Government Easing the Financial Burden on Voluntary Housing Associations

Minister for Housing, Batt O’ Keeffe, T.D. announced yesterday, Thursday October 11th, that Housing Associations will now be able to apply for 100% funding under the Capital Assistance Scheme. Speaking at the Respond! International Conference 2007, Minister O’ Keeffe made the announcement in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, Dublin. At present, Housing Associations can only apply for 95% of funding and must source the remaining 5% themselves which puts enormous strain on voluntary housing providers.

According to the Minister for Housing, Batt O’ Keeffe, T.D: “From November 1st 2007, there will be 100% funding available to social housing providers. This means, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, along with Local Authorities and voluntary Housing Associations, will be able to meet the ambitious housing targets as laid down under Towards 2016.”

Respond! Managing Director, Pat Cogan, ofm, added: “The current system of funding can be very obstructive and constraining and often forces housing associations to abandon development plans as they cannot raise the 5% finance needed under the present method. We hope this new announcement means Respond!, along with other Housing Associations, can reach the target of 4,000 per annum as laid down down by Towards 2016. We feel this is a step in the right direction and look forward to other similar initiatives from the Department.”

The Minister also announced that a more simplified funding approvals system would be implemented by his department in the near future. This was welcomed by Respond! as the organisation have long campaigned for a less bureaucratic approvals system.

The Minister made the announcement at Respond!’s International Conference, entitled Irish Housing: Do we know what we’re doing? – Critique of Policy and Provision. Speakers over the two days included Eddie Hobbs (Broadcaster and Financial Consultant), Mick Wallace (Managing Director of Wallace Construction), John Fitzgerald (Limerick Regeneration Agencies), Dr Seán Healy (CORI) and many many more. The conference was opened by Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley, TD. Information on the event can be obtained by contacting Respond! at 0818 357901 or by emailing conference@respond.ie.


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