Written Answers Nos. 335-358
335. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will work with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to ensure that the remaining tenants at a location (details supplied) are not evicted; if he will further explore taking the whole apartment block into public ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44224/20]
View answerAs housing authorities, local authorities are responsible for the identification of the social housing need in their area. The statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) carried out annually since 2016 captures the total number of households qualified for social housing support to better inform policy and to allow local authorities, such as Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, to develop appropriate responses to meet this need.
Through the supports made available from my Department, funding is available to deliver additional social housing stock through a range of initiatives, including, where appropriate, the acquisition or leasing of new and previously owned houses/apartments from the private market. As housing authorities, it is a matter for each local authority to determine the suitability of any units for acquisition and similarly for leasing, on the basis that the houses are suitable for social housing use and are suitable also in terms of a range of other considerations, including family size, sustainable communities and value for money.
As such, it is a matter for Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to determine the most appropriate response to the need for social housing supports in their area and to make the necessary application to my Department for consideration.
336. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the proposed legislation on tenancies of indefinite duration as agreed to in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44253/20]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2020 provide that where a tenant has been in occupation of a dwelling for a continuous period of 6 months, with no valid notice of termination having been served during that time, a 'Part 4 tenancy' is established to cover the next 5 years and 6 months.
Section 34 of the 2004 Act provides that a landlord must state a reason for the termination in any tenancy termination notice served, in accordance with the grounds for terminations set out in the table to that section. A Part 4 tenancy may be terminated by a landlord or tenant, without reason, at the end of its term.
A number of measures have been introduced in recent years with the objective of improving security of tenure for tenants. The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 extended the term of Part 4 tenancies from 4 to 6 years, for tenancies commencing on or after 24 December 2016 as part of a transition to tenancies of indefinite duration.
The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 enhances further the security of tenure for tenants by significantly extending the duration of tenancy termination notice periods; for example, a minimum of 180 days (approx. 6 months) notice must be provided by landlords who terminate a tenancy of between 3 and 7 years’ duration. In addition, further measures have been introduced to enhance and enforce tenancy termination provisions, including the application of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB)'s new investigation and sanctioning regime to improper conduct by a landlord who contravenes the tenancy termination provisions.
The Programme for Government - 'Our Shared Future', commits to improve the security of tenure for tenants, through legislating for tenancies of indefinite duration, increasing RTB enforcement and examining incentives for long-term leasing.
Subject to legal advices, I expect the General Scheme of the Housing and Residential Tenancies Bill to be submitted to Government in the coming months for approval to proceed to legal drafting. A provision relating to tenancies of indefinite duration is being considered in this context.
337. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the housing commission will be established as agreed to in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44254/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government provides that:
The Government will establish a Commission on Housing to examine issues such as tenure, standards, sustainability, and quality of life issues in the provision of housing.
Further scoping is necessary as to the most appropriate type of structure for the Commission and to flesh out the issues that it will be tasked with examining. The establishment of the Commission will occur when these issues have been appropriately considered.
338. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the legal situation with regard to adverse possession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44291/20]
View answerThe Property Registration Authority (PRA) processes adverse possession applications lodged for registration. Further information on the registration of adverse possession applications can be found on the PRA's website at the following address:
https://www.prai.ie/category/information/legalpractices/adverse-possession/
339. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the assessment by the NPWS of the current status of the SAC 004025 in Malahide, County Dublin; the actions it has taken to protect the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44332/20]
View answerRegulation 5 of the relevant regulations (i.e. the European Communities (Conservation of Wild Birds (Malahide Estuary Special Protection Area 004025)) Regulations 2011 and the European Union Habitats (Malahide Estuary Special Area of Conservation 000205) Regulations 2019 provides that certain operations or activities may not take place within the special protection area or within the special area of conservation, without the prior written consent of the Minister or of another public authority, where applicable. These operations and activities are those which have the potential to cause disturbance or damage to the species and habitats specified in the regulations. It is an offence to undertake the operation or activity without prior consent, if such consent is required. Any person who commits such an offence is liable on conviction to a fine or a term of imprisonment or both.
Landowners or occupiers should apply to the local National Parks and Wildlife Service office of the Department in order to obtain consent for an operation or activity that requires Ministerial consent.
340. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of a representation (details supplied) being considered by him; when payment will be made if it is already agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44336/20]
View answerA reply to the representation in question issued on 6 November 2020. The subject matter of the representation remains under active consideration.
Subject to the consent request be approved, the timing of payment will be a matter solely for Ervia.
341. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will direct local authorities to re-examine applications for housing grants for the elderly and disabled which were not possible to process due to the Covid-19 pandemic and reduced access to local authority offices (details supplied). [44337/20]
View answerThe detailed administration of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme in respect of private houses, including the assessment, approval and payment of individual grants to applicants, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority.
The framework for the operation of the scheme is laid down in statutory regulations, namely the Housing (Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability) Regulations 2007, and the Housing (Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability) (Amendment) Regulations 2014. Under these regulations, a housing authority may pay a grant to a member of the household for the carrying out of necessary repairs or improvements to a house where, in the opinion of the authority, it considers the repairs or improvements reasonably necessary to make habitable the house for the lifetime of the occupant.
In order for the relevant housing authority to determine whether the works are reasonably necessary, a completed application must be submitted by an applicant prior to the commencement of any works, to allow the relevant housing authority to inspect the property and confirm that the works are eligible for grant funding.
I understand from the local authority in question that in the case raised, an application was submitted after the works were completed, and was therefore subsequently refused in line with the above regulations.
342. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to reduce the requirement to have 30% savings to qualify for a Rebuilding Ireland home loan as many persons find it difficult to save due to the excessive rents they have to pay; the number of loans approved to date by county and year; the number drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44349/20]
View answerThe Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan Scheme is designed to enable credit worthy first-time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties. The low rate of fixed interest associated with the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan provides first-time buyers with access to mortgage finance that they may not otherwise have been able to afford at a higher interest rate.
To support prudential lending and consistency of treatment for borrowers, a Loan to Value ratio of 90% applies to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan. Therefore, in order to avail of the loan, applicants must have a deposit equivalent to 10% of the market value of the property.
Applicants must provide bank or similar statements (such as post office, credit union etc.) for a 12-month period immediately prior to making an application, clearly showing a credible and consistent track record of savings. The cash savings should be no less than 3% of the market value of the property. Gifts are permissible up to 7% of the market value of the property, where their source is verified.
For prospective purchasers of newly-built properties, the availability, through the Revenue Commissioners, of the Help to Buy Initiative for first-time buyers may provide additional assistance to prospective applicants for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan.
My Department publishes information on the overall number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns. Local authority approval means that an official letter of offer has been sent to a borrower (and therefore relates to a specific property and loan amount).
Information on the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan for 2019 and up to Q2 2020, including the number and value of mortgage approvals and drawdowns, as well as average loan amounts, are available on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-prices-loans-and-profile-borrowers/local-authority-loan-activity
This information will be updated on a quarterly basis as additional data is compiled.
Information on the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan for 2018 is also available through this link and can be found under local authority loans approved and local authority loans paid, however these figures are not detailed by loan type.
343. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department received an application for a foreshore licence for coastal protection works between Blackrock and Silverstrand in Galway city; if so, the status of this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44360/20]
View answerMy Department received an application from Galway City Council in 2014 to develop coastal protection works in an area that is within a designated Special Area of Conservation. There has been correspondence between my Department and the City Council including a request to submit a Natura Impact Statement to allow for Appropriate Assessment of the application and further correspondence raised questions about material alterations and deviations from the planning consent granted by An Bord Pleanala. The Council, in their most recent correspondence detailed the deviations, among other clarifications, but did not comment on validity of the planning consent in these circumstances.
A lot of time has elapsed since this application was originally submitted and there are still complex environmental and planning issues involved. My Department is engaging with the Council with a view to jointly working towards having the application determined.
344. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if discussions have taken place between Galway County Council and the NPWS in relation to the method statements that are required to be agreed with the NPWS as part of the planning conditions for the upgrade of the N59 road from Oughterard to Bunakill; the progress made in agreeing method statements to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44392/20]
View answerSenior regional management staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department have been in ongoing contact with Galway County Council in relation to this project. A method statement prepared by Galway County Council which outlines the methodology and environmental mitigation for the installation of 10km of fencing works along the N59 (Bunnakill to Oughterard) as part of the overall N59 Maam Cross-Oughterard Project, was approved in October 2019. It is understood that fencing works have recently commenced. No other method statements are under discussion or are being considered by the National Parks and Wildlife Service presently for the Bunnakill to Oughterard section of the N59.
345. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to amend the tenant purchase scheme to enable persons who are in receipt of a pension and have the financial resources to buy out their council home avail of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44433/20]
View answerThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing support for at least one year.
The minimum reckonable income for eligibility under the scheme is determined by the relevant local authority in accordance with the detailed provisions of the Ministerial Direction issued under Sections 24(3) and (4) of the 2014 Act. In the determination of the minimum reckonable income, local authorities can include income from a number of different sources and classes, such as from employment, private pensions, maintenance payments and certain social welfare payments, including pensions, where the social welfare payment is secondary to employment income.
In determining reckonable income, the income of all tenants of the house, including adult children that are joint tenants, is included, as is the income of the spouse, civil partner or other partner / co-habitant of a tenant who lives in the house with them, thus ensuring the appropriate level of discount is applied to the purchase price.
The minimum income criterion was introduced in order to ensure the sustainability of the scheme. Applicants must demonstrate that they have an income that is long-term and sustainable in nature. This ensures that the tenant purchasing the house is in a financial position, as the owner, to maintain and insure the property for the duration of the charged period, in compliance with the conditions of the order transferring the ownership of, and responsibility for, the house from the local authority to the tenant.
The financing of any house sold under the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is a separate matter from the eligibility criteria for the scheme. If the tenant is deemed eligible under the scheme, he or she may fund the purchase of a house from one, or a combination, of his / her own resources or a mortgage provided by a financial institution or a local authority house purchase loan.
A review of the first 12 months of the Scheme’s operation has been undertaken. In addition, the Programme for Government commits to maintaining the right of social housing tenants to purchase their own home with some changes to eligibility. The review and the commitments in the Programme for Government are being examined as part of the work on the broader social housing reform agenda. I expect to be in a position to publish the review and finalise changes to the Scheme once the work on these reform measures is complete.
346. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if income eligibility limits will be improved for social housing for areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan in which the existing limits are very low and causing difficulties for many families who have little hope of obtaining a mortgage or home loan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44434/20]
View answerApplications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.
The 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The 2011 Regulations do not provide local authorities with any discretion to exceed the limits that apply to their administrative areas.
Under the Household Means Policy, which applies in all local authorities, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Pension-Related Deductions within the meaning of Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities also have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature.
The income bands are expressed in terms of a maximum net income threshold for a single-person household, with an allowance of 5% for each additional adult household member, subject to a maximum allowance under this category of 10%; and 2.5% for each child, subject to a maximum allowance under this category of 10%.
The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs, plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. It is important to note that the limits introduced at that time also reflected a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced prior to the new system coming into operation, in order to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn, both promoting sustainable communities and also providing a degree of future-proofing.
Given the cost to the State of providing social housing, it is considered prudent and fair to direct resources to those most in need of social housing support. The current income eligibility requirements generally achieve this, providing for a fair and equitable system of identifying those households facing the greatest challenge in meeting their accommodation needs from their own resources.
However, as part of the broader social housing reform agenda, a review of income eligibility for social housing supports in each local authority area is under way. The review will also have regard to current initiatives being brought forward in terms of affordability and cost rental and will be completed when the impacts of these parallel initiatives have been considered.
In relation to affordable housing supports more generally, measures such as the Help to Buy Scheme and the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, are available to eligible purchasers nationally to make home ownership more affordable.
An enhanced Help to Buy scheme was announced as part of the €7 billion July stimulus package, which was extended to December 2021 as part of Budget 2021. This allows first-time buyers purchasing a newly-built home – or building one themselves – to claim back up to €30,000 paid in income tax and DIRT on bank deposit interest over the last four years.
Full details of the Help to Buy initiative are available on the Revenue website.
The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage which is for first-time-buyers nationwide to purchase a new or second-hand home or to self-build. This scheme offers loans on competitive terms to those who are unable to secure a commercial bank loan. Full details of the scheme are available on the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan website.
Funding of €75 million in Budget 2021 has been be allocated to a new National Affordable Purchase Shared Equity Scheme, which will be introduced in 2021. I intend to target this scheme at first time buyers including single persons, who are seeking to buy a new home but who cannot quite secure the full mortgage amount to do so at the present time. Subject to the final qualifying criteria, a limited equity stake would be taken in a property, in order to help more people meet the cost of buying their new home with their available mortgage.
To this end, significant preparatory work has already been carried out by my Department working primarily with the Housing Agency and the Department of Finance. Intensive engagement is progressing with key stakeholders informing the final detailed parameters of the scheme, as well as with home builders to seek to increase the output of new homes in response to the new scheme.
It is envisaged that the homes delivered under this scheme and the local authority led affordable dwelling purchase arrangements will be made available to applicants who meet defined eligibility criteria. I intend to bring forward any necessary provisions to underpin these schemes in a forthcoming Affordable Housing Bill which I intend to bring to Government in the coming weeks.
347. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the appointment of consultants to develop the new fire station in Dunleer, County Louth has been agreed to; if so, when the project will progress and commence construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44475/20]
View answerThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects.
In February 2016, my Department announced a five-year Fire Services Capital Programme with an allocation of €40 million, based on an annual €8 million allocation, to be used for the purchase of fire appliances and specialist equipment, building or upgrading of prioritised Fire Stations, an upgrade of the Communications and Mobilisation system and improvements to Training Centres.
A new fire station at Dunleer is included in this Capital Programme. Identification of potential sites, determination of suitability of sites for a fire station and acquisition of an optimal site is being undertaken by Louth County Council. My Department received correspondence on this from the Council on 12 June 2020 and has requested a capital appraisal for the project. On receipt of this my Department will continue to work with the Council to progress this project as expeditiously as possible.
348. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if County Clare will be approved for housing first initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44487/20]
View answerHousing First enables homeless individuals with high levels of complex needs to obtain permanent secure accommodation with the provision of intensive housing and health supports to help them maintain their tenancies.
The National Implementation Plan for Housing First, published in September 2018, which puts the programme on a national footing, is designed to provide this response, by delivering permanent housing solutions and associated supports for rough sleepers and long-term users of emergency accommodation. It extends the delivery of Housing First nationally, with the introduction of targets for each local authority. The Plan includes an overall target of 663 tenancies in the period 2018-2021. The implementation of the Plan is a joint initiative of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Department of Health, the HSE and the local authorities.
In line with the National Implementation Plan, Housing First is being delivered on a regional basis by the local authorities and the HSE. Contracts for the delivery of services have been put in place in each of the nine regions responsible for the delivery of homeless services with tenancies now in place in every region.
The contract to deliver Housing First in the Mid-West region was initially limited to the Limerick City and County Council area. A successful proposal was recently received from the Region to extend the service to County Clare as well, where 11 tenancies are targeted under the National Implementation Plan. It is expected that the first tenancies in the county will be in place in the near future.
349. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the long-term measures being put in place to address the homelessness issue in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44488/20]
View answerMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and associated services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities.
Decisions on the range of emergency accommodation services required are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Statutory Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homeless Consultative Forum. A Management Group is in place for each homeless region, comprised of representatives from the relevant housing authorities and the Health Service Executive. The Management Group is responsible for considering the need for homeless services and the planning, implementation, funding and coordination of such services.
Increasing the supply of housing, particularly new build social and affordable homes, is a priority for me and for this Government. The Programme for Government commits to increasing the social housing stock by more than 50,000, with an emphasis on new builds. In Budget 2021, we backed this objective with funding of €3.3 billion for the delivery of housing. The available funding will deliver 12,750 new social homes through build, acquisition and leasing. A major focus of this investment is the delivery of new build, with an overall target of 9,500 new homes. The targets will see increased local authority build on local authority land.
The Programme for Government recognises that many households experiencing homelessness have additional support needs and includes specific measures to address these needs. These include measures to help rough sleepers into sustainable accommodation, the continued expansion of Housing First, with a focus on the construction and acquisition of one-bed homes, and, importantly, ensuring that there is dedicated funding and resources to deliver the necessary health and mental health supports required to assist homeless people with complex needs.
350. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the provisions being put into place for those that need independent living in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44489/20]
View answerLocal authorities are responsible for the provision of social housing in their areas, and, as such, decide on the number and specific types of dwellings to provide in their developments, based on identified need.
My Department works closely with local authorities to support the delivery of social housing. This includes the delivery of new social homes through local authority and Approved Housing Body led build, acquisition and leasing schemes and also the provision of supports to maintain people with disabilities within their existing homes.
The Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) provides for the delivery of homes for persons with disabilities, as well as age friendly housing and housing for people who are homeless. In addition, my Department also provides a range of specialised grants, including the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability scheme (up to €30,000) and the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme (up to €6,000). These grants assist people with disabilities to have necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works carried out and to cover a basic suite of works to address the mobility problems of a member of a household.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on all social housing delivery, including CAS delivery. This is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision
Additionally, statistical information on Housing Adaptation Grants is available in the same format on my Department website at the following link: https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/social-and-affordble/other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics
351. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons in emergency accommodation in north County Kildare; the cost of same in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44492/20]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of emergency accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities.
My Department publishes a detailed monthly report on homelessness, based on data provided by housing authorities. The Report outlines details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. Data relating to homeless adults are presented at a county level. The Reports are available to access on my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.
My Department does not fund any homeless services directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards these costs. Under the funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of these funding arrangements with my Department. In light of the foregoing, the precise spend by Kildare County Council on homeless services is a matter for the individual housing authority in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homeless Consultative Forum.
Exchequer funding for homeless services is provided through my Department to housing authorities on a regional basis. County Kildare is included in the Mid East region for the purposes of homeless administration, along with Wicklow and Meath.
The table below sets out Exchequer funding provided to the Mid East Region for the last three years;
Exchequer funding for homeless services for Mid East Region under the Housing Act, 1988
|
2019 |
€5,525,000 |
|
2018 |
€3,738,000 |
|
2017 |
€3,092,923 |
In this regard, financial reports from each of the homeless regions including the Mid East region, setting out expenditure on homeless accommodation and related services are published on my Department's website and along with the monthly reports on homelessness can be found at the above link.
352. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the planning his Department is conducting to address the potential housing crisis involving long-term renters in the absence of private pensions in a large segment of the population particularly women and when the old age pension was not devised to cover the cost of accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44494/20]
View answerPersons who are renting accommodation in the private market who are unable to meet the costs of their rent are entitled to apply for housing supports in the same manner as other citizens. Those with short term income support needs may apply for Rent Supplement through the Department of Social Protection and those with longer term accommodation needs can apply to their local authority for social housing supports.
Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated 2011 Social Housing Assessment Regulations (as amended). In order to qualify for social housing support and be placed on a housing waiting list, an applicant must be assessed by the authority concerned as meeting all of the eligibility and need criteria set down in the legislation which primarily relate to income and alternative accommodation. An applicant over the age of 65 years may apply for dedicated older persons housing.
Decisions on the qualification of specific persons for social housing support and the allocation of that support are a matter solely for the housing authority concerned. Such supports include the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) as well as the allocation of standard local authority housing or approved housing body dwellings.
A joint policy statement 'Housing Options for Our Ageing Population' was published by my Department and the Department of Health in February 2019. This statement builds on policy for the housing of older people as outlined in Rebuiding Ireland and the National Planning Framework 2040. It sets out forty actions on housing for older people incorporating six principles from which the strategic planning for this is derived. An implementation Group, which is representative of the relevant stakeholders, was established to oversee these actions as well as four subgroups to examine actions from the policy statement under specific work streams. The first progress report of the implementation group is published on the websites of both Departments and the Group's second report will be published shortly.
The implementation group was scheduled to provide its final report to both Ministers by the end of 2020, but in view of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on completing various actions it was agreed at its meeting in October 2020 to extend the group until March 2021.
353. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of women aged 50 years and over on the current housing lists that are in emergency accommodation and deemed homeless in the State; the number in north County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44495/20]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of emergency accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities.
My Department publishes a detailed monthly report on homelessness, based on data provided by housing authorities. The Report outlines details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. The Reports are available on my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.
My Department does not collate the specific data requested by the Deputy.
354. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider extending the rent allowance for full-time firefighters particularly for new recruits in view of increased rents which nullify their existing allowance. [44517/20]
View answerThe rent allowance of €4,500 was incorporated into the basic pay scale from 1st July 2017.
There are no plans at present to extend the rent allowance payments.
355. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the criteria which is currently applied to retained fire fighters income when they are looking for a mortgage will be reviewed to take into account all income given the retainer and a two-hour weekly drill are their only reckonable earnings. [44518/20]
View answer356. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the criteria will be reviewed for retained fire fighters when applying for a Rebuilding Ireland mortgage in view of the fact they are just above the threshold and earning too much to qualify for social housing. [44519/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 355 and 356 together.
In relation to the Deputy's first question each commerical lender would have their own lending policies in place and the treatment of firefighters' income would be a commercial decision for each bank. Commerical lenders are a matter for the Minister for Finance.
However, under the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, which is the mortgage product that I have responsibility for, single applicants applying for the loan must not be earning greater than €50,000 gross per annum and the combined income of joint applicants must not be greater than €75,000 gross per annum. This is to ensure the effective targeting of limited resources.
The Housing Agency provides a central support service which assesses applications for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan on behalf of local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities to approve or refuse applications. Housing Agency recommendations are then considered by the Credit Committee in each local authority, which issues loan approvals.
The final decision on loan approval is a matter for each local authority and its Credit Committee on a case-by-case basis. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the statutory credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure consistency of treatment for all applicants.
Each local authority must have in place a Credit Committee and it is a matter for the Committee to make the final decision on applications for loans, in accordance with the regulations, and having regard to the recommendations made by the Housing Agency.
I have asked the Housing Agency how income such as in the situation of a retained firefighter is assessed. They have confirmed that generally such income would be taken into account in the loan application process. The extent to which such income counts towards repayment capacity depends on the specifics of each situation, in particular how long the applicant has been in the role.
357. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing units built directly by local authorities in 2019 and 2020; the projected number of such units for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44539/20]
View answerMy Department publishes a detailed quarterly breakdown of all social housing output on its website. This includes a full breakdown by local authority area, delivery type and funding programme. These statistics can be accessed at: https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision
In 2019, 6,074 of the total of 10,007 social homes delivered were new build social homes, including 2,840 delivered by local authorities directly. Final output data for 2020 will be published in early 2021 following the necessary collation process.
Increasing the supply of social, affordable and private housing is a priority for this Government. Budget 2021 provides for an unprecedented level of funding to deliver housing next year with €3.3 billion available for housing delivery programmes. This funding will support the delivery of 12,750 social homes through Build, Acquisition and Leasing, including 9,500 new build homes.
358. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for the reform of the planning process and in particular the judicial review process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44541/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments under the heading of Planning and Reform. Specifically these include the introduction of a "use it or lose it" condition for all planning appliations of 10 housing units or more and review and reform of the judicial review process. My Department is working on the development of legislative proposals on both these elements.
The General Scheme of the Housing and Planning and Development Bill 2019 which was published in late 2019 outlines a range of initial proposals in relation to the reform of the judicial review process within the Planning and Developments Acts. This General Scheme was reflected in the Government's Legislation Programme Autumn Session 2020, among the list of the General Schemes to undergo pre-legislative scrutiny. However, given the range of other legislation before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, this was not progressed in 2020 and so is now expected in early 2021. In tandem, my Department is engaging with the Department of Justice in the light of the Programme for Government Committment that such reforms should come into effect upon the establishment of the proposed Environmental and Planning Law Court, while always adhering to EU law obligations on public participation under the Aarhus Convention. My Department is also considering the issues raised during a public consultation phase of the General Scheme, to inform the evolution of this piece of legislation.
The "use it or lose it" proposals are being developed as separate legislative proposals. This concept specifically arose from an external review of the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) arrangements which enables planning applications of 100 housing units or more, or student accommodation or shared accommodation developments of 200 bed spaces or more, to be made directly to An Bord Pleanála (the Board) for determination. In line with the Programme for Government commitment, these SHD arrangements will not be extended beyond their legislative expiry which is now February 2022.
My Department is presently in the early stages of developing the necessary legislation providing for the introduction of the proposed new "use it or lose it" housing-related planning arrangements. This will include consideration of any legislative amendments requried to support the process for winding up the SHD arrangements and their replacement with revised planning processes for large-scale housing developments. My Department is currently engaging with stakeholders in this regard, and the legislative proposals will be progressed over the coming months.
