Written Answers Nos. 575 - 603
575. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the action his Department takes to ensure that the housing conditions for elderly persons is of a suitable standard (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24784/16]
View answerWhile my Department has no direct role in reviewing the living conditions of elderly persons in private homes, the provision of social housing to meet the accommodation needs of older people, and other people with specific categories of need, is a particular focus of my Department and is funded for the most part under the Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme. Projects are implemented by approved housing bodies working with local authorities and funding of up to 100% of costs can be provided. In addition, my Department supports local authorities in the development and improvement of specific accommodation that the authorities themselves provide for older persons.
I am also acutely aware of the social benefit accruing from the continued independent occupancy in their own homes by older people and people with a disability. For that reason, my Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist households to have necessary repairs or improvement works carried out in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their homes. The grants are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of each local authority. The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme provides grants of up to €8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out.
Grant-eligible works include structural repairs or improvements, re-wiring, repairs to or replacement of windows and doors, provision of water supply and sanitary facilities, provision of heating, cleaning, painting, etc. The Mobility Aids Grant Scheme is available to fast track grants of up to €6,000 to cover a basic suite of works to address the mobility problems of a member of a household. Qualifying works include the provision of stair lifts, level access showers, access ramps, grab rails and some minor adaptation works.
Given the importance of housing adaptation and other grants that help older people live comfortably in their own homes for longer, my Department is committed, under Rebuilding Ireland: An Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, to explore how the process of accessing these grants can be streamlined and simplified into the future.
My Department oversees the housing needs assessment undertaken by local authorities to capture the social housing requirements of older citizens. Current housing legislation requires local authorities to classify any specific accommodation requirements of a qualified household where one or more household member is aged 65 years or more. This information is collated as part of the statutory summary of social housing assessments.
In addition, my Department is also responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities. The scheme provides funding for 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.
Furthermore, Part M (Access and Use) of the Building Regulations aims to foster an inclusive approach to the design and construction of the built environment. The requirements of Part M underpin the principle of Universal Design, which is defined in the Disability Act 2005 as “the design and composition of an environment so that it may be accessed, understood and used to the greatest practicable extent, in the most independent and natural manner possible, in the widest possible range of situations and without the need for adaptation, modification, assistive devices or specialised solutions, by persons of any age or size or having any particular physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual ability or disability”.
My Department has ongoing contact with other Departments and State bodies with regard to the areas outlined above, including with the Department of Health as lead Department in respect of the National Positive Ageing Strategy.
Contact with local authorities in relation to the implementation of these actions is also a continuous feature of my Department’s work, in particular in relation to the provision of new sheltered housing for older people and the carrying out of improvement works to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their homes by older people.
576. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of money that has been budgeted for the work of the Expert Commission on Water Charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24790/16]
View answer626. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of funding the IPA is receiving for providing secretarial support services to the Expert Commission on Water Charges. [25856/16]
View answer627. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the 627. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the total amount of funding in tabular form the Government is providing to the Expert Commission on Water Charges. [25857/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 576, 626 and 627 together.
My Department is currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to funding to support the work of the Expert Commission. I expect this process to conclude shortly.
577. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason the decision was made to cease the funding for the Ballymun social regeneration fund by 2017; if he is aware that the cessation of this funding will affect the future operation of 18 different programmes; and if he will revisit this decision with a view to continuing his Department's funding of these projects. [24791/16]
View answerMy Department has provided funding for a range of social regeneration projects in Ballymun for a number of years. Social regeneration funding is provided to Dublin City Council (and formerly Ballymun Regeneration Ltd which has been wound-down) and the Council determines funding levels for the various groups who are involved in social regeneration activities. This funding was paid out of my Department’s capital budget for regeneration, which focuses predominantly on physical regeneration but with a small allocation for social regeneration activities for those areas that are actively undergoing physical regeneration.
As the physical regeneration in Ballymun reached its conclusion in 2014, my Department advised the Council in 2015 that, while it is committed to continuing to support social initiatives in the short term, funding would cease over time. This would allow the Council and the groups that it funded adequate time to seek alternative, sustainable sources of funding for their work. In this respect, I have made available €1.7 million to Dublin City Council for funding for social regeneration activities in Ballymun during 2016. My Department will work with the City Council on a transition over the coming years from funding provided under the Regeneration programme.
578. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if housing assistance payment tenancies will be extended to more than two years, which is a very short period of time and not in line with sustainable tenancies; the reason the payment is stopped to the landlord with no recourse if the tenant does not pay their portion of the rent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24793/16]
View answerThere is no limitation placed on the length of tenancy that can be supported by the Housing Assistance Payment ( HAP ). However, as with other private rental tenancies, the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 governs the relationship between landlord and tenant and the length of the tenancy is a matter that must be agreed between the landlord and tenant in that context. Under the HAP scheme, tenants supported by the scheme are expected to stay in their current tenancy for a minimum period of two years, unless there are exceptional reasons for moving tenancy. Such exceptional reasons, include moving for the purpose of employment, further education, family or health reasons.
Since 1 January 2016, landlords who rent to tenants in receipt of social housing supports such as HAP may avail of increased tax relief. The scheme allows property owners to claim 100 per cent relief on their mortgage interest, as an expense against rental income. The purpose of this tax relief is to incentivise landlords to maintain tenancies with social housing tenants for longer periods. To qualify, the landlord must undertake to make the accommodation available to qualifying tenants for a minimum period of three years, and the undertaking must be registered with the Residential Tenancies Board.
HAP is a form of social housing support under which local authorities will make monthly payments on behalf of tenants directly to landlords in respect of rent, subject to the terms and conditions of the scheme. HAP tenants are required to sign a rent contribution agreement to pay a weekly rental contribution to the local authority in line with the local authority’s differential rent scheme. As set out in the rent contribution agreement, this weekly rental contribution must be paid by them so that they remain eligible for the HAP scheme. If this weekly rent contribution is not paid, HAP payments to the landlord can be stopped or suspended.
The HAP Shared Service Centre (SSC) manages the collection of all HAP tenants’ differential rents, on behalf of the relevant local authority, and the payment of all HAP rents to landlords on behalf of tenants supported by the HAP scheme. The HAP SSC applies a very clear communication policy when rental arrears issues arise. This policy includes regular and early written communication with tenants, landlords and the relevant local authority when a tenancy is being jeopardised by non-payment of rent. To date the approach used has been very effective with minimal levels of rent arrears arising for HAP tenants, and more than 13,000 tenancies currently being supported by the HAP scheme.
580. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will examine and expand the council housing loan scheme, to include persons whom during the recession have lost their homes, as currently they are unable to avail of the council home loan scheme as they are not first-time buyers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24796/16]
View answerThe standard annuity mortgage available from local authorities is targeted at lower income first time buyers. The relevant terms and conditions applying to local authority housing loans, including eligibility terms, are set out in the Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2012, which are available at: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2012/si/408/made/en/print.
To support local authorities in operating their housing loan schemes in a consistent and efficient manner, the Housing Agency provides a central underwriting service to local authorities. The credit underwriting process considers the impact that family circumstances may have on the loan applicant’s capacity to make loan repayments. The final decision on loan approval is a matter for the relevant local authority and its credit committee on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the relevant statutory Credit Policy, that underpins the scheme and aims to ensure prudent lending.
I will continue to keep the operation of the local authority housing loan schemes under review. I have no immediate plans to amend the eligibility criteria set out in the Regulations.
583. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will introduce a grant scheme for septic tank owners who need to upgrade their systems without being inspected by local authorities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24824/16]
View answer634. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if a householder can request an inspection in a case where a septic tank is evidentially not working in order to receive grant aid to upgrade the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25909/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 583 and 634 together.
Section 70 of the Water Services Act 2007 places a duty of care on the owner of a premises to ensure that their waste water treatment systems are kept so as not to cause, or be likely to cause, a risk to human health or the environment, including waters, the atmosphere, land, soil, plants or animals, or create a nuisance through odours. The duty of care provisions have been augmented by the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 and associated regulations. Any person whose treatment system fails an inspection or, in the absence of an inspection, considers that their treatment system constitutes, or may constitute, a risk to human health or the environment is responsible for having any necessary remediation works carried out without delay.
Local authorities carry out inspections of septic tanks and similar systems for a variety of reasons, including water quality issues at drinking water sources or within designated shellfish or bathing water catchments and arising from reports of pollution from members of the public. Separately, inspections are carried out based on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Inspection Plan 2015 – 2017: Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems. This plan uses a risk-based methodology for the selection of systems for inspection , taking into account factors such as densities of individual treatment systems across the numerous hydrological and geological settings in Ireland and the locations of sensitive groundwater or surface water receptors. The selection of treatment systems for inspection under the EPA plan is carried out by the local authorities using an IT system developed by the EPA. Householders cannot request inspections of their own treatment systems, nor are inspections under the plan carried out based on third party complaints.
The Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013 brought into operation a grant scheme to assist with the cost of remediation of septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed, following inspection under the EPA National Inspection Plan, to require repair or upgrading. The Regulations provide that, subject to the applicant meeting all qualification criteria, a local authority may pay a grant to a person who is required, following an inspection, to have repairs or upgrades to, or replacement of, a septic tank or other domestic waste water treatment system. The grant scheme ensures that the limited financial resources available are targeted towards householders, particularly those on lower incomes, who incur expenditure directly as a result of the implementation of the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012. It is not proposed to introduce a further scheme in the area at this time. Full details of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, are set out in the explanatory leaflet and application form published on my Department’s website at:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-quality/domestic-waste-water-systemsseptic-tanks/domestic-waste-water-treatment-0.
Householders who do not meet the eligibility criteria for the grant under the aforementioned Regulations and who wish to remediate or upgrade their on-site treatment systems may qualify for relief under the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) Scheme introduced pursuant to Section 5 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2013. The HRI Scheme covers main residence repairs, renovations and improvements, including the repair or replacement of septic tanks. The Scheme is administered by the Revenue Commissioners and full details are published on the Revenue Commissioner’s website at www.revenue.ie.
584. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on changes relating to the HAP scheme whereby persons are now being asked to forfeit their place on local authority housing lists. [24843/16]
View answerAs the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is deemed to be a social housing support under section 19 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, as amended, households in receipt of HAP are not included on the local authority waiting list for social housing support. However, HAP recipients may access other forms of social housing supports, by applying to go on the local authority transfer list.
On 16 December 2014, a statutory direction was issued to all authorities involved in the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) statutory pilot, instructing them to take the necessary steps to ensure that households benefiting from HAP can avail of a move to other forms of social housing support, should they wish to do so, through the transfer option. Local authorities were also directed that HAP recipients, who apply to go on the transfer list, should get full credit for the time they spent on the waiting list and be placed on the transfer list with no less favourable terms than if they had remained on the waiting list. In practice, housing authorities inform HAP recipients in writing of their entitlement to apply to go on the transfer list when they are approved for HAP. As of 12 September 2016, 169 households have transferred from the scheme to other forms of social housing support.
585. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Tithíochta, Pleanála, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil ar eisíodh treoir chuig na húdaráis áitiúla á chur in iúl dóibh nach bhfuil an Ghaeilge riachtanach le haghaidh ceapachán leabharlannaí cúnta sna leabharlanna poiblí; ar tugadh aon treoir d’aon údarás áitiúil athfhógairt a dhéanamh ar phostanna dá leithéid a raibh Gaeilge agus Béarla luaite leo mar cháilíochtaí riachtanacha; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [24959/16]
View answerBunaíodh grúpa oibre sa bhliain 2015 chun na cáilíochtaí do ghrádanna leabharlanna poiblí, idir proifisiúnta agus gan a bheith proifisiúnta, a hathbhreithniú. Ba iad baill an ghrúpa oibre ná oifigigh de chuid na Roinne Comhshaoil, Pobal agus Rialtais Áitiúil, Leabharlannaithe Contae ( atá ina gcomhaltaí den Chumann Leabharlanna na hÉireann), agus acmhainní daonna ó údaráis áitiúla éagsúla chomh maith le hionadaithe ón Aonad Forbartha Leabharlann (An Comhairle Leabharlanna mar a bhí) sa Ghníomhaireacht Bainistíochta Rialtais Áitiúil. Ba é an t-aschur ón ngrúpa seo ná dréachtcháilíochtaí nuashonraithe, do gach grád leabharlainne, atá foilsithe anois ag an Aire Comhshaoil, Pobal agus Rialtais Aitiúil.
Léiríonn na cáilíochtaí nuashonraithe na hathruithe atá tarlaithe sa ghairm le fiche bliain anuas. Cuireann na cáilíochtaí nuashonraithe béim níos mó, don bhfoireann shinsearach i ngairm na leabhlarlannaíochta, ar scileanna bainistíochta maraon leis na grádanna proifisiúnta analógach. Léiríonn na cáilíochtaí freisin an struchtúr agus an chonair ghairme ó Ghrád 3 go dtí a 9, arís atá ar aon dul le na grádanna proifisiúnta analógach.
Níl sna cáilíochtaí nua an riachtanas a bhíodh ann i gcáilíochtaí roimhe seo don iarrthóir ráthúil bheith cumasach sa Ghaeilge. B’é an moladh ón ngrúpa oibre gur chruthaigh é seo bac iontrála neamhriachtanach dóibh siúd gan Gaeilge labhartha nó dóibh siúd nach raibh an deis acu an teanga a fhoghlaim.
Eisíodh na cáilíochtaí athbhreithnithe maidir le gach grád leabharlainne chuig gach údarás áitiúil agus tá siad éifeachtach ó 18 Iúil 2016. Is ceist í don údarás áitiúil cuí comórtais a reáchtáil chun poist a líonadh sa tseirbhís leabharlainne.
586. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of a sewerage scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24994/16]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. If Deputies have any queries on specific issues in relation to water services, they may be aware that Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to: oireachtasmembers@water.ie ,or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
587. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to extend the exemption from motor tax to Blood Bike vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25066/16]
View answer588. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will amend the statutory instrument on motor tax for vehicles (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25070/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 587 and 588 together.
Exemptions from motor tax are generally provided for in primary legislation (with the exception of the exemption for disabled drivers and disabled passengers, which is a matter for the Minister for Finance), rather than by way of Statutory Instrument.
There is no exemption from motor tax for emergency voluntary organisations, per se. Under current legislation, there are a limited number of exemptions from motor tax, including exemptions for categories of vehicle such as fire engines and ambulances, which have been in place since the 1920’s, when such vehicles would have been in State ownership. A very limited number of exemptions from motor tax have been added over the years, including exemptions for vehicles used exclusively for mountain and cave rescue purposes and for vehicles used exclusively for underwater search and recovery purposes, introduced in the Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Act 2001. There have been no additions to the categories of vehicles exempted from motor tax since then. While no immediate changes are proposed, I am prepared, in consultation with the Minister for Finance, to consider the proposal while at the same time carefully analysing the cost to the Exchequer and general narrowing of the motor tax base, which is a vital revenue stream for the Local Government Fund.
589. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number and category of housing applicants for each local authority as notified to his Department by location within that local authority in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25091/16]
View answerThe assessment of households for social housing support, and the allocation of such support, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated regulations. My Department does not hold day to day information on the number of applications made to each local authority, the numbers allocated housing support and the numbers on housing lists. The most up-to-date information on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each housing authority is available in the Summary of Social Housing Assessments 2013, which can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link :
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad%2C34857%2Cen.pdf
In line with a commitment given in the Social Housing Strategy 2020 – Support, Supply and Reform, summary figures will now be produced on an annual basis. I expect the updated figures for 2016 to be available before the end of this year.
590. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of family units who are recipients of the housing assistance payment, HAP, within each local authority area and county by location within that authority or county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25092/16]
View answerSome 13,000 households are currently being supported by the HAP scheme across the 19 local authority areas where the scheme is operational, including eligible homeless households under the Homeless HAP Pilot scheme managed by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) for all four local authorities in the Dublin region. A summary of the household classes supported by the HAP scheme at Quarter 2 of this year is set out below:
- Single / Single Sharing - 34%
- Couple / Couple Sharing - 4%
- Lone Parent with Children - 37%
- Couple with Children - 25%
A breakdown of the number of households currently supported by the HAP scheme by local authority on 5 September 2016 is set out below.
|
Local Authority Name |
Active |
|
Carlow County Council |
344 |
|
Clare County Council |
735 |
|
Cork City Council |
717 |
|
Cork County Council |
1467 |
|
Donegal County Council |
1116 |
|
Dublin City Council* |
458 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council* |
2 |
|
Fingal County Council* |
44 |
|
Galway City Council |
148 |
|
Galway County Council |
237 |
|
Kildare County Council |
527 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
655 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
1329 |
|
Louth County Council |
980 |
|
Mayo County Council |
261 |
|
Meath County Council |
281 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
250 |
|
Offaly County Council |
236 |
|
Sligo County Council |
127 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
1159 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
733 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
834 |
|
Total |
12,640 |
* Homeless HAP only available currently in these three L A s.
591. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will increase the income limits for persons to be eligible to be included as applicants for social housing as the current limits make it exceptionally difficult for low-paid workers to be included on social housing lists and these positions are only substantially available to persons on payments from the Department of Social Protection; his views on whether this is appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25102/16]
View answerThe Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each housing authority, in different bands according to the area, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of income needed to provide for a household's basic needs plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. The limits also reflect a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced prior to the new system coming into operation, in order to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn and thereby promote sustainable communities.
I am satisfied that the current income limits generally provide for a fair and equitable system of identifying those households unable to provide accommodation from their own resources. However, these limits will continue to be kept under review by my Department, as part of the broader social housing reform agenda set out in the Social Housing Strategy 2020.
593. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding replacing water meters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25141/16]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. If Deputies have any queries on specific issues in relation to water services, they may be aware that Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to: oireachtasmembers@water.ie ,or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
594. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will release the funds necessary to complete the work on the road at the back of an estate (details supplied); if he has been in contact with the relevant county council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25160/16]
View answerMy Department has not as yet received a formal proposal for the construction of social houses at the location referred to in the details supplied. The development of such a proposal, including issues around the housing provision, access, services, etc will, in the first instance, be a matter for Fingal County Council to advance. I understand from enquires made with the Council that it is proposed to develop a master plan for the area to identify any infrastructural requirements to support the delivery of new housing.
595. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if advice has yet been received from the Office of the Chief State Solicitor in relation to the illegal dumping that took place at the Old Dock Galway 16th century dock; the steps proposed to be taken to deal with this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25195/16]
View answerMy Department has received legal advice on this complex case. Having considered the advice received, my Department has sought further clarification from the State’s legal services on certain matters. My Department is currently awaiting the further clarification requested.
597. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if a person who is under the long-term housing leasing scheme is eligible for mortgage allowance towards their mortgage when they build their own home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25328/16]
View answerThe purpose of the Mortgage Allowance Scheme is to assist householders who are tenants of local authority houses or dwellings provided by approved voluntary housing bodies to become owner-occupiers of other dwellings, thereby surrendering their house to the local authority or approved housing body. The scheme is administered by the relevant local authority. Under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme , local authorities source properties under long - term lease arrangements from a range of sources, including approved housing bodies. Tenants should enquire with their local authority as to their eligibility for this financial assistance.
598. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the total amounts spent or budgeted for homeless services in 2015 and 2016. [25369/16]
View answerMy Department provides current funding to housing authorities towards the cost of providing accommodation and related services for homeless persons under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. The funding amounts provided to homeless services by other State agencies are a matter for the relevant Ministers. Under ‘Section 10’ funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of any service they are funding, from within their own resources. Furthermore, housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of the Section 10 funding arrangements. Therefore the exact amounts spent by housing authorities on homeless services are a matter for those authorities.
Details of the Section 10 Exchequer funding provided to housing authorities by my Department during 2015 and to date in 2016 are set out in the following table on a regional basis. Budget 2016 confirmed a national budget of €70 million in Exchequer funding under Section 10 arrangements, recoupments amounting to almost €40 have been made to housing authorities to date. The funding needs of the various regions will be kept under review on an on-going basis.
Exchequer Funding provided under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988
|
Region |
2015 - € |
To date in 2016 - € |
|
Dublin |
48,270,201 |
27,870,000 |
|
Mid-East |
1,716,245 |
900,000 |
|
Midland |
805,995 |
600,000 |
|
Mid-West |
3,499,898 |
2,625,000 |
|
North-East |
996,849 |
244,434 |
|
North-West |
387,643 |
318,750 |
|
South-East |
2,394,619 |
1,875 , 000 |
|
South-West |
5,000,686 |
3,7 50 , 000 |
|
West |
1,698,834 |
1,500,000 |
|
Total |
64,770,970 |
39,683,184 |
599. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the way the discrepancy between the approximately €122 million outturn for the rental accommodation scheme in 2015 as listed in his Department's housing statistics and the €200 million recorded in local authority budgets 2015 as spent on RAS is accounted for. [25370/16]
View answerThe Local Government Act 2001, as amended by the Local Government Reform Act 2014, provides the legislative basis for the local authority budget process. It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process, having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. The elected members of a local authority have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which includes adopting the annual budget, and are democratically accountable for all expenditure by the local authority. Consolidated annual budget data for all local authorities, compiled by the Department is available on my Department’s website.
The 2015 Local Authority Budget Publication available on my Department’s website at http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/attachments/local_authority_budget_publication_2015.pdf identifies estimated expenditure total of €200.19m in respect of the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) across each local authority in 2015.
My Department recouped €121.8m in voted Exchequer funding in respect of the operation of RAS to local authorities in 2015. In addition, local authorities report that a total of €14.8m in RAS costs were met by local authorities directly using built-up RAS reserve funds in 2015. There are a number of other income sources available to local authorities for the scheme other than the recoupments from my Department including inspection fees paid by the Residential tenancies Board (RTB) and rental income received from the tenant.
Each local authority is required to prepare an Annual Financial Statement (AFS) of actual income and expenditure by the end of March following the year end. These financial statements undergo an independent audit by the Local Government Audit Service. Queries in relati on to the individual statements, as well as annual budgets, are a matter for the relevant local authority.
600. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the number of local authority direct builds, housing association direct builds, part V units, broken down into purchases and leased properties, and other acquisitions and leasing by councils and housing associations projected annually under the rebuilding Ireland plan; and if that information is unavailable the number in total over the life of the plan. [25371/16]
View answer601. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of local authority new direct builds, not including Part V, that will be provided annually under the rebuilding Ireland plan; and if that information is unavailable the number in total over the life of the plan. [25372/16]
View answer602. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide an annual breakdown of the number of the new social housing units promised under the rebuilding Ireland plan that will be owned by local authorities; and if that information is unavailable the number in total over the life of the plan. [25373/16]
View answer603. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide an annual breakdown of the number of the new social housing units promised under the rebuilding Ireland plan that will be provided by housing associations; and if that information is unavailable the number in total over the life of the plan. [25374/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 600 to 603, inclusive, together.
To support the implementation of Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, I have secured €5.35 billion in exchequer investment to deliver 47,000 social housing units through build, refurbishment, acquisitions and leasing, over the period 2016 to 2021. This €5.35bn investment comprises some €4.5 billion in capital funding and €844 million in support of programmes funded from current expenditure.
Of the 47,000 units, it is estimated at this stage that approximately 26,000 will be constructed, while 11,000 will be acquired by local authorities and AHBs directly from the market or the Housing Agency, with a portion of these being newly built units. The 10,000 units will be leased by local authorities and AHBs, which includes an estimated 5,000 units to be sourced from the NTMA Special Purpose Vehicle and a further 5,000 properties to be secured from a combination of the Repair and Leasing Initiative that will be piloted shortly and under long-term lease arrangements by local authorities and AHBs from a range of different sources, not including Part V. This therefore includes a mix of units from the existing housing stock and newly built units. Overall, it is estimated that around 4,700 units could be secured for social housing from Part V agreements.
The actual breakdown of delivery will ultimately depend on many factors, including activity in the private sector, capacity of local authorities and AHBs and readiness of projects. However, delivering the 47,000 units targeted will require concerted effort by both local authorities and AHBs, as shown in the following table.
|
- |
Build |
Acquire |
Leasing |
Totals |
|
LA |
18,718 |
2,276 |
3,500 |
24,494 |
|
AHB |
4,698 |
8,652 |
13,350 |
|
|
LA/AHB |
2,620 |
6,536 |
9,156 |
|
|
26,036 |
10,928 |
10,036 |
47,000 |
|
