Written Answers Nos. 249-260
251. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses completed in County Kildare in the past two years in respect of private development or local authority development proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7375/24]
View answerData on dwelling completions by local authority and house type are published quarterly on the Central Statistics Office website at the following link: data.cso.ie/table/NDQ06.
The data show a substantial uplift in the quantum of new homes delivered since the launch of Housing for All in 2021, with some 29,726 and 32,695 new homes completed in 2022 and 2023 respectively. Indeed, new home delivery last year was at its highest level in 15 years, some 10% higher than in 2022 and 13% higher than the Housing for All target of 29,000 for 2023.
This progress is generally being mirrored at local level, with the data for Kildare showing 2,627 and 2,720 new dwelling completions in 2022 and 2023 respectively, a substantial uplift on the 1,664 and 2,035 new homes delivered in 2020 and 2021.
252. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if plans can be put in place to arrange for modular or chalet type wooden housing as a means of addressing the severe housing shortage with a view to reducing the dependence on high priced rental accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7376/24]
View answer254. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of houses provided by approved housing bodies, on a county-by-county basis, for suitably qualified applicants in each of the past three years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7378/24]
View answer259. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of exclusively publicly owned sites in the various local authority areas throughout the country in which houses are being built or will be built in the near future for persons seeking local authority housing, affordable housing or serviced sites; the extent to which these might make positive impact on the housing market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7383/24]
View answer260. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses allocated to each local authority throughout the country including County Kildare by way of Part 5 arising from private ongoing developments, the extent to which this has reduced numbers on waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7384/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 252, 254, 259 and 260 together.
Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.
Under Housing for All, each local authority was required to prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan. This Plan sets 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. In preparing the Plans, local authorities were required to include details of land available to deliver housing. The Plans also include details of the locations and delivery streams for social housing schemes. The Plans have been published on the local authority’s own websites.
In relation to affordable housing, affordability is at the heart of Housing for All. Since its launch over 3,800 affordable homes have been delivered, supported by the Affordable Housing Fund, the Cost Rental Equity Loan, Project Tosaigh and the First Home Scheme. This momentum will continue as the pipeline of affordable housing delivery is developed and expanded by our delivery partners, including local authorities, AHBs, the LDA, and First Home.
Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) has been identified as a key measure to address the different housing needs in Ireland and methods to support the development of MMC in Ireland are set out in Housing for All.
MMC is the term used to describe a range of manufacturing and innovative construction alternatives to traditional construction, including modular construction. MMC has the potential to boost productivity, increase efficiency and improve sustainability in the construction sector. MMC techniques can speed up the delivery of construction projects by between 20% and 60%.
The coordination of activities to promote MMC adoption is being led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), through the inter-departmental MMC Leadership and Integration Group (established July 2022). This Group will ensure the integration and coordination of the various Government-supported MMC initiatives – to support innovation in the construction industry.
Such initiatives include:
• The Accelerated social housing delivery programme which uses MMC
• Publication of the Roadmap for increased adoption of MMC in Public Housing Delivery
• The ConstructInnovate Technology Centre
• The National Demonstration Park for MMC
• The National Construction Training Centre
• Training for industry, procurers and Building Control in MMC
• The establishment of the Timber in Construction Working Group, which, bringing together a range of industry expertise, will be tasked with examining conditions to increase the use of timber in construction.
Any person may lodge an application for permission to a planning authority in accordance with section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), for the construction of a house, which may be of modular construction. It is a matter for the relevant planning authority to consider each application on a case-by-case basis and to decide to whether to grant the permission, subject to or without conditions, or to refuse permission.
In making their decision, planning authorities shall have regard to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, the policies of Government, Ministerial Guidelines and any submissions or observations received on the application during the public participation process in accordance with section 34 of the Act.
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. Subject to the legislative provisions, 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. 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.
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. Data for affordable housing delivery is published on a quarterly basis, similar to social housing 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
Local Authorities are in the process of systematically collating information on delivery of social, affordable purchase and cost rental homes in their administrative areas, including returns for AHBs and the LDA, for Quarter 4 2023. This data is currently being verified and will be published in due course.
253. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps, if any, he has taken to improve the planning process in terms of more rapid determination of applications and appeals to An Bord Pleanála having regard to the situation in respect of backlogs and waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7377/24]
View answerAn Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts.
The Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Act 2022, which was signed into law in December 2022, addressed certain initial matters which required immediate action on foot of the Action Plan for An Bord Pleanála, Phase 1 of the Office of the Planning Regulator Review of An Bord Pleanála, and other matters relating to addressing board vacancies and addressing the Board’s caseload, including:
• Increasing the limit on the maximum number of members of the Board from 10 to 15, so as to ensure that the increasing caseload can be managed, and the appropriate quorums and suitable allocation of casefiles can be assured, and
• Expanding the provision to appoint temporary ordinary board members to allow for the appointment of serving or former civil servants, public servants, or employees of the Board for a term of up to a year.
The total number of Board members in An Bord Pleanála is now 15, the maximum provided for under the legislation and the greatest number of serving Board members ever.
Earlier this month, a full term Chairperson of the Board was appointed by the Government, and the recruitment process for the appointment of full-term Board Members is ongoing and is due to be completed in Q1 2024. Temporary board members may continue to be appointed in the interim as vacancies arise.
The Planning and Development Bill 2023 provides for the introduction of statutory mandatory timelines for all consent processes, including appeals and consent applications made to An Bord Pleanála. Timelines for the Board will be introduced on a phased basis, starting with those for Strategic Infrastructure Developments (including energy and transport projects).
There are now more people working at the Board than at any time previously. Since October 2021, my Department has agreed to 117 new staffing posts in the Board. The Board has advised that as of 31 December 2023 there were 254 individuals working in the Board including Board Members. The Board received approval and sanction from my Department for a total of 313 posts to date.
The Bill also outlines the proposed new structure for the Board. The new Bill contains a number of provisions reflecting this new organisational structure and will clearly outline the separate roles of:-
• Planning Commissioners - who will be responsible for all decision making regarding appeals and applications made and they will be overseen by a newly created position of Chief Planning Commissioner.
• The Governing Board - which will be responsible for the governance and organisation.
• Corporate Spine – will provide support to all of the organisations and functions will be overseen by a Chief Executive Officer.
255. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the degree to which the various forms of assistance available for first time house buyers are upgrading satisfactorily without contributing to house price inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7379/24]
View answerHousing for All is providing prospective home-owners with housing options they didn’t have when the plan was published two years ago. These options include Government supports for first-time buyers such as the Local Authority Home Loan, Ready-to-build and the First Home shared equity scheme, all of which are assisting those aspiring to purchase their own home to do so.
In this context, first-time buyer activity remains particularly robust, with recent data showing a year-on-year increase in the number of homes purchased and mortgage drawdowns by first-time buyers at their highest level since 2007.
At the same time, the growth in residential property prices has moderated significantly, down from a high of 15% in March 2022 to 2.9% nationally in the year to November 2023, while there are also recent signs the annual rate of growth in the prices of new homes has begun to moderate.
The housing market is a complex landscape and it is particularly challenging to isolate the effects of subsidies and other supports for first-time buyers from concurrent factors such as income growth, inflation in construction materials and the availability of second-hand and new homes in specific local markets. That said, an independent assessment of the 'Help to Buy' tax incentive, completed in 2022, suggested that that incentive had no discernible impact on the overall prices of new homes for first-time buyers.
Importantly, any inflationary pressure exerted by such subsidies and other supports is likely to be minimal and outweighed by the benefits of those supports, including reversing the declining trend in homeownership among younger demographics.
257. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his proposals to address the ever-present problem of homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7381/24]
View answerSupporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. Critical to supporting households to exit homelessness is increasing the supply of housing. My Department is prioritising measures which focus on accelerating social and affordable housing supply through a combination of new build, targeted acquisitions and leasing. 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.
Budget 2024 allocated funding of over €242 million for the delivery of homeless services. This funding will support the provision of emergency accommodation and related supports, including increased prevention activity. Local authorities and their service delivery partners will work closely with all households in emergency accommodation to support them to secure an exit to a tenancy.
Following the success of the Tenant in Situ scheme in 2023, local authorities have been sanctioned to acquire a further 1,500 social homes, mainly focused on acquiring properties where a social housing tenant has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. For private tenants at risk of homelessness who are not in receipt of social housing supports, the ‘Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ’ scheme has also been introduced. The effectiveness of these measures has been demonstrated in the recent significant increases in homelessness prevention reported in quarter 4 2023.
Housing for All includes measures to enhance family support and prevention and early intervention services for children and their families through a multi-agency and coordinated response. There is also a measure to identify and provide enhanced tenancy sustainment supports to families experiencing long-term homelessness to help them exit from homelessness and maintain their homes. These actions are being delivered in conjunction with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
I continue to work with the National Homeless Action Committee (NHAC). The overarching objective of the Committee is to ensure that a renewed emphasis is brought to collaborating across Government to implement actions in Housing for All, along with bringing better coherence and coordination of homeless-related services in delivering policy measures and actions to address homelessness.
258. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what steps can be taken by the local authorities to facilitate the granting of planning permission for rural applicants who have a need of rehousing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7382/24]
View answerUnder the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission.
Any person may lodge an application for permission to a planning authority in accordance with section 34 of the Act for the construction of a house. It is a matter for the relevant planning authority to consider each application on a case-by-case basis and to decide whether to grant the permission, subject to or without conditions, or to refuse permission.
In making their decision, planning authorities shall have regard to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, the policies of Government, Ministerial Guidelines, the local development plan and any submissions or observations received on the application during the public participation process in accordance with section 34 of the Act. As part of the consideration by a planning authority of planning applications for housing developments in rural areas, the current Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines, published in 2005, must be taken into account.
Where an applicant wishes to question the decision of the planning authority made under section 34 of the Act, they may appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanála under section 37 of the Act within four weeks of the decision of the planning authority. In addition, the decision of the Board may be subject to judicial review within 8 weeks of the decision of the Board under sections 50 and 50A of the Act.
Under section 30 of the Act, as Minister with responsibility for planning, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case in which a planning authority or the Board is or may be concerned.
It should be noted that updated Rural Housing Guidelines are currently being prepared by my Department. The draft Rural Housing Guidelines will set out relevant planning criteria to be applied in local authority development plans for rural housing, based on the high level policy framework set by the National Planning Framework (NPF). The guidelines will continue to allow county development plans to provide for housing in the countryside based on the considerations detailed in National Planning Objective 19 of the NPF, and will also highlight the need to manage development in certain areas, such as the areas around cities and larger towns and environmentally sensitive areas, in order to avoid over-development.
The draft guidelines are presently subject to legal review and Ministerial approval, following which it is intended that the draft guidelines will be published for a period of public consultation before the final updated guidelines are adopted and published.
