Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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275. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of acres owned by the National Asset Management Agency at each location in County Kildare in tabular form; if any of this land can be made available for public housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52801/21]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, NAMA does not own land in Kildare, rather NAMA acquired loans for which land and other properties act as security. The secured properties are owned and controlled by their registered owners, or appointed receivers, in the event of enforcement.

Sections 99 and 202 of the NAMA Act prohibit NAMA from disclosing confidential debtor information, including the specific location of assets owned by NAMA’s debtors in County Kildare. However, I am advised that NAMA’s debtors and receivers control approximately 37 hectares of residential zoned land in Kildare and a further 45 hectares of land which is not zoned residential. These lands are regularly assessed by NAMA for their suitability for residential development and where future development is deemed commercially viable, I am advised that NAMA provides funding for planning and enabling works.

I am advised that NAMA continuously reviews the assets of its debtors and receivers to establish if vacant and available residential properties securing their loans could potentially be made available for social housing. To end-September 2021, NAMA had delivered 235 residential units for social housing in Kildare. In addition, NAMA has facilitated the sale of lands to Kildare County Council for housing projects.

The Deputy will be aware that NAMA has a commercial mandate and is required under its legislation to achieve the best possible value for its assets. Furthermore, NAMA’s debtors have the right to maximise the sales value of properties securing their loans so as to enable them to maximise their debt repayments. Therefore, NAMA cannot require a debtor to take action which would reduce his/her repayment capacity, such as providing property for social housing where this is not economically optimal.