Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 February 2025
575. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social homes purchased from financing institutions by the Housing Agency with their rolling fund in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; the number of these properties that were then sold onto AHBs and local authorities; and the current status of the fund. [2240/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Agency Acquisitions Fund (HAAF) was established in the year 2017 as a revolving €70 million fund with the objective of acquiring vacant property portfolios from banks and financial institutions that could then be used for social housing.
Information on the number of properties purchased from banks and financial institutions and sold to Approved Housing Bodies and local authorities in the years of interest is as set out in tabular form below.
|
Year |
No. of Housing Units Purchased |
No. of Housing Units Sold |
|
2020 |
23 |
18 |
|
2021 |
10 |
8 |
|
2022 |
2 |
1 |
|
2023 |
0 |
0 |
|
2024 |
0 |
0 |
By the year 2021, it had become clear that the supply of properties from the original sources that the HAAF was established to target had declined substantially and were no longer available in sufficient numbers or in terms of the suitability of properties.
Pursuant to a commitment in Housing for All, a review of the operation of the HAAF was completed in the year 2022. Subsequently, it was decided to re-purpose the Fund to support the Housing First Programme and the Cost Rental Tenant in-Situ (CRTiS) Scheme.
Housing First is a measure to tackle long-term homelessness among people with complex health needs by providing them with stable tenancies as well as health and social supports. To this end, the Housing Agency may purchase suitable properties using the Fund, which, in turn, are sold on to, primarily, Approved Housing Bodies.
CRTiS is a scheme that is available where a household faces the termination of its tenancy due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. Where there is a risk of homelessness and following an assessment by the relevant local authority, the Housing Agency may then, using the Fund, purchase such a property.
