Written Answers Nos. 143-154
144. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will immediately raise the HAP and homeless HAP limits, considering the ever increasing numbers entering homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7013/24]
View answerThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Q3 2023, there were nearly 57,617 households actively in receipt of HAP support. Maximum rent limits for the HAP scheme are set out for each housing authority area by the Housing Assistance Payment (Amendment) Regulations 2017. The limits applicable are related to the specific household and the rental market in the area and so vary significantly across each local authority.
Since 11 July 2022, each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% above the prescribed maximum rent limit and for new tenancies to extend the couple’s rate to single persons households.
Discretion can be increased up to 50% above the prescribed maximum rent limits for Homeless HAP tenancies in Dublin. The additional discretion available to homeless households recognises the difficulty this cohort of households face in sourcing and securing properties in a highly competitive rental market.
Local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that tenancies are sustainable and are advised not to provide HAP support to tenancies where the household would not be in a position to meet the rental costs being sought.
My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review and closely monitors the level of discretion being used by local authorities, taking into account other sources of data, including Residential Tenancies Board rent data published on a quarterly basis.
145. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will amend, at an early date, the criteria pertaining to the assessment of means for eligibility for social housing and exclude payments under the working family payment scheme which is available for some low paid workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6903/24]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 288 of 1 February 2024 which sets out the position in the matter.
146. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on his Department’s engagements with stakeholders in relation to potential legislative amendments to sections 2 and 10 of the Housing Act 1988; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56597/23]
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 local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Section 2 of the Housing Act 1988 outlines how local authorities can form an opinion on whether or not an individual/household shall be regarded as homeless, while section 10 outlines the actions that a local authority may take regarding the accommodation of those regarded as homeless.
My Department, along with nominated representatives of the local authority regional homelessness leads, undertook a review of sections 2 and 10 of the Housing Act 1988 in recognition of the significant changes in homelessness since the drafting of the Housing Act 1988 and to enable local authorities and homeless services to better address homelessness.
The review is now complete and potential amendments to the legislation, which includes the introduction of habitual and legal residency criteria for those seeking to access local authority emergency accommodation, are being considered by my Department. My Department is also engaging with stakeholders, including NGO partners, in relation to potential legislative amendments.
As part of the consultation process for the proposed amendments, I received feedback from stakeholders which raised issues which may require further policy consideration, including the availability of data in relation to the number of people who would be impacted by the proposed eligibility provisions. Therefore, my Department is conducting further research into the homelessness data in order to gain an up to date picture of the various cohorts accessing emergency homeless accommodation.
No policy changes have been introduced. Any proposed changes to the legislation be will be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas in line with the normal legislative process.
147. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects funding under the community monuments fund 2024 to be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6699/24]
View answerA €7million Community Monuments Fund for 2024 was announced last November, 2023. The closing date for applications to my Department is 14 February next. It is expected that the awards will be announced by mid-April this year.
148. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he will take to address the lack of homeless accommodation available in Tallaght; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6749/24]
View answerStatutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and associated services for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities. 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 local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level.
While responsibility for the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis with a lead authority in place for each region. In this instance, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive is provided by Dublin City Council as the lead statutory local authority in the response to homelessness in Dublin and adopts a shared service approach across South Dublin County Council, Fingal County Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. Decisions on the range of emergency accommodation services and funding required in each region are a matter for individual local authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum.
My Department does not fund homeless service directly but rather contributes towards overall costs incurred by local authorities in the provision of services.
149. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the construction of new homes on State land sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6801/24]
View answerGovernment affords a high priority to the use of vacant or underutilised state land for housing delivery. Under Housing for All, each Government Department/ Agency was requested to examine their existing portfolio of properties and place them on the market if they are not required and may be suitable for conversion to residential accommodation. This is to ensure that every effort is made to identify state lands and properties which can be re-purposed to increase the supply of housing.
The establishing of the Land Development Agency (LDA) allows proactive management of the State’s extensive land bank. Real progress is being made on transferring relevant public land to the LDA to deliver social and affordable housing.
Construction work is underway in Cork City at the former St. Kevin’s Hospital site, delivering 265 new homes. Work is also underway at Devoy Barracks in Naas, Co Kildare, which will see 219 homes being delivered. Additionally, the transfer of ESB land in Wilton, Cork is progressing, with design work underway to allow the LDA to submit a planning application for the site within the next year. It has the potential to deliver up to 300 new homes in the area.
Several other state-owned sites have planning applications lodged and approved. Planning approval was granted to the LDA for 345 homes in Hackettstown, Skerries and 817 homes in Castlelands, Balbriggan. The LDA also secured planning permission for 847 homes on the former Central Mental Hospital site in Dundrum although this grant is currently the subject of a Judicial Review.
In addition to these sites, the LDA is partnering with local authorities to deliver housing on public lands. Construction of 597 new homes at Shanganagh, Co Dublin, is being delivered in partnership with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and will be devoted 100% to affordable and social homes, with the first units expected to be completed later this year.
The LDA has also recently been granted permission for 543 units for the Donore project at the site of the former St Teresa’s Gardens, Dublin 8, which is a partnership with Dublin City Council. The LDA is also partnering with Dublin City Council to deliver 146 new affordable homes at Cromcastle, Dublin 5 where construction is expected to commence later this year.
The LDA and Dublin City Council have also announced a new development of over 1,100 homes at Cherry Orchard Point in Dublin, with a proposed mix of cost rental and social homes, along with retail and community space, to be developed on greenfield lands owned by Dublin City Council.
Just last week, the transfer of a further 9 state-owned sites to the LDA to develop homes was approved by Government. These sites are located in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford and their potential was identified in the LDA’s 2023 Report on Relevant Public Lands. These additional sites have the potential to deliver over 3,000 new homes.
150. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the measures he is taking to ensure Irish Water fulfils the State's obligation to rid public and private drinking water supplies of all toxins above EU safety limits (details supplied). [6932/24]
View answerThe European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No 99 of 2023) from March 2023 transpose the recast Drinking Water Directive into national legislation. Section 4 of the Regulations require the water supplier to ensure drinking water is wholesome and clean, does not present a risk to human health. The water suppliers, in conjunction with the supervisory authorities (Environmental Protection Agency and Local Authorities), are working to implement the regulations and ensure the provision of wholesome and clean drinking water.
As part of Budget 2024, funding of €1.8 billion is being provided to support water services. This investment will allow the delivery of the transformative change required to respond to water quality challenges, biodiversity loss and climate change. The funding will provide for significant improvements in public water and wastewater services, support improved water supplies in rural Ireland, and support a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in rivers, lakes and marine areas and compliance with EU Directives.
Overall, Ireland has good drinking water quality. In its Drinking Water Quality Report for 2022, which was published in 2023, the EPA confirmed that “compliance rates are consistently high year to year” with over 99.7% of samples compliant with bacterial and chemical limits in 2022.
151. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 101 of 6 July 2023, and considering the steep rise in rent in County Cavan since; if the criteria have been met for designating any area in County Cavan as a rent pressure zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6968/24]
View answerI refer to my reply to Question No. 377 of 13 February 2024 which sets out the position in this matter.
152. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an overview of the new National Biodiversity Action Plan. [6905/24]
View answerThe 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) 2023-2030 was launched in January and sets out Ireland’s vision for biodiversity, that by 2050 “biodiversity in Ireland is valued, conserved, restored and sustainably used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people”. The Plan strives for a “whole of government, whole of society” approach to the governance and conservation of biodiversity. The aim is to ensure that every citizen, community, business, local authority, semi-state and state agency has an awareness of biodiversity and its importance, and of the implications of its loss, while also understanding how they can act to address the biodiversity emergency as part of a renewed national effort to “act for nature”.
The 4th NBAP builds upon the achievements of the previous Plan. It will continue to implement actions within the framework of five strategic objectives, comprising 194 actions and addressing new and emerging issues:
Objective 1: Adopt a Whole of Government, Whole of Society Approach to Biodiversity
Actions under this objective include capacity and resource reviews across Government; determining responsibilities for the expanding biodiversity agenda; providing support for communities, citizen scientists and business; and mechanisms for the governance and review of the Plan.
Objective 2: Meet Urgent Conservation and Restoration Needs
Supporting actions will build on existing conservation measures, with increased efforts to tackle Invasive Alien Species and to expand the protected area network to include the Marine Protected Areas.
Objective 3: Secure Nature’s Contribution to People
Actions under this objective highlight the relationship between nature and people in Ireland, recognising the tangible and intangible values of biodiversity, promoting nature’s importance to our culture and heritage and valuing how biodiversity supports our society and our economy.
Objective 4: Enhance the Evidence Base for Action on Biodiversity
This objective focuses on biodiversity research needs, as well as the development and strengthening of long-term monitoring programmes that will underpin and strengthen future decision-making. Actions also focus on collaboration to advance ecosystem accounting that will contribute towards natural capital accounts.
Objective 5: Strengthen Ireland’s Contribution to International Biodiversity Initiatives
Collaboration with other countries and across the island of Ireland will play a key role in the realisation of this Objective. Ireland will strengthen its contribution to international biodiversity initiatives and international governance processes, such as the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.
The objectives of the Plan are underpinned by 194 actions linking to SMART targets and supported by indicators.
153. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is concerned about the increase in family homelessness and the lack of three bed homes coming on stream via the Part V programme; what changes he intends to make to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7014/24]
View answerSupporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. Increasing the supply of housing is critical to address homelessness and record levels of investment are being provided under Housing for All to support the delivery of housing. In 2024, over €5bn in investment is available to support the delivery of housing and local authorities have a target to deliver 9,300 new build social homes. Under Housing for All, each local authority is required to prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan. The Plans set out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. The Plans also include details of the locations and delivery streams, which would include Part V, for social housing schemes and to make adequate provision for 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes. Housing Delivery Action Plans are published on the websites of the respective local authorities.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including Part V delivery. This data is available to the end of Quarter 3 2023 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/6d316-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/?referrer=http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics
Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires private developers to ensure that a specified percentage of land zoned for residential and other uses is reserved for social and affordable housing. Local authorities negotiate Part V agreements with the developer in line with a range of guidelines and supports aimed at assisting them in maximising the benefits of Part V in the context of its housing needs. Local authorities have a range of options available when negotiating with developers including the transfer of land, the building and transfer of houses, the transfer of houses off-site, granting of a lease of houses, or a combination of these. Local authorities are free to decide how the 20% Part V contribution is broken down in terms of social and affordable housing (with a minimum 10% social housing) and by dwelling type, including provision for three bed units. regarding This is done in line with the local authorities housing need as identified in its Housing Strategy made as part of its Development Plan. Part V negotiations are solely a matter for the relevant local authority operating within the Guidelines.
154. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the development of the Parnell Square Cultural Quarter; and if he is aware of the decay and degeneration of the currently vacant Ambassador Theatre in Dublin 1. [6880/24]
View answerThe Parnell Square Cultural Quarter (PSCQ) project was included as part of the overall North Inner City Concept Area 1 (NICCA) proposal from Dublin City Council (DCC) under Call 2 of my Department’s Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) programme.
The URDF, which was established as part of the NDP in 2018 with an allocation of €2 billion is providing up to 75% funding for local authority led projects. These projects 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.
PSCQ on the north side of Parnell Square will deliver 11,000sq.m of cultural facilities, the centrepiece of which will be a new City Library and a range of cultural facilities including a music hub, design space, innovation hub, a conference centre, education centre, café and exhibition area all connected by a new high quality public plaza.
Another project, the acquisition and refurbishment of 41 Parnell Square, a protected structure with historic significance, once home of Irish Foresters, will cater for future cultural and artistic needs in the areas.
Parnell Square Public Realm Works will develop a civic space to link the Parnell Square Cultural Quarter buildings, creating a space for pedestrians that will serve as a social and recreational connection point.
My Department assessed the Preliminary Business Case for the PSCQ project in December 2023, and have requested further information from DCC in this regard. Responsibility for the advancement of URDF supported projects through the various stages of development and completion is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant Local Authority. My Department will deal expeditiously with this project when the further information which has been requested is received.
My Department is aware of concerns relating to the Ambassador Theatre but it should be noted that the property is not in the ownership of Dublin City Council and was not included in the Councils NICCA Proposal which has been approved for funding under the URDF programme.
