Written answers

Tuesday, 29 November 2011

Department of Finance

National Asset Management Agency

9:00 pm

Photo of Kevin HumphreysKevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide this Deputy with a list of residential properties under the control of the National Asset Management Agency in the Dublin City Council region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37594/11]

Photo of Michael NoonanMichael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Properties under the control of receivers or other insolvency professionals appointed by NAMA are listed on its website at http://www.nama.ie/PropertiesEnforced.php. The site includes many residential properties located in Dublin City and County and, in each instance, information about the firm dealing with the insolvency and its contact details are provided. Potential purchasers are encouraged to contact the receivers to obtain additional information on specific properties and to submit expressions of their interest to purchase. In the case of property under the control of debtors, NAMA is precluded, under Section 202 of the NAMA Act 2009, from disclosing confidential information. Confidential information is specifically defined to include information relating to debtors. Furthermore, Section 99 of the Act provides that, on acquisition of a loan, NAMA takes over the obligations of the participating institution under the loan, one of which is the contractual duty of confidentiality which the debtor enjoyed while still a customer of the participating institution. Information about individual debtors or guarantors is also protected against disclosure by the Data Protection Acts with which NAMA must comply as a data controller.

However, in cases where NAMA receives enquiries from potential purchasers about specific properties under the control of debtors, it can facilitate contact with debtors or receivers with a view to enabling sales transactions to take place.

Photo of Kevin HumphreysKevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will amend the National Asset Management Agency Act 2009 to include a provision that a social dividend must be provided; his views that NAMA should make residential properties available to local authorities and undeveloped green field sites available to local communities for sport and allotments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37598/11]

Photo of Michael NoonanMichael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I do not propose to change the NAMA legislation at this stage. I propose to consider the advice of a senior international banker who recently reported to me on NAMA before deciding whether to initiate any changes to the agency's operations. As regards making properties available for social or community purposes, the NAMA Board has committed to giving first option to public bodies on the purchase of property which may be suitable for their purposes.

For instance, NAMA concluded the sale of 58 social and affordable units to the Clúid Housing Association in July. In addition, it has recently encouraged and approved the sale by a debtor of residential units in Co. Cork to a housing association. I am informed that a number of NAMA debtors are in advanced negotiation with a number of housing associations for sales at various locations throughout the country.

The agency has provided a list of over 1,000 other properties to the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, and I am informed that it is now in discussions with his officials and the Irish Council for Social Housing with a view to identifying properties which may be suitable for social housing.

In addition, I am also aware that NAMA has approved the release of lands in Baldoyle to Fingal County Council for extra parkland; has accommodated the sale of a 13 acre site in Hansfield, West Dublin to the Department of Education; and has agreed to co-fund with Fingal County Council a link road through lands that NAMA has as security for loans in West Dublin, which will link the N2\N3.

NAMA also advises me that it is willing to facilitate dialogue between debtors and third parties interested in acquiring property for social or public purposes.

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