overall emphasis on improved governance and financial viability for the approved housing body sector. The drafting of the Bill has just commenced and arrangements are being made for pre-legislative scrutiny of its proposals before the joint Oireachtas committee. Deputies’ views on this will be welcome.

Essentially, approved housing bodies are independent and an important component in dealing with supply for housing demand. They have the capacity to deliver housing off balance sheet. Deputies opposite ask why the Government does not spend more resources on building houses. While we are spending substantial Government funds on building housing, we have limits set by European regulations, meaning so much of it must be kept off balance sheet. The approved housing bodies are an important component which can deliver substantial capacity in the supply of houses and apartments. We are beginning to see these coming to fruition.

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