Written Answers Nos. 129 - 141
129. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the total number of mortgage to rent transactions that have been fully completed at this stage; if he will provide a breakdown of that number by local authority and by lender; if he will confirm the authoritative source of information on the scheme for distressed borrowers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31350/16]
View answerUp to the end of Quarter 3 2016, a total of 3,498 cases had been submitted under the Mortgage to Rent Scheme which was introduced in 2012 for borrowers of private commercial lending institutions. Of the 3,498 cases submitted, 2,642 were ineligible or terminated during the process, for a variety of reasons. Of the remaining cases submitted, 669 are being actively progressed and 187 have been completed. Further statistical information relating to the Mortgage to Rent Scheme since its inception, including a breakdown of MTR cases by local authority and by lender, is available on the Housing Agency’s website at the following weblink:https://www.housingagency.ie/Our-Services/Housing-Supply-Services/Mortgage-to-Rent.aspx.
Information in relation to the MTR Scheme is available in the first instance from the lender concerned and also from a number of other sources including but not limited to the following primary sources of information-
- the Housing Agency who administer the scheme on behalf of my Department: https://www.housingagency.ie/Housing-Information/Mortgage-to-Rent-Scheme, and
- the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) and the Citizens Information Board: https://www.keepingyourhome.ie.
The Government is committed to supporting households in long-term mortgage arrears to remain in their homes and has included a review of the MTR Scheme for borrowers of private commercial lending institutions as an action in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. The review will examine what amendments can be made to the scheme to make it work better for borrowers. My Department has commenced work on scoping the review and in this regard has begun early consultations with key stakeholders. The review is to be complete by the end of the year.
In addition, the Government has established a new scheme to help people who are insolvent and in serious mortgage arrears on their home to access free, independent, expert advice. The Scheme of Aid and Advice for People in Mortgage Arrears provides financial and/or legal advice and assistance to people in this situation. The aim of the Scheme is to help mortgage holders in arrears to find the best solutions and keep them wherever possible, in their own homes.
130. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 29 of 12 October 2016, when the original legal advice was sought from the Chief State Solicitor's office on the 16th century dock in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31436/16]
View answerMy Department originally sought legal advice from the CSSO in relation to this case in June 2014. The overall circumstances of the case are very complicated and required the CSSO to consult with the Office of the Attorney General . Since June 2014 a significant body of work has been undertaken aimed at formulating an appropriate case strategy which has included establishing timelines, identifying appropriate legal entities, and establishing the implications of an existing Circuit Court Order.
131. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if pensioners with a social protection income of more than €22,000 per annum are eligible to purchase a house under the tenant incremental purchase scheme 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31440/16]
View answerThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came in to operation on 1 January 2016 and offers eligible local authority tenants the opportunity to buy their homes. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing support for at least 1 year. The minimum reckonable income for eligibility under the Scheme is determined by the relevant housing authority in accordance with the detailed provisions of the Ministerial Direction issued under Sections 24(3) and (4) of the 2014 Act. In the determination of the minimum reckonable income, housing authorities can include income from a number of different sources and classes, such as from employment, private pensions, maintenance payments and certain social welfare payments, including pensions, where the social welfare payment is secondary to employment income. In this case, a pensioner with a social welfare pension income of over €22,000 a year would not be eligible to purchase a house under this Scheme as their primary source of income is from a social welfare payment.
In order to ensure the sustainability of the scheme, it is essential that an applicant’s income is of a long-term and sustainable nature. This is necessary to ensure that the tenant purchasing the house is in a financial position, as the owner, to maintain and insure the property for the duration of the charged period, in compliance with the conditions of the order transferring the ownership of, and responsibility for, the house from the local authority to the tenant.
In line with the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government and reaffirmed in Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, it is intended that a review of the Scheme will be undertaken in January 2017 following the first 12 months of operation and any changes to the terms and conditions of the scheme which are considered necessary based on the evidence gathered at that stage will be brought forward.
132. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if it is intended to publish the report received by him from the Property Registration Authority on the extent of seaweed rights; the information received that cannot be published because of obligations under the data protection legislation in view of the fact that all land registry folios are open to inspection by the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31442/16]
View answerThe Property Registration Authority of Ireland shared the data concerned with my Department in accordance with an agreed protocol. My Department had to agree to and sign an undertaking to abide by the conditions of this protocol prior to the release of the data. One of the conditions of the protocol is that the requester will not disclose, share or otherwise provide the land parcel geometry or other PRAI data received by it, in response to a request for bulk data from any Department, public body, agency or to any other public body or to any third party. In the circumstances, it is not open to my Department to share the data received.
133. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the assessment his Department has carried out on the impact of Airbnb dwelling usage on the rental market; his plans to regulate Airbnb dwellings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31446/16]
View answerIn publishing Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, the Government has set out a practical and readily implementable set of actions to create a functioning and sustainable housing system. The Plan is available at the website www.rebuildingireland.ie. The Plan is divided into five pillars, with each targeting a specific area of the housing system for attention.
Pillar 4 of the Plan, which deals with the Rental Sector, commits to developing a comprehensive strategy for the sector in Q4 2016. The strategy will be structured around 4 key areas: security, standards, supply and services. In terms of supply, the strategy will focus on maintaining existing levels of rental stock and encouraging investment in additional supply. All the main issues that affect the availability of dwellings in the rental market will be considered during the development of the strategy, which will be informed by a public consultation process now getting underway whereby all interested parties and stakeholders may make submissions.
The overarching objective of the strategy will be to increase supply and support the development of a stable, strong and viable rental sector offering true choice for households, investment opportunities for providers and reflecting the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords.
In the context of the recent determination by An Bord Pleanála in relation to the exclusive use of an apartment as a commercial letting through airbnb, I have asked my Department to examine the decision, which is of course primarily a matter for planning authorities to determine, and consider the appropriate steps, including the provision of statutory planning guidelines, to provide clarity and consistency of approach by all planning authorities in terms of planning requirements for such commercial lettings.
134. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to publish the report of the inquiry into certain planning matters in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31447/16]
View answerMy Department appointed Senior Counsel on a non-statutory basis in September 2015 to prepare a review report in relation to planning matters in Donegal. This follows the Order made by the High Court on 14 June 2013, quashing that part of my Department’s Planning Review Report (2012) relating to Donegal, arising from a settlement between my Department and the party concerned who had brought judicial review proceedings in respect of that part of the Report. Senior Counsel was originally due to submit a review report to my predecessor by end- October 2015; however, further interactions and clarifications sought with regard to the scope and nature of the review resulted in delays to its conclusion. I am currently considering these matters, with a view to providing the necessary clarifications to enable Senior Counsel to complete his independent review as soon as possible over the coming months. While I intend to publish the report after having considered its contents, I will only be in a position to confirm this after I have received the report and considered its contents.
135. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 231 of 14 June 2016 and 133 of 5 October 2016, when funding for Irish Water for 2016 will be decided; the total revenue shortfall in 2016 and 2017 when abolition of the water conservation grant is taken into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31449/16]
View answer136. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 231 of 14 June 2016 and 133 of 5 October 2016, if the shortfall in Irish Water revenue is anticipated to impact upon the Irish Water capital investment programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31450/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together.
The Government, on 18 October 2016, considered the shortfall in domestic revenue to Irish Water arising from the suspension of domestic water charges in the period to 31 March 2017. In relation to the 2016 shortfall of €181m, the Government decided that this will be met by a combination of: additional subvention, funded by savings of €110m from the Water Conservation Grant; the conversion of an already planned 2016 working capital loan of €58m, into subvention; and a reallocation of savings of €13 million. The 2017 shortfall of €125m arising from the suspension of domestic water charges to 31 March 2017 will be met by a corresponding increase in public subvention.
The Government has established an Expert Commission to make recommendations for the sustainable long-term funding model for the delivery of domestic water and wastewater services by Irish Water. The Commission will report to a Special Oireachtas Committee and consideration of recommendations on the funding model will ultimately be voted upon by the Oireachtas next year. Pending the outcome of the Expert Commission on the funding of domestic water services and the consideration of the Commission’s report by the Oireachtas , it is not possible to determine what financial implications may arise for Irish Water post March 2017.
As regards Irish Water’s capital investment, the Programme for a Partnership Government reflects the overall commitment to a capital investment of €5.5 billon to end of 2021, as set out in Irish Water’s Business Plan 2014-2021. The investment programme for the period 2017-21 will be subject to review by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), and any Government funding will be subject to future budgetary decisions.
On 30 September last, the CER published its consultation on the level of Irish Water's allowed revenue, including proposals on operational and capital budgets, for the 2017 and 2018 period with a view to a final decision being made by the CER by end 2016. A copy of the CER's consultation paper is available on its website, www.cer.ie
137. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the total underspend on phase 1 of the water metering programme to date; the estimated final underspend; if this underspend can be or has been re-allocated to other capital projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31451/16]
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. This includes the domestic water metering programme. The domestic metering contracts, awarded in 2013, had the objective of installing 1,050,000 domestic meters over a 3 year programme, which started in August of that year, supported by a budget of €614m including VAT. I understand from Irish Water that the expected capital expenditure under the programme will amount to €465m, which will deliver 880,000 meter installations on completion. As such, savings of about €148m will accrue on the capital metering programme. Up to 170,000 meters included in the original programme will not be metered at this stage, for a combination of health and safety reasons, service complexity or other technical reasons.
Future metering of domestic premises will be considered along with other investment needs based on cost benefit assessment and policy considerations relating to the future decisions on billing and charging. Decisions on such investments will be made under the regulatory regime whereby the Commission for Energy Regulation approves the Water Services Capital Investment Programmes.
138. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department has applied for permission to engage outside public relations companies for the purposes of disseminating Government policy; the cost of each contract entered into; the name of the contractors; the duration of the contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31677/16]
View answerMy Department has not engaged any outside public relations companies since I became Minister nor has it sought permission to do so.
139. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the way under Vote 37, it is expected that social insurance contributions will increase by 8%, while the Minister for Finance expects aggregate compensation for employees to increase by just 4.9%; and the expected percentage increases over 2016 assumed for employee, employer and self-employed contributions on which this figure is based. [31256/16]
View answerThe 2017 Expenditure Report, published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on Budget Day, provides for Social Insurance Fund (SIF) income of €9,599 million in 2017, up from the €8,883 million published late last year in the Revised Estimates Volume. The estimate for 2017 takes account of:
- the trends in SIF income to date in 2016. At the end of September, SIF income is €164 million ahead of profile in the year to date and
- the earnings and employment macroeconomic indicators provided by the Department of Finance for 2017.
Data on the component elements of 2016 SIF income will not be available until 2017 (when the various statutory returns are made by employers and the self-employed) and, accordingly, it is not possible to disaggregate these elements in relation to the 2017 projection.
140. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) who was in receipt of carer's benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31213/16]
View answerI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 29 July 2016. Additional information was requested by a deciding officer on 6 October 2016.
Once the information is received the application will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
141. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31233/16]
View answerThe lady concerned lodged an appeal on her domiciliary care allowance claim (DCA) on the 5th September 2016. The DCA application file, together with the additional information she supplied was forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 19th October 2016 for their consideration. The Social Welfare Appeal Office will be in contact with her in due course. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
