Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 431: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the current legal owners of the 2,045 housing units being made available by the National Asset Management Agency for social housing are developers or banks, or if the debts connected to the properties have been foreclosed by NAMA making NAMA the current legal owners; and if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers of properties contained in the list provided to him on the basis of these or other ownership categories. [4762/12]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 432: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the leasing arrangements to be put in place for the 2,045 housing units being made available by NAMA for social housing will result in the final ownership of the units resting with the developers, voluntary housing associations, local authorities or a combination of these categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4763/12]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 431 and 432 together.

I refer to the reply to Question No. 549 on 11 January 2012.

The properties under consideration are part of the security for loans that NAMA has acquired. In the majority of cases, properties remain in the ownership of the original borrowers. The remaining properties are controlled by receivers appointed by NAMA. Once a demand has been identified, NAMA will make contact with the relevant property owner/receiver to determine if the properties are still available and to discuss how these properties can be best utilised.

It is expected that the majority of suitable properties will be secured through leasing arrangements with the property owners/receivers. Such arrangements will be determined on a case by case basis, and will involve either a local authority or an approved housing body as the prospective social housing provider depending on the particular circumstances in each case.

The Housing Agency is working with housing authorities and NAMA to determine whether there is a social housing demand for the properties identified. Where a demand is identified, this information will be provided to NAMA and arrangements will be made to secure as many of the suitable properties as possible for social housing.