Written Answers Nos. 201-220
201. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to withdraw the new regulations on the repossession of local authority houses that are abandoned, given the difficulties this is causing. [44253/15]
View answerSection 15 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 provides for a mechanism whereby a housing authority may terminate a tenancy and take possession of a house where it is satisfied that the house had been abandoned by the tenant. Section 16 of the Act makes provisions for an application to court in respect of a tenancy terminated under section 15, by a person who was a tenant immediately before the termination of a tenancy, where he or she considers that the housing authority failed to comply with the provisions of section 15, or did not have reasonable grounds for finding that the dwelling was unoccupied by the applicant’s household or that the applicant’s household did not intend to occupy the dwelling as its normal place of residence.
The implementation of these provisions, which came into operation on 3 April 2015, is a matter for local authorities. However, my Department, in consultation with local authorities, is keeping the overall operation of the legislation under on-going review.
202. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the Conference of Parties 21 in Paris, France; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43469/15]
View answerCOP21 is the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and is currently taking place in Paris until 11 December 2015. 196 Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change are currently in Paris in an effort to negotiate a new legally binding global agreement on climate change.
The Paris agreement should provide an enabling platform for all Parties to pursue low-carbon, climate-resilient sustainable development taking account of national circumstances and changes in those circumstances over time. The Agreement and supporting decisions should put the world on a collective pathway to limit the average global temperature increase to less than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. An ambitious agreement is in Ireland’s interests – firstly, it will protect us from the impacts of climate change; secondly, it will allow us to pursue transition to a low-carbon future on a level playing field with other countries; and finally, some of Ireland’s key partner countries from a development perspective are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
The current negotiations are challenging for all countries and compromises will be required. It will be more important than ever to demonstrate the ability of Governments to work together to solve global problems and to meet challenges in a spirit of co-operation. The agreement therefore should be fit for purpose in terms of setting out a clear direction of travel for the long term, inclusive of core rules regarding participation and transparency.
Ireland’s target under the new agreement will be part of the already tabled EU target of a reduction of at least 40% in domestic greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 by 2030, as agreed by the European Council in October 2014. No new targets will be agreed for Ireland in Paris – this will be discussed by EU Member States in 2016 in terms of the effort sharing process to be agreed at EU level.
The outcome of the Conference will need to send a strong signal to all actors that Governments are committed to supporting the transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient future. The Taoiseach underlined Ireland’s specific commitment in this respect, when delivering our National Statement at COP 21 last week.
203. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if an agreement has been made with the National Asset Residential Property Services Limited, the National Asset Management Agency social housing special purpose vehicle, on whether local authorities will be able to lease the social housing units to be constructed by the National Asset Management Agency at below market rates; or if it will lease them at market rates; and, if the latter, the details of the leasing arrangement between the local authorities and the National Asset Residential Property Services Limited and the number of social housing units that will be made available through the National Asset Residential Property Services Limited, as part of the National Asset Management Agency's construction of 20,000 private housing units. [44439/15]
View answer204. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the National Asset Management Agency's plan to deliver future Part V housing on its funded developments is a result of a statutory obligation on it, or if the agency's provision of 10% of new developments was made by mutual agreement with him; and, if the latter, if there is scope for revising upwards the percentage of new agency constructed developments that are to be leased to local authorities for social housing. [44440/15]
View answer205. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government why the social housing units delivered via the National Asset Residential Property Services Limited, the National Asset Management Agency social housing special purpose vehicle, are to be leased to local authorities as opposed to their ownership being transferred, as is ordinarily the case under Part V. [44441/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 203 to 205, inclusive, together.
The National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) continues to play an important role in the delivery of social housing. To the end of September 2015, a total of 1,600 NAMA residential properties had been delivered for social housing use, comprising 1,241 completed properties and a further 359 that have been contracted and where completion work is on-going. A further 486 properties are considered as being active transactions whereby terms are agreed or active negotiation is on-going by all parties concerned or where a detailed appraisal is being carried out. An additional 440 properties are to be further appraised. Overall, I expect that in excess of 2,000 units will be secured for social housing purposes from this engagement with NAMA.
In addition, NAMA is funding the construction of new residential properties to help meet demand in the major urban centres. The overall programme will be funded from NAMA’s own resources and will lead to the development of an estimated 20,000 units by 2020, mainly in the Greater Dublin area where the current residential supply shortage is most acute. Residential developments funded by NAMA are subject to the same planning and regulatory requirements as all other developments and this includes policy relating to Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. As such, I expect 10% of the output of this investment by NAMA, or about 2,000 units, to become available for social housing.
NAMA sourced units are brought into social housing use through existing delivery mechanisms including the Social Housing Investment Programme, the Capital Acquisition Scheme and the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP). The mechanism utilised is, and will continue to be considered, taking issues such as value for money, the availability of Capital Funding and project specific details into account.
NAMA’s Special Purpose Vehicle - the ‘National Asset Residential Property Services’ (NARPS) – was established in 2013 to facilitate the sale or lease of NAMA debtor or receiver residential properties for social housing purposes. In line with a commitment in the Social Housing Strategy, its remit has been expanded to allow it to fund the purchase of Part V units which become available through NAMA’s residential delivery programme. In this way, NAMA will continue to facilitate the provision of high quality units for social housing purposes in mixed tenure, sustainable communities and thus complement the extensive social housing construction programmes of local authorities also currently underway.
At the end of September 2015, 858 or 48% of the social housing units delivered by NAMA were by way of long term leasing funded by the SHCEP. I expect by year end, this will be well in excess of 50%. The current average monthly cost of operational NAMA units leased by Approved Housing Bodies or local authorities, and funded by SHCEP, is €770 per unit per month. Monthly leasing arrangements under the SHCEP achieve significant discounts on market rents and are subject to regular rent reviews. In the case of NAMA related properties, average discounts achieved are in the region of 17% for houses and 12% for apartments. In addition, under these arrangements, rents are fixed for the first six years.
In the case of properties purchased, my Department does not distinguish the financing of NAMA sourced units from other sources of social housing supply. In every case, prices paid are determined by the independently determined market value.
Information on NAMA social housing programme is available on the website of the Housing Agency at www.housing.ie/NAMA.
206. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in light of the current housing crisis, why only 10% of the total stock to be delivered by the National Asset Management Agency is to be social housing; if this conflicts with recent commitments to increase the supply of social housing and, given the agency's capacity to supply housing stock, if he will task it to increase this percentage above 10% as a matter of urgency. [44444/15]
View answerThe National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) funding and financial decisions are a matter for NAMA in accordance with its statutory independent commercial mandate. However, I welcome the announcement by NAMA that, within the context of that mandate, it expects to be in a position to fund the construction of up to 20,000 new residential units, predominantly located in Dublin and the neighbouring counties of Wicklow, Kildare and Meath, over the next five years. In line with residential planning and regulatory requirements, developments funded by NAMA are subject to policy relating to Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. As such, I expect 10% of the output of this investment by NAMA, or about 2,000 units, to become available for social housing.
NAMA is already playing an important role in the delivery of social housing. To the end of September 2015, a total of 1,600 NAMA residential properties had been delivered for social housing use, comprising 1,241 completed properties and a further 359 that have been contracted and where completion work is on-going. A further 486 properties are considered as being active transactions whereby terms are agreed or active negotiation is on-going. An additional 440 properties are to be further appraised. Overall, I expect that initiative will result in over 2,000 units being made available for social housing purposes. My Department will continue to work closely with NAMA to ensure that maximum social housing benefit is gained through NAMA activities.
Information on the NAMA social housing programme is available on the website of the Housing Agency at www.housing.ie/NAMA.
207. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of road tax paid in County Louth and the proportion of same spent in the county in each of the years 2014 to date. [44481/15]
View answerGross motor tax receipts (including payments made online at www.motortax.ie) in County Louth were €27,827,768 in 2014. Gross receipts to 30 November 2015 were €25,257,942. Income from Motor Tax currently accrues to the Local Government Fund (LGF). Other funding sources that contribute to the LGF are Local Property Tax (LPT) and a payment from the Exchequer. Historically the LGF provided local authorities with finance for funding for some day-to-day activities (through General Purpose Grant allocations); for non-national roads; and for certain local government initiatives. This year an allocation of LPT has replaced General Purpose Grant allocations. The LGF continues to provide support for non-national roads via a payment to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (estimated at approximately €364m in 2015).
A summary of the funding, including the LPT allocation, provided by my Department directly to Louth County Council in 2014 and to date in 2015, is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Total € |
|
2014 |
24,827,303.62 |
|
2015 (YTD) |
23,654,153.16 |
Central Government funding to local authorities presents a complicated picture, with transfers coming from a range of Departments and Offices, for a variety of purposes, rather than solely from my Department. Some streams of funding are delivered directly from funding departments to local authorities, while others are routed through departmental agencies. The Comptroller and Auditor General reports on the Central Government funding of local authorities as part of his Annual Report which provides an overview of the funds flowing from and through central government sources to local authorities and the purposes for which funds have been provided. The most recent report is available at the following link: http://www.audgen.gov.ie/documents/annualreports/2014/report/en/10%20central%20government%20funding%20of%20local%20authorities.pdf.
208. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review local authority home loans taken out in the 1970s and 1980s at exorbitant interest rates which persons are still paying back at a set rate and for which they never received an opportunity to change to a variable rate; if he will grant an amnesty to these persons and terminate the loans as they have paid the amounts multiple times over; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44485/15]
View answerI assume that the Question refers to income-related loans that were advanced by individual local authorities to individual borrowers between 1982 and May 1986, the associated funds for which were advanced to local authorities by the Housing Finance Agency (HFA). A total of €403m was advanced by local authorities under the income-related loan scheme and 15,571 mortgages were made available to borrowers. The most recent information sourced from local authorities refers to amounts at 30 June 2015, at which point 111 of these loans were still active and outstanding with a corresponding total loan balance of €4.8m.
Following a review of the income-related loan scheme, the Board of the HFA approved the following initiatives to be implemented with effect from 1 July 2015 with the aim of making these loans more affordable for the borrower and to help secure a pathway to full home ownership. From 1 July 2015, inflation was eliminated on these loans and the variable rate on income-related loans was reduced to bring it in line with the standard variable mortgage rate offered by local authorities.
No new loans have issued under this Scheme since 1986 and there are no plans to alter this position. Individual local authorities administer these loans and deal directly with borrowers. I would advise any local authority borrower who is having difficulty meeting their loan repayments to contact their local authority. To assist local authorities in dealing with borrowers in financial distress, my Department issued revised guidelines for dealing with mortgage arrears within the local authority sector in June 2014. Dealing with Mortgage Arrears – A Guide for Local Authorities is available on my Department’s website by clicking on the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,30943,en.pdf.
209. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide long-term funding to the atmospheric research station at Mace Head in County Galway, given its importance in continuing to measure climate and air pollution data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44535/15]
View answerThe importance of the Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station, at local and indeed global levels, is recognised by all stakeholders involved in the collection and use of climate and air pollution data. The Station is owned and operated by the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG). It provides unique data on atmospheric change including data on the build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which is associated with climate change. The Station provides a range of scientific reports which are among the most cited in this area of science. It also supplies on-going data on levels of air pollutants to the National Ambient Air Quality Network operated by the Environmental Protection Agency and other national and European agencies.
Due to its strategic location and importance the Mace Head Research facility has received considerable amounts of research funding from national, EU, US and other sources. Support for the work of the Station has been provided by the State to NUIG through the funding of research projects and the provision of scientific support for activities at the site, in particular by the EPA, but also by other national research funding bodies. My Department does not provide direct funding to NUIG for the operation of the Station.
210. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applications for reinstatement, following retirement on grounds of ill health, with prior notice granted since 2004; the legislation, rules and procedures under which they were granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44557/15]
View answerThere have been no applications made by former staff of my Department to be reinstated following retirement on grounds of ill health since 2004.
211. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if local authorities will endeavour to meet the housing requirements of those already in emergency accommodation or those who are homeless and awaiting such accommodation, such as families living apart with various relatives, with consequent disruption to the needs of children; if urgent consideration will be given to such families as a priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44608/15]
View answerMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. My Department has no involvement in operational matters, such as those raised in the Question, which are a matter for the relevant housing authorities.
212. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied with the availability of housing through the National Asset Management Agency for local authority housing applicants who may be able to access such accommodation by way of private rental arrangement, rent support or housing assistance payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44609/15]
View answerMy Department is working closely with the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) to ensure that all opportunities to identify and secure housing units for social housing use are maximised. To the end of September 2015, a total of 1,600 NAMA residential properties had been delivered for social housing use, comprising 1,241 completed properties and a further 359 that have been contracted and where completion work is on-going. A further 486 properties are considered as being active transactions whereby terms are agreed or active negotiation is on-going. An additional 440 properties are to be further appraised. Overall, I expect that initiative will result in over 2,000 units being made available for social housing purposes.
In addition, NAMA expects to fund the construction of up to 20,000 new residential units, predominantly in Dublin and the neighbouring counties of Wicklow, Kildare and Meath, over the next five years. In line with residential planning and regulatory requirements, developments funded by NAMA are subject to policy relating to Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. As such, I expect 10% of the output of this investment by NAMA, or about 2,000 units, to become available for social housing.
Given the vital importance of ensuring that, for social and economic reasons, new residential supply is delivered as quickly as possible, NAMA will work closely with local authorities and with utilities to ensure that all relevant bodies co-operate effectively to deliver the programme.
Information on NAMA social housing programme is available on the website of the Housing Agency at www.housing.ie/NAMA.
213. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government how he can simplify the process of local authority housing applications and reduce the time taken to process individual applications, given that the process is greatly impeded by the amount of documentation which is required and evaluated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44610/15]
View answerThe procedures for assessing the eligibility of households for social housing support were updated in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011. The Regulations prescribed a common application form to be used by all housing authorities. The information sought in the form reflects the eligibility and need criteria set down in the housing legislation which must be met by an applicant. To ensure that a housing authority is in a position to consider a household’s application properly and fairly, this form must be completed fully and all relevant supporting documentation supplied. Failure to provide full information could result in an inaccurate assessment of the household’s application, including an unwarranted negative decision regarding qualification.
Regulation 12 of the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribes the timescales for the processing of applications by housing authorities for social housing support. In order for an application to be processed by a housing authority, the application form must be fully completed and any necessary additional information submitted by the applicant within the prescribed timescale.
In general, a housing authority should not take more than 12 weeks from the time of a valid application to complete its assessment. However, different timescales may apply where the housing authority requires additional information from the applicant within the relevant period, as defined in the Regulations. This process can lead to possible extensions to the 12 week timeline.
The assessment of applications for social housing support is solely a matter for housing authorities and I would expect that any additional information sought by a local authority would be appropriate, having regard to the circumstances of the household concerned.
I am satisfied that the current assessment process provides for an open and transparent system for identifying those households in need of social housing support. However, I am mindful of the need to ensure that any such system is not unnecessarily onerous on either applicants or housing authorities, and in the context of the review of social housing assessment procedures currently being undertaken as part of the broader social housing reform agenda outlined in the Social Housing Strategy 2020, the application form is being examined to identify any potential areas for improvement.
214. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has identified the ongoing monthly housing accommodation requirement for those on local authority housing waiting lists, given the pattern of the past 12 months; if he anticipates extra measures to address a potential increase in the number of families who cannot access rental accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44611/15]
View answerIn terms of the social housing need, the 2013 Summary of Social Housing Assessments identified some 89,872 households nationally as qualified as being in need of social housing supports. These results are the most up-to-date and reliable figures currently available. The majority of this number, 46,584 (52%), were found to be dependent on rent supplement and were therefore already supported in terms of housing by the State.
The results of the 2013 Assessments are based on a comprehensive review of households on housing lists on a set date, which involved local authorities contacting individual households to confirm their continued requirement and qualification for social housing support.
All households which qualified for social housing support prior to 1 April 2011 were subjected to a full review to ascertain whether they met the new requirements under the 2011 Regulations, while those which qualified after 1 April 2011 were reviewed so as to ensure their continued compliance with the 2011 Regulations.
The 2013 figure is of course subject to on-going fluctuation due to households being allocated housing and new households applying. To take a snapshot of housing need in any given county, at a point in time in 2015, and compare it to the 2013 data, which was compiled as a result of rigorous analysis, has methodological weaknesses, which would distort the overall picture of need.
In terms of the Government’s overall response, a shortage of supply is at the heart of the current challenges in the housing sector and the Government is addressing this on a number of fronts.
The Government’s Construction 2020 Strategy, published last year, is aimed at addressing issues in the property and construction sectors and ensuring that any bottlenecks that might impede the sector in meeting the estimated residential demand of 25,000 units per annum are resolved. My Department and other relevant Government Departments and agencies are actively implementing the range of commitments set out therein. In addition, NAMA is aiming to deliver a target of 20,000 residential units before the end of 2020. 90% of these units will be in the greater Dublin area, with approximately 75% of the units being starter homes.
With regard to social housing delivery, the Social Housing Strategy 2020 sets out clear, measurable actions to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the social housing list. The Strategy has been supported by two successive budgets with €1.7 billion allocated to housing, with associated delivery targets of over 33,000 units across both Capital and Current programmes. Given the pressing need to recommence a house building programme almost €3 billion in capital funding will be provided in support of the Social Housing Strategy under the Government’s Capital Plan - Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021.
The unprecedented support and funding being allocated to bring vacant and boarded-up social housing units back into use is a notable example of the Social Housing Strategy’s focused and realistic approach. Over 2,300 units were delivered in 2014, and I expect 2,500 units to be completed in 2015.
The implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a key Government priority and a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy. There are currently more than 5,400 households in receipt of HAP and the scheme has been rolled out to all categories of household in 18 local authority areas. Dublin City Council is also implementing a HAP pilot scheme for homeless households in the Dublin region on behalf of all four Dublin local authorities.
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 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 neighbouring Dublin areas. These regulations also provide for an additional 20% flexibility above the maximum rent limits that apply for the purposes of HAP in the administrative areas of Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Galway County Council, Kildare County Council and Meath County Council, where this is necessary to source suitable accommodation for a household that is qualified for social housing support.
On 10 November 2015, Government approval was given to a package of measures to address rent stability and housing supply. The measures will act to stabilise rents in the short to medium term while the additional supply of housing comes on stream. In relation to rent stability, the measures were given effect by the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015, enacted on 4 December 2015. This Act provides, inter alia, that the minimum period between rent reviews for tenancies is being increased from 12 to 24 months and this new provision will apply for a 4 year period. In addition, the minimum period of notice of new rent is increased from 28 days to 90 days and longer notice periods for the termination of long-term tenancies have been introduced.
Details of the full package of new rent stability and housing supply measures are available at the following link:http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,43556,en.pdf.
Cognisant of the difficulty faced by households in accessing the housing market, Budget 2016 provided for an affordable rental pilot scheme, with €10 million being made available. The Scheme will be an on-going annual commitment to secure a long term increase in the supply of affordable properties to meet the needs of those households that would struggle to make rental payments under present market conditions. Details of the Scheme are currently being finalised in my Department and will be completed by end-year, for rollout in early 2016.
Through these and other actions delivered to date under the Social Housing Strategy, Minister Coffey and I have been actively supporting all local authorities to increase the supply of social housing to meet the housing needs of all households on the housing list, with flexibility to meet future demand. Moreover, in order to get the most accurate data relating to the numbers applying for social housing support, the Strategy includes a commitment to undertake social housing assessments on an annual basis from 2016 onwards.
215. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of housing units allocated by local authority for each of the past seven years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44636/15]
View answerMy Department does not hold information on the allocation of social housing supports to individual households on the waiting lists of individual local authorities, whether by local authority housing or other accommodation provided by an authority. The allocation of such support is a matter for each authority in accordance with its allocation scheme made under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009.
216. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is in consultation with the Office of Public Works and the local authorities to address ongoing flood prevention and management issues arising from the experience of the past number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44637/15]
View answerWhile my Department co-ordinates the national level response to several types of severe weather emergencies, including flooding, it has no role in relation to flood prevention or flood management. The development of flood prevention and protection measures is solely a matter for the Office of Public Works, which is the Lead Agency for flood risk management.
I can advise the Deputy, however, that my Department in partnership with the Office of Public Works, published Guidelines for Planning Authorities on the Planning System and Flood Risk Management in November 2009 with the aim of ensuring a more consistent, rigorous and systematic approach to flood risk identification, assessment and management within the planning system. These statutory guidelines provide the basis for planning authorities to identify, assess and take appropriate steps to manage flood risk in a sustainable manner.
217. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if and when the revised guidelines on wind farms will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44638/15]
View answerIn December 2013, my Department published proposed “draft” revisions to the noise, setback distance 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 distance 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 21 February 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 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.
218. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if funding for housing adaptation grants in County Kildare is adequate to meet requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44639/15]
View answerI allocated total funding for 2015 of €50.5m nationally for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. This represents a 10% increase on the funding available in 2014. The allocation to Kildare County Council for 2015 for the grants was €2,429,000. To date Kildare County Council has drawn down 77% of its allocation and has not sought additional exchequer funding for the grants in 2015. The detailed administration of these grant schemes, including the assessment, approval and prioritisation of grants to applicants under the various grant measures is the responsibility of the relevant local authority.
219. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which various estates awaiting taking-in-charge by the local authority have been progressed in the past five years, with particular reference to addressing compliant issues to the satisfaction of Kildare County Council in respect of all or any development, the completion of which has been impeded by issues relating to the economic collapse; the extent to which he continues to liaise with the local authority in regard to such matters; the progress he expects over the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44641/15]
View answerService indicators published annually by the Local Government Management Agency include details of private residential estates taken in charge by individual planning authorities, including Kildare County Council. My Department recently wrote to all planning authorities requesting details of housing estates not yet taken in charge in their respective functional areas in order to assist in the further development and implementation of policy in this area. As regards unfinished housing developments, I understand that considerable progress has been made by Kildare County Council in resolving outstanding issues, which is reflected in the annual National Housing Development Survey results published on my Department’s website at:
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/UnfinishedHousingDevelopments/ and on the Housing Agency’s website at: http://www.housing.ie/our-services/unfinished-housing-developments.aspx.
220. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which funding made available over the past five years for the completion of unfinished estates in the administrative areas of the various local authorities has been sufficient to meet the requirements to his and the local authorities' satisfaction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44642/15]
View answerSince 2010, an annual national housing survey of unfinished housing developments has been conducted during the summer months to monitor progress. In that period, the number of unfinished housing developments has decreased by approximately two-thirds, from nearly 3,000 in 2010 to 992 in 2014. The detailed findings of the annual surveys, annual progress reports and other useful publications and information in relation to Unfinished Housing Developments are available on the Housing Agency’s website at: http://www.housing.ie/Our-Services/Unfinished-Housing-Developments.aspx
As Minister for Housing and Planning and Coordination of Construction 2020, I chair the National Coordination Committee on Unfinished Housing Developments. The Committee has adopted a collaborative approach amongst its constituent members to promote the work of resolving the housing situation faced by residents of unfinished housing developments.
The Government has taken a number of significant steps to address the issue of Unfinished Housing Developments. My Department launched the Public Safety Initiative (PSI) in March 2011, which provided funding to address immediate public safety issues. The types of works that have been approved to date under the PSI include the fencing off of unsecured and hazardous areas, capping of pipes, installation of street lighting and other works to secure sites. Under the PSI, there were a total of 144 claims in respect of 23 local authorities which resulted in €3.628 million being drawn down.
To assist further in addressing the legacy of unfinished housing developments, Budget 2014 contained a special provision, in the form of a targeted €10m Special Resolution Fund (SRF). The SRF is designed to encourage the resolution of the remaining tranche of unfinished developments identified in the National Housing Development Survey 2013 and, particularly, those developments not likely to be resolved in the normal way through solely developer/owner/funder action because of the presence of specific financial barriers. The SRF was particularly targeted to address the remaining unfinished developments with residents living in them and, in particular, any developments that local authorities identified, for the purposes of the Local Property Tax exemption, as in a seriously problematic condition.
On 2 May 2014, SRF allocations to 86 housing developments across the country were announced. Further information is available at the following link:
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,37940,en.htm.
This public investment aimed to leverage an additional €12m from third parties (developers/lenders/bonds) which will be invested in these estates. The SRF has enabled very substantial progress to be made in resolving as many of the remaining unfinished developments as possible.
The 2015 National Housing Development Survey and the Annual Progress Report are due for completion shortly and I will be publishing the results. I am confident that good progress is continuing to be made in resolving unfinished developments and the reactivation of sites is now evident throughout the country.
