Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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367. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amounts of capital assistance scheme and capital loan subsidy scheme loans issued by local authorities to approved housing bodies in the past 20 years by year and repayment period in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42622/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Through the Capital Assistance Scheme, my Department supports local authorities to advance loans to approved housing bodies to deliver housing for priority categories of housing need, including older people, persons/families who are homeless and persons with a disability. The loans between the local authorities and the approved housing bodies are, in the main, for a 30-year term and the following table sets out this capital funding provided to local authorities in the last 20 years.

In relation to the Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme, mortgage finance was provided by local authorities to approved housing bodies to assist then in delivering new homes for those on the local authorities’ social housing waiting list, with local authorities accessing this funding by way of loans from the Housing Finance Agency (HFA).

The vast majority of the loans between the HFA and the local authorities are for a 30-year term and the following table sets out the value of the loans advanced to the local authorities by the HFA in the past 20 years, which were subsequently provided to the approved housing bodies.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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368. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the information on the governance, management, structures and occupancy of approved housing bodies that will be published by the approved housing bodies regulatory authority; the format for same; the regularity with which they will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42623/21]

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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369. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the approved housing bodies regulatory authority will issue reporting guidelines and standards to approved housing bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42624/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 368 and 369 together.

As provided for in the Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019, the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) was formally established on 1 February 2021. The Act is being commenced on a phased basis to allow for the establishment of the office. Key provisions, including those relating to the drafting of standards, have commenced. Remaining provisions of the Act will be commenced by 1 January 2022 to enable the AHBRA to become operational.

The standards will cover matters relating to corporate governance; financial management and reporting; property and asset management; and tenancy management. The Regulator will monitor compliance by AHBs with the approved standards and will have the power to carry out a standards assessment to assess if an AHB is complying or failing to comply with the standards.

The Regulator has commenced the process of drafting standards and has been engaging with a range of key stakeholders as part of this process. More information on the drafting of regulatory standards is available on www.ahbregulator.ie/. Following the publication of the approved standards it is envisaged the Regulator will prepare guidance to assist AHBs in the application of these standards 

Among the Regulator's other functions will be to publish such information (including statistical information) concerning AHBs as the Regulator considers appropriate. It will be a matter for the Regulator to determine the format for same and the regularity with which they will be published.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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370. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if guidance has been issued to approved housing bodies on the disposal of property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42625/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are not-for-profit organisations whose purpose is the provision and management of housing for people with a housing need.

As not-for-profit bodies, AHBs are limited in their ability to sell any property on the open market at a value which is less than the market value of the property. While subsequent to the completion of the terms and agreement of any state funding, the AHB is the sole owner of a property and may technically dispose of a property once it complies with its own Articles of Association. Any sale must be in compliance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the AHBs and it is the advisable for the AHB to consult with the Charities Regulator in this regard if it is a registered charity.

However, it is a matter of general policy that AHB homes developed for social housing purposes are retained as such. The Tenant Incremental Purchase scheme that allows for tenants to buy their Local Authority home does not apply to AHB homes.  

Should an AHB wish to merge with another AHB or transfer its assets to another AHB guidance is available at the following link: www.ahbregulator.ie/information-guidance/guidance-documents/