Written Answers Nos. 36-48
36. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline Government plans to deal with high rents in the private rental sector; and when he will publish these plans. [28995/15]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 33 on today's Order Paper which sets out the position in this matter.
37. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason there has been a delay in publishing the revised wind energy guidelines; if he will confirm the date when they will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28985/15]
View answerIn December 2013, my Department published proposed “draft” revisions to the noise, setbacks and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. These draft revisions proposed:
- The setting of a more stringent day and night noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments,
- A mandatory minimum setback of 500 metres between a wind turbine and the nearest dwelling for amenity considerations, and
- The complete elimination of shadow flicker between wind turbines and neighbouring dwellings.
A public consultation process was initiated on these proposed draft revisions to the Guidelines, which ran until February 21 2014. My Department received submissions from 7,500 organisations and members of the public during this public consultation process.
It is intended that the revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines will be finalised as soon as possible. In this regard, account has to be taken of the extensive response to the public consultation in framing the final guidelines. Further work is also advancing to develop technical appendices to assist planning authorities with the practical application of the noise measurement aspects of the Wind Guidelines. The revisions to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006, when finalised, will be issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Planning authorities, and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála must have regard to guidelines issued under Section 28 in the performance of their functions under the Planning Acts.
38. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of meetings he has had with the Association of Local Government in Ireland and the Local Authority Members Association; his views on those meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29003/15]
View answerI recently met representatives of the Association of Irish Local Government and of the Local Authority Members Association to discuss a range of issues relating to the operation of the local government system, and the work of elected members of local authorities, following one year of operation of the new structures established under the Local Government Reform Act 2014. Such meetings are a key element in supporting proper communication between central and local government and keeping under review the operation of the new local authority structures.
39. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to fund Traveller-specific accommodation in each of the years 2015 to 2020; and if he will provide details of the allocation of this funding. [29006/15]
View answerIn accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller accommodation programmes in their areas. My Department's role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
In 2014, local authorities adopted the fourth round of Traveller Accommodation Programmes, with the five-year rolling accommodation programmes running to 2018. These programmes provide a road map for local authority investment priorities over the period. They also form the basis for the allocation of funding from my Department for traveller accommodation, on foot of proposals received from local authorities and subject to approval from my Department.
2015 capital allocations in respect of traveller specific accommodation have issued to local authorities. The bulk of the funding was allocated in respect of schemes already under construction, new schemes approved to commence construction in 2015 and to meet final balances on completed schemes. The balance of funding is towards projects that will be newly approved during 2015. Details of the 2015 allocations are available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/SpecialNeeds/Travellers/News/MainBody,41970,en.htm. As funding is subject to the annual Estimates process, there are no forward annual allocations.
40. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the funding for the Traveller accommodation programme since the beginning of the programme in 1999; the amounts allocated for each programme; the amounts allocated from the Central Fund to each local authority; the amounts drawn down by each local authority; the rationale for the changes in funding; his views on whether the programme is fit for purpose, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28990/15]
View answerIn accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller accommodation programmes in their areas. My Department's role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
The first three Traveller accommodation programmes covered the periods 2000-2004, 2005-2008 and 2009-2013. Local authorities adopted the fourth and current round of Traveller Accommodation Programmes in April 2014, with the five-year rolling accommodation programmes running from 2014 to 2018. These programmes provide a road map for local authority investment priorities over the period. They also form the basis for the allocation of funding from my Department for traveller accommodation, on foot of proposals received from local authorities and subject to my Department's approval.
The capital allocations and amounts recouped in respect of Traveller-specific accommodation over the period 2009 to 2014 are set out in the table. Detailed information prior to 2009 is not readily available and will take time to compile; once available, the information will be forwarded to the Deputy.
The 2015 allocations totalling €4.3m in respect of Traveller-specific accommodation have issued to local authorities, comprising €3.89m Exchequer provision and €0.410m from Local Property Tax proceeds. The bulk of the funding was allocated in respect of schemes already under construction, new schemes approved to commence construction in 2015 and to meet final balances on completed schemes. The balance of funding is towards projects that will be newly approved during 2015. Details of the 2015 allocations are available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/SpecialNeeds/Travellers/News/MainBody,41970,en.htm
The Traveller accommodation programme is achieving results. In the course of the first Traveller Accommodation Programme (2000-2004), some 1,371 additional Traveller families were provided with permanent, secure accommodation. The second Programme (2005-2008) resulted in 775 units of new and refurbished Traveller-specific accommodation, while also accommodating an additional 458 families in standard local authority housing. Over the period of the third round of Traveller Accommodation Programmes (2009-2013), over 500 units of Traveller-specific accommodation were provided.
The improvement achieved is also evident from the data collected as part of the Annual Count of Travellers. In 1999, prior to the first Traveller Accommodation Programme, the Annual Count of Traveller families estimated that there was a total of 4,790 Traveller families in the State. Over 25% of these families were living on unauthorised sites. The 2014 Annual Count identified a total of 10,226 Traveller families in the State, of which approximately 4.35% were living on unauthorised sites, notwithstanding the large increase in the number of families overall since 1999.
|
County Council |
Allocation 2009 € |
Allocation 2010 € |
Allocation 2011 € |
Allocation 2012 € |
Allocation 2013 € |
Allocation 2014 € |
Allocation 2015 € |
|
Carlow |
400,000 |
420,000 |
50,000 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cavan |
20,000 |
30,000 |
10,000 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Clare |
2,350,000 |
1,900,000 |
500,000 |
300,000 |
343,450 |
181,976 |
37,000 |
|
Cork |
650,000 |
930,000 |
425,000 |
300,000 |
110,000 |
0 |
149,000 |
|
Donegal |
100,000 |
70,000 |
25,000 |
300,000 |
88,000 |
0 |
0 |
|
South Dublin |
5,224,500 |
3,610,000 |
600,000 |
250,000 |
50,000 |
24,750 |
0 |
|
Fingal |
4,200,000 |
5,000,000 |
700,000 |
150,000 |
115,000 |
222,575 |
645,000 |
|
Dún Laoghaire/ Rathdown |
1,000,000 |
750,000 |
750,000 |
313,150 |
160,000 |
8,793 |
0 |
|
Galway |
805,500 |
600,000 |
100,000 |
500,000 |
190,000 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kerry |
1,080,000 |
100,000 |
400,000 |
23,249 |
0 |
99,571 |
4,550 |
|
Kildare |
500,000 |
1,100,000 |
200,000 |
30,000 |
113,000 |
300,000 |
200,000 |
|
Kilkenny |
500,000 |
1,200,000 |
450,000 |
60,000 |
0 |
450,000 |
551,626 |
|
Laois |
50,000 |
220,000 |
200,000 |
530,000 |
659,000 |
0 |
0 |
|
Leitrim |
200,000 |
180,000 |
80,000 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Limerick |
650,000 |
100,000 |
200,000 |
134,400 |
29,110 |
0 |
7,500 (city & county merged in 2014) |
|
Longford |
800,000 |
750,000 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
78,000 |
|
|
Louth |
750,000 |
515,000 |
235,000 |
150,000 |
155,000 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mayo |
750,000 |
500,000 |
30,000 |
136,850 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Meath |
3,000,000 |
2,800,000 |
1,500,000 |
78,133 |
220,000 |
0 |
0 |
|
Monaghan |
400,000 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
North Tipperary |
425,000 |
1,550,000 |
500,000 |
139,508 |
126,600 |
353,656 |
See Tipperary County Council (merged 2014) |
|
Offaly |
95,000 |
110,000 |
400,000 |
0 |
0 |
70,000 |
3,069 |
|
Roscommon |
500,000 |
900,000 |
495,000 |
373,587 |
427,000 |
54,000 |
19,622 |
|
Sligo |
900,000 |
500,000 |
500,000 |
18,090 |
8,000 |
0 |
0 |
|
South Tipperary |
500,000 |
500,000 |
250,000 |
27,641 |
0 |
0 |
See Tipperary County Council (merged 2014) |
|
Tipperary |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
800,000 |
|
Waterford |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
413,347 (City & County merged in 2014) |
|
|
Westmeath |
150,000 |
75,000 |
150,000 |
46,452 |
0 |
0 |
95,000 |
|
Wexford |
200,000 |
300,000 |
100,000 |
285,000 |
150,000 |
105,901 |
0 |
|
Wicklow |
600,000 |
300,000 |
600,000 |
550,000 |
108,300 |
0 |
63,097 |
|
City Council |
|||||||
|
Cork |
100,000 |
40,000 |
62,000 |
0 |
256,687 |
800,000 |
|
|
Dublin |
3,000,000 |
1,450,000 |
1,350,000 |
50,000 |
420,000 |
407,500 |
366,299 |
|
Galway |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
550,000 |
360,000 |
159,000 |
75,127 |
0 |
|
Limerick |
400,000 |
1,000,000 |
1,150,000 |
250,000 |
295,000 |
350,000 |
7,500 (city & county merged in 2014) |
|
Waterford |
700,000 |
1,500,000 |
500,000 |
252,240 |
25,000 |
0 |
413,347 (City & County Council merged in 2014) |
|
Reserve* |
3,000,000 |
5,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
329,700 |
48,540 |
39,464 |
66,890 |
|
TOTAL |
35,000,000 |
35,000,000 |
15,000,000 |
6,000,000 |
4,000,000 |
3,000,000 |
4,300,000 |
*A portion of the overall capital allocation was held in reserve by the Department over the period 2009 – 2015 for the purposes of recouping to local authorities the purchase cost of houses which were required to meet the accommodation needs of Traveller families in specific instances.
|
County Council |
Recouped 2009 € |
Recouped 2010 € |
Recouped 2011 € |
Recouped 2012 € |
Recouped 2013 € |
Recouped 2014 € |
|
Carlow |
194,602 |
91,116 |
26,146 |
305,156 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cavan |
18,842 |
0 |
6,356 |
0 |
57,412 |
0 |
|
Clare |
2,710,533 |
544,603 |
481,387 |
183,281 |
248,290 |
250,613 |
|
Cork |
72,308 |
500,559 |
10,132 |
171,103 |
148,865 |
15,322 |
|
Donegal |
110,492 |
24,782 |
61,669 |
233,500 |
0 |
3,175 |
|
South Dublin |
5,004,727 |
1,749,905 |
258,852 |
140,123 |
81,277 |
46,978 |
|
Fingal |
2,335,136 |
2,860,494 |
0 |
0 |
55,000 |
424,754 |
|
Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown |
404,627 |
65,263 |
330,349 |
155,051 |
204,352 |
23,986 |
|
Galway |
634,516 |
185,830 |
292,947 |
0 |
138,840 |
0 |
|
Kerry |
177,543 |
372,021 |
600,578 |
17,067 |
11,025 |
144,415 |
|
Kildare |
220,000 |
0 |
0 |
30,000 |
148,352 |
0 |
|
Kilkenny |
0 |
698,431 |
501,263 |
640 |
94,974 |
287,239 |
|
Laois |
45,000 |
0 |
3,810 |
218,481 |
675,028 |
60,262 |
|
Leitrim |
101,230 |
86,723 |
14,234 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Limerick |
341,977 |
0 |
81,600 |
98,400 |
31,760 |
0 |
|
Longford |
120,768 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
25,000 |
|
Louth |
24,997 |
331,874 |
504,109 |
239,508 |
155,000 |
0 |
|
Mayo |
334,390 |
645,218 |
38,503 |
3,810 |
0 |
3,810 |
|
Meath |
300,747 |
2,771,429 |
1,796,295 |
63,560 |
255,626 |
0 |
|
Monaghan |
714,957 |
691,044 |
197,925 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
North Tipperary |
365,080 |
659,924 |
174,323 |
46,947 |
244,346 |
See Tipperary County Council (merged in 2014) |
|
Offaly |
499,914 |
107,248 |
406,902 |
0 |
50,377 |
73,760 |
|
Roscommon |
85,640 |
809,255 |
269,689 |
0 |
393,184 |
96,126 |
|
Sligo |
265,397 |
513,481 |
624,885 |
17,225 |
9,700 |
0 |
|
South Tipperary |
1,017,386 |
59,617 |
445,623 |
190,000 |
1,275 |
See Tipperary County Council merged in 2014 |
|
Tipperary |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
291,874 |
|
Waterford |
97,303 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9,769 (city & county merged in 2014) |
|
Westmeath |
17,745 |
210,000 |
174,718 |
48,655 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wexford |
73,335 |
385,119 |
111,422 |
172,552 |
150,000 |
328,733 |
|
Wicklow |
338,159 |
0 |
459,904 |
605,837 |
164,684 |
67,038 |
|
City Council |
||||||
|
Cork |
5,000 |
44,500 |
40,500 |
70,500 |
17,500 |
206,913 |
|
Dublin |
1,441,543 |
389,146 |
433,099 |
287,402 |
465,000 |
481,693 |
|
Galway |
764,310 |
707,431 |
135,328 |
391,250 |
0 |
72,241 |
|
Limerick |
149,214 |
353,681 |
329,341 |
50,106 |
264,310 |
249,987 |
|
Waterford |
614,557 |
250,000 |
503,019 |
259,846 |
76,756 |
9,769 (city & county) |
|
TOTAL |
19,601,975 |
16,108,693 |
9,314,910 |
4,000,000 |
4,142,933 |
3,163,688 |
41. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of units of social housing he expects to have available for immediate occupation in the third and fourth quarter of 2015 and by each quarter in 2016 and 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28714/15]
View answerThe 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. The Strategy will support an additional 35,000 new units to be delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies through a combination of building, purchase and leasing schemes. These will be delivered in two phases. Phase 1 targets the delivery of 18,000 additional housing units by the end of 2017, and phase 2, spanning the years 2018 to 2020, targets the delivery of 17,000 units.
I expect that a total of 7,400 new social housing units will be delivered in 2015. A total of 3,000 units will be delivered under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme including leases, rental agreements and agreements with approved housing bodies to facilitate leasing, build and acquisition. 2,000 units are to be delivered through the Rental Accommodation Scheme, 1,000 vacant properties will be returned to productive use and 1,400 units will be delivered through direct build and acquisition by local authorities and approved housing bodies. Further announcements of new unit delivery under the Capital Assistance Scheme and the broader social housing investment programmes will be made shortly.
Overall delivery targets for each local authority for the period 2015 to 2017 were set earlier this year, supported by a programme of €1.5 billion of investment. Details in respect of each local authority are available on my Department's website at the following weblink: http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,41016,en.htm
42. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will commit to extending the eligibility for the domestic wastewater treatment systems grants to include septic tanks that are registered but have not been inspected by a local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28992/15]
View answerThe Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, brought into operation a grants scheme to assist with the cost of remediation of septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed, following inspection under the EPA's National Inspection Plan and the subsequent issue of an Advisory Notice by the local authority, to require repair or upgrading. The qualification criteria are set out in the legislation and full details of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, are set out in the explanatory leaflet and application form published on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/Environment/Water/FileDownLoad,33607,en.pdf
The grant scheme ensures that the limited financial resources available are targeted towards householders, particularly those on lower incomes, who incur expenditure directly as a result of the implementation of the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012.
I have no plans to extend or vary the qualifying criteria of the grant scheme. However, householders who do not meet the eligibility criteria included in the Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013 but wish to remediate or upgrade their on-site treatment systems may qualify for relief under the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) Scheme introduced under Section 5 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2013. The HRI scheme covers main residence repairs, renovations and improvements, including the repair or replacement of septic tanks. The scheme is administered by the Revenue Commissioners and full details are published on Revenue's website at the following link:http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/reliefs/hri/hri-general-faqs.html
43. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will address concerns regarding the projected shortfall of €18.5 million in the funding allocation from his Department to Dublin City Council for homelessness services. [28993/15]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 12 on today's Order Paper.
44. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update regarding the homelessness crisis and the Government plans to tackle the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28716/15]
View answerA 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. 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/
These Plans represent a whole-of-Government approach to dealing with homelessness and the implementation of measures identified in these plans is being overseen by a group of senior officials drawn from key State agencies concerned including my Department; the Department's of Social Protection, Health, and Children and Youth Affairs; the Health Service Executive; Tusla (the Child and Family Agency); the Irish Prison Service; and housing authorities. The Group meets at regular intervals and its next meeting is scheduled for 17 July.
45. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of the current expected shortfall in the housing and homelessness budgets for Dublin City Council; his plans for the allocation of additional funding and the estimated target for delivery of housing in Dublin; and the type of housing that will be provided. [29004/15]
View answerAmbitious targets for social housing delivery, along with matching funding allocations, were set by me in April last, when I announced targets for the delivery of social housing for all local authorities to 2017. As part of this announcement, Dublin City Council was set a target of 3,347 social housing units, supported by a provisional funding allocation of €292m, to be invested in a combination of building, buying and leasing schemes to accommodate people on the housing waiting list.
In that context, on 5 May 2015, I announced a major social housing construction programme, involving €312m of investment, comprising some 100 projects and 1,700 housing units nationally. This included 167 new units in Dublin City, both apartments and houses, at a cost of over €35m. Full details, including specifics of the projects to be progressed, the funding allocated and the number of units to be delivered across all local authorities, are available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,41340,en.htm.
I stated at the time that this announcement was part of the first phase of direct-build projects under the Government's Social Housing Strategy and that further assessments are being carried out which will result in the approval of additional projects shortly.
With regard to funding for accommodation and related services for the homeless, a 2015 allocation of €37.16 million has been confirmed for the Dublin Region. This is an increase of 19% on the region's initial allocation (of €31.32 million) in 2014 and represents over 70% of all the funding allocated to housing authorities nationally. My Department is in active and ongoing discussions with the Dublin authorities regarding the extent of their possible additional funding requirements in 2015 and this issue will be addressed toward the end of Quarter 3 in the light of expenditure actually incurred at that stage.
46. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the proposals he has put to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for direct-build social housing development by the local authorities; the proposals that were accepted and will be brought forward; if he has set targets for public private partnership-type social housing by the local authorities and voluntary sectors between 2015 and 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28715/15]
View answerThe Social Housing Strategy 2020 has been approved by Government and includes a commitment for significant funding for the social housing targets it contains. The Strategy will support an additional 35,000 new social housing units to be delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies through a combination of building, purchase and leasing schemes. The estimated cost to the Exchequer for the delivery of these new units is €3.8 billion to 2020.
The funding provided through Budget 2015 will provide the required kick start to delivery under the Strategy, as will the local authority targets that I set in April 2015, of over 22,800 new units to be delivered between 2015 – 2017, with €1.5 billion in provisional funding allocations.
In line with these targets, on 5 May last I announced the first major direct build social housing programme with some 100 separate housing projects, delivering 1,700 new social housing units at a cost of €312 million. Details of these projects are available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,41340,en.htm. I will be making further announcements shortly based on local authority proposals to deliver additional new social housing units.
The Social Housing Strategy also provides for a public private partnership programme to invest €300 million in social housing. This is to comprise development of up to 1,500 housing units and the provision of services over a 25-year period following construction. This will include the maintenance and upkeep of the housing, and return of the asset after 25 years in prime condition. The Strategy commits to the provision of these units by the end of 2017. It is intended that the first bundle of PPP sites will have a focus on delivery in the Greater Dublin area.
47. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to address the issue of homes in County Donegal which are affected by mica; if he will adopt a similar approach to that taken with pyrite-affected homes in the east of the country, in order to offer support to those affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28987/15]
View answerIn general, building defects are matters for resolution between the relevant contracting parties, i.e. the homeowner, the builder, the materials supplier and/or their respective insurers and I firmly believe that the parties responsible for poor workmanship and/or the supply of defective materials should face up to their responsibilities and take appropriate actions to provide remedies for the affected homeowners.
In the event that the contracting parties cannot reach a settlement by negotiation, the option of seeking redress in the Courts can be considered. In this context, my Department understands that legal proceedings have been instigated in a number of cases relating to this problem.
I fully appreciate and acknowledge the extremely difficult and distressing situations that certain homeowners in Donegal are facing on account of damage to the structural integrity of their homes. It was against this background that I agreed to visit a number of the affected homes earlier this year; my Department also met with a number of the affected homeowners in early December 2014.
At my Department's request, copies of test reports on the affected concrete blocks, which had previously been commissioned by a number of homeowners, were made available to my Department in order to provide a more detailed and scientific insight into the problems that have emerged in Donegal. A technical report has been prepared for my consideration and I intend to complete my consideration of this matter shortly.
48. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of ghost or vacant housing estates that have been acquired by his Department and-or by local authorities and voluntary housing associations in conjunction with his Department; the locations of these estates; the stage of development of each of the estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28712/15]
View answerThe provision of social housing services is a matter for each local authority as the housing authority for its area. Each authority has responsibility for identifying their area's social housing need and responding as required. Targets and provisional funding allocations out to 2017 have been set to support the delivery of social housing by each local authority, by whatever combination of approaches are identified by the authorities concerned, including the development of new build proposals, turn-key proposals and the purchase of units that may be privately owned. A similar approach applies to funding sanctioned by local authorities to approved housing bodies, which can be for either new build or the acquisition of existing housing units.
Earlier this year, local authorities submitted proposals for the delivery of social housing and, subsequently, I announced the first major construction projects under the Social Housing Strategy with 1,700 new units to be delivered in 100 projects, encompassing all local authorities. I stated at the time that further assessments of local authority proposals are being undertaken and further project approvals will be announced shortly.
In presenting proposals, local authorities and approved housing bodies can consider opportunities that may arise in the context of unfinished housing estates. There needs to be careful consideration in such cases that these proposals will meet housing need, as there is a risk that in some cases, unfinished estates may be in locations where there is not a notable level of housing need. Some proposals involving unfinished estates have been made by local authorities and they are being assessed, alongside other proposals made by local authorities and approved housing bodies, in terms of value for money, suitability, the extent to which they meet housing need and conformity with my Department's guidelines on social housing developments, Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities.
