Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to date of dialogue between his Department and Kildare County Council in the matter of the regularisation of issues appertaining to the operation of a housing association (details supplied) and similarly constituted housing associations in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12219/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Léim an Bhradáin Housing Association received approved housing body status for voluntary housing purposes from my Department in September 1997. The association has a four-person Board of Directors and currently manages and operates a 32-unit voluntary housing scheme at Sli an Chanail, Easton Road, Leixlip, Co. Kildare. My Department’s role in relation to the voluntary housing capital funding schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds to support the annual construction and housing acquisitions programmes by the sector. It is a matter for the relevant housing authority to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the schemes and to have appropriate oversight and liaison arrangements in place for the effective administration of the schemes and for ensuring that the investment in voluntary housing is safeguarded.

Kildare County Council has been engaging closely with the Léim an Bhradáin housing association on a range of issues pertaining to the management and operation of the housing scheme and has kept my Department informed of progress on these issues . My Department will be arranging a meeting with the Director of Service and senior housing officials in Kildare County Council as soon as possible to discuss the council’s social housing programme for 2013. The management of a number of schemes operated by approved housing bodies in County Kildare will be a specific matter for discussion at this meeting.