Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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82. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the details of the housing projects which have been submitted by Louth County Council and are awaiting approval by his Department; the details of both SHCEP and CALF projects; the time the projects are awaiting approval; and when approval will be given. [30126/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department offers financial support to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in the form of a long term loan under the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) to assist with the financing of the construction or acquisition of units that will be provided for social housing use. This loan facility can support up to 30% of the eligible capital cost of the project, where the units will be provided under long-term lease arrangements (and funded by the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP)) to local authorities for social housing use. It is important to note that the delivery of units is contingent on additional private finance or borrowing being secured by the AHB.

There are currently 7 separate applications from AHBs seeking CALF support for projects in the administrative area of Louth County Council, under consideration by my Department at present. Together these projects could deliver a total of 183 units.

While the Department cannot provide specific details relating to individual projects prior to approval, I can confirm that all of the applications were received in my Department for consideration between late May and early October 2016. Financial appraisals of the individual CALF applications are carried out by the Housing Agency on behalf of my Department. In that context, my Department has made a commitment to AHBs and local authorities that CALF assessments would be completed, and determinations made, within 6 weeks of receipt. In relation to the 7 proposals on hand, my Department is working very closely with all stakeholders including the AHBs, Louth County Council and the Housing Agency to ensure prompt consideration of the applications. 5 of the proposals are within the 6 week time-frame and the remaining 2 are with the local authority for additional consideration.

My Department has no SHIP projects currently awaiting approval from Louth County Council.