Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 504: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the role and the action taken by him in the past two years in monitoring and regulating the management of approved housing bodies, which are funded for the provision of social rented housing under his Department's capital funding schemes. [28064/09]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 505: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the role and the action taken in the past two years by local authorities in monitoring the management of approved housing bodies, which are funded for the provision of social rented housing under his Department's capital funding schemes; and the steps he has taken in the past two years in relation to the local authority monitoring function in this area. [28065/09]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 506: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of complaints and communications that have been received by him from tenants of approved housing bodies; and the subjects of these complaints and communications. [28066/09]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 507: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the legal rights that are in place to protect tenants of approved housing bodies, funded by the State under the capital funding schemes in view of recent publicity on a matter (details supplied). [28067/09]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 508: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the mechanisms that have been put in place by him or in conjunction with other Departments to put in place an independent supervisory or appeal system for tenants of approved housing bodies which present claims of harassment, intimidation or elder abuse by staff and other tenants. [28068/09]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 509: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the representations which have been received by him in relation to modernising the legal relationship between landlord and tenant of approved housing bodies, to improve the position of tenants of approved housing bodies. [28069/09]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 510: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his proposals for modernising the landlord and tenant contract that will be included in the Housing Bill 2008, which will strengthen the position of tenants of approved housing bodies. [28070/09]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 512: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will verify that there is no independent appeal or monitoring system for complaints of poor service standards, bad or derogatory treatment, arbitrary possession proceedings or other adverse situations from tenants of approved housing bodies; and his proposals to improve this situation. [28072/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 504 to 510, inclusive, and 512 together.

My Department's involvement with the voluntary and co-operative housing schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The detailed administration of the schemes, and the certification that projects comply with the terms and conditions of the funding schemes, are the responsibility of the local authority.

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. Tenancy matters are generally covered in the terms and conditions of the tenancy agreement between an approved housing body and tenant, which are broadly based on Landlord and Tenant legislation.

Complaints in relation to the management and operation of voluntary housing schemes, including complaints by individual tenants, are, in the first instance, a matter between the tenant and the relevant approved housing body. Tenants may also make complaints to the local authority where accommodation provided by an approved housing body is not considered to be in compliance with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008. Local authorities, may in certain circumstances, mediate in tenancy disputes between an approved housing body and their tenants.

The Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) and the National Association of Building Co-operatives (Nabco) are the representative bodies for the voluntary and co-operative housing sector in Ireland. Both organisations provide promotion, information, advice and training services to approved housing bodies. The ICSH provides a range of housing management services to approved housing bodies including a Housing Association Performance Management framework which aims to promote good housing management practice and to demonstrate accountability to customers and stakeholders. The ICSH also makes available a Standard Tenancy Agreement for Housing Associations as well as Rent Books for use by approved housing bodies, details of which are available on the ICSH website at www.icsh.ie.

In line with the commitments set out in the Government's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities my Department is currently undertaking, with the assistance of outside consultants, a strategic review of the role of the voluntary and co-operative housing sector in the provision, maintenance and management of social rented accommodation in Ireland. I intend to publish the consultancy report being prepared as part of this review following its completion later in the Autumn and to engage in consultation with stakeholders on the issues arising from the report. It is not possible, from the systems in place, to state definitively the number of representations received by my Department from tenants of approved housing bodies, but it is considered that the numbers involved are not significant. However, the need for an independent review mechanism on tenancy disputes between approved housing bodies and their tenants will be considered in the light of the review referred to above.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 511: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position of local authority and other State officials on the boards of approved housing bodies, either nominated by him or the local authority and where the approved housing body has dealings with that State body or local authority. [28071/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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All matters relating to the appointment of members of the governing body or board of directors or trustees of an approved housing body are the responsibility of the individual body concerned. My Department and the local authorities have no role with regard to the nomination or appointment of board members.

In accordance with the terms and conditions of my Department's funding schemes, 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 that body.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 513: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the monitoring of the terms of the mortgage agreement relating to the capital funding schemes funding between approved housing bodies and local authorities that takes place; if he will provide documentary evidence of such monitoring. [28073/09]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 514: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will clarify if approved housing bodies are free to dispose of properties obtained or developed under the capital funding schemes once the mortgage period has expired; the position regarding the tenants in this situation when such properties are sold; and the way this compares with the charitable objects of approved housing bodies. [28074/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 513 and 514 together.

Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provision) Act, 1992 enables housing authorities to provide capital funding to approved housing bodies in respect of the provision of housing. A body seeking to obtain, and to retain, approved status under Section 6 of the Act must have as primary objects, the provision of accommodation for low-income families or persons with special needs such as the elderly, the homeless or persons with a physical or intellectual disability and must have in its memorandum of association or registered rules, as the case may be, provisions prohibiting the distribution of any surplus, profit, bonus or dividend to members and requiring that the assets of the body be applied solely towards its objects.

Approved housing bodies are the owners of the accommodation schemes financed under my Department's capital funding schemes. These bodies have overall responsibility for the proper management and maintenance of their dwellings. It is the responsibility of the body to ensure that policy procedures and administrative arrangements are in place to achieve compliance with the terms of the capital funding schemes. It is a matter for the housing authority to have suitable liaison arrangements in place to oversee the administration of the schemes, and to ensure that the investment made in the dwellings provided under the schemes is preserved and that the terms of the mortgage arrangements are complied with.