Written Answers Nos. 480-497
480. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 537 of 6 May 2015, if he will provide a breakdown of the length of the lease terms of the social housing units delivered, between 1 January 2015 and 1 May 2015, through the social housing current expenditure programme via local authority units, leased or rented, and approved housing body units, leased. [19397/15]
View answer481. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if social housing units delivered through the social housing current expenditure programme via local authority units, leased or rented, and approved housing body units, leased, are leased by local authorities and approved housing bodies on an ad hoc, unit by unit, basis, in response to individual housing needs, as they arise. [19398/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 480 and 481 together.
The Social Housing Strategy 2020, published in November 2014, 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. Under this Strategy a target of 3,000 units has been set for delivery in 2015 under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP). Within this overall target each individual Local Authority has a target for delivery under this Programme.
It is a matter for each Local Authority to determine the most appropriate mechanism for reaching their target under SHCEP. Under SHCEP, units can be acquired directly by Local Authorities through rental or leasing arrangements. They can also be sourced by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) through construction, purchase or leasing arrangements and can be leased by both AHBs and local authorities from the NAMA special purpose vehicle.
There is no specific breakdown of the individual local authority targets between these delivery mechanisms. However, it is expected that some 1,000 units of the 3,000 national SHCEP target will be delivered by Approved Housing Bodies in 2015. Each Local Authority is best placed to determine how best to meet their individual SHCEP targets using all the delivery mechanisms available to them, taking account of the particular housing circumstances in their area.
There are a wide variety of possible rental and lease terms available depending on the delivery mechanism used. Units acquired by local authorities through rental agreements are in general in place for up to 10 years and under lease arrangements for up to 20 years. Arrangements put in place by AHBs range from a minimum of 10 years up to 30 years, with units delivered through the NAMA SPV (whether by a local authority or an AHB) having lease terms in place for just over 20 years.
To the end of April 2015, 406 units have been delivered for social housing purposes under SHCEP in 2015. Of that number 60% of the units have agreements for 20 years or more and a further 12% have agreements for between 10 and 20 years. The remainder have agreements in place for less than 10 years.
482. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if negotiations are under way to bring more investment vehicles like the one announced in February 2015, jointly backed by the Housing Finance Agency and the European Investment Bank, into operation between now and the end of 2017. [19399/15]
View answerIn November 2014 the Government approved the Social Housing Strategy 2020 which sets out a strategic framework for meeting the State’s social housing needs to the end of the decade. The Strategy includes a commitment to commence work on a financial vehicle, to be known as the Strategic Housing Fund, to raise funding for the social housing sector.
Work on the development of this new funding model has commenced and is currently ongoing in my Department. This work is being progressed under the oversight of a group which has been put in place to develop the financial aspects of the Social Housing Strategy. This group - the Finance Work Stream - comprises a range of key stakeholders including the Housing Finance Agency, the National Development Finance Agency and the Departments of Finance and of Public Expenditure & Reform.
Arising from the opportunity offered by the Strategy, a range of developers, investors, financiers and others expressed interest in being involved in the provision of social housing. A protocol was put in place in March 2015 under the auspices of the Finance Work Stream to facilitate individuals and entities seeking to engage with the State to provide investment for the delivery of social housing. A single point of contact for submitting proposals has been established - the Social Housing Proposals Clearing House Group - which operates through my Department, under the oversight of the Finance Work Stream. Interested parties are invited to contact the Clearing House at newfundingmodels@environ.ie.
484. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of community groups that availed of the social inclusion budget administered by Meath Partnership in 2014; if all successful applications have been drawn down in full; and if he will, on the awarding of the social inclusion and community activation programme tender, administer social inclusion money in County Meath for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19419/15]
View answerMy Department’s Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the successor programme to the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP), was rolled out across communities from 1 April 2015.
During 2014, a total of €346,264 was provided to Meath Partnership under the LCDP, who in turn supported some 40 community groups and a range of community activity during that period. All LCDP funding was fully expended.
I am advised that the Meath Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) has not as yet finalised the SICAP tendering process and my Department is currently considering a mechanism to ensure the continued delivery of community and social inclusion services in County Meath. The primary focus of my Department is to ensure that front-line services, particularly those focused on the needs of the most socially deprived communities, are protected.
485. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of the amount of money paid out to businesses not households in County Cork under the flood relief fund established in response to the flood event in June 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19477/15]
View answerOn 28 June 2012, severe flooding, as a result of heavy rain, affected the Cork area and caused damage to homes and businesses in a number of areas.
While my Department co-ordinates the national level response to several types of severe weather emergencies, including flooding, it has no role in relation to the development, establishment or operation of any flood relief fund for households or businesses.
486. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of his recently announced capital programme, the crisis in the social housing sector and the public service embargo, the steps that have been taken by his Department to ensure that the housing departments of local authorities are adequately staffed to meet the pressures arising from the need to sustain tendencies, to secure properties for the rental accommodation scheme or long-term leasing, to plan or undertake a building programme, to identify and purchase suitable properties, to engage meaningfully with the voluntary housing sector, to deal constructively with housing applicants presenting themselves at local authorities offices and to support the placement of homeless persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19480/15]
View answerSince the publication of the Social Housing Strategy, and indeed beforehand, my Department has engaged with local authorities, with a view to ensuring their capacity and preparedness for delivery of the ambitious targets to 2020.
My Department works closely with all local authorities and all have been invited to submit staffing sanction requests to facilitate the delivery of the Government's Social Housing Strategy. Each staffing sanction request is examined on a case by case basis having due regard to the continued delivery of key services in the context of staffing and budgetary constraints. To date, my Department has received in excess of 300 staffing requests and has already approved the majority of these.
Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisation arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible.
487. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has concluded a review into the funding mechanism of national health and disability organisations reliant on the scheme to support national organisations funding, as announced by his Department on 18 July 2014; the outcome of the review; the funding to be provided to the organisations in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19503/15]
View answerThe funding Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) in the community and voluntary sector aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. Applications for a new round of funding, which commenced on 1 July 2014, were subject to an appraisal process. 55 applications were approved for funding for the two-year period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2016. A number of previously funded organisations were not approved for funding on this occasion.
Pobal were asked to undertake the management of the scheme and, in that context, put in place a dedicated team to deal with any inquiries from applicants and to provide detailed feedback. Furthermore, an appeals process was put in place, on foot of which Pobal submitted a report, which is currently being considered.
On 18 July 2014, it was announced that bridging funding of €1.4 million would be allocated for a twelve month period to a number of previously funded health, disability and other organisations that were not approved for funding under the new scheme, pending the carrying out of a review of the public funding of national organisations in the health and disability sector. This bridging funding in 2014/2015 will enable organisations to plan for their future, whether with or without State support, such as that provided under the SSNO. Details of the bridging funding provided are set out in the table below.
The review process is well under way and is being advanced in consultation with the Department of Health. The review is designed to rationalise the funding of these organisations to ensure efficiency in the use of public money and avoidance of duplication, while providing appropriate support to organisations working in the sector. The Health Service Executive and Pobal are also participating in the review. All organisations in receipt of bridging funding have been contacted to make submissions as part of the review process. A number of meetings have also taken place with representative organisations. I intend to complete and publish the outcome of the review in the coming weeks.
Bridging Funding Provided 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015
|
National Organisations |
Funding Scheme |
|
Arthritis Ireland |
53,882 |
|
Asperger Syndrome Association of Ireland Ltd |
41,448 |
|
Asthma Society of Ireland |
41,448 |
|
Breaking Through Limited |
58,028 |
|
Chronic Pain Ireland Limited |
37,304 |
|
Dyslexia Association of Ireland |
62,172 |
|
Genetic and Inherited Disorders Organisation Ltd |
16,580 |
|
GROW in Ireland |
16,580 |
|
Huntington's Disease Association of Ireland Limited |
19,066 |
|
Irish Deaf Society The National Association of the Deaf Limited |
62,172 |
|
Irish Heart Foundation |
41,448 |
|
Irish Mountain Rescue Association |
58,028 |
|
Irish National Council of Attention Deficit Disorder Support (INCADDS) |
33,158 |
|
Irish Stammering Association |
24,868 |
|
Migraine Association of Ireland Ltd |
29,014 |
|
Motor Neuron disease Association |
24,868 |
|
MOVE Ireland |
41,448 |
|
Muintir na Tíre |
70,462 |
|
Muscular Dystrophy Ireland |
37,304 |
|
National Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Ireland Limited |
37,304 |
|
National Association for Youth Drama Ltd |
29,014 |
|
New Communities Partnership (NCP) Ltd |
74,606 |
|
Peter Bradley Foundation Limited |
41,448 |
|
Post Polio Support Group Limited |
24,868 |
|
Safe Ireland |
74,606 |
|
Show Racism The Red Card Limited |
29,014 |
|
Suas Educational Development |
37,304 |
|
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland |
62,172 |
|
The Carers Association Limited |
62,172 |
|
The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland |
49,738 |
|
The Neurological Alliance of Ireland |
49,738 |
|
The Union of Voluntary Organisations of People with Disabilities |
45,592 |
488. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of foreshore licences that have been granted by his Department in the past four years; the number of these that are commercial, private, or awaiting processing by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19504/15]
View answerThe number of foreshore leases and licences granted since May 2011 is set out in the following table.
|
Category |
Foreshore Lease (Section 2) |
Foreshore Licence (Section 3) |
|
No. of Commercial |
9 |
68 |
|
No. of Private |
1 |
1 |
|
Total |
10 |
69 |
During the same period Ministerial approval in principle has been given to a further 65 commercial and private lease and licence applications, as set out in the following table.
|
Category |
Foreshore Lease (Section 2) |
Foreshore Licence (Section 3) |
|
No. of Commercial |
10 |
47 |
|
No. of Private |
2 |
6 |
|
Total |
12 |
53 |
The following table outlines the current position for 288 foreshore consent applications currently on hand.
|
CSSO1 |
On Hold / Dormant2 |
Live3 |
ORE4 |
|
|
No. Cases |
129 |
85 |
61 |
13 |
1. 129 applications have received Ministerial approval in principle and are with the Chief State Solicitor’s Office for finalisation of the relevant legal documentation.
2. Some 85 applications have been progressed administratively as far as possible and require either further information from the applicant or resolution of issues beyond the direct control of my Department.
3. 61 live applications are at varying stages of processing and have yet to be brought to Ministerial determination.
4. There are 13 lease applications on hand for offshore renewable energy projects. These are currently under review in light of the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan.
489. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a matter (details supplied) in relation to the Private Residential Tenancies Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19520/15]
View answerI have no function in the operational matters of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), an independent statutory body established under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants.
Having regard to the quasi-judicial nature of the work of the PRTB, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the specifics of any individual case. The PRTB may be contacted directly by phone at 0818 30 30 37 or by emailing disputes@prtb.ie.
490. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will release the letter dated 29 April 2015 from the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development on the implementation of the Leader programme. [19523/15]
View answerThe correspondence in question is, I understand, between the European Commission and a Member of the European Parliament.
As this letter did not issue directly to my Department, I am not in a position to release it without the consent of the European Commission and the MEP concerned. My Department is in the process of seeking those consents and if the European Commission and the MEP concerned have no objections to releasing the letter, I will of course arrange for a copy to be sent to the Deputy.
491. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a decision will be finalised regarding a foreshore licence application in respect of a person (details supplied), in view of the urgency of the particular case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19525/15]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 576 of 20 January 2015 which sets out the position in this matter. My Department continues to await advices from the Chief State Solicitor’s Offices with respect to the legal complexities that have arisen on the assignment of the foreshore leasehold interest in this case.
492. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce a scheme whereby local authorities, which sold houses under the affordable housing scheme a number of years ago, may qualify for funding for insulation works in line with the funding that is currently being provided for social housing and in view of the fact that many of the affordable housing properties are in the same estate as the social houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19566/15]
View answerMy Department’s support to local authorities for their programmes of insulation retrofitting applies to local authority owned houses only and is not available in respect of private houses.
493. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason new builds are now being charged €2,882 for a water connection when the charge for a connection by Tipperary County Council was just €800; the reason for this massive increase, particularly when planning contributions have already been paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19595/15]
View answerWith effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water shall collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it in accordance with a water charges plan to be approved by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER).
Section 22(5) of the Act provides that a water charges plan may provide for charges in respect of the provision of a service connection (within the meaning of the Water Services Act 2007) to, or in respect of, a premises. In its decision on Irish Water’s Water Charges Plan, published in October 2014, the CER stated that, until it made a decision on Irish Water’s new connection charges, Irish Water should continue to apply the rates which were charged by the local authorities at 31 December 2013. Although Tipperary County Council is now the amalgamation of North Tipperary County Council and South Tipperary County Council, including Clonmel Borough Council, all of these entities were still in place as of 31st December 2013 and as such the various fees at that date still apply. Irish Water has informed my Department that there is not a single set fee for either a water or wastewater connection in Tipperary and the calculation for each composite connection charge (connection works fees plus development contribution fees) is calculated separately, depending on the location of the connection.
The CER has recently reviewed its 2015 work plan with Irish Water and has published, in its Water Charges Plan Decision Paper of 5 March 2015, the areas that it will be progressing in 2015, which includes the development of Connection Charging Policy. Later this year, the CER will publish a detailed work plan in relation to connection charges and will consult widely as part of that plan.
If the Deputy has queries about the fees charged in relation to a particular property, Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
494. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 587 of 12 May 2015, the way he plans to end the discrimination faced by women who are due to be hospitalised to give birth on polling day, in view of the fact that it is not an illness and does not qualify them for a postal vote, in the context of his reply that he has no plans to extend existing arrangements for postal votes. [19608/15]
View answerThe categories of persons who may vote by post at elections and referendums has evolved incrementally in the context of electoral amendment legislation. As outlined in response to Parliamentary Question No. 587 of 12 May 2015, the Government, in responding to the recommendation of the Constitution on the Convention in their fourth report that there should be greater access to postal voting, proposed that an Electoral Commission be tasked in due course with considering the issue. They should advise in detail on the electoral and operational implications, including costs, of implementing change in this area. Any proposals for change that emerge from this process will be considered in the context of future electoral amendment legislation.
495. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures his Department has in place to assist small and medium sized steel fabricators with the implementation of the compliance requirements under I.S. EN 1090; if his Department has any grants in place, or envisages helping to offset the financial burden involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19665/15]
View answer496. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department plans to follow the example set by the United Kingdom and introduce compliance assistance grants in order to assist small and medium sized enterprises working in steel fabrication with their compliance obligations under I.S.EN 1090, which came into effect on 1 July 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19666/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 495 and 496 together.
Grant assistance is not available from my Department to assist particular sectors of industry to meet their statutory obligations under the Construction Products Regulation nor is this proposed. However, I understand that Local Enterprise Offices in association with the National Standards Authority of Ireland and Enterprise Ireland hosted a series of regional workshops for fabrication, engineering and construction companies and other interested parties on requirements under the harmonised European standard for structural steel, EN 1090-1:2009 Execution of steel structures and aluminium structures - Part 1: Requirements for conformity assessment of structural components.
A suite of supporting documentation, including an assessment checklist and a pre-audit questionnaire, were disseminated to all participants at these regional workshops and are also available on the National Standards Authority of Ireland’s website at http://www.nsai.ie/our-services/certification/product-certification/ce-marking-en-1090.aspx. In addition, the primary standards I.S. EN 1090-1 and I.S. EN 1090-2 are now being made available, through the Local Enterprise Offices, to industry at a discounted packaged rate. Furthermore, I understand that the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Education and Skills are in the process of identifying the training providers/courses that are available locally to facilitate small and medium sized fabricators in achieving compliance with the requirements of I.S. EN 1090-1.
My Department, working through Building Regulations Advisory Body structures, and in conjunction with the National Standards Authority of Ireland, the National Roads Authority, the Office of Public Works and the Building Materials Federation, prepared an information paper setting out the implications for manufacturers, importers and distributors in relation to placing construction products on the market arising from the introduction of the Construction Products Regulation on 1 July 2013.
This information paper was widely circulated, firstly in mid-2012, again in mid-2013 and also as part of the information pack provided at the regional workshops for steel fabricators, to stakeholders throughout the construction sector by the Department, local authorities and by each of the participating organisations. My Department has also proactively promoted awareness of the Construction Products Regulation at key industry conferences and workshops. In addition, a comprehensive three-month public consultation was held as an integral part of the development of the supporting European Union (Construction Products) Regulations 2013 which set out the framework for market surveillance in Ireland under the Construction Products Regulation.
It is understood that the number of steel fabricators operating in the State who have already established, or are in the process of establishing, the systems necessary to comply with their obligations under the Construction Products Regulation and I.S. EN 1090-1 continues to increase. All other fabricators of structural steel are encouraged to put in place the systems necessary for compliance at the earliest possible opportunity.
497. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the solution the Government will provide regarding the housing need of a person (details supplied) in County Meath, who is in mortgage distress, and has fully engaged with the bank, and who fulfils the criteria for mortgage to rent, but due to the capacity of the social housing providers, will not be able to avail of the scheme. [19670/15]
View answerUnder the Approved Housing Body (AHB) Mortgage to Rent Scheme (AHB-mortgage-to-rent) an AHB can acquire ownership of a property with an unsustainable private mortgage, enabling the household to remain in their home as a social housing tenant. To be eligible for the Approved Housing Body (AHB) mortgage-to-rent scheme a household must have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process, agree to the voluntary surrender of their home, be in negative equity, and be deemed eligible for social housing in accordance with section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009.
A single independent open market valuation is commissioned by the Housing Agency to determine the value of the property upon which the purchase price is based. Once a case comes within the above criteria and the householder has provided consent to the lender to share information, the Housing Agency seeks an Approved Housing Body to complete the transaction and prepares a submission to my Department for funding approval.
In relation to the specific case mentioned, I understand that the Housing Agency sought an Approved Housing Body to complete the transaction, but it received no expressions of interest. In general where this happens the transaction cannot progress, as it must be feasible for all stakeholders involved, including the Approved Housing Body.
The Government has recently announced changes to the mortgage to rent scheme as part of a broader package of measures to deal with mortgage arrears. The changes being made are designed to enable more properties to qualify for the scheme and in that context may facilitate a review of cases such as this that previously were not viable.
