Tuesday, 2 Dec 2014

Written Answers Nos. 111-123

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Questions (111)

John Halligan

Question:

111. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the recent announcement regarding the provision of additional social housing here to accommodate the current high level of housing shortage the level of additional housing stock that will be built to accommodate the housing crisis in Tramore, County Waterford; his views that there is a massive lack of housing available in this local town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45864/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The funding that is provided by my Department to local authorities for social housing on an ongoing basis supports both the development of new social housing units and the acquisition of units based on the priorities set by the local authority. It is a matter for each local authority, as the housing authority for its area, to identify the social housing need and to respond as required. Looking forward, Budget 2015 has seen the provision of capital funding for social housing increased by €180 million. This will see an acceleration of local authority direct development and acquisition, and of the provision of social housing units via approved housing bodies. My Department will be working with all local authorities, including Waterford City and County Council, regarding their priorities for social housing across their areas of responsibility in the short term and over the life of the new Social Housing Strategy 2020, which I published last week.

Proposed Legislation

Questions (112)

Seán Kyne

Question:

112. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress on the new foreshore legislation particularly in view of the impact on seaweed harvesting, with reference to the rights, often found in land register folios, of seaweed harvesters and the rights of those harvesting for domestic use, traditionally working in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45851/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill is included on the ‘A’ list of Bills in the Government’s Legislation Programme, as a Bill expected to be published in the period up to the beginning of the next Oireachtas session in mid - January 2015. It is not proposed to remove the requirement for seaweed harvesters to obtain a foreshore licence. My Department is awaiting advice from the Office of the Attorney General on how the provisions of the Foreshore Act interact with folio and other purported rights to harvest seaweed , which may exist in certain cases. This advice will inform any changes that may be considered in the context of the forthcoming legislation.

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Questions (113)

Mick Wallace

Question:

113. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there will be a minimum allocation for social housing on all developments above 800 sq. m. in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40958/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

At present, private developers are required under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, to ensure that 20% of land zoned for residential and other uses, is reserved for social or affordable housing. Informed by a recent review of the Part V provisions, which included a public consultation process, my Department has published the General Scheme of the Planning and Development (No. 1) Bill 2014 which is available on my Department’s website at the following link:http://www.environ.ie/en/PublicationsDocuments/FileDownLoad,39512,en.pdf.

The Bill is in the process of being drafted with a view to enactment in 2015.

The General Scheme provides that, in future, the focus of Part V will be on social housing, with a requirement for up to 10% social housing in developments in excess of 9 units. In the operation of these revised Part V arrangements, the priority will be to secure social housing units on-site; the monetary alternative in lieu of social housing is to be discontinued.

It is proposed that the new Part V arrangements may be applied retrospectively to existing planning permissions where the developer and the planning authority are in agreement. I believe that this approach will encourage the commencement of private developments that might not have commenced otherwise and as a consequence will lead to an increased social housing gain from private developments.

National Countryside Recreation Strategy

Questions (114)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

114. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to offer incentives and compensation to farmers for any loss or inconvenience caused by allowing greenways or walkways through their lands, in view of the huge societal and economic potential that such infrastructure may bring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45868/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The economic and social benefits derived from landowners allowing greenways or walkways through their lands is fully recognised by my Department, as is the possibility of inconvenience or loss caused to these landowners by allowing such projects to proceed. Permissive access, which does not attract any incentive or compensation, will continue to be a key tool in the delivery of these types of recreational infrastructure going forward. My Department has responsibility for the implementation of the National Countryside Recreation Strategy (NCRS).

The Strategic Objectives set out in the Strategy are:

1. To achieve sustainable and responsible recreation in the countryside.

2. To promote caring recreational use of the countryside.

3. To develop a national framework that promotes the rights and responsibilities of both owners and users.

4. To develop a suitable structure to deliver a national countryside recreation service in a strategic and co-ordinated way.

5. To secure a package of funding mechanisms to deliver on the objectives of the strategy.

The on-going development of the activity tourism sector is of strategic importance for Ireland given the potential to leverage job creation and improve exchequer revenue from both foreign and domestic tourism.

The Walks Scheme which was introduced in 2008 is currently in place on 39 trails nationally, with 1,895 landholder participants. These participants receive modest payments for the development, enhancement and maintenance of those sections of trail that traverse their lands. In 2014 payments to landowners amounted to €1.8m. Due to budgetary constraints this scheme is currently closed to new participants; however, in some cases, a number of new participants have been brought on to the scheme following the renewal of contracts. In 2014, over 90 new participants joined the scheme.

The permissive access model currently used as part of the implementation of the National Countryside Recreation Strategy for the development of greenways and walkways in Ireland has led to the successful delivery of close on 800 walking, cycling, and equestrian trails which are all listed on the Irish Trails Register.

My Department continues to be a main funder of the Leave No Trace initiative which, through partnerships and education, promotes responsible recreational use in the outdoors, thus minimising the inconvenience caused to landholders and farm animals alike.

Climate Change Policy

Questions (115)

Micheál Martin

Question:

115. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he committed to any targets for Ireland at the UN climate change conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36521/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I presume that the Question relates to the UN Secretary General’s Climate Summit in September 2014 which the Taoiseach attended. While not part of the formal UNFCCC negotiations, the UN Secretary General convened world leaders in order to mobilise political will for an ambitious global legal climate agreement by 2015 that limits the world to a below 2°C rise in global temperatures. The Summit witnessed the announcement and launch of a wide range of initiatives aiming for ambitious and realisable action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen resilience to future climate impacts . In this context, the Taoiseach announced Ireland’s support for a number of these international initiatives , including in relation to Climate Smart Agriculture; carbon pricing; the phase down of HFCs; and green freight. These initiatives involve working with other countries to share information and best practice towards a common goal and do not include additional explicit targets.

The Taoiseach also took the opportunity to set out Ireland’s strong record in a range of areas, including:

- over-achievement of commitments under the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol from 2008 to 2012;

- the setting of a long-term objective for 2050 of an 80% carbon emission reduction across electricity, transport and the built environment, as set out in the National Policy Position adopted in April 2014;

- our position as a world leader in carbon efficient agriculture and sustainable food production;

- our contributions to climate finance for developing countries, which have continued, despite our challenging economic and budgetary circumstances; and

- our commitment to working with all Parties towards a new and ambitious global agreement under the UNFCCC, beginning with the current discussion/negotiations in Lima and culminating in Paris in December 2015 .

Housing Assistance Payments Administration

Questions (116)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

116. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the implementation of the housing assistance payment; the number of households currently in receipt of the payment; the average rent payment being made; and if there are any difficulties with the scheme. [40937/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a key Government priority and forms part of a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020, which I launched last week. The HAP scheme is designed to bring together all the social housing services provided by the State, with local authorities being responsible for all households with an established housing need, including those whose needs are currently being met through long-term rent supplement. HAP has a number of objectives including the removal of a potential barrier to employment , by allowing recipients to remain in the scheme if they gain full-time employment; provision of a better integrated and more streamlined service; and better regulation of the private rented sector. Implementation of the scheme is being overseen by a high level Oversight Group, which is co-chaired by the Secretaries General of my Department and of the Department of Social Protection.

Further to the enactment of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 on 28 July 2014, the first phase of the HAP statutory pilot commenced with effect from 15 September in Limerick City and County Council, Waterford City and County Council and Cork County Council. Subsequently, from 1 October HAP, commenced in Louth, Kilkenny, South Dublin and Monaghan County Councils. It is intended that Dublin City Council be part of the statutory pilot in the near future, with a specific focus on accommodating homeless households. In order to provide efficiencies and to test HAP processes, Limerick City and County Council is providing a transactional shared service to other local authorities during the pilot phase.

There are now 253 households in receipt of HAP across 6 of the local authority areas taking part in the statutory pilot. South Dublin County Council is currently assessing new applicants for HAP and expects to start moving recipients onto HAP in the coming weeks.

I understand that the average differential rent payment being made by HAP recipients to the local authority at present is €40 per week. The average monthly rent being paid to landlords under the pilot phase of the scheme is €462 across all classes of households.

During the legislation’s passage through the Oireachtas in July 2014 an undertaking was given that a report would be prepared for the relevant Oireachtas Committee that would include a full review of the statutory pilot phase. Data for the report are being gathered from pilot sites and the report will be compiled and submitted to the Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht in early 2015, in advance of full roll out of the Scheme.

Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure

Questions (117)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

117. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a break down of the proposed €2.2 billion investment in social housing provision, including the sources of this funding, a break down of the allocation and the number of new builds, by council by year to 2017; the number of shovel-ready projects there are in each council area; the number of actual new specifically council homes that will be delivered by the end of 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45861/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Reform , approved by Government and published last week, builds on the provisions contained in Budget 2015 and sets out clear, measureable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the housing list. Initial funding, through the €2.2 billion announced as part of Budget 2015 , will underpin delivery of phase 1 of the Strategy and allow time for the work to be carried out to move towards more off-balance sheet funding, through the extension to the NAMA Special Purpose Vehicle, a large scale Public Private Partnership and the establishment of a ‘Strategic Housing Fund’. The Strategy provides a clear governance structure, which as Minister I will personally oversee, to ensure delivery. Action 1 of the Strategy requires the agreement of targets for delivery of social housing next year and in subsequent years. These specific targets will be agreed through the governance structure, in collaboration with local authorities and with input from the approved housing body sector.

For 2015, the targets for new social housing units to be delivered as part of the local authority housing construction and acquisitions programme is 946, and a further 440 through approved housing bodies under the Capital Assistance Scheme. This will contribute to the overall provision of some 7,400 new social housing units next year under the range of existing initiatives, with a further 8,400 households assisted through the Housing Assistance Payment.

While local authorities are responsible for the detailed planning of social housing provision based on the needs of their areas, my Department is working with all authorities, within the context of the increased funding now available, to advance projects already in train and to plan for further developments directly by local authorities and by approved housing bodies to meet the Social Housing Strategy targets for 2015 and beyond.

Seniors Alert Scheme

Questions (118)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

118. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason for the change in the tendering system for the seniors alert grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45857/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department. My Department undertook to consider new approaches to the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2014 and from this it was recommended that the scheme be managed by Pobal with effect from 1 January 2015, given that organisation’s significant experience delivering programmes on behalf of Government.

Pobal will provide management and administrative services for the Seniors Alert Scheme. This will include a national tender for the supply and installation of personal monitored alarms, which was publicly advertised on eTenders on 20 October 2014. A panel of regional suppliers will be contracted to provide the equipment within specific regional areas.

Monitoring has always been the responsibility of the beneficiary and this is not changing. There are no implications for existing installations in respect of the Pobal tender competition; however, under the new arrangements, Pobal are also providing a facility for beneficiaries to choose from a panel of monitoring companies or to continue with their current monitoring company. In this regard Pobal will also set up a panel of pre-qualified telecare service providers who provide monitoring services and this was publicly advertised on eTenders on 6 November 2014.

This new approach will reduce the administrative burden for the many hundreds of community and voluntary groups registered under the Scheme and it will enable the groups to concentrate on the main purpose of the Scheme, namely to interact with the elderly in the local community.

Proposed Legislation

Questions (119)

Denis Naughten

Question:

119. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to revise the legislation on the recovery of awards made by the Private Residential Tenancies Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40956/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the tenant-landlord relationship in the private rented residential sector. The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established under the Act to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants in this sector. Receipt of a determination order is the official notification to parties of the final outcome of a dispute resolution case. A determination order sets out the terms to be complied with, including any payments owing and the length of time given to comply. In making determination orders, the PRTB-appointed adjudicators, mediators or Tribunal members as the case may be, can make provision to allow for payment of awards in instalments to facilitate recovery of the award, based on the circumstances of the case.

A party who fails to comply with one or more terms of a determination order is open to having legal proceedings taken against him or her in the Courts. Under the Act, enforcement of PRTB orders is a discretionary power and the Board exercises this power taking account of the circumstances pertaining to each case. However, while there is no legal obligation on the PRTB to enforce, the Board takes the issue of non-compliance with determination orders very seriously. During 2013, it referred 394 cases to its legal advisors for enforcement proceedings. It is also open to parties to pursue enforcement independently through the Courts including the seeking of a garnishee order.

It should be noted that going to Court does not of itself ensure successful enforcement and more particularly, recoupment of an award. In many cases the best option, and one which the PRTB facilitates, is for the parties to agree a schedule of payments. I have no plans to amend the legislation in respect of the enforcement of determination orders.

Mortgage to Rent Scheme Eligibility

Questions (120)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

120. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to amend the existing mortgage to rent scheme to assist families in mortgage distress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40936/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

There are currently two mortgage-to-rent schemes in operation through my Department. A scheme exists whereby a local authority (LA) can acquire ownership of properties with unsustainable local authority mortgages thus enabling the household to remain in their home as a social housing tenant (LA- mortgage-to-rent). The other scheme provides for an Approved Housing Body (AHB) to acquire ownership of a property with an unsustainable private mortgage which also enables the household to remain in their home as a social housing tenant (AHB-mortgage-to-rent). Both schemes are designed to assist families with income difficulties whose mortgages are now unsustainable, and where there is little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances in the foreseeable future. On foot of the recommendations of the Keane Report on mortgage arrears the Government launched the AHB-mortgage-to-rent scheme on a pilot basis in February 2012 and extended it nationally in June 2012. The scheme is currently in operation and continues to accept applications from lending institutions.

A total of 2,558 cases have been submitted to the end of October. 1,034 were ineligible or terminated during the process with a further 46 units not progressing as agreement on the sale could not be reached. 50 transactions have been completed under the scheme. 1,044 are currently with lenders who are seeking the consent of borrowers to share information and for the carrying out of an independent valuation, and the remaining 384 are actively being progressed.

Separately, my Department has funded 36 cases to date under the Local Authority scheme. The Department currently has 40 LA mortgage to rent applications on hand and expects to receive a small number of additional applications by the end of 2014.

In an effort to increase the numbers delivered under the AHB scheme a new protocol between all parties in the process was agreed and came into operation in June 2014 . The protocol includes such measures as the provision of a single independent valuation for the purpose of agreeing the purchase price. The valuation and condition surveys will now be carried out earlier in the process to give more certainty to all parties in the process including the borrower. The new protocol is endeavouring to ensure that as much certainty is being provided as early as possible in the process to minimise uncertainty and late withdrawals from the scheme.

Also in June 2014 , my Department issued revised guidelines to local authorities for dealing with mortgage arrears within their sector under the LA scheme. There are currently no plans to amend the LA scheme but its workings will be kept under constant review. I am confident that delivery will accelerate as a result of these changes.

Planning Issues

Questions (121)

Mick Wallace

Question:

121. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to disincentivise the practice of land banking through the introduction of a tax on vacant sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41760/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Action 23 of the Government’s Construction 2020 Strategy, which was published in May 2014, committed to examining the possibility of enabling local authorities, should they wish to do so, to adopt new measures to incentivise the use and development of vacant and underutilised sites in urban areas. In this regard, the Government have recently given approval for the preparation of a new Planning Bill to facilitate the implementation of certain planning-related actions in the Construction 2020 strategy, including provision for the introduction of a vacant sites levy. Under this provision, local authorities, in urban centres of greater than 3,000 population, will be given powers to apply annual levies of 3% of the value of sites which are left vacant and underutilised in areas designated for priority development under their respective local development plan schemes and strategies. The full details of the levy will be finalised during the drafting of the Bill.

The General Scheme of the relevant legislation – the Planning and Development (No.1) Bill 2014 - has been sent to the Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht in order to facilitate pre-legislative scrutiny. Subject to the completion of drafting, I intend to progress the Bill as a priority during the Spring Oireachtas session.

Irish Water Expenditure

Questions (122)

Barry Cowen

Question:

122. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the estimated annual operational costs of the Irish Water company in 2014, 2015 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40950/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The establishment of Irish Water is an integral component of the Government’s water sector reform strategy and involves major organisational change. The establishment of a high performance utility will lead to lower costs and improved services in the future, providing much better outcomes for customers and the environment. Details of Irish Water’s costs are outlined in their revenue and water charges plan which was reviewed by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). Details of the review and the CER’s decision are available at: http://www.cer.ie/docs/000979/CER14454%20WCP%20Revenue%20Response%20&%20Decision%20Paper.pdf.

The CER imposed an annual efficiency challenge of 7% on Irish Water’s costs as submitted and following the Government announcement of 19 November, an adjustment to operational costs will be made to reflect the proposal that water services infrastructure will be exempt from commercial rates. A note on the financing of Irish Water in 2015 and 2016, reflecting this position, has been published on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/en/PublicationsDocuments/FileDownLoad,39557,en.pdf.

Irish Water has published its Capital Investment Plan 2014-2016 and this is available online at: http://www.water.ie/news/proposed-capital-investme/Proposed-Capital-Investment-Plan-2014-2016.pdf.

The plan identifies where Irish Water considers investment in infrastructure is necessary for the effective performance of its functions, including compliance with Water Framework Directive requirements, improving sewage treatment and collection infrastructure in accordance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, responding to judgments of the European Court of Justice and achieving environmental and public health objectives arising from various regulations and EPA reports dealing with water quality.

Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives and has contacted all Oireachtas members to provide details of an improved level of service which it is aiming to provide. The team can be contacted via email to [e-mail] or by telephone on a new dedicated number, 1890 578 578.

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Questions (123)

John Halligan

Question:

123. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will be open to setting up a national housing waiting list; his views on permitting applicants to carry time already spent on one waiting list where they need to move county in order to follow employment opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45863/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020, published on 26 November, includes a commitment to examine the possibility of introducing a "housing passport". This measure has the potential to enhance significantly the responsiveness of the social housing system to changing housing needs by allowing households in receipt of, or qualified for, social housing support in one local authority area to transfer to, or be allocated, social housing in another local authority area for reasons such as availing of employment opportunities.