Written answers

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Local Authority Housing

10:00 am

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 541: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made in issuing letters of notification to local authorities regarding housing association schemes in the south east, the south and the mid-west who have been sanctioned under the capital assistance scheme but cannot proceed until such letters are issued; the reason for this continuing delay; the action that has been taken to remedy same; when letters will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30092/10]

Photo of Michael FinneranMichael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) provides funding to approved housing bodies of up to 100% of the approved costs of accommodation for older people, the homeless, persons with special needs, returning emigrants and victims of domestic violence. In February 2010, I announced the approval of funding for some 75 voluntary and co-operative housing projects at various locations around the country.

My Department's involvement with the CAS relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The detailed administration of the scheme, including the certification that projects comply with its terms and conditions, the processing of applications and the payment of capital grants in respect of approved housing projects, are the responsibility of the local authority.

In terms of overall CAS allocations, provisional allocations issued in January 2010 and the position in respect of each of the individual schemes to be advanced was discussed with the respective local authorities at Housing action Plan meetings in February and March 2010. Final allocations issued on 8 April 2010 and the allocations letters confirmed details of the new CAS projects approved for advancement in the 2010/2011 work programme.

The inclusion of a project in the allocations listing did not automatically confer approval of each project, as all projects have to be processed in compliance with the relevant requirements and guidelines for the management of CAS schemes, including compliance with capital appraisal guidelines. Due to localised industrial action, there was a delay in my Department in the first quarter of 2010 in issuing correspondence to certain local authorities on matters requiring further follow up in regard to new CAS projects. Letters have since issued to all the authorities affected, other than in respect of eight new projects in the South East, and letters will now issue on these following the suspension of industrial action by the union concerned at the end of June.

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