Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has engaged with the National Asset Management Agency on the use of its properties for social housing when appropriate. [15918/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Two of the key challenges for the housing sector at present are the oversupply of housing in certain areas, including in respect of unfinished estates, and the need sustainably to meet the increasing demand for social housing in the context of a severely restricted resource environment.

There are clear linkages between the roles of my Department and the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) in addressing these challenges and there is significant potential to align the objectives of the two organisations. My Department has been engaging with representatives of NAMA, and since coming into office I have also met with the Chairman and the CEO of NAMA to discuss options for securing a social dividend through the acquisition of suitable residential units for social housing purposes, while providing a return in line with NAMA's mandate. I anticipate that this engagement will see the delivery of new social housing in the short term and I am progressing this agenda as a matter of urgency.