Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

13. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown by county of the number of the National Asset Management Agency properties identified by NAMA for social housing; the number identified by local authorities as being suitable; the number transferred to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44850/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department, the Housing Agency and NAMA continue to work together with housing authorities and approved housing bodies towards identifying suitable NAMA housing units and bringing them into social housing use. It continues to be my Department's objective to maximise the delivery of social housing using all of the resources available. To the end of September 2013, 4,319 units have been identified by NAMA as being potentially suitable for social housing and of these, some 1,900 have been confirmed as being suitable. Completed housing unit transfers to date stand at 300 together with a further 143 units that have been contracted and where completion work is ongoing. This brings the overall total to 443 for completed or contracted.

A full breakdown by county of the units identified, deemed suitable and completed or contracted will be included in the Official Report. Further information, including quarterly updates, in relation to the delivery of NAMA sourced units is available at the Housing Agency’s website www.housing.ie/NAMA

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Can I confirm that the list the Minister will give me will give a detailed breakdown of what NAMA and the local authorities deem to be suitable for local authorities to take on board? Also, will the list show what, in the local authorities' eyes, are unsuitable, and the reasons they believe them to be unsuitable considering, as has been reiterated many times in this House by the Minister of State and others, that there is a duty on the part of NAMA to ensure there is a social dividend to this State regarding those units it can make available to local authorities for onward passing to those who are in dire need of it?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will allow a brief supplementary from Deputy Ellis.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That question should have been taken with No. 57, which is exactly the same question.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will the Deputy just get on with it, please?

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am doing my best.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have been through all of that.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have had several deadlines in terms of housing from NAMA. In 2012 we were told there would be 2,000 and then at the end of 2012 we were told there would probably be 4,000 but as the Minister said, we have only delivered 443. Can the Minister tell me whether some of the houses leased from NAMA will have to be put back into pristine condition and what would be the cost involved in that? Do we have any idea of the exact number of houses, apartments etc. that are available now for local authorities? As regards the wear and tear of these properties that will come back to NAMA, what is the position on putting them back into pristine condition?

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The table Deputy Cowen will be getting will give the number of identified houses or apartments for each county, the number suitable and the number completed or contracted. It will not give the reason some are deemed unsuitable. I do not know whether we can get that information for the Deputy-----

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister could try to get it.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----but we can try. To give the Deputy an example, in Cavan, 47 were identified and 35 were identified in Leitrim. None of those were deemed suitable whereas in Galway city, 117 were identified and all 117 were considered suitable. In the Deputy's county of Offaly, 79 were identified and 64 were considered suitable. I do not know the exact reasons the particular ones were not suitable in Cavan and in Leitrim but we will get as much information as we can for the Deputy.

On the other question, NAMA does some work on the properties if they need it but one of the reasons some of them might not be suitable is that the amount of work to be done might be too great. Some of the estates have very little work done. They may just have the bare four walls and it may not be deemed appropriate to complete them. I do not know. That is conjecture but they have to be in an appropriate condition for use when they are handed over by NAMA.