Written Answers Nos. 608-632
608. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason registered quantity surveyors are still being required to provide qualifications beyond that intended by the Building Control Act 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14007/21]
View answerThe Building Control Act 2007 provides for the registration of quantity surveyors. Part 4 of the Act establishes the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) as the registration body for quantity surveyors. Assessment for registration is the responsibility of the SCSI and is a matter for that body.
Section 29(2)(a) of the Building Control Act 2007 sets out the qualifications required for admission to the register and empowers the Minister to prescribe further educational bodies and degrees, diplomas or qualifications that will allow admission to the register.
The SCSI, as the designated registration body for Surveyors under the Act, has put in place an accreditation process whereby educational bodies may seek to have courses prescribed for the purposes of the Building Control Act 2007.
Sections 29 (4) and (5) of the Act require the Minister to consult with Quality Qualifications Ireland (formerly the National Qualification Authority of Ireland) for the purposes of satisfying himself or herself that the course provided by the body leading to the qualification provides the requisite instruction in the various elements of the discipline of quantity surveying.
This process as set out in the Building Control Act is followed for the prescription of all qualifications to allow entry to the register.
Section 39 of the Act provides that a person adversely affected by a decision of the Admissions Board or Technical Assessment Board may appeal to the Appeals Board.
609. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the Rebuilding Ireland home loan is excluding persons whose divorces have not been finalised. [14018/21]
View answerThe Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan Scheme enables credit-worthy first-time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties in a suitable price range, where they cannot obtain sufficient mortgage finance from a commercial lender.
As with the previous local authority loan offerings, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is available to first-time buyers only. This is set out in the regulations governing the Scheme and ensures the effective targeting of limited resources.
Applicants who are separated or divorced may be treated as first-time buyers, in accordance with the regulations, if they meet certain conditions, including:
- they are separated or divorced under a court order or by a separation agreement;
- the property being purchased is the first property since leaving the family home;
- they have left the family home and retain no interest in it; or
- the other party has remained in the family home.
In meeting the conditions as set out above, in particular that the other party has remained in the family home and that the potential applicant has relinquished any rights they had over that property, no financial gain should have been made by the potential applicant in exchange for relinquishing their rights to the property in this manner. Were the individual to have made a financial gain in releasing their rights to the property, such as being bought out by the other party who remains resident in it, they would be deemed to have been compensated for their interest in the property, and therefore not be eligible as a first-time buyer.
The final decision on loan approval is a matter for the relevant 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 Regulations establishing the scheme and the credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches in the best interests of both borrowers and the lending local authorities.
611. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria and methodology used to determine the seven proposed price caps for the shared equity loan scheme. [14042/21]
View answer612. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the research used by his officials in the design of the shared equity loan scheme; and if he will publish the research. [14043/21]
View answer613. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department conducted an impact analysis of the proposed shared equity loan scheme on house and apartment prices; and if he will publish such research. [14044/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 611 to 613, inclusive, together.
‘Our Shared Future’, the Programme for Government, commits to putting affordability at the heart of the housing system. The €75 allocation in Budget 2021 for the Affordable Purchase Shared Equity Scheme is one measure to deliver on this commitment, with the three-fold objectives of (1) improving access and affordability of new homes for First Time Buyers (2) stimulating an increase in supply by improving confidence as to the viability of future housing developments to meet increased realisable demand, and (3) supporting economic recovery from COVID-19 by encouraging employment in the residential construction and related sectors.
Designing the scheme has involved an analysis of similar international schemes internationally and engagement with a broad range of stakeholders. As a matter of course, full consideration has been given to the potential benefits and risks of the measure taking on board feedback from a broad range of interested stakeholders and commentators. The final scheme design will seek to maximise the benefits in terms of affordability and supply while mitigating potential risks in terms of economic deadweight and house price inflation.
Work on the detailed design of the proposed scheme is ongoing and at an advanced stage. The Scheme is being designed to incentivise first time buyer new build homes in key locations. In terms of price caps, considerations will include seeking to balance a range of issues including the cost of delivering homes, the accessibility of the scheme for potential purchasers and mitigating potential inflationary effects.
My Department has been supported by the Department of Finance, the Housing Agency, and other Government partners and key stakeholders in the development of this scheme. Based on our engagements, I am confident that the detailed design of the proposed scheme, can mitigate potential risks while supporting first time buyers to buy a new home much sooner than would otherwise be the case and in so doing will encourage additional supply to meet this demand.
614. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable homes to purchase funded via the serviced sites fund that he expects to be completed in each of the years 2021 to 2025; and the indicative prices for these properties exclusive of the service sites fund contribution. [14045/21]
View answerTo date, my Department has issued two formal Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) calls for proposals to local authorities. Funding of almost €188 million has been approved in principle in support of 38 infrastructure projects in 14 local authority areas, which will assist in the delivery of almost 4,000 more affordable homes. Under proposals as they stand, approximately 3,300 of these homes will be affordable purchase and the remainder will be Cost Rental.
Details of 35 SSF projects which received approval in principle under the two SSF calls are available on the Rebuilding Ireland's website as follows;
Call 1 https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-gives-the-go-ahead-for-ten-local-authority-sites-for-affordable-housing-under-the-serviced-sites-fund/
Call 2 https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-approves-funding-of-e84m-to-support-delivery-of-1770-affordable-homes-under-the-ssf/
In addition to these projects, approval in principle has also been given to three further applications for SSF funding, namely, Dublin City Council’s projects in Emmet Road and Oscar Traynor Road and Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council’s project in Shanganagh. It should be noted that SSF Approval in Principle is granted to local authority applications to fund facilitating infrastructure to allow the delivery of more affordable homes on its sites. In the main, following the Department’s approval in principle to grant fund these projects at the initial concept stage, local authorities then begin the process of detailed design, local consultation, the planning process and procurement. Thereafter, the nature and scale of the projects will generally evolve. This will invariably lead to updates in areas for example in the infrastructure specification, the SSF funding made available, the final number and type of homes that will be developed and the schedule for delivery. The majority of SSF projects are currently in this process.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the current Covid pandemic is impacting on the projected timelines for local authorities, due to the closure of the construction sector.
Given that in the majority of cases the detailed design, planning and construction procurement processes have yet to be completed and as the open market value of homes cannot be ascertained until the homes are made available at the time of sale, it is not possible to confirm the ultimate final cost reduction or selling price in a future housing market. However, based on indicative purchase prices provided by Fingal County Council for one of the first SSF projects which will deliver affordable purchase homes in Dun Emer, Lusk, the homes will be in the range of €166,000 for a two bed apartment and between €206,000 and €258,000 for a range of 3 bed duplexes, terraced and semi-detached houses.
616. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of sites in each county in which planning permission has been granted for each year since 2018, in tabular form; the number of sites assessed under the vacant site levy in each county since 2018; the number and percentage of local authorities with a live register with listed sites with assigned market valuations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14073/21]
View answer697. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is in receipt of a list of vacant buildings and sites in each local authority area; and if he will publish same, in tabular form. [15262/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 616 and 697 together.
Planning statistics are compiled by each planning authority on an annual basis for collation and publication on my Department’s website, at the following link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/6e88b-planning-statistics/
In addition, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical office, compiles and makes available detailed data on a number of planning related issues including permissions granted and completions by development type and county. Data is available at the following link on the CSO website: https://www.cso.ie/en/statistics/construction/planningpermissions/.
In relation to the vacant site levy, under the provisions of the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, planning authorities were empowered to apply a vacant site levy of 3% of the market valuation of relevant properties which were listed on local authority vacant site registers in 2018, which relevant owners were liable to pay in January 2019. The rate of the levy increased to 7% for sites listed on local authority vacant sites register from 2019 onwards which site owners became liable to pay in January 2020.
My Department does not maintain a central register of vacant sites as each local authority administers the vacant site levy in respect of their functional area; this includes site assessment, assignment of market valuation and maintaining a register. As provided for under the Act, the register in respect of each local authority is available for inspection at its offices and online on its website.
617. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider providing legislation to prevent landlords or letting agents charging tenants for references, as is in place in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14158/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government - 'Our Shared Future', commits to improve the security of tenure for tenants, through legislating for tenancies of indefinite duration, increasing Residential Tenancies Board enforcement and examining incentives for long-term leasing.
Proposals for further amendments to the Residential Tenancies Acts are currently being developed, for inclusion in the General Scheme of the Housing and Residential Tenancies Bill which is expected to be submitted for Government approval in the coming months for approval to proceed to legal drafting. It is expected that the Bill will be enacted by the end of 2021. The matter raised will be considered in this context.
The Property Services Regulatory Authority was established under the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011, which falls within the remit of the Department of Justice. This Authority is responsible for the control and supervision of the providers of property services (including letting agents), and is empowered to cause any complaints against those providers to be investigated and to adjudicate on any such complaints.
618. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding available from his Department through appropriate schemes to assist with a building (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14160/21]
View answerAs advised in my reply to Parliamentary Questions No. 97 and 100 of 4 March 2021, my Department provides financial support for the protection of heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF). Last year some 450 heritage projects across every county in the country were allocated funding from a combined sum of over €4.3m under these schemes and an extra €1m in funding was secured for built heritage projects under the July Jobs Stimulus Package 2020, which aimed to offset some of the effects of Covid-19.
The BHIS and HSF for 2021 were launched in November 2020, with a combined allocation of €6m, an increase of nearly 40%. The deadline for receipt of applications closed on Friday 12 March 2021 and I will shortly be announcing details of projects to be funded, as public health restrictions allow, under both schemes. Details of the projects will be published on my Department’s website and on local authority websites. While applications for the current year have closed, funding of further projects may be considered in the event of additional finance being secured.
In the context of a particular building or historic structure, the best advice is generally to contact the Heritage Officer or Architectural Conservation Officer in the local authority who is well placed to advise on the various types of funding available to assist with renovation.
619. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the work carried out by his Department regarding the implementation of a national differential rent scheme for local authorities; when the scheme is likely to be rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14171/21]
View answer703. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the progress that has been made on the national differential rent scheme; the proposed criteria for reckonable income within local authority areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15307/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 619 and 703 together.
The Programme for Government commits to bringing forward a package of social housing reforms, which includes standardising the differential rents regime across the country to ensure fairness. Work on the review of the current rent schemes has been ongoing and I have asked my Department to prepare recommendations regarding the potential for a standardised local authority rents system, including a standard set of income disregards, which I will consider in due course as part of a package of social housing reforms.
620. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if departmental guidelines permit Wicklow local authorities to operate two separate differential rent schemes in one local authority area; if other local authorities are operating similar schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14172/21]
View answerThe right of local authorities to set and collect rents on their dwellings is laid down in section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such schemes is an executive function and is subject to broad principles set out by the Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay.
Some local authorities retained the separate differential rent schemes operated by Town Councils after the abolition of Town Councils under the Local Government Reform Act 2014. Most of these schemes have been phased out by the local authorities in the interim period, with the sole exception of the separate scheme operated by Wicklow County Council in respect of the former Bray Town Council area.
621. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if funding is available and if he plans to introduce a scheme similar to the fair deal scheme that would provide financial assistance to the elderly who wish to remain living in their own homes or with family rather than go into full-time care (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14173/21]
View answerThere are a number of key principles underpinning Government policy on housing for older people. These include putting in place measures to ensure that sustainable housing is provided in the right location to enable people to age in the community; to design housing and the environment in accordance with the principles of sustainable lifetime housing; to promote the use of assistive technology and provide grant assistance to support people to live independently; to give adequate consideration to the need for social connectedness in devising policy; and to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to achieve the policy objectives.
The objective of enabling older persons to remain in their own homes is being assisted through my Department's funding to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability which assists people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants includes the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People, which are 80% funded by the Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of each local authority.
In addition to the above, funding is also provided from my Department for adaptations and extensions to existing social housing stock to meet the specific needs of the local authority tenants with a 10% contribution required from the local authority.
The detailed administration of these schemes, including the application, assessment, approval and payment of grants to applicants under the various measures, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority.
My Department, in conjunction with the Department of Health, is currently implementing the 40 actions recommended for implementation under the Housing Options for our Ageing Population Joint Policy Statement, including supporting housing/housing with care so that older people have a wider range of housing options and choices available to them. An Implementation Group with an independent Chair is overseeing the development of the policy framework and has published two progress reports to date.
I have no plans to introduce a scheme similar to the Fair Deal to assist older persons to remain in their own homes.
622. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the 5,073 new build social houses delivered in 2020 by category (details supplied). [14202/21]
View answerMy Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity. The data is available to the end of Quarter 4 2020. This data is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
In addition to the statistical overview of activity in each local authority, the Social Housing Construction Status Report is published each quarter which provides scheme level detail on new build activity in each local authority. The most recent publication covers the period up to the end of Q4 2020 and is available at the following link: https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-obrien-publishes-2020-social-housing-statistics/
An excel version of this file can be downloaded at the following link and may be used for various analysis in terms of stage of activity, location, quarter of completion, number of homes etc. Available at: https://data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q4-2020
The table below sets out a breakdown of the 5,073 new build social houses delivered in each local authority in 2020.
|
LA |
SHIP Con |
Regen |
SHIP TK |
CALF Con |
CALF TK |
CAS Con |
CAS TK |
PPP |
LA Part V |
LA Part V Lease |
AHB Part V |
Totals |
|
Carlow |
28 |
0 |
22 |
0 |
48 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
104 |
|
Cavan |
2 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
23 |
|
Clare |
30 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
28 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
86 |
|
Cork City |
9 |
24 |
43 |
0 |
129 |
45 |
0 |
0 |
33 |
0 |
12 |
295 |
|
Cork County |
50 |
0 |
191 |
86 |
112 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
13 |
0 |
14 |
466 |
|
DLR |
0 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
18 |
56 |
|
Donegal |
6 |
0 |
43 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
14 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
75 |
|
Dublin City |
0 |
54 |
0 |
21 |
88 |
0 |
5 |
70 |
6 |
12 |
63 |
319 |
|
Fingal |
24 |
0 |
22 |
0 |
170 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
83 |
313 |
|
Galway City |
78 |
0 |
21 |
0 |
98 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
198 |
|
Galway Co |
8 |
0 |
50 |
0 |
20 |
22 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
115 |
|
Kerry |
30 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
163 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
1 |
18 |
231 |
|
Kildare |
12 |
0 |
114 |
0 |
121 |
0 |
0 |
74 |
41 |
0 |
9 |
371 |
|
Kilkenny |
59 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
28 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
95 |
|
Laois |
8 |
0 |
13 |
0 |
85 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
10 |
122 |
|
Leitrim |
0 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
|
Limerick |
17 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
64 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
107 |
|
Longford |
0 |
0 |
45 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
45 |
|
Louth |
7 |
0 |
131 |
2 |
54 |
0 |
0 |
80 |
6 |
0 |
5 |
285 |
|
Mayo |
61 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
77 |
|
Meath |
68 |
0 |
30 |
0 |
127 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
53 |
0 |
35 |
313 |
|
Monaghan |
6 |
0 |
38 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
59 |
|
Offaly |
14 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
|
Roscommon |
14 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
16 |
|
Sligo |
28 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
36 |
|
South Dublin |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
152 |
4 |
0 |
109 |
38 |
3 |
67 |
373 |
|
Tipperary |
35 |
0 |
21 |
0 |
42 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
111 |
|
Waterford |
26 |
0 |
44 |
0 |
69 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
157 |
|
Westmeath |
33 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
46 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
95 |
|
Wexford |
18 |
0 |
29 |
0 |
92 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
38 |
0 |
5 |
182 |
|
Wicklow |
163 |
0 |
16 |
0 |
59 |
0 |
2 |
51 |
15 |
0 |
17 |
323 |
|
Totals |
834 |
78 |
934 |
120 |
1825 |
117 |
39 |
384 |
355 |
16 |
371 |
5073 |
623. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing applications made to each relevant housing authority from April 2020 to date that were refused due to the fact the applicant was in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment in tabular form. [14252/21]
View answerMy Department does not hold the information as requested by the Deputy with respect to the number of social housing applicants that were refused due to being in receipt of pandemic unemployment payment.
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 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.
In relation to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), Circular 38/2020 regarding the treatment of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) when assessing and/or reviewing income eligibility for social housing support, was issued to local authorities in December 2020. The Circular advises that the PUP payment should be considered as temporary in the overall context of an applicant household's income.
Decisions on the qualification of specific persons for social housing support and the allocation of that support are a matter solely for the local authority concerned.
624. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the consideration that has been given outside of the energy efficiency programme for 2021 for the retrofitting of local authority housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14253/21]
View answerResponsibility for the management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock rests with each local authority under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. My Department does however provide funding support to local authorities to assist with management and maintenance of their stock under a number of funding programmes, which includes the Energy Retrofit Programme.
The 2021 Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme is a newly revised Retrofit Programme and this is the first year of a ten year programme that is expected to grow to meet the Programme for Government retrofit commitment that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes.
€65 million was made available in this year’s Budget for the Energy Retrofit Programme, €20m of which was allocated under the Midlands Retrofit Programme, leaving a balance of €45m available for allocation under the 2021 Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme.
I launched this new programme last month with an initial allocation of €35 million in funding for the retrofitting of 1,293 homes. The balance of €10m will be available for allocation to local authorities that submit a work programme for 2021 that demonstrates that they are in a position to complete additional works, meet their targets and spend their full allocation in 2021.
625. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties to date per rent pressure zone in County Louth that have been identified as potentially in breach of short-term lettings regulations; the number that have been subject to inspection; and the number of short-term letting change of use planning applications received. [14227/21]
View answer626. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties to date per rent pressure zone in County Louth that have been issued with warning letters in respect of a breach of the short-term letting regulations. [14228/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 625 and 626 together.
While my Department does not require local authorities to submit data on the implementation and enforcement of the Short-Term Letting Regulations at individual Rent Pressure Zone level, it regularly requests such data at local authority level.
The information provided below is taken from the quarterly reports submitted by Louth County Council to date.
|
Quarter |
No. of properties identified as potentially in breach of STL regulations* |
No. of site inspections that have taken place |
No. of change of use planning applications received |
No. of warning letters issued |
|
up to end Q2 2020 |
231 |
4 |
1 |
36 |
|
Q3 2020 |
243 |
1 |
0 |
8 |
|
Q4 2020 |
219 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
*Not cumulative |
6 |
3 |
45 |
My Department proposes to issue a further request to all relevant local authorities in the coming weeks for updated data in respect of Q1 2021.
627. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason his Department has not signed off on a request from Donegal County Council that it be permitted to purchase the property in an area (details supplied) to house a family on the housing list; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Donegal County Council has built or acquired less public or council homes in the past 11 years than in just 2002; and his views on whether delays such as this are unacceptable in such circumstances. [14235/21]
View answerMy Department did not receive a request from Donegal County Council regarding the acquisition of the property to which the Deputy refers. However, I understand from the Council that they have put in place a long term housing solution for the tenants concerned.
The delivery of housing supports is a key priority of Government and this is reflected in the Programme for Government commitment to increase the social housing stock nationally by more than 50,000, with a key emphasis on delivering new build homes. We are ambitious to ramp up the delivery at local authority level and we are committed to developing housing on public land.
Comprehensive programme level statistics are published by my Department on a quarterly basis on all social housing delivery activity, including year-on-year details of both build and acquisition delivery. This is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/ .
To provide transparency on the new social housing construction projects being advanced, my Department publishes a Social Housing Construction Status Report each quarter with details of all social housing developments completed or under construction in each local authority area. The report for 2020 is available at the following link: https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-obrien-publishes-2020-social-housing-statistics/
These quarterly reports provide details of the social housing construction schemes completed and those in the pipeline for County Donegal.
The Government will be publishing a new housing strategy this year, which will set out details of social housing delivery out to 2025, including social housing targets for 2022 onwards. While Donegal County Council already has a social housing construction programme in train, I am keen that they are proactive in adding to this pipeline and in advancing their existing projects as speedily as possible. The quarterly publication of the Social Housing Construction Status Report can also give Councillors and public representatives the opportunity to work with the local authority officials to press the advancement of these social housing delivery projects.
628. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will publish the service level agreement between his Department and Dublin City Council for the provision of homeless services; if he will publish the statutory documents certifying that the public money granted was used in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14260/21]
View answer629. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the procurement of homeless services contained in the service level agreement between his Department and Dublin City Council; his plans to review the statutory documents certifying that the public funding granted was used in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14271/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 628 and 629 together.
My 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 a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual housing authorities. Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 sets out the purposes for which costs may be incurred by housing authorities in respect of the provision of homeless accommodation and related services.
While responsibility for the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis, with nine administrative regions in place. A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. It is a matter for the management group of the consultative forum, in the first instance, to determine the services and the funding required to address homelessness in each region. Each region submits an annual expenditure programme to my Department and my Department approves a funding allocation. The management of the funding allocation is delegated to the lead authority in each region and is governed by a protocol between my Department and the lead authority. This protocol sets out the funding arrangements and structures to ensure adherence with statutory requirements and public financial procedures. All regional authorities are obliged to ensure compliance with the Protocol and to ensure that accounting policies are in accordance with the regulatory accounting framework in place. These are subject to oversight and scrutiny at various levels, including by the Local Government Audit Service in their annual audit.
In Dublin, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE), provided by Dublin City Council, is the lead statutory local authority for funding and service provision to respond to homelessness in Dublin and adopts a shared service approach across South Dublin County Council, Fingal County Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.
The DRHE are responsible for the administration of services at a local level and operate in consultation with the management group of the joint homelessness consultative forum that is in place for the Dublin region. This forum comprises representatives of the four Dublin local authorities, the HSE, Tusla, the Irish Prison and Probation Service, the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Justice, the Irish Council for Social Housing, Threshold, and the Homeless Network. It falls to this forum to determine the services and the funding required to address homelessness at a local level. Following this determination the procurement of individual services, contractual arrangements and associated service level agreements are a matter for the DRHE to agree with individual service providers. In procuring services the DRHE are obliged to ensure compliance with all relevant statutory obligations in respect of provision of services and use of public funds.
The protocol governing delegation of Exchequer funding for homeless accommodation and related services in the Dublin Region to Dublin City Council, which is based on the provisions set out above, is available on request and my Department recently provided a copy to the Public Accounts Committee.
The Protocol agreement also sets out reporting requirements in respect of expenditure incurred on the provision of services and includes a requirement to ensure that certified expenditure is reported to my Department on a quarterly basis. This report provides details of the expenditure incurred with the accuracy of the report being certified by the Head of Finance and the Director of Services for housing (or equivalent) of the regional lead authority. The certified expenditure report is reviewed by my Department to assure compliance with the terms of the Protocol. The certified expenditure reports from all regional lead authorities are published on the Department's website at: https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data. Financial reports for 2020 are currently being examined and will be published shortly.
There is an effective system in place in respect of my Department’s functions for the disbursement, financial oversight and governance of voted Exchequer funds which are used by housing authorities to provide homeless services. These arrangements have regard to the statutory functions of local authorities under the Housing Act 1988 and Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the delegation to lead authorities in respect of the management of expenditure. There is a system of certification and review, and transparency in respect of publication of financial reports. These are further underpinned by audit provisions.
630. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is possible to establish the details of the ownership and boundaries of a parcel of land in Kilkenny city (details supplied), which was previously in the charge of CIÉ. [14272/21]
View answerI am informed by the Property Registration Authority (PRA) that its folio and map records are available through its online service landdirect.ie. This service can be accessed with a business account or as a guest user. I am further informed that to search for a property, it is simply a question of browsing the map or clicking on the “Search” menu and various searching options will be displayed.
If the property is registered, the boundaries will be highlighted on the map and the folio can be viewed on payment of the relevant fee. The folio will provide details relating to the property, including ownership. If the property is unregistered, further information may be available from the Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin 1 (see www.prai.ie for details).
631. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount allocated by his Department for the Our Balbriggan strategy; the details of the projects funded; the timelines for the delivery of each project; the projects that are part of the Balbriggan rejuvenation plan; the projects that are new; the amount allocated to each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14273/21]
View answerThe Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) was launched in 2018 to support more compact and sustainable development. The URDF is one of four funds established under the National Development Plan 2018-2027 and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has responsibility for its implementation.
The Fund is providing part-funding for applicant led projects that will enable a greater proportion of residential and mixed-use development to be delivered within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and large towns, while also ensuring that more parts of our urban areas can become attractive and vibrant places in which people choose to live and work, as well as to invest and to visit.
The URDF, as a key activator of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and Project Ireland 2040, is supporting a programme of significant transformational capital projects that will contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s five cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the NPF and PI2040.
All applications for URDF support are assessed in terms of their alignment with the intended purpose of the URDF programme and also their viability before being considered for approval.
With regard to the approved proposal in question, Fingal County Council’s proposal for Balbriggan Rejuvenation, the recently announced global provisional allocation of €25,438,875 for this multi-element project under Call 2 of the URDF is to support substantive capital elements subsequent to a related planning and design project that was allocated support of €2,125,000 under Call 1. This means that to date a total of €27,563,875 in URDF funding has been provisionally allocated to this project.
In the coming weeks, my Department will issue a formal approval in principle letter in respect of this successful proposal to Fingal County Council, which will set out the arrangements and conditions attached to URDF support, and which will also provide a breakdown of the global provisional allocation by sub-project.
While my Department works closely with the successful applicants in respect of project funding, responsibility for the advancement of URDF supported projects through the various stages of planning, development and completion is, in the first instance, a matter for the Sponsoring Agency, in this case Fingal County Council.
In this regard, it should be noted that all URDF supported projects must be carefully developed and managed by the Sponsoring Agency in accordance with the normal conditions and arrangements that apply to public sector managed projects including, exercising appropriate cost control and delivering projects as approved, and in full compliance with the Public Spending Code.
632. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of apprentices taken on by local authorities in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14285/21]
View answerUnder section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible.
My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis. However, granular data, in terms of the specific role and function of each individual staff member is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information would be available from individual local authorities.
