Thursday, 10 Dec 2015

Written Answers Nos. 1- 20

Social and Affordable Housing Data

Questions (11)

Barry Cowen

Question:

11. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government given that capital-funded social housing provision targets, including new-builds and units provided under the rental accommodation scheme and long-term leasing are well-below the level targeted for 2015, if he will revise his targets for capital funded social housing provision for the 2015 to 2017 period downwards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44120/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

I do not propose to revise the targets for social housing delivery announced last April and issued at that time to all local authorities to cover the period out to end-2017. Those targets are in line with the Social Housing Strategy and have been carefully calibrated to make a substantial impact on the housing waiting lists of all local authority areas across the country. The delivery of social housing through different approaches requires different lead-in times.  In particular, construction projects need time for planning, approval by elected members, tendering and construction. This is why I have targeted a range of approaches to delivery which include local authorities and approved housing bodies acquiring properties where good value for money is achievable, the remediation of vacant social houses, securing long term leased units using the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP), additional provision under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), as well as the roll-out of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).  

A strong pipeline of new social housing construction projects is now in place following from the announcement in May of the first major direct build social housing programme under the Social Housing Strategy, involving some 100 separate housing projects, and a further substantial announcement in July of approvals for local authorities and approved housing bodies. The outcome has been half a billion euro allocated for 2,900 social housing new builds and acquisitions up to the end 2017. Further announcements in this regard are planned for the New Year.

While the availability of suitable properties in the private market is currently challenging, the RAS and SHCEP combined have met the social housing needs of an additional 2,547 households to date in 2015. Over the lifetime of the Strategy, the two schemes are expected to provide accommodation for 29,400 households, and I remain confident that this can be achieved. In addition the roll out of the HAP scheme will continue, with a further 10,000 households to be accommodated under the scheme in 2016 alone.

I am committed to facilitating local authorities to return the maximum possible number of vacant social housing units to productive use in 2015. In addition to the original funding provided for this purpose in 2015, and conscious of the impact of the pressures in the private rental market on delivery under the RAS and SHCEP schemes, I have increased the budget allocation in order to deliver an estimated 2,500 vacant units back into productive use this year.

Overall, I am satisfied that between new builds, acquisitions and the return of vacant units, we are on track to deliver the capital target of almost 7,500 units by 2017.

Rural Development Policy

Questions (12)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

12. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the detail of the proposed charter for rural Ireland, when it will be published, how it is being devised, the consultation process that was carried out, how it is expected that County Donegal will benefit from it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44050/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

I am fully committed to supporting the development and revitalisation of rural Ireland, through advancing the implementation of the recommendations in the report of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas, also known as the CEDRA report. As the Deputy will be aware, the first recommendation of the CEDRA report relates to the preparation of a clear and committed Rural Economic Development Policy Statement, which outlines how Government intends to support integrated rural economic development to 2025. The publication of the proposed Charter for Rural Ireland, to which the Deputy refers, is the first step in that process. Through the proposed Charter for Rural Ireland, it is intended to make a specific and public commitment to support rural Ireland’s regeneration and to underpin the future sustainable development of Ireland’s rural communities. I expect that this Charter will be brought to Government for approval shortly.

In relation to the Deputy’s query regarding the consultation process that was carried out when preparing the Charter, I can advise the Deputy that the work of CEDRA, including its final report , which included submissions from various interested parties, was used as a starting point for the development of the Charter. My Department also consulted with the CEDRA Expert Advisory Group and the CEDRA Inter-departmental Group, which comprises senior officials from various Departments whose work and remit impact on rural Ireland.

The focus of the Charter is on establishing frameworks and practices to support the rejuvenation of the rural economy and rural society. The objective of the Charter is to ensure that systems are in place to support enterprise creation and development, maintain and restore the rural cultural heritage, support and protect existing towns and other settlements, facilitate safe and secure rural communities and foster an increased quality of life for all rural dwellers. I am confident that the Charter for Rural Ireland, when delivered, will have a very positive impact on all rural areas, including in County Donegal.

Local Authority Housing Data

Questions (13)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

13. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of residential units made available to local authorities in 2015, the number of these made available to citizens and families in emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44045/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Social Housing Strategy 2020 sets out clear, measureable actions and targets 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 targets the delivery of 35,000 new units, to be delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies, and 75,000 units in the private rental market to be delivered mainly under the Housing Assistance Payment scheme. The Strategy has been supported by two successive budgets with €1.7 billion allocated to housing to support the provision of over 33,000 units across both Capital and Current programmes. Given the pressing need to recommence a house building programme around €3 billion in capital funding will be provided in support of the Social Housing Strategy through the Government’s Capital Plan - Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021.  

The commitment of on-going financial support has allowed me to allocate half a billion euro to local authorities and approved housing bodies for 2,900 new social housing units to be delivered between now and 2017.

In terms of output in 2015 the target set is 15,900 across the current and capital programmes. All efforts are being made, working with delivery partners in local authorities, approved housing bodies and NAMA, to deliver maximum output under each delivery mechanism and this will continue right up to the year-end. The latest data, some of which relate to the position at end Quarter 3, indicate that over 10,000 units have been delivered across all the programmes so far in 2015. With the most significant share of delivery traditionally coming through in the last quarter of the year, I expect further significant progress to be reflected in the end-year position.

Under the Ministerial Direction issued by Minister Kelly, which applies until 31 January 2016, key local authorities are required to prioritise homeless and other vulnerable households in the allocation of tenancies under their control. The four Dublin local authorities have been directed to allocate 50% of all available dwellings to such households, while the local authorities in counties Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford have been directed to allocate 30%.

In terms of households exiting homelessness, the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive figures show that 739 households exited homelessness and entered into tenancy arrangements in the first 9 months of 2015 in the Dublin region.

Social and Affordable Housing Data

Questions (14)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

14. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question Number 731 of 6 October 2015, the status of the 1,400 homes to be transferred from the National Asset Management Agency to local authorities; if the full 2,501 homes have been purchased and at what prices, or leased; what is the monthly payment for these leasing arrangements for each home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44131/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

The figures referred to by the Deputy relate to the position at the end of June. The latest figures represent progress to the end of September 2015, at which point a total of 1,600 NAMA related residential properties have been delivered for social housing use. This comprises of 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 for social housing purposes will be secured from this engagement with NAMA.

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). 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.

NAMA Social Housing Provision

Questions (15)

Barry Cowen

Question:

15. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the discussions and negotiations he has had with the National Asset Management Agency on increasing its provision of social housing units, if the agency is doing all within its authority and mandate to increase the supply of social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44119/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

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 roughly 2,000 units, to become available for social housing.

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.

Wind Energy Guidelines

Questions (16)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

16. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the wind farm development guidelines on setback distances will be published, the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44049/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

In 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.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (17)

Paul Murphy

Question:

17. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 170 and 171 of 2 December 2015, if procedures exist for accidental or unscheduled meetings that may take place between Ministers or senior officials and bidders for State contracts under the Minister's remit, and if such policies contain an obligation to take note of the topics discussed at such meetings. [44111/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind.

The scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of Pobal, who took over this role in September 2015 given that organisation’s significant experience delivering programmes on behalf of Government.

The assessment of the tenders for the Seniors Alert Scheme, including the award of contracts, was managed separately by Pobal, an independent company, following a public advertisement on eTenders on 20 October 2014. This process was conducted in a robust manner consistent with EU and national Procurement Guidelines.

A meeting between Minister Kelly and Deputy Brendan Ryan was scheduled for 10 December 2014, to discuss the Senior Alerts Scheme. While it was not indicated that any other people would be attending the meeting, Deputy Ryan was, in fact, accompanied by two people who were part of a company that had bid in the tender process to establish a panel of preferred suppliers for the equipment needed for the supply and installation of personal monitored alarms, at what I am advised was ultimately a meeting of brief duration in respect of which minutes were not considered necessary. It is important to note that the assessment of the tenders including the award of contracts under the procurement process concerned was managed separately by Pobal, an independent company.

In relation to the Deputy’s query regarding procedures that exist for meetings that may take place, inadvertently, between Ministers or senior officials and bidders for contracts, a note of the meeting is generally taken where issues of a substantive nature are discussed and it would be usual to ensure, subsequently, that any such meeting did not affect the particular procurement process concerned. In the instance referred to by the Deputy, I understand the meeting was of a brief duration and minutes were not considered necessary. The procurement process was not affected, particularly as the procurement concerned was being managed separately by Pobal.

I should add that following the enactment of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, internal procedures have been established, including a template for officials designated under the Act to use in recording notes of meetings.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Questions (18)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

18. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the State's capacity to engage in mitigating measures against harmful greenhouse gas emitters is severely restricted owing to the weak legislative climate regime; that it is simply unrealistic to expect the State to be able to achieve even the specified targets Ireland is committing to, given the planned-for growth in agriculture emissions; the increase in transport emissions; the fall-back in measures to tackle emissions in these key sectors and in the residential sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44134/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

In relation to our 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target, the latest EPA projections indicate that, while we may come close to meeting our cumulative emissions targets for the period 2013 to 2020, due in part to over-achievement in the early years of the period, our actual emissions in 2020 will most likely fall short of the headline target figure of a reduction of 20%. The challenges that we face in terms of meeting our 2020 targets and those which will be agreed for 2030 are well understood by Government, in the context of our National Policy on Climate Change and also in terms of our legislative response.

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015, which will be enacted in the coming days, will provide the statutory basis for the State to transition to a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by the year 2050. 

Specifically in respect of mitigation matters, the Bill provides for the submission to Government of a National Mitigation Plan at least once every five years. Each such Plan will specify the policy measures that would be required in order to manage greenhouse gas emissions and removals, taking into account the existing obligations on the State under EU and international law.

The Plan will incorporate the sectorial mitigation measures to be adopted by relevant Ministers, such as those responsible for agriculture, transport, energy and the built environment, for the purposes of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enabling the achievement of the national transition objective. In this way, a whole-of-Government approach will be adopted to ensure that sectors of the economy with the largest emissions play their part in contributing to emissions reductions now and into the future.

Leader Programmes Expenditure

Questions (19)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

19. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the spend incurred under the Leader programme 2007 to 2013; the original allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44164/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

The original allocation of LEADER funding for the 2007-2013 programming period was just short of €400 million. The allocation was reduced in 2012 when the EU co-financing rate changed due to the financial crisis. To date, €276 million has been spent on projects, €12 million on animation expenses and €71 million on administration giving a total of €359 million.

The final date for expenditure under the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2007 – 2013 is 31 December 2015. The final outturn for the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2007 – 2013 is expected to be in the order of €370 million. This level of investment has made a very significant impact across a range of areas, including enterprise development, job creation and rural tourism, in line with priorities identified by the Local Action Groups involved. Further significant investment will be made through the next LEADER programme, which I expect to become operational on a rolling basis from the beginning of next year.

Local Authority Housing

Questions (20)

Barry Cowen

Question:

20. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government why he places a limit of €30,000 when considering applications for the funding of vacant housing units owned by local authorities and long-term voids, given that there is such a large number of vacant social housing units in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44123/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

The funding support that my Department provides for local authorities to return vacant social housing units to use is directed at units where remediation costs greatly exceed the normal end-of-lease maintenance costs. While the costs that local authorities might need to incur are not capped, support from my Department is subject to a limit of €30,000 per unit.  This funding is not a substitute for the normal responsibilities of local authorities for maintaining their social housing properties and the standard end-of-lease maintenance they undertake is often sufficient to prepare a unit for early re-letting. Support is provided in respect of the additional costs that arise where remediation costs are higher than normal. The average Exchequer contribution to local authorities under this programme is €14,800 per unit. 2,333 units were returned under the programme in 2014, on top of units repaired using local authorities’ own resources. In 2015, funding has been made available to support the return of up to 2,500 further units, which covers all of the suitable units that the local authorities have identified.

I recognise that there are other social housing units where there is a greater level of dereliction than can be addressed with the support currently available under the standard programme to remediate vacant units. Accordingly, my Department has also commenced a new programme to support local authorities to tackle those more extensively damaged units. The number of such units is relatively small but, nonetheless, this new funding programme will allow even more units that have been out of commission for many years to be brought back into use. The new programme will be rolled out in early 2016.