Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 585: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will confirm that voluntary housing groups such as Clúid or Respond can administer affordable housing schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19762/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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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 the needs of low-income families and persons with special housing needs.

A number of approved housing bodies, including Clúid and Respond!, are co-operating with local authorities in delivering, through a partnership arrangement, integrated housing developments comprising of voluntary housing units as well as social and affordable housing. In these circumstances, approved housing bodies support the housing authority in implementing its social and affordable housing programme and act as project managers for the planning, procurement and construction stages of integrated projects. There are no arrangement in place at present for the direct provision of affordable homes by approved voluntary housing bodies.

My predecessor asked the Affordable Homes Partnership (AHP) to consider how the range of existing affordable housing mechanisms might be improved or expanded by new initiatives to increase supply, accelerate delivery, improve access and affordability and deliver value for money for any associated resources required. The resultant report was published last month for consultation, providing an opportunity for interested parties to comment on the recommendations and future directions of affordable housing. My Department also approved two pilot projects, based on an equity-sharing model, to facilitate home ownership by low-income families. These projects were undertaken by the National Association of Building Co-operatives and are now complete. Any future expansion of the equity-sharing model will be considered in the light of the AHP report and the associated consultation process.