Written Answers Nos. 530-540
530. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the inquiry into issues related to planning matters in County Wicklow has been completed; if he will make the report available to the House; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39182/15]
View answerI have received correspondence in relation to a number of complaints regarding certain matters in County Wicklow which is being considered. A reply will be issued in due course.
532. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a person in the process of getting a divorce who has no beneficial interest in the family home may be deemed in need of housing and placed on the housing waiting list if the husband and beneficial owner of said home remains in occupancy and the couple has been living separately for a period greater than one year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39209/15]
View answerIn order for a household to qualify for social housing support a housing authority must carry out an assessment to establish whether the household meets specified eligibility requirements and has a housing need.
Regulation 22 of the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 provides that a household is ineligible for social housing support where a household member owns accommodation other than the dwelling it currently occupies which would meet its housing need. This ineligibility does not apply in the case of separated persons where the alternative accommodation is occupied by a spouse, from whom the household member is separated or divorced. Under the regulations, a deed of separation is sufficient to set aside this ineligibility and it is not necessary for the couple to be judicially separated or divorced.
In order to provide more flexibility to housing authorities to deal with cases where the ownership of the family home had not yet been finalised the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 amended section 20 of the 2009 Act. Housing authorities may now provide such households with social housing support under the Rental Accommodation Scheme or the new Housing Assistance Payment scheme until ownership of the family home is resolved in a formal separation or divorce settlement.
The 2014 Act amendment provides that support in these circumstances will be reviewed by the housing authority at prescribed intervals and the household will not be able to transfer to other forms of social housing support while ownership of the family home remains to be determined. However, where the household ultimately qualifies for the full range of social housing supports, the length of time the household was supported under RAS or HAP will be reckonable for the purposes of determining the household’s relative priority for a transfer.
533. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the new round of Leader funding will allow for the provision of funding to applicants aiming to provide additional tourist accommodation in locations with a clear shortage of bed capacity for the overall development of the tourism industry in that location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39278/15]
View answerThe LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2014–2020 will provide €250 million in financial resources to support the development of sustainable rural communities. Under the new programme, funding will continue to be distributed by Local Action Groups to rural communities in line with the local development strategies that are currently being developed within each sub-regional area in Ireland.
In preparing local development strategies, Local Action Groups have been requested to focus on economic development, enterprise development and job creation and there is potential to fund rural tourism projects and tourist accommodation projects such as those referred to by the Deputy. Of course, the ultimate decision as to the projects funded under the new programme will be made by individual Local Action Groups, consistent with the local development strategy developed for their area.
534. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funds drawn down, by county, for housing construction since 1 January 2015; and if he will provide a similar breakdown for the allocation for rent or lease in the same timeframe. [39280/15]
View answerMy Department provides capital funding to local authorities to increase their supply of social housing stock through the construction and acquisition of houses and apartments. This is one of the methods for the delivery of social housing by both local authorities and by approved housing bodies. The Exchequer funding drawn down by local authorities in the delivery of new social housing units through construction for the period January 2015 to 6 November 2015 is outlined in the following table; this does not include Exchequer funding drawn down for other capital purposes, such as acquisitions and the refurbishment of void units, nor does it include self-funding for housing purposes provided by certain local authorities from Local Property Tax proceeds.
Under the Social Housing Strategy, I have made announcements in relation to projects to deliver new social housing to the value of almost a half a billion euro, with the result that social housing construction has been reactivated to a level that has not been seen for many years. Obviously there is a time-lag between approval and delivery for construction projects and in that context, the acquisition by local authorities of properties through turn-key developments and other purchases, and the remediation of vacant units, are very important actions which are delivering social housing this year for those on the housing waiting list.
In addition, it is a common feature of housing programmes over the years to be back-loaded towards the final quarter of the year, given the very nature of such expenditure. It is important from a value for money perspective that work is evaluated and certified adequately before public funds are spent and further expenditure will happen by year end on social housing programmes areas.
My Department is working with local authorities to support them in advancing the social housing construction projects that have been sanctioned and I have assured the authorities that funding resources to deliver these new units is not an obstacle.
Under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) units can be delivered in a variety of ways and local authorities are encouraged to explore and use all of these mechanisms. These mechanisms include units purchased, leased or constructed by approved housing bodies and both multi-unit developments and individual units leased or acquired through rental arrangements directly by local authorities. Units leased by local authorities or approved housing bodies can be for periods up to 20 years. The accommodation provided is made available to persons on local authority waiting lists, persons with long term housing needs in receipt of rent supplement (i.e. households eligible under the Rental Accommodation Scheme) or persons who are homeless. My Department recoups moneys to local authorities and approved housing bodies in respect of these units in order to facilitate their use for social housing purposes. A breakdown of the current expenditure drawn down this year to 6 November, by local authority, is also in the following table.
|
Local Authority |
Construction of Social Housing Units |
Rental Accommodation Scheme |
Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme |
|
Carlow County Council |
€125,000 |
€2,579,777 |
€396,837 |
|
Cavan County Council |
€448,292 |
€1,859,399 |
€42,872 |
|
Clare County Council |
€0 |
€1,656,212 |
€635,003 |
|
Cork City Council |
€108,719 |
€4,540,481 |
€826,509 |
|
Cork County Council |
€0 |
€4,719,949 |
€2,685,066 |
|
Donegal County Council |
€0 |
€1,654,830 |
€872,463 |
|
Dublin City Council |
€2,067,073 |
€4,835,621 |
€330,083 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
€0 |
€4,624,157 |
€1,317,695 |
|
Fingal County Council |
€0 |
€6,003,553 |
€2,472,744 |
|
Galway City Council |
€0 |
€1,024,582 |
€12,710 |
|
Galway County Council |
€0 |
€1,623,609 |
€248,739 |
|
Kerry County Council |
€75,112 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Kildare County Council |
€302,957 |
€1,579,474 |
€44,570 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
€755,258.80 |
€3,231,468 |
€358,594 |
|
Laois County Council |
€573,321 |
€801,546 |
€569,588 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
€0 |
€247,242 |
€9,093 |
|
Limerick City & County |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Longford County Council |
€0 |
€618,782 |
€84,424 |
|
Louth County Council |
€308,977 |
€944,967 |
€1,980,522 |
|
Mayo County Council |
€144,509 |
€3,321,537 |
€250,965 |
|
Meath County Council |
€419,608 |
€2,059,400 |
€965,377 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
€1,069,889 |
€914,464 |
€2,262 |
|
Offaly County Council |
€1,090,268 |
€850,824 |
€943,158 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
€51,544 |
€565,309 |
€0 |
|
Sligo County Council |
€46,184 |
€2,100,834 |
€195,793 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
€0 |
€4,253,331 |
€72,678 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
€0 |
€5,073,792 |
€80,189 |
|
Waterford City & County |
€0 |
€2,959,921 |
€493,982 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
€604,917 |
€1,710,339 |
€1,115,581 |
|
Wexford County Council |
€1,111,101 |
€3,198,712 |
€514,668 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
€0 |
€28,818 |
€16,183 |
535. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government for an update on the national walkway scheme; the number of walkways established; the number of applications awaiting consideration by his Department; his plans to extend the numbers of walks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39288/15]
View answerThere are now 39 trails covered by the Walks Scheme and there are currently no applications under the Walks Scheme with my Department awaiting consideration.
The number of participants on the Walks Scheme currently stands at 1,896 and payments to participants on the Walks Scheme in 2015 will be in the region of €1.8 million.
536. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the membership of the social housing clearing house group; the organisations that made submissions and presented their proposals for financing social housing to the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39312/15]
View answerArising from opportunities offered by the Social Housing Strategy 2020, a wide variety of developers, investors, financiers, Approved Housing Bodies and others expressed an interest in being involved in the provision or financing of social housing across the country. A structured, formal process was put in place to facilitate engagement with these bodies. This was set out in the Clearing House Protocol published by me in March 2015, which comprises a structured form and guidance for submitting proposals.
A body called the Social Housing Investment Proposals Clearing House Group - or the Clearing House Group - was established to examine and consider proposals and to meet with the companies, groups and institutions involved. The Clearing House Group is a sub-group of the Finance Work Stream – one of the governance structures of the Social Housing Strategy 2020.
The Clearing House Group is chaired by a senior official from the National Asset Management Agency assigned to the work on a temporary basis at the request of my Department. The membership of the Group comprises officials from my Department, the Department of Finance, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Housing Agency, Dublin City Council and the National Economic and Social Council.
Since being established, the Clearing House Group has received 24 proposals for funding social and affordable housing, using both existing mechanisms and new approaches. These are from a broad spectrum of entities which include: financial institutions, developers, fund managers, financial services providers, Approved Housing Bodies and others. The Clearing Housing Group is currently in the process of concluding its work and will be bringing forward recommendations.
A list of the organisations that made submissions, and those that met with the Clearing House Group, is set out in the following table.
|
Proposers to the Clearing House Group |
Meeting held with the Clearing House Group |
|
Asset Backed Investment |
Yes |
|
Barclays |
Yes |
|
Centrus |
Yes |
|
Trinity IM |
Yes |
|
Home Grown Home |
Yes |
|
Investec |
Yes |
|
Lex Risk Solutions |
Yes |
|
AIB |
Yes |
|
Bank of Ireland |
Yes |
|
Dublin Artisan Dwelling Fund |
Yes |
|
Túath Housing - Proposal 1 |
Yes |
|
Túath Housing - Proposal 2 |
Yes |
|
Apex Housing Association |
Yes |
|
IRES REIT |
Yes |
|
Bartra Capital Ltd. |
Yes |
|
Clyde Capital Partners |
Yes |
|
New Ground |
Yes |
|
Clúid Housing - Proposal 1 |
Yes |
|
Clúid Housing - Proposal 2 |
Yes |
|
NABCO - National Association of Building Co-operatives |
Yes |
|
O’Cualann Cohousing Alliance |
Yes |
|
Menolly Homes |
No |
|
Rampart Capital |
No |
|
McGarrell Reilly Group |
No |
538. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government for a detailed breakdown of local authority mortgage arrears including, for example, the number in arrears for more than 360 days and 720 days; a detailed breakdown of the restructuring arrangements entered into; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39323/15]
View answerMy Department publishes a range of data relating to local authority mortgage lending and arrears, including the number of loans in arrears for more than 90 days. These are available on the Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,15295,en.xls.
More detailed arrears information is being compiled and validated by my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. A detailed breakdown of local authority housing loan restructuring arrangements in place is not available in my Department.
The Central Bank’s Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears requires all mortgage lenders to ensure that it has in place a Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) as a framework for handling such cases. My Department introduced guidelines for local authorities in 2012 and, subsequently, issued revised guidelines in June 2014. These guidelines, Dealing with Mortgage Arrears – A Guide for Local Authorities, are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,30943,en.pdf.
A range of alternative repayment arrangements are available to local authority borrowers in arrears under the MARP. These include:
- interest only repayments on the mortgage for a period of time;
- paying interest and part of the capital for a period of time;
- deferring, in exceptional circumstances, payment for a period of time;
- extending the term of the mortgage to a maximum of 35 years and a maximum borrower age of 70;
- changing the type of the mortgage, in certain circumstances;
- adding arrears and interest to the principal amount due; and
- Local Authority Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme.
The operation of MARP within local authorities is kept under constant review.
In cases of acute mortgage distress, homeowners also have the option of seeking to avail of the legal process now also in place to deal with personal insolvency. The most important step any household in arrears can take is to engage early with the Arrears Support Unit of the local authority. Solutions are available and advice should be sought as early as possible.
539. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total amount of money spent on Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas projects in 2015 to date; the estimated spend in 2015 and 2016, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39338/15]
View answer540. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the drawdown to date of the €5 million reserve earmarked in Leader funding for the period 2014 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39339/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 539 and 540 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, I am fully committed to supporting the development of rural Ireland through advancing the implementation of the CEDRA Report recommendations. To facilitate this agenda, I established the CEDRA Interdepartmental Group (IDG), comprising senior representatives of all relevant Government Departments. The purpose of the IDG is to ensure that each Department’s policy development and implementation fully considers the needs of rural communities. In this context, it is about maximising the financial resources already available for rural development and ensuring that these resources are directed in a way that best supports the sustainable economic development of rural areas. In this regard, the Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible or practical to quantify the cross Government funding of CEDRA projects in 2015 on a county basis.
I can advise the Deputy that €1 million was allocated in the Budget for 2015 to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine to establish a Rural Innovation and Development fund in line with CEDRA recommendations to support innovative, small scale pilot initiatives and I am advised by that Department that this funding will be expended on a range of projects by end 2015.
The LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2014–2020 will provide €250 million in financial resources to support the development of sustainable rural communities. This includes a provision of €5 million to support the Rural Economic Development Zones (REDZ) identified in the report of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA). The approach to investing this €5 million in these rural areas, through LEADER, will be informed by the outcome of the REDZ pilot scheme that is currently being implemented by my Department.
Under the REDZ pilot scheme, my Department has recently allocated over €3.7 million to some 51 initiatives. Furthermore, and in line with the objectives of the CEDRA report, I recently announced an additional €30 million investment package for rural Ireland, which will be rolled over the coming months. This funding will also support the revitalisation of towns and villages with a view to improving the living and working environment in these communities and increase their potential to support increased economic activity into the future.
