Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 191: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of CAS applications awaiting approval; the value of these applications; and the number of units they include. [36653/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 194: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of the 2009 CAS budget available for new applications. [36656/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 194 together.

My Department's involvement with the voluntary and co-operative housing schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The administration of the schemes, including the detailed appraisal of new applications, the management of the planning and procurement stages of projects and the certification that projects comply with the terms and conditions of the funding schemes, are the responsibility of the relevant local authority. The Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) provides funding of up to 100% of the approved cost of accommodation for the elderly, the homeless and persons with special housing needs including those with an intellectual or physical disability. Within my Department's overall housing budget for 2009, the budget for the Capital Assistance Scheme will be maintained at its 2008 level of €130 million.

As is to be expected with a multi-annual capital investment programme, proposals for funding under the CAS are currently at various stages, including preliminary project appraisal, procurement of consultants, detailed planning/design and procurement of the capital works contracts. There are currently some 44 projects awaiting funding approval under the CAS. The overall value of these projects, which are expected to provide some 380 units of accommodation when completed, is estimated at €70 million, with some €24.5 million of this estimated to relate to Part V projects. Having regard to the existing level of commitments, the increased delivery under Part V and the substantial number of schemes being advanced through planning and design stages, I will now be considering the scope to approve further projects in 2009 in light of the funding available.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 192: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the percentage of the 2008 and 2009 CAS budgets that will be used to pay for Part V. [36654/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 193: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the percentage of the 2008 and 2009 budgets for CLSS that will be used to pay for Part V. [36655/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together.

I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 191 and 194 on today's order paper. Over recent months, voluntary and co-operative housing bodies have benefited greatly from the increased delivery of social housing under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 in most local authority areas, particularly in the Greater Dublin Area. Given that the majority of Part V units are more generally suited to family-type accommodation, those which are being assigned to the voluntary and co-operative housing sector are, for the most part, funded under the Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme (CLSS). Having regard to the fact that the substantial number of approved projects funded under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) and the CLSS contain both Part V units and units provided under conventional contracts, some of which may extend over a twenty-four month period, it is not possible at this stage to indicate the percentage of the overall allocation that Part V projects will account for in 2008, or to estimate the likely percentage in future years. However, it is estimated that some 70% of the housing units being advanced under the CLSS at present, and approximately one-third of those being advanced under the CAS, are Part V-related.