Approved Housing Bodies

Wednesday, 6 May 2026

Questions (516)

Thomas Gould

Question:

516. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions he has taken to resolve issues with funding for smaller AHBs delivering special needs housing units. [32148/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I am satisfied that more than sufficient support is available from my Department to support delivery of special needs housing by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) of all sizes.

Specifically, through my Department's Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), small, medium and large AHBs can access up to 100% of the capital cost of delivering social housing for older persons, persons with disabilities, care leavers, &c. More than €180 million is available to AHBs through CAS this year, an increase of €25 million on 2025. Some €50 million of this year's allocation has also been ring-fenced for AHBs to support acquisitions to meet the urgent accommodation needs special needs cohorts.

Ongoing operational maintenance costs are a matter for AHBs. Ultimately, AHBs should ensure adequate sinking funds are in place to meet short, medium and long term maintenance costs, with such funds accommodated through a combination of rental income and, where applicable, tenant rental assistance payments, payable directly to relevant AHBs.

Many AHBs of all sizes have successfully utilised CAS to provide specialist needs housing, and continue to do so. For those AHBs with the scale, capacity and governance capability to do so, the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) is also available to support general and specialist needs social housing delivery. My Department is currently assessing policy coherence between the schemes with a particular focus, among other things, on maximising the delivery of specialist housing across both.

Work is also progressing with key stakeholders, including AHBs, on the recommendations of the AHB Strategic Forum report, published in November 2025. The report made a number of recommendations regarding the issue of longer term maintenance, including AHB income potential, tenant contribution, potential State capital and income subsidy, as well as the implementation of Cost Recovery Principles.