Written answers

Tuesday, 22 March 2016

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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62. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of National Asset Management Agency residential properties that international vulture funds have purchased each year since 2009; the location of each of these properties; and the number of residences in each property. [4918/16]

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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63. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of National Asset Management Agency commercial units which international vulture funds have purchased in each year since 2009; the location of each of these properties and the number of units in each development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4919/16]

Photo of Michael NoonanMichael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 63 together.

The Deputy will be aware that NAMA does not own residential or commercial property and therefore is not in a position to sell such properties to any prospective purchaser. Rather, NAMA has acquired loans and its role is that of a lender with claims over security for its loans, like a bank, rather than a property owner or lessor. The sale of properties securing NAMA's loans is managed directly by the property owners or, where the property is the subject of enforcement, by the appointed receiver/administrator.

If the Deputy is referring to the sale of NAMA loans which were secured by residential and commercial property, I would refer him to NAMA's Annual Report and Accounts, which are available on NAMA's website. These reports cover each full year of NAMA's operations and provide a breakdown of disposals by sector and location, as well as the number of residential units disposed of by its debtors and receivers.

In the same way as banks or other financial institutions do not publish lists of properties owned by people who have borrowed money from them, NAMA does not do so. In fact, NAMA cannot do so as sections 99 and 202 of the NAMA Act make it an offence for NAMA disclose details relating to its borrowers and their assets.

NAMA cannot disclose details on the purchasers of debtor properties. To do so would place NAMA, and by extension Irish taxpayers, at a significant commercial disadvantage relative to other deleveraging entities.

In overseeing the sale of assets by debtors and receivers, NAMA is obliged under Section 10 of the NAMA Act to maximise the price achieved for Irish taxpayers and all NAMA-related sales processes are implemented by reference to this obligation.

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