Vol. 754 No. 1
6Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government his plans to encourage financial institutions to lend money on a fixed rate to voluntary housing associations for the development of their housing stock. [5923/12]
The Government's housing policy statement, published in June 2011, identifies approved housing bodies, AHBs, as key partners in the delivery of social housing. This recognises both the constrained funding levels available for local authority construction programmes and the capacity and track record of the voluntary and co-operative housing sector.
AHBs are uniquely placed to help drive the achievement of the housing supply responses set out in the policy statement. However, the move from capital-funded programmes of construction and acquisition by approved housing bodies to more revenue-funded options does present challenges for them. As such, I intend to develop an enabling regulatory framework for the sector that will provide support and assurance to both the sector and its external partners as the sector takes on the expanded role envisaged for it in the policy statement and to underline its status as a viable and attractive investment opportunity for financial institutions.
The development of such a regulatory framework which is both robust and harmonised with the varying capacities of individual AHBs will take some time. In the interim, my Department is actively working with the sector on the development of a voluntary code which I expect most bodies will endorse. This code, which should be finalised and agreed in the coming months, will serve as a learning opportunity for the sector and for my Department as we develop a longer-term statutory framework that will best support the enhanced role of AHBs.
In the shorter term, to assist in this transitional phase between fully capital-funded delivery programmes and greater reliance on borrowing, my Department's capital advance leasing facility, CALF, scheme allows approved housing bodies to apply for a capital equity injection to assist them to secure finance from financial institutions and the Housing Finance Agency for the purpose of acquiring or constructing dwellings for social housing purposes under the leasing initiative. Direct loan financing by financial institutions will be part of the Government's mortgage-to-rent pilot scheme under which the purchase of the property will be part loan financed using loan finance obtained from the initial mortgage provider.
I have met many of the voluntary housing associations in recent months. Many of the associations are looking to buy housing units but they are having great difficulty raising money through financial institutions. Concerns have also been raised that interest rates, while low at present, if they rise could create problems in keeping rents at fair rates for their tenants. This is why there is talk of a fixed rate given we do not know what will happen in the future. Many of these associations are hanging on a limb with regard to their funding as matters stand. They could be driven to the wall if rates changed.
The Minister of State referred to the capital advance leasing facility, CALF. This does not seem to be given sufficient support in regard to the associations' endeavours to secure funding, or that is the sense which comes across from them. The best solution to the housing crisis is a State-led development of social housing units. In this vein, the Government has sought to relinquish responsibility to the voluntary sector. Increasingly, it seems the issue of social housing is being directed to the voluntary housing sector at the expense of social housing provision and those on waiting lists. That seems to be where the funding is going.
The voluntary housing sector plays a very positive role and the State wants to work with the sector. To take Britain as an example, that sector plays a strong role there as well. The Deputy will be aware that the Housing Finance Agency, HFA, can also provide finance. It is a good mechanism and provides good interest rates, which we expect will come down in the near future. We want to assist the voluntary housing sector in whatever way we can.
One of the issues I referred to in my response is that we need to ensure these bodies are properly regulated, and we are working towards that. There will be much more confidence from financial institutions in lending to voluntary housing associations if they are in a regulated situation. The CALF system of funding is relatively new and it will certainly grow in the years to come.
The Minister of State referred to CALF. It does not appear the facility is able to ensure suitable loan conditions. The Minister of State also referred to the HFA. I would like to think the Minister of State will strengthen her efforts to provide public money through the HFA. On another issue, how many publicly owned social housing units will be built in 2012?
I do not have an exact figure for social housing at this stage as, obviously, some units will be approved and go to tender and so on during the course of the year. I will come back to the Deputy with information that is as accurate as possible.
The reality is there is not a huge level of public money and we have to ensure we get the best possible methods in place whereby we can provide homes for people. In some cases, these will be directly built in the traditional way but we must also find other ways, including using voluntary housing associations and encouraging private capital to help with that. Ultimately, what we are focused on is providing homes in whatever way we can for those who need them in what are very difficult financial times for the country.
7Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the timeframe he has put on developing and publishing a local government reform document; the issues he hopes to raise in reform discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5772/12]
34Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he intends to introduce any legislation relating to local government reform; if so, when the process will commence; and the consultation that will take place. [5896/12]
55Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he has plans to introduce any legislation that will impact on town councils and if so, will the town councils remain a separate legal and political entity to local authorities. [5897/12]
163Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government when Dáil Éireann can expect to see local Government reform proposals including devolving control on transport, traffic, economic development, education, responses to crime and local health care needs to local communities. [6021/12]
164Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the progress made in the Programme for Government’s commitment to abolish the position of County Manager. [6022/12]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 34, 55, 163 and 164 together.
I am adopting a progressive approach to the reform and development of local government in accordance with the programme for Government. Decisions have already been taken to merge the authorities in Limerick and Tipperary and implementation work is proceeding in both cases. I have also established a local government committee to consider whether Waterford city and county councils should be unified.
I intend to bring wider policy proposals to Government in the near future which will build on these early actions, with particular attention being given to strengthening local government structures generally at regional, county and sub-county levels and expanding the role of local government, including proposals in regard to municipal governance within counties. In this context, I am also consulting ministerial colleagues to consider what functions and services of their Departments and of bodies under their aegis could potentially be devolved to local government.
The proposals will reflect work under way in regard to alignment of local and community development with local government and local government efficiency implementation. They will also broadly map out further aspects of the local government system on which reform proposals will be considered, including a range of governance matters such as ethics, local political and executive leadership, and the balance between elected members and the executive in the performance of functions. The future designation and role of the county manager will be among the matters for consideration in that context.
Primary legislation will be required in the first instance to provide for transitional management arrangements in Limerick and Tipperary until the establishment of a unified local authority in both counties in 2014. Further substantive legislation will be required to implement, with effect from the 2014 local elections, the full amalgamation of the authorities in question and establishment of their successors. The need for any additional legislation related to the wider policy proposals will be examined, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General, when these matters have been decided by Government.
I thank the Minister. First, will he clarify his position in regard to the delivery of water services? If he establishes the proposed water company, where stands the existing function within the local authorities? Is it his proposal to transfer the staff to the new water company or will they ultimately face redundancy or job losses? Will he clarify the position in that regard also?
Second, with regard to local authority managers, is it his intention when considering the overall posts, structures and terms of reference for local authority managers to limit the duration of their appointments to, say, three, five or seven years, similar to the position in semi-State bodies at present?
I am examining the term of office of the managers and the role they would have, in conjunction with the board of directors, who are the democratically elected people in local government. The chief executive officer is the manager but the board of directors should be the elected members. The balance between management, managers and local elected members is under discussion. The term of office is also included with that and will have to fit in with the wider public service reform proposals which the Minister, Deputy Howlin, is working on.
With regard to water and related staff, I am anxious to maintain the local expertise and knowledge that has been developed over many years in local government to enhance the delivery of the Irish water entity that will ultimately have to come to Government for decision. I expect this will be between now and the end of this Dáil session. The question of how many staff will be required and what role local government will play is obviously under discussion. I expect that local government staff will continue to play a very meaningful role in the delivery of our water services.
As it is her first time to take questions since being appointed, I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, on her appointment and wish her well.
Hear, hear.
We will not always agree but it is to be hoped we will have healthy exchanges.
Question No. 34 is similar to Question No. 7. I would like to tease out the issue with the Minister but it is bit like the position with the septic tanks in that it is a case of trying to read the Minister's mind on this issue. That is the problem.
It is some mind to read.
When coming into power with a huge majority, the Government said it would involve the Opposition and take reviews on board. However, the Minister comes in with a fait accompli and throws it on the table. The majority in the House will push it through while we are like bystanders with our mouths open and unable to do anything about it. I ask the Minister to take a different approach on this issue-----
I remind the Deputy there is a one minute limit for supplementary questions.
He will be left with his mouth open when the Ceann Comhairle stops him.
All parties, whether of the right, left or centre, have a great interest in local government. With regard to the powers, I ask the Minister to shift the balance back in favour of the elected members. I listened carefully to what he said about the elected members being the board of directors. That is the way it should be but it is not the way it is, and I ask him to change it.
The Minister should take a serious look at the functions. Many issues could be dealt with at local level and should not be dealt with at national level, and many powers should also be shifted back to local level.
What is the Minister's position in regard to the dual mandate? Before I entered the Oireachtas I was both a town councillor and a county councillor. Is it the Minister's intention to retain the town council structures by way of a dual mandate system or will they be subsumed into the country structure? That is a very direct question.
I would like to be able to give the Deputy a direct answer but I cannot. I must discuss these issues with my Government colleagues. I have an idea as to what I would like to do but I must discuss it with them. As the Ceann Comhairle knows, one must get agreement from Government before one can inform the House. I am sure the Deputy will understand that. I do not want to be left with my mouth open and nothing left to say to my Government colleagues after telling the Deputy everything.
There is no chance of that.
As I stated in my reply, I am a very strong proponent of devolution of power from central to local government. I want to see people at local level having a meaningful say in their affairs. Power should be as close as possible to the citizen in regard to governance and the delivery of local issues and services. The Deputy can take it that I will be a proponent of the policy he has just enunciated. I am sure we will have no difficulty in agreeing on these matters when it comes to legislation in the House.
I am pleased to hear the Minister's last few phrases about the need to get back to having citizens involved in decisions that affect them. When he is deliberating on local government reform will he consider not only the need to devolve power back to local authorities but, wherever possible, devolving power, decision making and participation to the citizens? There has been considerable alienation of local communities from their local authorities because of a feeling that decisions are made over their heads in favour of developers, or whatever.
In that regard, and following the controversies in areas such as Corrib and, lately, the Kish in regard to applications for drilling licences on the foreshore, will the Minister agree it should not be at his discretion only there should be public inquiries on these matters but that it should be mandatory to have a public inquiry concerning any oil or gas exploration within the foreshore area? Perhaps the Minister could make a start in moving in that direction by indicating he will allow for a public inquiry on the Providence Resources application to drill for oil and gas off the Dalkey and Killiney coastline.
Visitors in the Visitors Gallery are not allowed to contribute.
Deputy Boyd Barrett had indicated a few people were on their way. I was wondering-----
I told them not to clap.
I am sorry. This is Question Time in the national Parliament.
What we must do in respect of any matter in local government, including how we devolve functions from national to local government, is to have an orderly examination of matters. It is not because one individual might have a particular view but in order that we take all matters into account. We have respect for democracy, local government and the law and we will not treat politics by having local elections every week. That might be what Deputy Boyd Barrett would like but I believe in giving people a mandate over a period of time in order to implement a local set of services and policies. The functions we seek to devolve from central to local government will be as major as I can make them and delivery of those services will be as close as possible to the citizen.
The matter the Deputy raised directly is the subject of a later question.
What about a public inquiry?
I call Deputy Collins.
Like Deputy Stanley, it was remiss of me not to acknowledge the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, and to wish her well in her new role. I am sure she will be very successful at it.
The household charge is essentially a local tax which is being pooled centrally, or nationally. Where does that stand in regard to local government reform which should see local collection of taxes that would be ringfenced for investment and delivery of local services? Where money is collected in an area it should be spent in the area.
Deputy Collins and I agree there must be financial autonomy as far as possible for the local delivery of services through local government. I am anxious that as many functions as possible in terms of raising money locally for delivery of services to the citizen should be introduced. That is what the household charge is about. It is ringfenced for delivery of local services. It is the same with the more progressive and fairer system of property tax that is being generated in the coming months. That, too, will be applicable to local government services and for their delivery. It is not sustainable that at present we have small businesses supporting in a major way the delivery of local services. It puts them under financial pressure. I want to broaden the tax base in order to ensure we have maintenance of employment at local level and less pressure on local businesses than is the case at present with the collection of commercial rates. I will be looking at all financial opportunities to be ringfenced at local government level, where moneys will be collected and administered by local government for the delivery of those services.
I reiterate one point made by Deputy Stanley in regard to local government reform. It relates to the power of managers. We have seen this with Dublin City Council which has accumulated powers that were passed by the Oireachtas. It gave the council too much power while local councillors were relegated down the chain in terms of what they could and could not do. I would like to see those powers weaned away from managers and back to councillors who would have the ability to deal with them. I hope that is part of the Minister's agenda as he looks at reform of the local authorities. There are areas in which managers are making decisions and local councillors have no input or, if they do, the manager overrides them. This is a very important area that needs to be examined.
Councillors often abdicate responsibility. They have done so in respect of waste management.
That is democracy.
Abdication is never democracy. This is a responsibility for local councillors. They must take it and make hard decisions about raising money and delivering local services. They have to make choices. If one wants true local democracy people have to make choices based on the resources available. The management system we have at present is tilted too much in favour of the management and against the democratic wishes of elected members. I am going to change that.
8Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the impact the Budget 2012 €8m reduction in provision for the local and community development programme will have on the organisations involved with the programme; if any services will cease as a result of thise cut; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5768/12]
176Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the way in which the €8 million in cuts to the local and community development programme have been made; and the impact these cuts will have on service delivery. [6035/12]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 176 together.
The 2012 allocation for the local and community development programme, LCDP, as provided for in the budget, is €55.157 million, which represents a reduction of some €8 million on the funding available in 2011. I am confident, however, that the budget allocation will allow for the continuation of important supports for people in disadvantaged communities and will allow for the key, essential, front-line services delivered through the programme to be maintained for 2012. I am also confident that the adjustment to the programme has been structured to protect front-line services and supports at the expense of administration, overheads and ancillary costs.
In determining the 2012 budgets for the individual local development companies, every effort is being made to protect the viability of smaller companies. This is reflected in the lower than average budget reduction of 10% that is being applied to these groups. Although the reductions will unavoidably present challenges to all delivery bodies, I nevertheless expect that groups will continue to maintain key services and supports through prioritising resources at the front-line.
The allocations to local development companies under the LCDP are made by Pobal, which manages the programme on behalf of my Department. Allocations are based on a number of factors, including the size and population of the catchment areas of the companies, the proposed annual programme of activity of each company, the deprivation index for the catchment areas and the available funding for the year.
The annual planning process is currently underway in the local development companies. I have not so far been made aware of any services that will cease as a result of the cuts.
I have one brief point. The programme is essential. In his reply, the Minister stated he would deliver key services and we agree with that. It is important for these groups to have some certainty around funding in order to maintain services. One finds with many of these groups that they have multiple sources of funding. Some of them have suffered a range of cuts. When one adds all the cuts together they might come to 30% or 40%. I ask the Minister to bear that in mind.
Deputy Stanley has put his finger on it in regard to the duplication of resources that can come from various locations, bodies and Departments for particular communities. We are examining that intensively in the context of our budgets. We are also examining the alignment of the community sector with local government. This is all being taken into account to see where there is administrative duplication while at the same time protecting front line services to the citizen. Deputy Keating recently highlighted an example in which several Departments may be feeding into the delivery of a local community service. It is about establishing the best vehicle for delivery of that service while at the same time maintaining front line services.
9Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if the erection of over ground cables such, as EirGrid is subject to environment impact statements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5908/12]
Council Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effect of certain public and private projects on the environment, as amended in 1997 and 2003, specifies projects which, by virtue of their nature, size or location are likely to have significant effects on the environment and should be subject to an environmental impact assessment, EIA. Article 4(1) of the directive requires projects listed in Annex I of the directive to be subject to an EIA while Article 4(2) provides that for projects listed in Annex II of the directive member states may determine, either through case by case examination or by setting thresholds or criteria, or both, whether such projects are to be subject to an EIA. The provisions of the EIA directive are transposed into Irish legislation by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Planning and Development Regulations 2001. Under the regulations, an EIA is mandatory for the construction of overhead electrical power lines with a voltage of 220 kV or more and a length of more than 15 km. However, where a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála considers that a development proposal which is below the specified threshold is likely to have significant environmental effects, it is obliged to request an environmental impact statement from the developer.
The issue of the erection of overhead power lines is causing huge angst across the country. There is a planned overhead power line in Ratheniska in County Laois, for example, causing concerns. If a power line is over 15 km, it is mandatory for an environmental impact statement to be provided by the developer. What are the Minister of State's views on undergrounding electrical power lines? The report commissioned last July by her Government colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, on undergrounding power cables concluded that the cost of undergrounding is almost equal to that of erecting overhead power lines.
In Europe, only 450 km of overhead lines are currently being constructed while up to 700 km of electrical lines are being put underground. European electricity suppliers are going the way of undergrounding.
Putting in place overhead cables also causes delays in the delivery of infrastructure projects. We saw that recently in Offaly where there was a dispute over an overhead power line going through a grove of trees which took a long time to resolve. Until now the argument against undergrounding was that it was too costly and could not be done. The report commissioned by the Minister of State's colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, claims undergrounding can be done at the same cost as overhead cables, be quicker and a lot less hassle.
This is a separate issue so I recommend Deputy Stanley tables a question to the appropriate Minister, in this case, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
It is a matter for that Minister. He published the expert report on undergrounding which will go to the appropriate committee and there will be wide consultation on its findings. I must point out to the Deputy, however, that the report states undergrounding is three times more expensive than putting up overhead cables. It also specifies several other options.
Our Department's remit covers only the planning element of this. I am sure the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources will furnish Deputy Stanley with a copy of the report and that the Deputy will have an opportunity to engage in the consultation process too.
10Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will outline in detail, county by county, the programme for the installation of water meters; and the programme for the introduction of water charges. [5907/12]
The programme for Government provides for the introduction of a fair funding model to deliver clean and reliable water. The memorandum of understanding with the EU, IMF and the ECB also contains commitments for the reform of water services delivery and operation and the introduction of domestic water charges.
To meet these commitments, the Government intends initiating a universal water metering programme in advance of the introduction of water charges. This will facilitate moving to a charging system for domestic water users that is based on use above a free allowance as provided for in the programme for Government. A procurement strategy for the metering programme is being finalised and it is intended that procurement will be addressed at a national and regional level rather than county by county.
On 16 January 2012, I commenced a public consultation on the Government's proposals for reform of water services delivery including metering and water charges, seeking views from the public on the establishment of a public water utility and the introduction of water charges. The details of the consultation process can be found on my Department's website and submissions can be made to my Department until 24 February 2012.
The consultation process will offer people the opportunity to make an input into this process. I will be sending in a submission.
Has the Minister considered the issue of road-openings affecting the installation of water meters? Hundreds of thousands of these will have to be performed on footpaths and in housing estates. What will happen in an estate that has not been taken in charge by the local authority, as a road-opening licence cannot be made by the local authority in such a case? What is the legal position on this? Will meters be external or smart internal systems?
Last year during the cold spell, it was discovered that many water pipes into houses were only four inches under the ground when the minimum requirement was 18 inches. Water meters will be much larger than four inches. How will they fit into these installations? Once temperatures go down below zero, these meters could also freeze. Many water supply pipes to houses may have to be put down further into the ground.
The Minister of State estimates the overall cost of rolling out water meters will be €500 million. That breaks down to the small figure of approximately €250 per house. Given the extent of the work to be done, the roll-out of metering may be closer to €900 million, even with reduced rates.
From the experience of our neighbours across the water where water meters have been fitted, it has not led to a significant reduction in water consumption. Having dual flush toilets can lead to a 12% reduction in water consumption. Building standards regulations could be introduced to ensure when toilets are replaced it is with a dual flush model, as happens in Spain. That is a practical measure to cut down household water consumption which could be introduced by the Minister.
The Deputy has posed many questions, some of which I may not be able to answer today. I will be happy to follow them up with him later.
This is the largest infrastructure project since the establishment of the ESB during the foundation of the State. Irish Water will be established as an entity by the middle of this year and will deal with the contracts for the installation of water meters. It will be working with local authorities which will be agents for Irish Water over several years.
Water meters do work. There is clear evidence from local authorities on how water meters in commercial premises and domestic households have lead to significant reductions in consumption. The lowest amount in reduction in domestic consumption was 10% while group water schemes have reported reductions of up to 30% in their consumption. It is a significant reduction. The contracts will be prepared on the basis of splitting the country into 150 to 200 areas. The intention is to offer SMEs and smaller local businesses opportunities to get stuck in. As more than 2,000 jobs will be created, it will have an important impact on the community, as well as on the environment in terms of water conservation.
I am opposed to water charges because I believe €500 million would be better spent on stopping the leakage in our system. That would provide significant employment while fixing a problem we have been dealing with for a number of years.
In many of the older houses in places like Whitehall, Finglas and Walkinstown water is supplied through lead pipes. Will part of the €500 million be allocated to address this issue? These households will incur huge costs in adapting their water pipes. I have encountered issues in Finglas, Ballymun and Whitehall whereby pipes leak occasionally. It will not be possible to connect meters to these pipes.
The €500 million figure is not our estimate.
It is around that.
There is an active programme in local government to replace lead piping on the public end of the supply system. Approximately €120 million will be spent this year to replace lead piping because it is an important health issue.
Metering, to which the Deputy is opposed, will conserve water and save money in the long term. Water services on this island cost €1.2 billion last year. Savings of up to 40% were achieved in Scotland subsequent to the introduction of metering. It makes financial sense and I am happy to answer the Deputy's questions on it.
The Minister of State did not answer my question. Many of these houses are owned by old people whose only income is social welfare. These lead pipes potentially pose a massive problem. Has the issue been taken into account?
The regulator will examine issues pertaining to the charges applied. A charge will apply above a free allowance and those with health or significant income poverty issues will be dealt with by the regulator. We are meeting representatives from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, carers for the elderly and other interest groups to ensure the system is fair, practical and realistic.
11Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the allocations if any that have been made to local authorities by county in respect of home adaptation and essential repairs grants; the matching funds that have been indicated to him as available by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5717/12]
The housing adaptation grant schemes for older people and people with a disability, introduced in November 2007, replaced the discontinued disabled persons grant scheme, the essential repairs grant scheme and the special housing aid for the elderly scheme administered by the Health Service Executive.
The suite of grants include three separate grant measures - the mobility aids grant scheme with grants of up to €6,000; the housing aid for older people scheme with grants of up to €10,500; and the housing adaptation grant for people with a disability with grants of up to €30,000, depending on household income. These grant schemes are funded by 80% recoupment from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. It is a matter for each local authority to decide the specific level of funding to be directed to each of the various grant measures and to manage the operation of the schemes in their areas from within their allocation.
In order to determine the capital allocations for 2012, my Department requested local authorities to submit details of their funding requirements under the grant schemes by 20 January 2012. The information received is being examined at present and I intend to announce details of the capital allocations for the year at the earliest opportunity.
My Department also requested details of the matching funds to be provided by local authorities for the grants schemes in 2012. The overall level of local authority own resources funding available in 2012 is €18.649 million. A detailed breakdown, by local authority is in the following table.
|
Local Authority |
Local Authority matching funding available |
|
000’s |
|
|
Carlow County Council |
€463 |
|
Cavan County Council |
€325 |
|
Clare County Council |
€289 |
|
Cork County Council |
€2,176 |
|
Donegal County Council |
€493 |
|
Dun Laoghaire/ Rathdown Co Council |
€299 |
|
Fingal County Council |
€450 |
|
Galway County Council |
€825 |
|
Kerry County Council |
€880 |
|
Kildare County Council |
€405 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
€374 |
|
Laois County Council |
€647 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
€115 |
|
Limerick County Council |
€390 |
|
Longford County Council |
€388 |
|
Louth County Council |
€381 |
|
Mayo County Council |
€650 |
|
Meath County Council |
€200 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
€301 |
|
North Tipperary County Council |
€240 |
|
Offaly County Council |
€225 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
€185 |
|
Sligo County Council |
€611 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
€700 |
|
South Tipperary County Council |
€798 |
|
Waterford County Council |
€200 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
€231 |
|
Wexford County Council |
€1,306 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
€293 |
|
Cork City Council |
€353 |
|
Dublin City Council |
€2,318 |
|
Galway City Council |
€268 |
|
Limerick City Council |
€500 |
|
Waterford City Council |
€221 |
|
Sligo Borough Council |
€150 |
|
TOTALS |
€18,649 |
12Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the steps he has taken to ensure that persons coming out of a period of homelessness can be housed in suitable accommodation for their needs; and the funding in place for this. [5913/12]
29Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the steps he is taking to ensure that persons coming out of a period of homelessness can be housed in suitable accommodation for their needs; and the funding in place for this. [5919/12]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 29 together.
The programme for Government is committed to adopting a housing first, housing led approach to homelessness and to ensuring more effective prevention strategies. There is no single solution to increasing the level of social housing supply for the homeless and maximising delivery will require flexible and diverse approaches. The initial emphasis will necessarily be on the Dublin region, where homeless numbers are most acute, and moving away from the current over reliance on emergency accommodation provision to a more permanent accommodation solution. This is to be achieved through a number of measures including: directly linking the provision of funding with specific targets and outcomes; making better use of the existing available accommodation units in the local authorities and in the voluntary sector; additional social housing provision through acquisitions and remedial works or upgrading of vacant local authority housing stock and a leasing programme; ongoing engagement with NAMA to secure properties; targeted use of the rental accommodation scheme; an enhanced role for the private rental sector; better co-ordination with the voluntary and co-operative housing sector; and the establishment of homeless action teams across all regions.
My Department's funding provision for the running costs of homeless accommodation and related services for 2012 is €50 million, which together with 10% provided from housing authorities' own resources, brings the total available funding to €55.55 million in 2012. This level of funding means that there will be no reduction in the provision of essential front line support services.
The date set for ending homelessness passed and we never succeeded in meeting our goal. There is talk about a strategy being put in place by 2013 or 2014 but does the Minister of State seriously believe this is a realistic date? I do not believe it is achievable. Has a timeline been set out for the homelessness strategy? At this moment people are sleeping on the streets outside Leinster House, which is a terrible indictment of our society.
I agree we must do all we can on homelessness. This was one of the priorities I outlined when I was appointed to my position of Minister of State with responsibility for housing. A substantial sum, €50 million, has been allocated to the issue, in addition to the funding provided by local authorities. We have to ensure it is spent in a way that provides homes, which is the best response to homelessness. That will necessitate supporting vulnerable people in their homes in many cases because they will not always be able to survive on their own. Some of the voluntary associations and statutory bodies have been strong at providing that kind of support and the strategy for Dublin is focused on the best use of resources.
All of us want to end homelessness at the earliest opportunity but I do not think funding is the problem. Some people need a lot of support in terms of being provided with secure homes and we have to focus our policies on that.
Written Answers follow Adjournment.
The Dáil adjourned at 5.50 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Friday, 3 February 2011.
