Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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668. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if funding is provided to assist an approved housing body to develop; if so, the mechanism to apply for such funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6934/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is focused on accelerating the delivery of housing, with an investment of more than €6 billion to deliver 50,000 social housing units through build, refurbishment, acquisitions and leasing, over the period to 2021. Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) have an important role to play under Rebuilding Ireland, with the capacity to contribute around a third of the new social housing units targeted over the period to 2021, using a range of delivery methods including the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) and leasing (via Payment and Availability (P&A) agreements).

In 2016, my Department also established an Innovation Fund to support Tier 3 AHBs in their development of innovative financial models that would assist in improving the capacity of the sector. Six AHBs applied to this Fund and the following four proposals were deemed eligible:

1. The Irish Council for Social Housing are establishing a sector-led financial vehicle to allow AHBs to expand and to facilitate the delivery of additional housing units.

2. Clúid is developing a set of procedures, guidelines and templates for mergers and acquisitions.

3. Oaklee is working on securing off-balance sheet funding.

4. Túath has engaged with external experts to undertake research on two schemes relating to affordable rental. 

The total amount of funding approved for these four proposals was €104,044.

While I have no plans at present to provide further supports under this Innovation Fund, pending the evaluation of the outcomes from the initiatives that are currently being funded, I will keep the matter under review, in consultation with the Housing Agency and AHBs.