Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The use of the Part V mechanism to allow local authorities to acquire units in a private development, which are then allocated to social housing tenants, is important for a number of reasons. It makes a crucial contribution to supply of the overall stock available for social housing purposes and it supports the objective of social integration. As a matter of policy, it has been directed that the priority option that should be pursued by local authorities for Part V obligations is the acquisition of social housing on the development site by means of transfer of ownership to the local authority or to an approved housing body, AHB.

It is recognised that there may be specific cases where none of the units on a development site may be suited to the needs of the local authority. In those cases, sometimes the local authority will elect to require the provision of units off site. In some areas, although the need for social integration in the area may tip the balance towards acquisition, this is assessed on a case-by-case basis as no two situations are exactly the same. In each case, value for money has to be considered as one of the factors in the decision-making process.

Where an AHB acquires units for social housing under Part V, the tenancy relationship is between the tenant and the AHB that manages the properties. The local authority has responsibility for ensuring the AHB is providing social housing to the appropriate standards set out in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. The AHB has responsibility for ensuring that all such tenancies are registered with the Residential Tenancies Board and that the protections provided for in the Residential Tenancies Acts are provided as appropriate. Tenants have recourse to the dispute resolution processes provided for in the Residential Tenancies Acts.

Where it is proposed that a social housing applicant will be allocated a unit with an AHB, a tenancy interview takes place where the applicant is advised of all relevant information for the proposed tenancy and pre-tenancy training taking place before the tenancy commences. Tenants are typically made aware of all facilities available to them, as well as their rights and obligations, and matters such as the keeping of pets are covered. Access to ancillary facilities located on the same campus are not generally covered by a social housing tenancy. Access to services and facilities outside the social housing tenancy is not a matter for my Department.

I note the comments of the Deputy on the commission for housing and I will raise them with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, in the context of the commitment contained in the programme for Government.

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