Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 241: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if public representatives, that is, TDs, county councillors and borough councillors are entitled to be directors of voluntary housing associations and such like organisations as supported through public funding for the provision of homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5869/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Bodies seeking to obtain approved status under Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1962 must be constituted as a limited company, or as a society registered with the Registrar of Friendly Societies or as a trust incorporated under the Charities Acts. Certain restrictions apply in relation to the election/appointment of directors, trustees or senior officials of such bodies in cases where a potential conflict of interest is likely to arise. Specifically, no individual may be elected or appointed as a director or trustee or senior employee of an approved housing body, or retain such a position, where he or she has any material interest of significance in relation to the income or any other benefit derived from any commercial contract or other arrangements for the construction of houses for the approved housing body, or in the supply of goods and services to the approved housing body.

It is otherwise a matter for the housing bodies themselves to appoint directors or trustees, and there are no terms or conditions under my Department's capital funding schemes which prohibit the appointment of public representatives to these positions.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 242: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if voluntary housing associations are entitled to offer tenancy to applicants other than those registered and approved for housing with a local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5870/08]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 243: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a voluntary housing association is entitled to access data containing the names and details of approved tenancy applicants in the possession of the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5871/08]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department has a policy in relation to the allocation of agency housing by local authorities; if his attention has been drawn to a situation that exists for people on a local authority housing list who might have a long-term desire to purchase and own their allocated house but would be precluded from pursuing this option if they accepted an offer of an agency house but would otherwise be allowed to pursue such an option if allocated a regular type local authority house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5910/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 242, 243 and 245 together.

The provision of accommodation by approved voluntary and co-operative housing bodies is an integral part of my Department's overall response to delivering on social housing need. Local authorities and approved housing bodies are working in close co-operation to deliver an expanded range of social housing options and a wide range of accommodation types to meet to needs of low-income families and persons with special housing needs. Approved housing bodies are required to consult with the housing authority during the appraisal stage of projects in order to ensure that proposed projects meet the authority's strategic housing objectives and identified local need. To this end, approved housing bodies must be fully appraised of the social housing need for the area in question and provided with details of eligible tenants, drawn from the social housing waiting list.

Funding of up to 100% of the approved cost is available to approved housing bodies where all of the tenants are drawn from the local authority waiting list. In the case of special needs housing, including housing for the elderly, the homeless and persons with a disability, approved housing bodies may nominate up to 25% of tenants from outside of the waiting list. In these circumstances, funding will be limited to 95% of approved cost.

There is no provision at present in the voluntary housing schemes for the purchase of individual houses by tenants. However, it was agreed under Housing Policy Framework — Building Sustainable Communities that consideration would be given in consultation with the voluntary and co-operative sector, to pilot a tenant purchase scheme for some new voluntary homes under the schemes. The issues arising in relation to the introduction of such a scheme, including any legislative supports, are being considered in consultation with the Irish Council for Social Housing.