Written Answers Nos. 21-40
21. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for replenishing actual housing stock, given the announcement of the new tenant purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44130/15]
View answerThe new incremental tenant purchase scheme for existing local authority houses will come into operation on 1 January 2016 and will provide opportunities for tenants to become homeowners, while also promoting sustainable communities and generating additional funding from sale proceeds for local authorities. Under Section 13 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, as amended, local authorities may, with my Department’s approval, use sales receipts and moneys received from tenant purchasers under the new scheme to invest in a range of social housing supports, including the provision of additional housing units and the refurbishment and maintenance of existing housing stock.
Specifically in terms of social housing supply, the Social Housing Strategy 2020 sets out clear, measurable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the housing list with flexibility to meet future demand. In total 110,000 new social housing units are targeted for delivery, with 35,000 new units to be delivered and 75,000 households to be supported mainly through the Housing Assistance Payment Programme.
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. 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.
This 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 build and acquisition social housing units to be delivered by end 2017.
Preparatory work will continue in 2016 on further new innovative projects, such as advancing the provision of 500 new social housing units through a PPP programme and an affordable housing pilot scheme.
22. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in the aftermath of his welcome investment in the public housing programme, if that programme can be accelerated to provide substantially more housing accommodation in the short to medium term, if he will put a sequence of steps in place, in conjunction with the local authorities, to access off-balance sheet recorded funding in each local authority area where major housing waiting lists currently exist, if he will put a strategic plan in place to drive the programme to a much greater extent than has been possible heretofore, by raising the house completion targets substantially on a monthly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44099/15]
View answerIn November 2014 the Government approved the Social Housing Strategy 2020 which sets out a strategic framework for meeting the State’s social housing needs to the end of the decade. The Strategy also sets out clear, measurable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the 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 Programme. 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 under the Government’s Capital Plan - Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021.
The commitment of on-going financial support has allowed the allocation of half a billion euro to local authorities and approved housing bodies for 2,900 new social housing units to be delivered by 2017.
The Strategy also includes a commitment to commence work on a financial vehicle, to be known as the Strategic Housing Fund, to raise funding for the social housing sector. The financial vehicle will be established to facilitate the aggregation of private investment into a fund for subsequent lending as project finance. It is intended that this funding would be lent on to qualifying Approved Housing Bodies, giving them access to long term finance. In this regard, the Social Housing Strategy 2020 refers to the possibility of an Approved Housing Body being established by a local authority or among local authorities.
Work on the development of this new funding model is being progressed under the oversight of a group which has been put in place to develop the financial aspects of the Social Housing Strategy. This group - the Finance Work Stream - comprises a range of key stakeholders including my Department, the Housing Finance Agency, the National Development Finance Agency and the Departments of Finance and of Public Expenditure and Reform. The timing of the introduction of the new funding model will be dependent on the outcome of the group’s work.
23. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the Government will bridge the financial gap caused by the net reduction in global valuation of commercial rates on utility companies. [44053/15]
View answerThe Commissioner for Valuation has sole responsibility for all valuation matters, including the global valuation of property of public utility undertakings under Part 11 of the Valuation Act 2001, as amended. The Valuation Act 2001 comes under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Valuation Act 2001, as amended, provides for global valuations of utility undertakings, to be carried out by the Valuation Office every five years and entered on the central valuation list. The most recent global valuations carried out by the Valuation Office are in respect of Gas Networks Ireland, Iarnród Éireann and telecommunications companies BT Ireland, Eircom, Vodafone, Three Ireland and Meteor. On 4 November 2015 the Valuation Office issued a copy of the Valuation Certificate and a schedule setting out the apportioned value for each rating authority to my Department. The previous valuation for these utilities had taken place in 2010. The Global Valuation Certificates show a reduction in the combined valuations for these utilities of €112m. Moreover, the reduction in the global valuation of the ESB, following an appeal to the Valuation Tribunal, will reduce the rates payable by the ESB from 2016.
The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. The annual rate on valuation (ARV), which is applied to the valuation for each property, determined by the Valuation Office, to obtain the amount payable in rates, is decided by the elected members of each local authority in the annual budget and its determination is a reserved function. This process has recently been concluded in each local authority as part of the budgeting process for 2016. The implications of the Commissioner of Valuation’s global revaluation of utility infrastructure for individual local authorities will ultimately be dependent on each authority’s ARV, and its overall income and expenditure decided on in its budget.
My Department engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and there will be a once off adjustment of €16.65 million in support from the Local Government Fund in 2016 to local authorities affected by the global valuations.
24. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the necessary funding for the continued remediation of the Kerdiffstown landfill site will be ring-fenced in future budgets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44114/15]
View answerRemediation of the former illegal landfill at Kerdiffstown is the Government’s priority landfill remediation project for the coming years. In September 2015, Minister Kelly briefed the Government on the matter, outlining the scale of this complex remediation project, including details of the timeframes and the estimated associated funding requirements. Some €11.78m has been invested in the project to date, initially through the Environmental Protection Agency and, more recently, through Kildare County Council, following the transfer of responsibility for the site to the Council earlier this year. Significant further funding will be required over the coming years. While the detailed costs of remediation will not be fully known until licensing and tendering processes have been completed, I anticipate that a significant proportion of the funding available for landfill remediation in my Department’s Vote for 2016 will go towards the remediation process at Kerdiffstown. The specific allocations for future years will be determined in the context of the annual Estimates processes.
Public consultation will continue to be an important feature of the project and community updates will be issued on www.kerdiffstowncleanup.ie as remedial works on the site are commissioned.
25. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the new Leader programme, when it will be delivered in communities, the status of its delivery in County Galway, if its commencement in County Galway will be delayed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44110/15]
View answerIreland is conducting a two stage process for the selection of local development strategies to support the delivery of the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. Stage one of the process is now complete and those successful at stage one have moved to stage two of the process, which is the preparation of local development strategies for their areas. The preparation and submission of local development strategies is underway in each of the 28 designated sub-regional areas. A minimum period of six months to end-January 2016 has been allowed for the submission of strategies by all Local Action Groups, with the majority expected to submit strategies within that timeframe. To date, six local development strategies have been received and these are being considered at present.
At stage one of the process, two entities in Galway submitted qualifying expressions of interest to become the Local Action Group for the Galway sub-regional area, namely Forum Connemara covering the Connemara municipal area and Galway Local and Community Development Committee covering the whole county. My Department has facilitated a number of meetings with both entities with a view to bringing all interested parties together to develop one coherent local development strategy for Galway. To date, no agreement has been reached between the parties and both entities are preparing separate strategies for their selected areas.
In areas where a single strategy is submitted, an Independent Evaluation Committee will review and evaluate these strategies with a view to ensuring that the strategies meet the required standard. In areas where entities do not come to an agreement and multiple strategies are submitted, it will be a matter for the Independent Evaluation Committee to make a decision on the basis of the quality of the local development strategies submitted. In this situation, the Independent Evaluation Committee will not make a decision on the successful strategy until all strategies for that sub-regional area have been submitted for assessment.
I understand that the local development strategies for Galway are expected to be submitted for evaluation in January 2016.
26. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has engaged with Bord na Móna on the decrease in tonnage allowable from 1 December 2015 at the Drehid landfill site from 360,000 tonnes to 120,000 tonnes; if Bord na Móna has discussed with his Department when this excess tonnage will now be deposited; his views on increasing the levy for community gain to be applied by planning authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44113/15]
View answerIt is a matter for individual waste operators to determine their own preferred waste treatment options having regard to market conditions as well as available infrastructure in Ireland and elsewhere in the EU primarily. In terms of the specific matter referred to, under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act 1996, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government is precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance by the Environmental Protection Agency of a statutory function vested in it, including matters concerning the licensing conditions of authorised landfill facilities. The attachment of conditions relating to individual community gain funds to planning permissions is a matter for the statutory planning authorities. The Minister has no role in the process.
27. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to place a moratorium on wind farms until effective regulations are put in place. [44055/15]
View answerProposals for wind energy developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the same manner as other proposed developments. Planning applications are made to the relevant local planning authority with a right of appeal to An Bord Pleanála. In the case of wind development proposals which meet the statutory threshold criteria for classification as Strategic Infrastructure Developments under the Planning and Development Acts, such applications must be submitted directly to An Bord Pleanála. Planning authorities, including An Bord Pleanála, are required to have regard to guidelines issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the performance of their functions under the Act, including my Department’s Wind Energy Development Guidelines, which were published in June 2006. Ultimately, planning authorities will make their own decisions based on the specific merits or otherwise of individual planning applications.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is currently conducting a targeted review of the 2006 Guidelines focusing on noise, setback and shadow flicker. Following an extensive public consultation, it is intended that revisions to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines will be finalised and issued as soon as possible.
In the interim, the 2006 Guidelines will continue to apply to existing planning applications which are with either the local planning authorities or with An Bord Pleanála for determination.
It is not intended to place a moratorium on applications for planning permission for wind farm developments as proposed. Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, the Minister is specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular planning case with which a planning authority, or An Bord Pleanála, is or may be concerned.
28. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of revenues from commercial rates to local authorities as a result of the global revaluations undertaken by the Valuation Office; and how this will affect local authority budgets in 2016 and 2017. [44121/15]
View answerThe Commissioner for Valuation has sole responsibility for all valuation matters, including the global valuation of property of public utility undertakings under Part 11 of the Valuation Act 2001, as amended. The Valuation Act 2001 comes under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Valuation Act 2001, as amended, provides for global valuations of utility undertakings, to be carried out by the Valuation Office every five years and entered on the central valuation list. The most recent global valuations carried out by the Valuation Office are in respect of Gas Networks Ireland, Iarnród Eireann and telecommunications companies BT Ireland, Eircom, Vodafone, Three Ireland and Meteor. On 4 November 2015 the Valuation Office issued a copy of the Valuation Certificate and a schedule setting out the apportioned value for each rating authority to my Department. The previous valuation for these utilities had taken place in 2010. The Global Valuation Certificates show a reduction in the combined valuations for these utilities of €112m. Moreover, the reduction in the global valuation of the ESB, following an appeal to the Valuation Tribunal, will reduce the rates payable by the ESB from 2016.
The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. The annual rate on valuation (ARV), which is applied to the valuation for each property, determined by the Valuation Office, to obtain the amount payable in rates, is decided by the elected members of each local authority in the annual budget and its determination is a reserved function. This process has recently been concluded in each local authority as part of the budgeting process for 2016. The implications of the Commissioner of Valuation’s global revaluation of utility infrastructure for individual local authorities will ultimately be dependent on each authority’s ARV, and its overall income and expenditure decided on in its budget.
My Department engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and there will be a once off adjustment of €16.65 million in support from the Local Government Fund in 2016 to local authorities affected by the global valuations.
29. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government considering the housing and homelessness crisis, if he will consider, as an alternative to temporary modular homes, purchasing an equivalent number of permanent homes, hundreds of which are currently advertised for sale at equivalent prices to the cost of modular homes, and which would move quickly and more permanently provide homes for those with housing need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44129/15]
View answerIn delivering on the targets of the Social Housing Strategy 2020, local authorities and approved housing bodies are utilising a range of delivery approaches to meet the needs of those on the housing waiting lists. The acquisition of properties is an important component of this delivery, as is the remediation of vacant units. This is particularly so given the time-lag in delivery for construction projects. Local authorities already have devolved responsibility to undertake suitable acquisitions of properties for social housing purposes, while being sensitive to local market conditions and achieving good value for money. The acquisition of units, therefore, is already underway and will continue to be used by local authorities where appropriate, alongside other social housing delivery mechanisms such as construction - including modular housing - and the delivery of NAMA residential properties, making units available through the local authority leasing scheme, the rental accommodation scheme and the Housing Assistance Payment scheme.
In line with the Social Housing Strategy, all of these approaches are required for the delivery of social housing in the short, medium and long-terms and I am satisfied that they are being advanced strongly by local authorities and approved housing bodies.
The programme for the delivery of 500 units of modular housing for homeless families across Dublin is being implemented to mitigate the issues associated with an increasing volume of homeless families accommodated in inappropriate commercial hotel arrangements. Accordingly, in combination with other approaches, it is an appropriate and valuable element of the delivery of social housing for those who require this support.
30. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the discussions he has had regarding the manner in which the pyrite remediation scheme has been constructed and the condition that acceptance into the scheme is based on the presence of damage rather than the presence of pyrite; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44047/15]
View answerThe pyrite remediation scheme, which was first published by the Pyrite Resolution Board in February 2014, was developed having regard to the recommendations set out in the Report of the Pyrite Panel (July 2013) and the provisions of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013. To be eligible to apply under the scheme, dwellings must have Building Condition Assessment with a Damage Condition Rating of 2.
The Pyrite Panel recommended a categorisation system as a means of prioritising pyrite remediation works in recognition of the expensive and intrusive nature of pyrite remediation and the unpredictability of pyritic heave. The Panel was clear in its view that only dwellings with significant damage due to pyritic heave should be remediated and that it would be unreasonable to expect dwellings not exhibiting such damage to be remediated. I am satisfied that the conditions for entry onto the scheme are appropriate and, accordingly, there are no proposals to amend the legislation in this regard.
31. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is concerned regarding our planning laws as they relate to the timescales to decide on planning applications for major companies backed by the Industrial Development Agency Ireland and Enterprise Ireland; if we compare favourably with our European competitors in adjudicating on planning applications, if he has been approached by the agency or Enterprise Ireland in regard to speeding up decision times, lest we lose possible investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44124/15]
View answerA decision to grant or refuse a valid planning application is generally made by a planning authority within 8 weeks from the date of receipt of the application. However, the decision period can vary, particularly if the planning authority seeks further information from the applicant in relation to the proposed development which it should do within the first 8 weeks after receipt of the planning application. In such instances, the planning authority then has 4 weeks from the date the further information is received to make a decision on the application or 8 weeks in cases where an environmental impact statement or a Natura impact statement is required. A period of 4 weeks is allowed for the making of an appeal to An Bord Pleanála after the date of the decision by the planning authority and the Board has a statutory objective of deciding on appeals within 18 weeks. My Department does not collect information in relation to individual planning applications lodged with a planning authority in respect of development supported by the IDA or Enterprise Ireland. Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular planning case with which a planning authority, or An Bórd Pleanála, is or may be concerned.
Further streamlining enhancements to the planning system are proposed in the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2015 which is presently being progressed through the Houses of the Oireachtas with a view to enactment before the end of the year. Additional streamlining of the planning system will be brought forward in a further Bill – the Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill – which it is intended to publish before the end of the year. As outlined in the Government’s Construction 2020 Strategy, which was published in May 2014, every effort is being made to ensure our planning system is appropriately positioned to facilitate sustainable development, economic growth and underpin our economic recovery.
32. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government how the target of 1,400 new-builds or acquisitions by local authorities and approved housing bodies will be met by the end of 2015, given that only 403 new units were provided in the first six months of 2015, the details of the new units and where they will be provided. [44128/15]
View answerThe Social Housing Strategy 2020 provides a comprehensive response to the need for social housing and targets the provision of over 110,000 social housing units to 2020, through the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units and meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme. The output target for 2015 is set at 15,900 across the current and capital-funded programmes. Within that, a target of 2,400 units is to delivered through the capital-funded programmes of building/acquiring new social housing units by local authorities, new sheltered housing by approved housing bodies, and the returning of vacant properties to productive use. Current data show that over 2,500 units have already been delivered through the capital programmes as follows:
|
No. |
|
|
Local Authority Housing – construction and acquisition |
569 |
|
Capital Assistance Scheme |
199 |
|
Regeneration |
109 |
|
Vacant Units returned |
1,630 |
Local authorities have advised me that they are advancing the purchase of some 750 new units this year, many of which will be finalised between now and the end of the year, which is traditionally the time of greatest funding drawdown by local authorities. Combined with the further numbers of vacant housing units that I expect will be returned by the end of this year, this should mean that the capital target for 2015 will be further exceeded. All 31 local authorities are actively engaged in the delivery of these units in 2015, so the impact will be felt across all areas in terms of new social housing provision.
We now have a strong pipeline of new social housing construction projects in place following from the announcement in May of the first major social housing build programme under the Social Housing Strategy, with 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 to end 2017. I also propose to make further announcements in this regard early in the New Year. Coupled with new housing acquisitions and tackling vacant units, this means that progress towards achievement of the overall capital targets for the period out to 2017 is well advanced.
33. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the contact he has had with HomeBond in the past two months regarding the structural issues which emerged in the course of pyrite remediation, if he is satisfied that home owner's rights are adequately vindicated under the current arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44048/15]
View answerHomeBond is a private limited company providing structural guarantees for new houses and, since November 2008, the HomeBond Insurance scheme is underwritten by Allianz Insurance. As is the case for any private company, its operations are a matter for its management and Board of Directors. I also understand that HomeBond Insurance Services Ltd is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. As a private company, I have no role or function in its operations and cannot direct HomeBond to take a particular course of action.
In the context of the pyrite remediation scheme, an agreement was reached between the Pyrite Resolution Board and HomeBond in June 2014 under which HomeBond agreed to contribute technical and project management services to the Board to the value of €2 million. Such services include assisting in organising and managing the testing of dwellings and project management of remediation contracts. HomeBond has also agreed to make available to the Pyrite Resolution Board/Housing Agency the results of testing undertaken by it prior to the operation of the scheme.
My Department is aware that building defects, which are outside the scope of the pyrite remediation scheme, have been identified in a number of dwellings during pyrite remediation works undertaken under the scheme. Against this background, I understand that a supplementary agreement has recently been made between the Pyrite Resolution Board and HomeBond with regard to how non-pyrite-related structural defects, which are uncovered during pyrite remediation works under the pyrite remediation scheme, will be addressed in future.
34. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his role in providing a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level, if he will provide a directive for modular homes to be built at sites not already earmarked for building of bricks and mortar homes, if he has issued any directive for public private partnerships to produce urgently needed social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44046/15]
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 the individual housing authorities and the purposes for which housing authorities may incur expenditure in addressing homelessness are prescribed in Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. My Department has no function with regard to operational matters, such as site selection for modular housing or for any particular development, which are matters for the relevant housing authorities. I am not, therefore, considering issuing a Direction in this matter. The 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 22 of these units before Christmas, with commencement of delivery of the remaining 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 of Government Procurement.
The Government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020 provides for an investment of €300 million in social housing through the public private partnership model. In total, the programme is expected to deliver 1,500 social housing units. To enable delivery to commence as quickly as possible, the PPP programme is being rolled-out in up to three bundles.
I announced the sites for the first bundle of Social Housing PPP projects on Budget day, 13 October 2015. The bundle comprises 6 sites with a capital value of approximately €100m, which are expected to deliver over 500 units. Two of the sites are located in Dublin City with one each in South Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow and Louth. Sites for the next bundles are currently being assessed. This process is expected to conclude in early 2016. I am satisfied that the PPP programme is proceeding well and I have no plans to issue any Direction in that regard.
35. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the investigation panel to examine the mica issue will be set up and functioning, its terms of reference, when it will report its findings, the process for those home owners affected by mica to notify the investigation panel with details of their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44135/15]
View answerIn order to assist the parties directly involved in reaching a satisfactory resolution to their difficulties, I recently announced my intention to establish an expert group to investigate the problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in both Donegal and Mayo.
While building defects are, in the first instance, matters for resolution between the relevant contracting parties, i.e. the homeowner, the builder, the supplier and/or their respective insurers, a small expert group, with a strong technical background, will be set up to establish, insofar as it is possible, the number of affected dwellings in Donegal and Mayo, the root cause of the problems and the technical solutions for remediation.
In this regard, the expert group will have the following terms of reference:
(i) To identify, insofar as it is possible, the numbers of private dwellings which appear to be affected by defects in the blockwork in the Counties of Donegal and Mayo;
(ii) To carry out a desktop study, which would include a consultation process with affected home owners, public representatives, local authorities, product manufacturers, building professionals, testing laboratories, industry stakeholders and other relevant parties, to establish the nature of the problem in the affected dwellings;
(iii) To outline a range of technical options for remediation and the means by which those technical options could be applied; and
(iv) To submit a report by 31 May 2016.
Arrangements are now underway within my Department to identify a suitable chair for the expert group and nominations will be sought shortly from a number of professional bodies for suitable persons to participate on the group. Once established the expert group will decide upon the means by which they will carry out their investigations, including the means by which they will interact with affected homeowners on the issues concerned.
36. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the plan for the provision of social housing is the most effective option available in tackling the worsening housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44126/15]
View answerA 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 residential and non-residential demand are addressed. A number of important measures have been taken already aimed at improving housing viability and increasing supply. The measures include the introduction of a vacant site levy, reductions in development contributions, revised Part V provisions and initiatives to improve financing.
Given that these measures will take time to fully impact on supply, some shorter term measures have recently been agreed by Government, including:
- a targeted development contribution rebate scheme in Dublin and Cork, focused on large-scale developments at affordable prices;
- fast-tracking of implementation of new apartment guidelines which while supporting good quality build, will improve the viability of this type of development; and
- legislative amendments to introduce greater flexibility and streamlining to the Strategic Development Zone provisions of the Planning and Development Acts.
In addition, 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.
In terms of social housing, the Social Housing Strategy 2020 sets out clear, measurable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the housing list with flexibility to meet future demand. In total, 110,000 new social housing units are targeted for delivery with 35,000 new units to be delivered and 75,000 households to be supported mainly through the Housing Assistance Payment Scheme.
The Strategy has been supported by two successive budgets with €1.7 billion allocated to housing. 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 through the Government’s Capital Plan - Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021.
This commitment of on-going financial support has allowed Minister Kelly and me to allocate half a billion euro to local authorities and approved housing bodies for 2,900 social housing new builds and acquisitions to be delivered by end 2017.
These projects will contribute to delivery in 2016 and, when taken together with the broader range of housing programmes, I expect that over 17,000 housing units will be provided next year. In addition, preparatory work will continue in 2016 on further new innovative projects, such as advancing the provision of 500 new social housing units through a PPP programme and an affordable rental scheme.
Overall, I am satisfied that the approach taken by Government is comprehensive and Minister Kelly and I are committed to seeing it implemented in full.
37. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that the significant numbers of tyres collected by the local authorities in Dublin in the weeks before Hallowe'en 2015 have not been properly disposed of; and if current plans for the tyre industry will address this issue. [44116/15]
View answerMy Department is aware of the illegal stockpiling of tyres. Indeed, the recent issues experienced by a number of local authorities in the period before Halloween are simply part of much wider problems with waste tyres in Ireland. I am confident that Minister Kelly’s plans for the introduction of producer responsibility arrangements for waste tyres will deal with the problem identified by the Deputy by providing a proper waste management system for tyres, closing the significant gaps that have been identified under current arrangements.
38. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of his engagements with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on his stated objective to update wind energy guidelines; if industrial wind farms are appropriate for residential areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44051/15]
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.
Proposals for the location of individual wind farms are a matter for the relevant developer taking account of several criteria including connectivity to the national grid.
When considering individual planning applications for such developments and the appropriateness of their location, planning authorities, including An Bord Pleanála where relevant, are required to have regard to local area and county development plans, local authority renewable energy strategies, the Wind Energy Development Guidelines issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and other relevant matters including existing residential development, existing wind energy developments, the local landscape and the natural and built heritage.
The 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines provide a guide to the analysis of suitable areas for wind energy by planning authorities, when preparing their development plans and renewable energy strategies.
39. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding he has made available for the provision of alarms, pendants and other security devices for the elderly in each year since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44163/15]
View answerMy Department manages 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. Funding is available under the scheme towards the purchase of equipment by a registered organisation i.e. personal alarm and/or pendant and the associated monitoring and service charges are paid by the participant. The scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department. My Department undertook to consider new approaches to the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2014 and arising from this, it was decided that the scheme should be managed by Pobal, given that organisation’s significant experience delivering programmes on behalf of Government. The management and administration of the scheme transferred from the Department to Pobal on 7 September 2015.
This new approach will reduce the administrative burden for the many hundreds of community and voluntary groups registered under the scheme, who provide an excellent service for the elderly. It will enable these groups to concentrate on the main purpose of the scheme, namely to support and interact with the elderly in the local community.
The 2015 allocation for the operation of the Seniors Alert Scheme is €2.35m.
The annual spend on the Seniors Alert Scheme from 2011 to 2014 is shown in the following table:
|
Year |
Expenditure |
|
2011 |
€2.47m |
|
2012 |
€2.52m |
|
2013 |
€2.32m |
|
2014 |
€1.70m |
40. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has received any written or oral representations on behalf of Task Alarms from any elected representative, and the topics discussed at his meeting with a bidder for contracts under the senior alerts scheme on 10 December 2015. [44112/15]
View answerA total of 3 representations were received by my Department from elected representatives on behalf of Task Alarms.
In relation to the Deputy’s query regarding the meeting between Minister Kelly and Deputy Brendan Ryan on 10 December 2014 in relation to the Seniors Alert Scheme, the meeting request from Deputy Ryan did not state that any other people would be attending the meeting. Deputy Ryan was, however, accompanied at the meeting by two people from one of the groups who were bidding in the procurement process being managed by Pobal.
The meeting was of short duration and included discussion in relation to technical details such as the division of the market into lots, the standards applied in relation to the supply of equipment and consultation with suppliers.
It should be noted that the assessment of the tenders including the award of contracts under the procurement process for the Seniors Alert Scheme was managed by Pobal, an independent company, following a public advertisement on eTenders on 20 October 2014.
