Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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649. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a new housing development currently progressing in Ennis (details supplied) is being developed with a view to having the entire estate becoming local authority housing. [20162/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are making an important contribution to social housing delivery, as envisaged under current Government policy.  My Department operates a number of funding programmes that assist local authorities to work in partnership with AHBs to construct or purchase new homes and make them available for social housing. One such programme that AHBs progress projects through is the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF).

Local authorities, as the statutory housing authorities, are the decision makers in relation to the suitability of a proposed social housing project. For example, local authorities are required to ensure that any project appropriately reflects the housing need in that particular area and that there is sufficient need in the area to support the units over time; the properties comply with relevant standards and regulatory requirements; and the objectives of creating and maintaining sustainable communities are being met. 

With regard to the specific project referred to in the Question, I have been advised that there is a housing project comprising 25 high-quality homes, at the location mentioned, which is currently at the consultation stage between an AHB and the Local Authority. My Department has not yet received an application for CALF funding for this project.