Terence Flanagan
Question:24. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to tackle the social housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15561/15]
View answerSocial and Affordable Housing Provision
Questions (24)
Written answers
Social housing is a key priority for Government, as evidenced by the additional €2.2 billion in funding announced in Budget 2015 and the publication of the Social Housing Strategy 2020 in November, 2014. The targeted social housing provision of over 110,000 social housing units, through the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units and meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme, will address the needs of the 90,000 households on the housing waiting list in full, with flexibility to meet potential future demand. The Strategy will be delivered in two phases. Phase 1 targets the delivery of 18,000 additional housing units and 32,400 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) units, by the end of 2017. In phase 2, spanning the years 2018 to 2020, the strategy targets the delivery of 17,000 additional units and 43,000 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) units.
The Social Housing Strategy 2020 is available on my Department’s website at the following link:http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,39622,en.pdf.
The overall targets in the Social Housing Strategy were developed having regard to the nature and scale of social housing need, taking account of analysis of the most recent statutory Assessment of Housing Need which was carried out by the Housing Agency. The social housing targets for each local authority area out to 2017 that I recently announced are fully in line with the targets of the Social Housing Strategy. Targets identified for individual local authorities were determined in consideration of the potential impact that delivery over 2015–2017 would have on social housing need as evidenced by local authority waiting lists recorded in the most recent statutory Assessment of Housing Need. The target setting process also took account of specific housing unit targets and building projects out to 2017 proposed by each local authority.
The targets that I announced illustrate once again that housing is of the highest priority for the Government. There are ambitious targets for each local authority, which will have a major impact for those on the housing waiting lists, with a national reduction of 25% targeted over the period through these targets alone.
In terms of monitoring progress against these targets into the future, including the impact on housing need, it is important to note that the governance of the Social Housing Strategy includes robust monitoring and review arrangements. Specifically, a review of the Strategy will take place in 2017 to assess overall progress. In addition, we will carry out housing needs assessments on an annual basis from 2016 which will support the continuous monitoring of social housing delivery against need.
Social and Affordable Housing Provision
Questions (25)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:25. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with regard to his recent announcement of social housing targets to 2017, the way the numbers of units allocated to each authority will be delivered, whether by direct build, acquisition, leasing, approved housing bodies, rental accommodation schemes and the housing assistance payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15779/15]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Housing Strategy targets the delivery of over 35,000 new social housing units over the period to 2020. These targets are broken down in the Strategy between those that are current-funded, at 23,400 units, and those that are capital-funded, at 12,173 units. The targets that I recently announced for all local authorities are out to 2017 and include almost 7,500 units that will be capital-funded and 15,400 current funded, of which 11,400 will be delivered through leasing and a further 4,000 delivered through the Rental Accommodation Scheme.
Local authorities are responsible for the detailed planning of social housing provision based on the needs of their areas. It is a matter for each local authority, in the first instance, to identify the appropriate initiatives to respond to their housing need. A breakdown has been provided to local authorities in relation to their targets as between capital-funded and current-funded units.
Fire Service
Questions (26)
Brian Stanley
Question:26. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for the reform of the fire service; and if he will provide a guarantee that the service will be retained under local authority control. [15619/15]
View answerWritten answers
Fire services are provided by the local authorities in accordance with the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. The fire authorities currently provide a range of operational and fire safety services through 27 service delivery units, using an infrastructure of 217 fire stations and some 600 fire appliances and associated specialist equipment. In February 2013, the Keeping Communities Safe (KCS) document was published as national policy. The option of moving to a national fire service was considered, but it was concluded that the risks of doing this were too great for the benefits that could be obtained and that those benefits could be obtained while still maintaining the local authority role in providing fire services.
In the current arrangement, accountability for local fire service delivery is maintained through the normal arrangements under which the local authority executive is answerable to its elected members for the implementation of policy. Local authority elected members exercise their reserved function of adopting “Fire and Emergency Operations Plans”, as provided for under Section 26 of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003.
For the first time, Keeping Communities Safe sets out national standards and norms for fire services in Ireland. Local authority fire services can now be benchmarked against these national standards, while maintaining proper local accountability for service provision. The fire service is led and managed by 27 Chief Fire Officers, supported by a staff of 175 Assistant Chief Fire Officers, who also provide a range of specialist services. The 217 fire stations are managed by 600 Officers who are numbered among the 1,199 full time and 2,039 retained fire-fighters that make up the service. Fire-fighter numbers in Ireland have been protected in recent years, despite the economic difficulties and staffing reductions in other public service areas. Likewise, local authority funding for fire services has been maintained for the past four years, at a time when general local authority spending has declined.
It is a credit to our local authorities that they provide such quality and effective fire services. Ireland is in the league of most fire safe countries, with a three year average fire fatality rate of 6.4 deaths/million of population in the three most recent years 2012 – 2014. Of course, each fire death is one too many and we cannot be complacent, but this statistic underscores the quality and professionalism of fire services our fire authorities provide to communities.
I am also satisfied that the current organisational arrangement at national level, with the creation of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management in 2009 within my own Department, is an effective model for providing national leadership for fire services and emergency management and for driving and overseeing the development of consistent, effective and safe fire services by the local authorities. The National Directorate supports fire authorities through setting general policy, the provision of training support and guidance on operational and other related matters, and capital funding which, over the last decade, has exceeded €155 million.
I have no plans to bring forward legislation to amend the current effective and appropriate arrangements for fire service provision.
Social and Affordable Housing Provision
Questions (27)
Thomas Pringle
Question:27. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the capacity of voluntary housing associations to deliver social housing on the scale required; if he will consider allowing the use of local authorities to form housing associations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15681/15]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Housing Strategy 2020 builds on the provisions contained in Budget 2015 and sets out clear, measurable 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. The total targeted provision of over 110,000 social housing units, through the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units and meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Schemes, will address the needs of the 90,000 households on the housing waiting list in full, with flexibility to meet potential future demand.
Under Pillar 1 of the strategy, an enhanced role for approved housing bodies (AHBs) in the provision of new supply will be central to the Government’s vision for the provision of social housing supports. This recognises the record of steady achievement by AHBs over the past 20 years in providing over 27,000 units of quality accommodation and the constraints on large-scale capital building programmes funded by the Exchequer.
My Department is working closely with the representative bodies for the sector, the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) and the National Association of Building Co-operatives (NABCO), individual AHBs and others to strengthen their capacity to deliver. To this end, the strategy includes a number of changes and actions that will help to promote the optimal configuration of what is a very diverse sector if it is to fulfil an enhanced role in social housing supply. The changes include the introduction of a multi-annual housing expenditure programme; prioritisation of funding to incentivise scale; innovative financing mechanisms; promotion of collaboration at local and regional level between local authorities and AHBs; and enhanced regulation of the sector.
As regards financing measures, the finance workstream established under the strategy is exploring off-balance sheet funding mechanisms such as public private partnerships and the establishment of a financial vehicle for the provision of project finance. This vehicle would specialise in channelling private finance to AHBs for the acquisition and development of social housing.
The strategy also indicates that in the context of the new financial vehicle, it will be important to consider how local authorities might access this type of off-balance sheet funding. In this context, the possibility of establishing an AHB by a local authority or by a consortium of local authorities will be explored.
Emergency Accommodation Data
Questions (28)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:28. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on the growing number of families awaiting access to emergency family accommodation; his plans to release further funding to local authorities to allow them to place any family that contacts its local authority and is deemed to have a need of emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15565/15]
View answerWritten answers
My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. The purposes for which housing authorities may incur expenditure in addressing homelessness are prescribed in Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. A range of measures are being taken to secure a ring-fenced supply of accommodation to house homeless households and mobilise the necessary supports in order to deliver on the Government's target of ending involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016. These measures have been identified in the Government's Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessness (May 2014) and in the Action Plan to Address Homelessness (December 2014). Progress in implementing these plans is reported through the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform. The plans and progress reports are available on my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/SpecialNeeds/HomelessPeople/.
As regards funding, I have made an additional €10.5 million available for homeless accommodation and services across the country in 2015. This is an increase in funding of over 20%, bringing the Exchequer contribution to €55.5 million. The 2015 regional allocations are currently being finalised with a view to their confirmation shortly. Housing authorities also contribute to the funding costs for their areas from their own resources.
Septic Tank Inspections
Questions (29)
Mick Wallace
Question:29. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of septic tanks that his Department has inspected, both nationwide and in County Wexford; the number registered nationwide; the number of these in County Wexford; his views that the problems posed by septic tanks in rural areas are being properly addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15777/15]
View answerWritten answers
Inspections under the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Inspection Plan for domestic waste water treatment systems are carried out by suitably qualified local authority personnel. Neither I, nor my Department, have any direct role in monitoring the implementation of the EPA’s Plan by the local authorities. However, the EPA has conducted a review on the implementation of the Plan for the period from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014. The report contains a breakdown, by county, of inspections that have taken place and includes details relating to non-compliant treatment systems and advisory notices. It is available on the Agency’s website at the following link: http://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/water/wastewater/Report%20National%20Inspection%20Plan%20Web.pdf.
The EPA’s National Inspection Plan has been drawn up to best international standards and underpins the risk-based inspection of septic tanks and other on-site waste water treatment systems. The Plan prioritises enforcement activities and allocates resources where the greatest risks to human health or the environment exist. I am satisfied that the EPA’s inspection system is consistent with the necessity to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Waste Directive and the European Court of Justice ruling against Ireland in October 2009 and also has regard to the European Parliament and Council’s recommendations of 4 April 2001 regarding the minimum criteria for environmental inspections in the Member States (2001/331/EC).
As of 17 April 2015, a total of 453,811 domestic wastewater treatment systems were registered. Based on Census 2011 data, this represents over 91% of the total number of domestic wastewater systems in the country. The number of County Wexford registrations included in the above figure is 23,686.
Housing Estates
Questions (30)
Denis Naughten
Question:30. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he will take to ensure that housing estates are taken in charge by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15552/15]
View answerWritten answers
Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides, in relation to estates which have been completed to the satisfaction of the planning authority in accordance with the relevant planning permission, that the planning authority must if requested to do so by the developer, or by the majority of the owners of the houses involved, initiate the procedures for taking the estate in charge. In relation to estates which have not been completed to the satisfaction of the planning authority and enforcement proceedings have not been commenced within seven years of the expiration of the planning permission relating to the development, section 180 also provides that the planning authority must, if requested to do so by the majority of the owners of the housing units, initiate the taking in charge procedures.
My Department is currently reviewing, in the context of the forthcoming Planning and Development (No. 2) Bill, the section 180 provisions in relation to the taking in charge of housing estates with a view to improving and streamlining the relevant procedures. A particular focus of the review will be the time limits for the taking in charge of housing estates and my Department will consult with planning authorities in this regard. The timeframe for progressing the Planning and Development (No.2) Bill is to have it published by the Summer recess, with a view to having it enacted by the end of the year.
Emergency Accommodation Provision
Questions (31)
Paul Murphy
Question:31. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount that has been spent on emergency accommodation by his Department and local authorities to tackle the immediate homelessness crisis in the four Dublin local authorities in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15773/15]
View answerWritten answers
My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. The purposes for which housing authorities may incur expenditure in addressing homelessness are prescribed in Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. My Department does not fund any homeless accommodation or service directly but provides funding to lead housing authorities on a regional basis. Housing authorities also contribute to the funding costs for their areas from their own resources. In 2014, my Department provided €35 .3 million in Exchequer funding to Dublin City Council, as the lead authority for the Dublin Region, towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 arrangements. The 2015 regional allocations are currently being finalised with a view to their confirmation shortly.