Written answers
Monday, 8 September 2025
Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
Approved Housing Bodies
Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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1189. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on a development (details supplied) which has been purchased by an approved housing body but is awaiting the release of payment and availability-capital advance leasing facility funding by his Department; when he expects that the funding will be released so that the sale will be finalised, allowing the apartments to be occupied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45680/25]
James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department operates a number of funding programmes that assist Local Authorities to work in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to construct and purchase homes and make them available for Social Housing.
The Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) is a funding stream exclusively provided to AHBs by local authorities to facilitate the funding of construction or purchase of new social housing units. This loan facility can support between 25% and 30% of the eligible capital cost of the housing project, with the remaining finance sourced by the AHBs from private lenders (usually the HFA) with the housing units provided to local authorities for social housing use under long-term lease arrangements known as Payment and Availability Agreements (P&A).
Applications for P&A-CALF funding is made by AHBs directly to my Department. This is done following a consultation period with the Local Authority. During this period the Local Authority confirms their support for the proposed homes and agrees the need and the terms and conditions of the availability agreement around the homes.
As with all Exchequer-supported projects, my Department as sanctioning authority, assesses each project proposal for suitability as determined by the Local Authority, value for money and compliance with the various requirements of the funding programme.
With regard to the specific project referred to in the question, an application for CALF funding was submitted to my Department by Oaklee Housing for the provision of 37 social housing properties.
My Department has met with Oaklee Housing on a number of occasions to discuss the particulars of this project and funding was approved for the 37 properties on 31 July 2025.
The allocation of social housing to tenants and matters arising, including the length of time it takes for this to happen upon completion of a project, is a matter for the Local Authority and accordingly such information sought is not available in my Department.
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