Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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76. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 67 of 5 May 2022, the status of the Galway social housing taskforce sub-group on homelessness; the number of times the sub-group has met to date; if he has received correspondence to date from the subgroup; if the sub-group will produce a final report; the terms of reference of the sub-group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33209/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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At the meeting of the Galway Social Housing Taskforce on 15 February , it was proposed by my Department that a subgroup on Homelessness, with a particular focus on Traveller Homelessness, be established and report back to the Taskforce. This subgroup, which is chaired by officials in my Department, with members also including representatives of both local authorities, held its first meeting on 3 May, prior to the meeting of the Galway Social Housing Taskforce on 10 May. 

I understand that the draft Terms of Reference were circulated and discussed at this meeting, along with the need for cooperation between Galway City and Galway County Councils on the issues of Homelessness and Traveller Homelessness. Also discussed were the reasons for increased homeless presentations and the barriers impeding exits from homelessness.

The sub-group will meet quarterly in advance of the Galway Social Housing Taskforce Meetings and report progress to the Taskforce.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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80. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will detail his engagement with the banks on the issue of mortgage provision for households purchasing local authority affordable homes; and if his attention has been drawn to pillar banks refusing mortgages to potential buyers on the grounds that the property is funded via the Affordable Housing Fund. [33086/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme makes the purchase of new homes via Local Authorities more affordable through the use of an equity share model. The scheme has been designed so that eligible purchasers will only receive the equity support that they need on top of their purchasing capacity with a traditional mortgage. The provision of mortgage finance and in particular the precise qualifying criteria for loans are internal matters for mortgage providers, being entirely independent of Government.

However, on the basis that a buyer under the Local Authority scheme may require a mortgage via a commercial bank (as opposed to the Local Authority Homeloan), officials in my Department have proactively engaged with the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland and constituent mortgage lenders in establishing the required Priorities Agreements and Customer Contracts.  This has formed part of wide-ranging engagement during the policy development process with bodies such as the Property Registration Authority and the Law Society.  While discreet arrangements may have been put in place on a local basis to allow projects move forward, this pro forma approach to the conveyancing of affordable homes will be used on a national basis for both First Home and the local authority affordable purchase scheme.