Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)

On 18 February last, the Cabinet approved funding for 3,000 social and affordable homes. Decisions on these applications from councils and approved housing bodies had been greatly delayed. At the time, we were told by the Department that within a matter of weeks, following due diligence, formal notification of the approvals would be passed on to the councils and AHBs. Some 11 weeks on, many of these schemes have still not been formally approved. I spoke with one builder-developer in Dublin. He has a turnkey project for one of the large AHBs of more than 50 units. He has had to close down the site because they are still awaiting CALF approval for the AHB. That application was submitted last July. I have spoken with builders in County Donegal and elsewhere who have completed projects, with homes built and empty that cannot be occupied because the funding has yet to be approved. Will the Tánaiste tell us when all of the approvals for the 3,000 units that received financial sanction at Cabinet in February will be finalised and communicated to the AHBs and councils? Will he also ask the Minister to communicate to me directly how many other schemes and units are awaiting approval beyond that 3,000?

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