Committee of Public Accounts to examine 2022 Appropriation Account of Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Housing Agency Financial Statements

The meeting at 9.30am in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will be joined by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr Seamus McCarthy, and officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, led by the Secretary General and Accounting Officer, Mr Graham Doyle, and representatives from the Housing Agency, led by Chief Executive Officer and Accountable Person, Mr Bob Jordan, to examine:

• Appropriation Account 2022 Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Programme A- Housing;
• Financial Statements 2022 The Housing Agency;
• Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022 Chapter 11 - Utilisation of the Land Aggregation Scheme Sites.

During the afternoon session, beginning at 1.30pm, the Committee will consider correspondence and other business of the Committee.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Brian Stanley said: “The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) is responsible for the provision of social housing and water services, and the related strategy, policies and legislation. It also oversees the arrangements for, and accountability of, local authorities.

“In 2022, spending totalled €5.6 billion, an increase of €500 million on the previous year. Programme A Housing, the main focus of this meeting for the Committee, had expenditure of €3.4 billion. The Committee is interested in examining the lack of delivery of social and affordable housing, underspends on various subheads, poor budgeting controls, significant virements, supplementary estimates and large transfers to the Local Government Fund despite it having a surplus.

“The Housing Agency is responsible for housing delivery and advisory services, the Mortgage to Rent Scheme and the Land Aggregation Scheme. In recent years several new roles were delegated to the Housing Agency such as the Pyrite Remediation Scheme and Capital Leasing Facility, Housing Agency Acquisition Fund, Local Authority Home Loans, Enhanced Leasing Scheme, Defective Concrete Block Scheme, Cost Rental Equity Scheme and Croí Cónaithe.

“A key area of interest is the C&AG’s Chapter 11 report, which found that of 73 sites acquired under the Land Aggregation Scheme between 2010 and 2012, no viable development options have been identified for 39 sites up to August 2023. By the end of 2022, the scheme had cost nearly €132 million. The critical issue for the Committee is that after 13 years, why have no viable development options been identified for so much of this portfolio?

“Other areas of interest are the underspend of €31 million on pyrite and mica remediation, and the transfer of €125 million to the Housing Agency in December 2022 to establish the Land Acquisition Fund.

“The Committee looks forward to examining these issues and related matters with Mr Doyle and his colleagues from the Department and Mr Jordan and the representatives of the Housing Agency.”

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

PAC is a standing committee of Dáil Éireann which focuses on ensuring public services are run efficiently and achieve value for money. Further information on the role and remit of the Committee can be found here.

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