Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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177. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will indicate how he considers it just that a local authority tenant may have the opportunity to purchase their home whereas the tenant of an approved housing body (AHB) under the current system has no such opportunity even if the managing AHB is willing to facilitate tenant purchases (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16131/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Tenant Purchase Schemes provide for the purchase by eligible tenants of local authority properties which are available for sale under the terms of the particular scheme. All applications for the schemes must satisfy the requirements outlined in the relevant legislation.

However, the schemes only provide for the purchase of local authority properties and do not extend to properties owned by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). AHBs (also called housing associations or voluntary housing associations) are independent, not-for-profit organisations. They provide affordable rented housing for people who cannot afford to pay private sector rents or buy their own homes; or for particular groups, such as older people or homeless people. Any sale of an AHB property must be in compliance with their Memorandum and Articles of Association and it is also advisable for the AHB to consult with the Charities Regulator in this regard if it is a registered charity. However, as not-for-profit bodies, AHBs are limited in their ability to sell any property on the open market at a value which is less than the market value of the property.

My Department monitor schemes on an ongoing basis to ensure that they remain effective and sustainable. However, as above, consideration cannot be given to extending the schemes to tenants residing in properties owned by AHBs.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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178. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will indicate the total amount of State funding provided to approved housing bodies in Q1 of 2023, 2024, and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16132/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not fund Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) directly, rather the funding is provided primarily to the local authorities and also to the Housing Agency, who in turn, release this funding to the AHBs in line with relevant funding scheme conditions. However, the funding provided by my Department in respect of the main range of AHB led capital and current funded schemes in 2023 was €1,062m.

Additionally, in respect of AHB related homeless expenditure, financial reports from each of the homeless regions setting out expenditure on homeless services, are published on my Department’s website at the following link:

In relation to 2024 Housing expenditure, this is currently being examined and will be available shortly. My Department's 2024 Appropriation Account is currently being finalised and is due to be submitted to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG).

A full analysis of Housing expenditure for quarter 1 2025 will be carried out by my Department following the end of the quarter.