Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
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49. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he investigated a recent funding from the European Investment Bank for a new Austrian housing bank that will finance the building of approximately 25,000 public rental housing units delivered via municipalities and non-profit providers; if so, if he is seeking a similar investment programme to enhance the proposals from the Oireachtas Committee on Housing and the Homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18301/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Funding from the European Investment Bank is available for use in the provision of social housing in Ireland. In 2015, a €300 million fund for investment in social housing was put in place by the Housing Finance Agency, with the support of the Government. €150 million of this fund was provided by the European Investment Bank.

This funding is available to approved housing bodies for the upgrade and delivery of social housing. A 25-year fixed rate of 3.25% is charged. The Housing Finance Agency has reported that there has been significant demand for this funding.