7.—(1) Subject to such regulations as may be made by the Minister for the purposes of this section—

(a) a housing authority may pay a subsidy towards the rent of a house provided (whether provided by erection, purchase, improvement or conversion) by F20[an approved housing body,]

(b) the Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, recoup to a housing authority, out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas, all or part of a subsidy paid by them under paragraph (a).

(2) Regulations under this section may, in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), make provision in relation to all or any one or more of the following:

(a) the amount of the subsidy and the manner of its determination;

(b) the amount or proportion of the subsidy that may be recouped by the Minister;

(c) the class or classes of houses in respect of which the subsidy may be paid;

(d) the class or classes of persons or households in respect of which the subsidy may be paid;

(e) requirements in relation to the financial and family circumstances of persons occupying a house in respect of which the subsidy may be paid;

(f) requirements in relation to the occupation and maintenance of a house in respect of which the subsidy may be paid;

(g) requirements in relation to the floor area of a house in respect of which the subsidy may be paid, measured in such manner as may, from time to time, be determined by the Minister;

(h) requirements in relation to standards of construction, works and repair and the availability in a house, in respect of which the subsidy may be paid, of water, sewerage and other services;

(i) the manner in and time within which an application for the subsidy shall be made;

(j) the manner of payment of the subsidy to the F21[approved housing body] providing the house and the conditions under which it is so paid to that F21[approved housing body];

(k) the payment of the subsidy, on behalf of F22[an approved housing body] to whom it is payable under subsection (1), to a person who has made a loan towards the provision of the house, or who has provided funds to a housing authority for the purpose of making such a loan, and the conditions under which it is so paid to that person;

(l) requirements in relation to the payment under any enactment (including this Act) of any other grant, subsidy or assistance in respect of a house concerned.