Written answers

Wednesday, 15 April 2015

Department of Finance

NAMA Social Housing Provision

Photo of Derek NolanDerek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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139. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of social houses that were made available by the National Asset Management Agency for County Galway; his plans to allocate more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13992/15]

Photo of Michael NoonanMichael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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NAMA is making a substantial contribution to social housing provision.  Under an initiative agreed with the then Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in 2012, NAMA has to date made over 6,000 houses and apartments held by its debtors and receivers available for social housing.  Local authorities, working through the Housing Agency, have confirmed demand for just over 2,000 of these properties, 1,200 of which have already been delivered through NAMA debtors and receivers or directly through the Agency's social housing SPV, NARPS. NAMA expects that the remaining properties for which demand has been confirmed will be delivered in 2015 on the basis that local authorities and approved housing bodies enter into early contracts to buy or lease the properties.

NAMA has to date provided over €20m in funding to facilitate the delivery of these properties, including funding for the often substantial completion and remediation works that are required and the resolution of compliance issues in relation to planning conditions and regulatory standards.

NAMA advises that it has identified 328 properties as being available and potentially suitable for social housing within the functional areas of Galway city and county councils. The local authorities, through the Housing Agency, have confirmed demand for 247 of these properties, of which 83 have already been delivered.  The balance is made up of 12 different transactions which are being progressed through the various stages of delivery, including the completion of substantial construction works and complex conveyancing requirements.

As previously advised, NAMA has no role in terms of determining the suitability of properties that it has made available for social housing.  This is a matter for local authorities, through the Housing Agency, which assess suitability on the basis of criteria such as their location and wider planning and housing policies. Where demand has been confirmed, NAMA has worked extremely hard with all stakeholders, including its debtors and receivers, the Housing Agency, local authorities and approved housing bodies, and has provided substantial funding to ensure that the properties are delivered.

Further detail on this initiative can be found at

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