Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency; the areas of responsibility which has been or will be devolved from the Department to the agency; the scope of the proposed policy and operational role of the agency, the work being undertaken and the accountability and governance arrangements in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42235/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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In June 2009 I announced the establishment of a single housing agency - the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency (HSCA), as a rationalization of existing Agencies in the housing sector. In May 2010 the Agency was established on an administrative basis. It is intended that HSCA will be given full legislative underpinning next year.

It is not proposed that any specific housing functions will be devolved by my Department to the Agency, the principle objective of which is to work with and assist my Department and local authorities in the provision of housing services. Its functions will include the following:

[a] within a shared service environment, to assist local authorities in the discharge of their functions under housing, planning and building control legislation, to facilitate, advise and assist housing authorities, approved housing bodies and my Department in the formulation and implementation of housing policy,[c] to carry out research and analysis, and to disseminate information to housing practitioners and the wider public, [d] to undertake such duties or such other services as are requested of it by myself or the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.