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Wednesday, 9 Oct 2013

Written Answers Nos. 147-152

Housing Finance Agency Funding

Questions (147)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

147. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to an offer by the European Investment Bank to provide funding to assist in the construction of affordable mixed use housing through both State delivery and State partnerships with housing associations; the amount of funding that has been taken up or will be taken up; if no such offer has been accepted, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42679/13]

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Written answers

In 2011 the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) was introduced to facilitate the securing of finance by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) from sources other than the Exchequer, including from the Housing Finance Agency and private lending institutions. The CALF provides a capital equity injection which assists AHB’s in securing private finance. To date over €10 million has been advanced to AHBs using this facility which has supported the provision of 158 social housing units.  It is open to AHBs to consider and put forward proposals to meet housing need under the CALF. I am not aware of any case where loan finance has been sourced by AHB’s from the European Investment Bank.

My Department has submitted a proposal under the South and East Regional Operational Programme 2014 -2020 for the deep retrofitting of some 2,000 apartments and flats in Dublin, Cork and Limerick at an estimated cost of €100 million. It is proposed that 50% of the cost would be met by way of loan finance from the European Investment Bank to a number of AHB’s who would undertake the retrofitting works and manage and maintain the properties on behalf of the local authority. The balance of the funding would be met by way of a 25% capital contribution by the Exchequer and a 25% grant from the European Regional Development Fund. Further social housing proposals of this nature and involving the EIB and the AHB’s will be considered in the context of the outcome of this proposal.

Motor Tax Exemptions

Questions (148)

Damien English

Question:

148. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will examine the potential to bring into effect a concessionary rate of road tax for compact tractors, those being under 50 bhp, as it would be beneficial to encourage the purchase and use of such vehicles on health and safety grounds for the agricultural and ground care sectors, especially as such vehicles when sold are required to be fitted with safety equipment that is not necessary on other vehicles, such as quad bikes, used for similar purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42562/13]

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Written answers

An annual concessionary rate of tax of €102 per annum applies to agricultural tractors and agricultural machinery. I have no plans to reduce this rate.

Local Government Fund

Questions (149)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

149. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will detail the sums remitted to the local government fund in 2013, and the source of those revenues, outlining the amount of direct funding from the Exchequer and the portion from motor taxes with a breakdown of any other revenues; and if he will outline the way the local property tax revenues are accounted for in this, the way it will be accounted for in 2014 in the local government fund, and the projected local government fund in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42608/13]

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Written answers

The principal source of revenue for the Local Government Fund in 2013 is the proceeds of motor tax. The published 2013 Revised Estimates Volume projected motor tax receipts of € 1.109 billion, receipts from the Household Charge of €10 million and interest of €600,000.

The local government funding model will change considerably in 2014. Under the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, commencing in 2014, the Minister for Finance will pay into the Local Government Fund an amount equivalent to the Local Property Tax paid into the Central Fund during that year. The general issue of local government funding in 2014 will be decided in the context of Budget 2014.

Leader Programmes Funding

Questions (150, 151)

Tom Fleming

Question:

150. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide necessary funding to North and East Kerry Development Board to enable the board to fund an indoor recreational facility complex in Castleisland which is an urgent requirement for the social and sporting needs of the area. [42638/13]

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Tom Fleming

Question:

151. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will allocate the necessary Leader funding to the North and East Kerry Development Board to service the Chorca Dhuibhne west Kerry area, which up to now had no dedicated Leader group to fund many projects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42641/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 151 together.

My Department continues to monitor the situation with regard to the allocation and drawdown of funding under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP). I advised all Local Development Companies (LDCs), including North and East Kerry Development Limited (NEKD), of their revised Programme allocations in May 2013 and LDCs were given until 31 August to allocate any remaining available funding to ensure that all funding is allocated before the end of 2013.

Currently there is approximately €19.2m in potential commitments at various stages of assessment with my Department and I envisage that this process will be complete by the end of October 2013.  Following this, all LDCs, including NEKD, will be informed if there is any availability of unallocated funds with a view to reaching full programme commitment by the end of 2013.

As the LDC is the principal decision maker on project funding, it will be the responsibility of the LDC to determine what projects are allocated funding, should additional funding become available from this process. I understand that both projects in question are being brought to the board of NEKD for approval in principle and, in this context, it will be a decision for the NEKD Partnership to determine how to address project funding should additional funds become available.

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Questions (152)

Finian McGrath

Question:

152. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding building repairs in respect of a person's property (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [42646/13]

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Written answers

Under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, the management and maintenance of local authority housing stock is the responsibility of the relevant housing authority, in this case Dublin City Council. I have no function in relation to the matters referred to in the question.

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