Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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692. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the details of the registered voluntary housing associations; the amount spent on administration of these associations in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49973/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Under Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992, housing authorities may provide assistance to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the provision and management of housing accommodation. As Minister, I am empowered to grant approved status to housing bodies for this purpose. AHBs are independent, not-for-profit organisations, which can also include housing co-operatives, which are housing organisations controlled by their members/tenants who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions.

Information in relation to specific administration costs of these organisations is not held in my Department. The day-to-day administration and financial management of AHBs is a matter for their individual Boards.  I have no role in relation to such matters, nor does my Department collate data relating to the administration costs in AHBs.

To date, there are 547 bodies with approved status. The register of AHBs can be found on my Department's website at:

www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/voluntary-and-cooperative-housing/register-housing-bodies-approved-status.

The Housing (Regulation of Registered Housing Providers) Bill and the underlying policy, which was formulated in consultation with the sector, intends to establish a Regulator to oversee the effective governance, financial management and performance of voluntary and co-operative housing bodies.  My Department is working with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to finalise the text of the Bill with the aim of publication during the current Oireachtas session. Until such time as the legislation is enacted and the statutory system of regulation is put in place, the interim regulatory arrangements in operation since 2014 will remain in operation.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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694. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to ensure the necessary actions are taken to allow a housing body to purchase properties (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50034/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that Clúid Housing Association have received approval from my Department under the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) to acquire 13 homes at the site concerned.  I understand from the local authority that the units are currently undergoing refurbishment works, which are due to be finished early in 2018. Once these works are complete, the approved housing body (AHB) will proceed to close the sale with the vendor.

CALF is available as a low interest loan provided by local authorities (and recouped by my Department) to AHBs. This funding allows AHBs access to early working capital (up to 30% of the relevant costs) for the purchase, construction or refurbishment of units which will then be made available for social housing purposes under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP). Low interest rate borrowings are available to AHBs from the Housing Finance Agency and other private finance streams to support the financing of the balance. The AHB effectively uses the CALF approval for the capital injection of up to 30% and the ongoing commitment of lease income under the Payment and Availability Agreement to leverage the balance finance required. Once an AHB has secured the property and signed the Payment and Availability Agreement with the local authority, they use the lease income to service the borrowings.

Properties made available under the CALF scheme are used to accommodate households from the local authority waiting list.  Leased properties are allocated to tenants, in accordance with the relevant local authority's allocation scheme.