Written Answers Nos 1-25
12. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount approved for Traveller-specific housing in 2015, in County Galway and Galway city; the details of these approvals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37453/15]
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.
Locally adopted Traveller Accommodation Programmes provide a road map for local authority investment priorities over their 5-year lifespan and also form the basis for the allocation of funding from my Department. Funding for traveller accommodation is provided on foot of proposals received from local authorities and subject to approval by my Department.
Capital allocations for 2015 in respect of traveller specific accommodation issued to local authorities in May this year. Galway City and County Councils had no schemes under construction or approved to commence construction in 2015, and had no final balances due. Consequently, they did not receive an allocation when allocations were finalised in May.
Subsequent to the submission and examination of local authority proposals as part of the 2015 allocation process, Galway City Council submitted a post tender report and documentation to my Department proposing the demolition, rebuilding and refurbishment of two houses at Ballinfoyle Park, Galway, following extensive fire damage to the houses. The proposal was approved by my Department in July and payments totalling €62,150 have been made to Galway City Council to date.
13. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of new social or voluntary houses approved for construction in 2015 in Galway city and county; the number of existing houses approved for purchase; when these houses will be completed and ready for occupation; the steps he will take to ensure an adequate supply of social housing in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37452/15]
View answerSocial housing targets have been set for each local authority out to 2017 along with provisional funding allocations. The two Galway councils have a combined target of 1,126 units, supported by an allocation of €58.5m, to be invested in a combination of building, buying and leasing schemes designed to accommodate over 25% of those currently on the housing waiting list in the area.
In line with the targets, I made major new social housing delivery announcements in May and July this year, covering all 31 local authorities, with over €490m investment for the construction and acquisition of over 2,900 housing units. This included over 150 units, supported by investment of €25 million in respect of the Galway councils.
Given the time-lag between approval and delivery for construction projects, the acquisition by local authorities of properties through turn-key developments and other purchases, and the remediation of vacant units, are important parts of social housing delivery this year. The Galway local authorities inform me they aim to deliver around 70 new acquisitions this year, while around 90 vacant houses are being brought back to productive use. This is alongside the advancement of the approved construction projects and the use of current-funded mechanisms such as leasing and the Rental Accommodation Scheme.
My Department does not hold details on individual properties being made available for occupation as this is a matter for the individual local authorities. However, I am confident that by utilising all delivery mechanisms under current and capital expenditure programmes, in line with the targets set and funding available, the Galway local authorities will continue to make significant progress on social housing in line with the Social Housing Strategy.
14. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government given the escalating housing and homelessness crisis resulting from unaffordable and escalating rents, and the inadequate supply of social housing, if he has progressed any specific proposals on rent controls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38233/15]
View answerA shortage of supply is at the heart of rising rents and the Government is addressing this on a number of fronts. Construction 2020: A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector is aimed at addressing issues in the property and construction sectors and ensuring that any bottlenecks that might impede the sector in meeting demand are addressed. The latest figures for new house completions show that 8,914 units were completed to the end of September 2015, up 14% on the corresponding figure for 2014. As announced in Budget 2016, NAMA is aiming to deliver a target of 20,000 residential units before the end of 2020, with 90% of these units to be in the greater Dublin area.
Social housing has been prioritised by this Government and over €1.7 billion in Exchequer and local authority self-funding was allocated to the Social Housing Strategy between the 2015 and 2016 budgets, to support the provision of over 33,000 units. The Government’s Capital Plan goes beyond 2016 and commits €2.9 billion in capital funding towards social housing out to 2021.
A range of measures is being taken to address homelessness by securing a 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. In particular, I would highlight that t he homelessness budget for 2016 will be €70 million, an increase of 32% on the 2015 allocation of €53 million.
In addition to these measures, I am continuing to work on proposals to address the issue of rising rents. The level of increases in rent, particularly in the greater Dublin area, presents a serious challenge. The regulation of rent, however, raises many complex economic and legal issues and I have to be satisfied that any measures proposed are balanced and have the desired effect on the rental market while being fair to landlords and tenants alike. Ultimately, any decision in relation to this issue is a matter for Government and it is my intention to bring final proposals to Government for decision as soon as possible.
15. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the resources his Department will provide in 2016 to move persons out of congregated settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38222/15]
View answerDe-institutionalisation is a policy matter for the Department of Health who, in conjunction with the Health Service Executive, decide which institutions close and which clients are appropriate to community living with required supports.
The on-going health, home care and other supports for individuals, under the remit of the HSE, are essential components that facilitate this objective. The provision of appropriate housing is another component of the wider strategy, and this element is supported by my Department, in accordance with the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD) 2011 to 2016 and the associated National Implementation Framework, published in 2012. These documents are joint publications by the Department of Health and my Department. They were developed as part of a coherent framework in conjunction with the Government’s mental health policy, A Vision for Change; The Report of the Working Group on Congregated Settings and the Value for Money Review of Disability Services.
Following Budget 2016, €1 million will be provided by my Department in 2016 to support the on-going transition of people with disabilities from congregated settings. My Department officials will be meeting with the Department of Health and the HSE in the coming weeks to discuss and agree proposals for expenditure of the 2016 provision.
16. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the provision of new social housing in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37456/15]
View answerIn April I set social housing targets for each local authority out to 2017, with the combined target for the four Dublin authorities at 6,849 units. These are being delivered through building, buying and leasing schemes by the local authorities, with an indicative funding provision of €507m. A Dublin Social Housing Delivery Taskforce has also been established to drive the implementation of the Social Housing Strategy in the Dublin region.
In May and July, I announced major social housing construction programmes valued at almost half a billion euros, covering all 31 local authorities, with 910 units for the Dublin local authorities and €178.6 million allocated. Given the time-lag between approval and delivery in terms of construction projects, a successful programme to remediate vacant units, as well as the acquisition by the local authorities of properties through turn-key developments and other purchases, are important components of the social housing delivery programme this year. I am confident that by utilising all delivery mechanisms, the Dublin local authorities will continue to deliver on their social housing targets in line with the Social Housing Strategy.
The Government has also approved the delivery of 500 units of modular housing for homeless families across Dublin. The first 150 units are to be delivered as quickly as possible in the Dublin City Council administrative area, with the City Council acting as the contracting authority and aiming to deliver an initial fast-tracked 22 units by December, with the remaining 128 to follow by late Q1 2016. A further 350 units will then be provided across the four Dublin local authorities through a national procurement framework overseen by the Office for Government Procurement, with expected construction on sites by mid-2016.
My Department will continue to work with the Dublin local Authorities individually and through the Dublin Social Housing Delivery Task Force to accelerate the delivery of social housing in the region.
17. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the latest discussions he has had on new planning guidelines for wind turbines; the scenarios examined for setback distances between wind turbines and residential homes; the expected publication date for these guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31790/15]
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. My Department is advancing work on the finalisation of the Guidelines in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
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 are required to have regard to guidelines issued under Section 28 in the performance of their functions under the Planning Acts.
18. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in respect of unplanned absences on election polling days, if he will consider providing the option of casting a vote, other than a postal vote, in order to accommodate persons who cannot meet the postal vote deadline or present themselves at a polling booth on the day, as is the case for many workers in the fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38231/15]
View answerElectoral law provides that a person who is entitled to vote at a Dáil election shall vote in person at a polling station allotted to him or her unless they are included in the postal voters list or in the special voters list for the constituency concerned. While electoral law is subject to ongoing review, I have no proposals at present to amend the existing arrangements for voting.
As regards deadlines for postal vote registration, workers whose occupation is such that it takes them away from their residence on a regular basis - for example those in the fishing industry - and who, consequently, are unlikely to be able to vote in person on polling day may apply to their local authority for inclusion in the postal voters list. The deadline for applying for inclusion as a postal voter in the register of electors to come into force on 15 February next year is 25 November 2015. If this deadline is missed, a person can apply to get on the supplement to the postal voters list for that register by completing the relevant application form and submitting it to their registration authority.
As regards deadlines for casting a postal ballot, postal voting papers are issued as soon as possible following the close of nominations in order to maximise the time available for voters to return their marked ballot papers to the Returning Officer so as to arrive by post before the close of poll on polling day.
19. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government how his Department will cater for the housing assistance payment maximum rent limits for those tenancies commencing in north Kildare from 2 November 2015, as they are not covered under those limits listed in the published regulations, SI No. 246 of 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38218/15]
View answerThe implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a key Government priority and a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020. There are now over 4,500 households in receipt of HAP. Kildare and Meath County Councils commenced HAP on 2 November 2015, and Galway, Mayo and Sligo County Councils will commence the scheme from 16 November 2015. While securing accommodation under HAP can be challenging in areas where there is a shortage of supply, the numbers of households securing accommodation nationally under HAP continues to rise.
Regulations prescribe the maximum rent limits that apply in each local authority area where HAP has commenced. The limits are generally based on the rent supplement limits set out by the Department of Social Protection. In prescribing these limits, household size and prevailing rents in the relevant areas are also taken into consideration. My Department works closely with the Department of Social Protection and monitors data which it gathers, along with PRTB data, and data gathered through HAP pilot authorities, in relation to the rent limits applying.
I have recently signed the Housing Assistance Payment (Section 50) (No.3) Regulations 2015 introducing HAP in the administrative area of Kildare County Council from 2 November 2015. In recognition of the need for greater flexibility in the challenging Dublin region rental market, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and I have also signed the Housing Assistance Payment (Amendment) (No.4) Regulations 2015, which provide for the introduction of HAP in Kildare with maximum rent limits equivalent to current Rent Supplement rates applicable in the neighbouring Dublin area. In recognition of the need for additional discretion in areas of high rental demand, and similar to the approach already taken with regard to South Dublin County Council, the Regulations also provide Kildare County Council with an additional 20% flexibility above the maximum HAP rent limits that apply there. I have also provided similar flexibility to Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Galway County Council and Meath County Council in order to further support qualifying households secure suitable accommodation in those administrative areas.
I will continue to keep operational HAP rent limits under review.
20. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to fast-track the delivery of modular units for emergency accommodation; and if he envisages any potential for legal challenge from commercial interests. [38225/15]
View answerThe Government has approved the delivery of 500 units of modular housing for homeless families across Dublin. It is intended to have the first 150 units delivered as quickly as possible in the Dublin City Council administrative area, with the City Council acting as the contracting authority. The Council is aiming to secure the delivery of an initial fast-tracked 22 of these units by mid December, with the remaining 128 units to follow by late Q1 2016. A further 350 units will then be provided across the four local authorities in the Dublin region through a national procurement framework overseen by the Office for Government Procurement, with expected construction on sites by mid-2016.
This programme of modular housing provision is being implemented to mitigate the issues associated with an increasing volume of homeless families accommodated in inappropriate commercial hotel arrangements. The units will provide emergency accommodation in the first instance, offering a greater level of stability while move-on options to long-term independent living are identified and secured. Furthermore, such arrangements will facilitate more coordinated needs assessment and support planning for access to all required services, including welfare, health and housing services. Any legal issues which may arise in the procurement of the units will be a matter for the relevant contracting authorities concerned.
21. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on housing records released by his Department under the Freedom of Information Act, which show that just 90 persons out of a target of 300 persons have been transferred from congregated settings over the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38221/15]
View answerDe-institutionalisation is a policy matter for the Department of Health who, in conjunction with the Health Service Executive, decide which institutions close and which clients are appropriate to community living with required supports.
The on-going health, home care and other supports for individuals, under the remit of the HSE, are essential components that facilitate this objective. The provision of appropriate housing is another component of the wider strategy, and this element is supported by my Department, in accordance with the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD) 2011 to 2016 and the associated National Implementation Framework, published in 2012. These documents were developed as part of a coherent framework in conjunction with the Government’s mental health policy, A Vision for Change; the Report of the Working Group on Congregated Settings and the Value for Money Review of Disability Services, to support people with disabilities within community based living with maximum independence and choice.
Implementation of the Congregated Settings Report is being led by the HSE and the NHSPWD supports this work. The Implementation Framework acknowledges the difficulty in assessing the number of individuals transferring from congregated settings each year, or their likely accommodation requirements. There is on-going engagement between my Department, the Housing Agency, the Department of Health and the HSE, to accelerate progress.
22. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of his Department's investigations on mica affected homes in County Donegal; if he supports an exemption from the Property Tax for all those affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38223/15]
View answerWhile 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, in 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. In this regard, I 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.
My Department has prepared a technical report for my information in this matter. This report was prepared following my visit, earlier this year, to a number of the affected homes to view first-hand the damage caused and had regard to test reports made available to my Department by a number of homeowners in order to provide a more detailed and scientific insight into the problems that have emerged. In this regard, the technical report is under consideration and I intend to complete my deliberations in this matter shortly.
Taxation policy, including issues relevant to the local property tax (LPT), is primarily a matter for the Minister for Finance. The legislation governing the administration of the LPT provides for only a limited number of exemptions from that tax. There is no specific exemption for properties affected by mica and I understand that there are no plans to introduce such an exemption. LPT operates on a self-assessment basis; it is a matter for the property owner, in the first instance, to calculate the tax due based on his or her assessment of the market value of the property. When making an assessment on the value of a property, issues such as the presence of mica should be taken into account by the property owner.
23. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the housing assistance payment pilot scheme; if he is satisfied that the scheme has been successful to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38317/15]
View answerThe implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a key Government priority and a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020. There are now over 4,500 households in receipt of HAP and the scheme has been rolled out to all categories of households in 15 local authority areas. Kildare and Meath County Councils commenced HAP on 2 November 2015 and Galway, Mayo and Sligo County Councils will commence the scheme from 16 November 2015. While securing accommodation under HAP can be challenging in areas where there is a shortage of supply, the numbers of households securing accommodation nationally under HAP continues to rise.
The maximum rent limits for different household classes that apply in each local authority where HAP has been commenced are set out in regulations and are generally based on the Rent Supplement limits as set out by the Department of Social Protection (DSP). In prescribing these limits, household size and prevailing rents in the relevant areas are taken into consideration. My Department works closely with the Department of Social Protection and monitors data which it gathers, along with PRTB data, and data gathered through HAP pilot authorities, in relation to the rent limits applying.
In recognition of the need for greater flexibility in the challenging Dublin region rental market, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and I recently signed the Housing Assistance Payment (Amendment) (No.4) Regulations 2015, which provide for the introduction of HAP in Kildare and Meath County Councils with maximum rent limits equivalent to current Rent Supplement rates applicable in the neighboring Dublin areas. In recognition of the need for additional discretion in areas of high rental demand, and similar to the approach followed in South Dublin County Council, these regulations also provide for an additional 20% flexibility above the maximum HAP rent limits that apply in the administrative areas of Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Galway County Council, Kildare County Council and Meath County Council. This increased flexibility will assist a greater number of qualified households secure suitable accommodation under the scheme.
This approach mirrors the approach already taken by the Department of Social Protection in the operation of the discretion available in the context of the Rent Supplement scheme. My Department is preparing guidance for the relevant local authorities in the appropriate use of this increased flexibility. This matter will be kept under active review in all HAP pilot authority areas.
The Dublin Region Homelessness Executive (DRHE) is also managing a HAP Homeless Pilot for the four Dublin local authorities. The HAP Homeless Pilot became operational on 18 February 2015 and some 60 households have been housed through the pilot scheme to date. Following a review of the effectiveness of the HAP Homeless Pilot, I recently signed regulations that provide that the HAP rent limits applicable in the 4 Dublin local authority areas have the flexibility to exceed existing rent supplement rent limits by up to 50%, where this is necessary to source suitable accommodation for a homeless household that is qualified for social housing support.
The phased roll out of the HAP pilot scheme has proved to be an effective approach. In this context, My Department maintains regular contact with the pilot local authorities in order to learn from their experience of the scheme, and to address operational issues as they arise. This engagement is proving invaluable as the roll out of the scheme progresses.
Budget 2016 has increased the funding for the HAP scheme to €47.7 million in 2016, in order to meet the continuing costs of existing HAP households, and the costs of an additional 10,000 households to be supported by HAP in 2016. I am pleased with the operation of the HAP scheme but will continue to keep its operation under review.
24. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the level of engagement with local authorities regarding the expenditure of funding from his Department for housing initiatives over the past two years. [38327/15]
View answerMy Department meets on an ongoing basis with all local authorities at a range of levels, both individually and collectively, to advance social housing issues. Such engagements cover, inter alia, progress on social housing projects and the drawdown of funding, and they have been a feature of the work in this area for many years.
Since the launch of the Social Housing Strategy last year, there is now regular and structured interaction between senior management from local authorities and my Department on its implementation. In addition to this, I met with local authority Chief Executives and Directors of Housing on 14 July and again on 30 September, to discuss progress on delivery under the Strategy and the associated resource requirements to meet the annual delivery targets.
The meetings were very productive and there was clear recognition of the additional financial resources that the Government has made available and the additional local authority housing posts that have been sanctioned by my Department. I am confident that the local authorities are committed to implementation of the Strategy, utilising all available channels of delivery, and that the work in this regard is well underway in every local authority around the country.
Minister Coffey and I remain committed to working collaboratively with local authorities throughout the country and will continue to be vigilant and responsive to the challenges of delivering the ambitious targets set under the Strategy.
25. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on whether the 2015 to 2017 targets for capital and current funded social housing units under the Social Housing Strategy 2020 are out of date, given that they are based on social housing waiting list applicant numbers from the Housing Needs Assessment 2013, rather than for local authority waiting list applicants for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38322/15]
View answerThe Social Housing Strategy 2020 targets provision of 110,000 social housing units, through a mixture of direct provision by local authorities and approved housing bodies and through the private rental market, mainly utilising the Housing Assistance Payment. The targeted provision will provide for the needs of the 89,872 households identified nationally in the 2013 Summary of Social Housing Assessments as being qualified and in need of social housing supports, with some flexibility for increased demand.
Some 46,584, or 52% of the households identified in the 2013 assessments were found to be dependent on rent supplement. Over time the Housing Assistance Payment will provide a more suitable solution for those on Rent Supplement with a long-term housing need.
In its analysis of the 2013 Social Housing Assessments, the Housing Agency concluded that 35,000 new social housing units would be required over the following 5 years. The Social Housing Strategy provides for the delivery of these units and has been supported by successive Budgets with over €1.7 billion in Exchequer and local authority self-funding allocated between 2015 and 2016.
The 2013 Summary of Assessments was compiled as a result of rigorous analysis which involved local authorities contacting individual households to confirm their continued requirement and qualification for social housing support. It also involved a comprehensive quality assurance exercise on the data, including the elimination of duplicate households. It is not methodologically sound to compare this comprehensive data collection exercise with a snapshot of housing need, in any given county, at a point in time in 2015, as the Deputy has done in recent times.
However, I do recognise that we need up to date and comprehensive data on housing need on an on-going basis. In order to ensure we have that data, the Strategy includes a commitment to undertake housing assessments on an annual basis from 2016 onwards.
