Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 565: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding a lease between housing association housing schemes and its tenants (details supplied). [15115/09]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 566: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding a matter between housing association housing schemes and tenant's responsibilities (details supplied). [15116/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 565 and 566 together.

I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 373, 374, 384 and 385 of 31 March 2009, setting out the position in relation to the management and maintenance of dwellings provided under the terms of voluntary housing funding schemes.

Approved housing bodies are responsible for the proper management and maintenance of dwellings provided under the terms of the funding schemes and for the operation of letting policies, the fixing of rents and compliance with all relevant statutory requirements. This includes putting appropriate tenancy agreements in place between themselves and their tenants, which set out the detailed landlord/tenant arrangements for the scheme. Matters relating to the detail of these agreements, including any arrangements for tenancy reviews or the maintenance and/or replacement of fittings and equipment, are, in the first instance, the responsibility of the parties concerned and not one in which my Department has any function.

The local authority has an overall responsibility to ensure that approved housing bodies comply with the requirements in relation to letting policy, including the requirement for prior consultation and agreement on letting policies for each new project.