Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

222. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of inspections carried out each month by the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority since it was established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42237/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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. AHBRA is an independent body tasked with providing the regulation of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the purposes of protecting housing assets provided or managed by such bodies.

The register of AHBs previously managed by my Department was officially transferred to AHBRA on 1 January 2022. AHBRA is responsible for maintaining the register and for registering organisations as AHBs. The register is published on AHBRA's website, available here: www.ahbregulator.ie/registration/the-register/. Currently, 439 organisations remain registered as AHBs.

AHBRA’s functions also include the monitoring and assessing of compliance by AHBs of a set of four standards which I approved in 2022. This Assessment Programme is an ongoing process. AHBRA may also carry out investigations where considered necessary under Part 5 of the Act.

As AHBRA is an independent regulatory authority, my Department does not hold the statistical information requested. However, arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost-effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for AHBRA is: oireachtasqueries@ahbregulator.ie