Written answers

Monday, 9 September 2024

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Departmental Funding

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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799.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there is any grants/assistance available to a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34337/24]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Funding for AHBs to deliver social housing is available through various schemes such as Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) and Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF).

Under CAS, my Department provides up to 100% capital funding to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the development of social housing for various priority tenant categories, including age-friendly housing.

Thereafter, the upkeep and improvement of the housing is a matter for the AHB. While my Department supports local authority social housing energy upgrades, AHB properties are supported under the SEAI National Home Energy Upgrade and Community Energy Grant Schemes. Information specific to AHBs is available on the SEAI website.

Additionally, AHBs must ensure they have a sinking fund provision, required for the repair, long-term planned maintenance and refurbishment of their housing stock. AHBs must satisfy themselves that the provision of a sinking fund is adequate to meet future costs, and ensure value for money. A sinking fund is usually derived from the rental income they receive.

It is critical that AHBs maintain the housing stock appropriately to prolong the useful life of the housing asset and to ensure that it is in good lettable condition for the long term. AHBs should have a suitable system for collecting, maintaining and updating stock information which is proportionate to the size of the organisation.

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