Written Answers Nos. 164-176
164. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the projected spend on housing for the lifetime of the Rebuilding Ireland plan broken down into capital and current spend for each year of the plan in tabular form. [35631/16]
View answerTo 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 €5.35 billion investment comprises some €4.5 billion in capital funding and €844 million in support of programmes funded from current expenditure. In addition, €200 million is being provided for the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund through investment in key enabling infrastructure.
Under Budget 2017, some €1.3bn will be invested across the broad range of housing programmes next year, including those covered by the Rebuilding Ireland investment programme. The annual allocations for the years 2018 to 2021 will be finalised in the context of the annual Budgetary process.
165. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the annual allocation of capital and current spend and the annual drawdown of capital and current spend by each local authority for each of the years from 2011 to 2016, in tabular form. [35632/16]
View answerThe data requested are currently being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
While annual allocations are provided to local authorities in respect of certain housing programmes, housing funding generally is provided on an ongoing basis, in accordance with housing needs and on foot of submissions received in response to Calls for Proposals, rather than through all-embracing housing allocations. However, if there is an individual housing scheme/programme that the Deputy is interested in, I will endeavour to provide further information. Details of expenditure by local authority from 2011 to date are set out in the tables.
|
Capital Expenditure (Millions) |
||||||
|
Local Authority |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016* |
|
Carlow |
€5.191 |
€6.180 |
€4.509 |
€5.288 |
€4.946 |
€1.869 |
|
Cavan |
€3.310 |
€3.701 |
€3.658 |
€4.148 |
€4.398 |
€1.719 |
|
Clare |
€10.861 |
€4.907 |
€7.300 |
€7.642 |
€8.029 |
€3.746 |
|
Cork City |
€19.075 |
€16.354 |
€11.816 |
€13.663 |
€37.970 |
€10.424 |
|
Cork County Council |
€25.368 |
€18.024 |
€11.830 |
€9.684 |
€17.154 |
€14.363 |
|
DL Rathdown |
€8.460 |
€22.709 |
€7.850 |
€5.935 |
€19.865 |
€8.919 |
|
Donegal |
€8.538 |
€4.281 |
€3.069 |
€6.555 |
€4.641 |
€2.277 |
|
Dublin City |
€80.588 |
€85.512 |
€77.590 |
€73.934 |
€95.846 |
€64.159 |
|
Fingal |
€24.613 |
€12.894 |
€13.600 |
€17.036 |
€43.175 |
€6.542 |
|
Galway City |
€10.375 |
€8.104 |
€2.319 |
€3.063 |
€6.073 |
€2.130 |
|
Galway County Council |
€8.391 |
€5.187 |
€5.630 |
€6.324 |
€4.093 |
€5.030 |
|
Kerry |
€17.337 |
€7.951 |
€6.176 |
€4.968 |
€8.798 |
€3.871 |
|
Kildare |
€31.758 |
€10.268 |
€8.825 |
€9.126 |
€17.874 |
€18.031 |
|
Kilkenny |
€9.621 |
€9.737 |
€5.402 |
€4.436 |
€9.328 |
€5.364 |
|
Laois |
€6.828 |
€3.742 |
€2.453 |
€5.963 |
€6.602 |
€3.187 |
|
Leitrim |
€1.394 |
€1.980 |
€2.318 |
€1.339 |
€1.269 |
€0.846 |
|
Limerick (unified) |
€62.984 |
€42.717 |
€37.903 |
€33.759 |
€25.070 |
€18.422 |
|
Longford |
€3.605 |
€4.069 |
€3.926 |
€2.537 |
€2.361 |
€0.913 |
|
Louth |
€9.151 |
€14.084 |
€4.991 |
€5.576 |
€9.073 |
€6.570 |
|
Mayo |
€6.183 |
€4.620 |
€6.054 |
€4.650 |
€5.040 |
€4.408 |
|
Meath |
€13.376 |
€9.688 |
€7.601 |
€5.527 |
€8.677 |
€8.594 |
|
Monaghan |
€6.317 |
€5.238 |
€3.792 |
€5.185 |
€3.973 |
€1.215 |
|
Offaly |
€5.859 |
€3.786 |
€2.487 |
€4.043 |
€4.449 |
€1.406 |
|
Roscommon |
€3.681 |
€3.356 |
€2.507 |
€2.574 |
€1.886 |
€1.052 |
|
Sligo |
€17.955 |
€9.112 |
€3.523 |
€6.837 |
€6.559 |
€4.780 |
|
South Dublin |
€14.567 |
€14.808 |
€16.863 |
€14.152 |
€11.285 |
€14.831 |
|
Tipperary (unified) |
€13.089 |
€12.114 |
€7.784 |
€6.657 |
€10.782 |
€7.576 |
|
Waterford (unified) |
€15.706 |
€14.705 |
€4.910 |
€8.191 |
€10.867 |
€4.712 |
|
Westmeath |
€4.936 |
€5.118 |
€3.168 |
€5.296 |
€4.053 |
€3.967 |
|
Wexford |
€11.307 |
€6.456 |
€3.706 |
€6.993 |
€7.872 |
€8.244 |
|
Wicklow |
€10.085 |
€13.175 |
€6.997 |
€4.156 |
€14.641 |
€0.366 |
|
Total |
€470.509 |
€384.575 |
€290.558 |
€295.237 |
€416.648 |
€239.532 |
Current Expenditure (Millions)
|
Local Authority |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016* |
|
Carlow |
€3.800 |
€4.674 |
€4.931 |
€5.408 |
€5.362 |
€3.594 |
|
Cavan |
€1.781 |
€2.000 |
€2.710 |
€2.801 |
€2.990 |
€1.396 |
|
Clare |
€4.022 |
€3.912 |
€3.670 |
€3.378 |
€4.278 |
€2.578 |
|
Cork City |
€11.447 |
€11.803 |
€13.393 |
€12.441 |
€14.402 |
€12.034 |
|
Cork County Council |
€13.230 |
€13.862 |
€13.921 |
€12.298 |
€14.870 |
€6.602 |
|
DL Rathdown |
€10.209 |
€10.355 |
€11.089 |
€9.714 |
€12.508 |
€9.258 |
|
Donegal |
€5.223 |
€5.939 |
€6.156 |
€6.168 |
€6.292 |
€5.070 |
|
Dublin City |
€69.743 |
€67.286 |
€70.925 |
€67.810 |
€95.485 |
€66.047 |
|
Fingal |
€13.119 |
€13.866 |
€14.097 |
€17.791 |
€16.904 |
€9.687 |
|
Galway City |
€7.962 |
€7.935 |
€8.296 |
€7.981 |
€4.398 |
€6.558 |
|
Galway County |
€4.074 |
€3.854 |
€3.825 |
€3.769 |
€4.257 |
€3.126 |
|
Kerry |
€4.829 |
€6.881 |
€6.123 |
€6.268 |
€4.609 |
€5.976 |
|
Kildare |
€8.295 |
€9.045 |
€10.131 |
€9.257 |
€11.852 |
€10.669 |
|
Kilkenny |
€3.660 |
€4.367 |
€4.524 |
€4.980 |
€5.911 |
€2.295 |
|
Laois |
€3.109 |
€4.425 |
€4.045 |
€4.286 |
€4.128 |
€4.073 |
|
Leitrim |
€0.702 |
€0.705 |
€0.711 |
€0.620 |
€0.597 |
€0.614 |
|
Limerick (unified) |
€9.246 |
€10.122 |
€10.930 |
€11.498 |
€25.300 |
€42.827 |
|
Longford |
€2.845 |
€3.089 |
€2.730 |
€2.437 |
€2.432 |
€0.997 |
|
Louth |
€6.351 |
€8.005 |
€7.771 |
€8.528 |
€9.220 |
€6.474 |
|
Mayo |
€5.285 |
€5.769 |
€6.201 |
€6.597 |
€6.406 |
€5.426 |
|
Meath |
€2.757 |
€3.523 |
€3.777 |
€4.188 |
€5.791 |
€3.295 |
|
Monaghan |
€1.912 |
€1.859 |
€1.992 |
€1.975 |
€1.776 |
€1.153 |
|
Offaly |
€3.037 |
€3.029 |
€3.386 |
€3.090 |
€3.733 |
€2.560 |
|
Roscommon |
€2.083 |
€2.184 |
€2.174 |
€3.323 |
€2.380 |
€1.834 |
|
Sligo |
€3.430 |
€3.717 |
€3.873 |
€4.959 |
€4.814 |
€3.882 |
|
South Dublin |
€22.453 |
€22.887 |
€24.615 |
€24.878 |
€16.826 |
€18.200 |
|
Tipperary (unified) |
€8.266 |
€10.906 |
€11.910 |
€12.057 |
€12.183 |
€8.676 |
|
Waterford (unified) |
€8.420 |
€7.819 |
€9.047 |
€8.739 |
€9.519 |
€7.605 |
|
Westmeath |
€3.425 |
€2.999 |
€3.823 |
€4.162 |
€4.488 |
€3.398 |
|
Wexford |
€4.239 |
€5.413 |
€5.503 |
€6.212 |
€6.604 |
€5.421 |
|
Wicklow |
€3.812 |
€4.568 |
€5.199 |
€5.124 |
€5.914 |
€5.019 |
|
Total |
€252.766 |
€266.799 |
€281.476 |
€281.760 |
€326.229 |
€266.343 |
* Up to end of October 2016
166. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his proposals to increase the income eligibility limits for local authority housing for councils such as Cavan in view of the increasing difficulties faced by persons slightly above the existing income limits in purchasing a home themselves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35635/16]
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 the 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. 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 .
I am aware of the difficulties experienced by some households in purchasing their own home where they are not eligible for social housing support on income grounds. It may be possible for such households to avail of a mortgage from a local authority which is targeted at lower income first- time buyers who can demonstrate that they are unable to get a loan from a building society or bank. A loan can be up to 97% of the price of the property, subject to a maximum loan of €200,000. The relevant terms and conditions applying to local authority housing loans are set out in the Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 408 of 2012), which prescribe a maximum annual gross income threshold of €50,000 for a single person household or a combined annual gross income of €75,000 for a two person household. The Regulations are available on my Department’s website at: Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2012.
Another option is the Home Choice Loan, a Government backed mortgage for first time buyers. The Home Choice Loan is available through authorised mortgage brokers and can be used to provide up to 92% of the market value of the property being purchased, up to a maximum loan amount of €285,000. A new or second hand property may be purchased under the scheme. Further information is available at: www.homechoiceloan.ie.
167. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if an application has been received from Louth County Council regarding the proposed Drogheda Northern Cross route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35673/16]
View answerThe aim of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund is to relieve critical infrastructural blockages to enable the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites and to improve the economic viability of new housing projects in Dublin and in urban areas of high demand for housing. The €200m Fund will be composed of an Exchequer allocation of €150 million, matched by a €50 million contribution from participating local authorities.
A call for proposals under the fund was issued to local authorities on 26 August 2016, with a closing date for receipt of proposals of 14 October. It was open to all local authorities to apply, with funding to be allocated on the basis of a competitive bid process. 21 local authorities have submitted a total of 74 project applications relating to specific sites or development land areas. Louth County Council submitted a proposal in relation to Northern Environs, Drogheda which includes the Port Access Northern Cross Route.
The overall total cost of the 74 funding bid applications is approximately €800m, with funding of some €600m being sought from the Exchequer and local authorities agreeing to fund approximately €200m as part of their matching fund requirements. It will not be possible to approve all applications, given the scale and value of applications received.
The viability of the applications is currently being examined in detail against the assessment criteria set out in the Call for Proposals, with a focus on the level of funding required and what it might leverage, the number of housing units that could be delivered, their strategic location and speed of delivery, and affordability levels of a proportion of the homes.
In light of the different financial assessments required for the different scales of proposals under the Public Spending Code, there will be two phases of announcements. I intend to make initial announcements for successful smaller-scale projects in mid-December and a second phase announcement by end March 2017 for those project bids requiring more detailed financial appraisals.
168. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on the appropriateness of appointing a person (details supplied) to the Cork expert advisory group. [35699/16]
View answer169. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans in appointing an external adviser (details supplied) to the Cork expert advisory group; and his views on whether this appointment may influence the direction of the Cork expert advisory group.. [35700/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together.
The role of the Cork expert advisory group is to review the recommendations of the Cork Local Government Committee report. The group is tasked with examining both the majority and minority reports and underlying material and has a mandate to identify and examine a wider range of options for Cork than might have been considered previously.
In considering members for the Cork expert advisory group, consideration was given to suitable candidates meeting the specific skill sets required. Specific professional expertise in strategic planning, local government administration and governance was sought to deal with the complexity of the issues involved.
I chose individuals who, in my view, have the necessary professional expertise in these areas and I included a mix of both national and international experts.
170. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of the measures in pillar 1 of Rebuilding Ireland to address homelessness with timelines of Q3 and Q4 of 2016, including the delivery of rapid build houses, preventing family homelessness, extending housing first and the tenancy protection service and providing adequate emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35705/16]
View answerImplementation of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness is being advanced across a number of departments and agencies, under the oversight of the Cabinet Committee on Housing, chaired by An Taoiseach, and there is a clear commitment to reporting progress, particularly through quarterly progress reports. The first quarterly progress report, which is in respect of Quarter 3 2016 commitments and actions, was published on 1 November and can be accessed through the following link: - http://rebuildingireland.ie/First-Progress-Report.pdf.
Further progress reports will be published on the same quarterly basis, with the next due to be published in January 2017. Each quarterly report will focus on the actions due to be progressed or completed in the preceding quarter.
The various ‘Pillar 1’ actions contained in Rebuilding Ireland are being advanced across a number of Government departments and agencies. The Quarter 4 actions, such as the implementation of a National Tenancy Protection Service and a One-Stop Shop assessment centre for families, are progressing in line with the timeframes identified in Rebuilding Ireland. Also, measures are being put in place to ensure sufficient emergency accommodation is in place over the winter period.
With specific regard to Rapid-Delivery Housing Programme, 22 units have already been delivered and are tenanted and Dublin City Council is currently advancing a number of projects, which will deliver a further 131 units on a phased basis from end-year. Work is also underway across the four local authorities, which will bring to 350 the number of rapid delivery homes advancing through various stages of delivery, including construction, by the end of the year. Construction dates will be finalised in the context of completion of procurement and award of contracts.
171. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the details of all pension top-ups paid in respect of chief executives of semi-State companies under the aegis of his Department, including the name of the organisation, the name of the chief executive, the amount of the top-up, the date of payment, and if the top-up was approved by his Department in each of the years 2011 to 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35892/16]
View answerRetirement benefits payable to staff of agencies under the aegis of my Department is a matter primarily for the agencies themselves, under their approved superannuation schemes. On the basis that "top-ups" refers to superannuation payments beyond contractual entitlements, no such payments were approved by my Department in the period in question.
172. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason social protection recipients who participate on the JobPath programme are being told that they cannot during the term of the programme take up a Tús position despite otherwise meeting the criteria for Tús participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35522/16]
View answer173. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact that certain companies administering the JobPath programme do not make it clear to participants who join that programme that they cannot take up a position with Tús while they are participating in the JobPath programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35523/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 173 together.
JobPath is an employment activation service that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. Participants on JobPath receive intensive individual support to help them tackle barriers to employment and to assist them in finding full-time sustainable jobs. Each participant is assigned to a personal adviser who assesses a person’s skills, experience, challenges and work goals. The personal adviser works with the jobseeker to agree a personal progression plan that includes a schedule of activities, actions and job focused targets. Participants receive the JobPath service for a period of 12 months (which can be extended by up to six months to facilitate the jobseeker completing training programmes) or until such time as they find employment whichever is the sooner. If the jobseeker secures employment during this period they will continue to receive support for at least three months and up to twelve months while in employment
TÚS is a community work placement initiative providing short-term working opportunities for jobseekers as a stepping stone back to full-time employment. TÚS placements are not full-time sustainable jobs. Unemployed people do not apply to participate in TÚS. Eligible people are selected for TÚS by my Department. In general, in order to manage the allocation of places effectively, jobseekers cannot participate in two schemes simultaneously. This restriction applies to TÚS, JobPath and other schemes. However, if a person has completed their engagement with the one service and continues to be unemployed, participation on other schemes remains an option that can be considered for that person subject to an assessment by a departmental case officer.
Jobseekers, who are selected for JobPath, are invited to attend an initial information session that is jointly hosted by my Department and the JobPath company and at which the jobseekers' rights and responsibilities are explained. I have asked my officials to arrange for information on referrals to TÚS (as well as other scheme such as Community Employment and Gateway) to be provided at future sessions.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
174. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will expedite a review of a disability allowance application with a view to granting this allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35531/16]
View answerThe application for disability allowance (DA) from this man, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 25 October 2016.
Further evidence was received on 7 November 2016 and this is currently being reviewed by a deciding officer. The person in question can expect a decision on the review of his DA application shortly. If the decision to refuse the allowance is confirmed following review, the person concerned will have the right to appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
175. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria to be considered to become a HGV driver instruction tuition provider for Intreo; and the process to apply for same. [35560/16]
View answerThe Training Support Grant (TSG) provided by my Department is designed to fund quick access to short-term training where this cannot be provided by a state provider within a reasonable time or where an intervention is identified that can support individual jobseekers to access work opportunities.
The maximum fund available to jobseekers under the scheme is €500 p.a. Access to the scheme is via my Department’s case officers. The training sought by a jobseeker, such as HGV driver instruction, must form part of the agreed personal progression or action plan for the individual to enter/re-enter the labour market.
The agreement to provide training under the TSG is made between the customers of the Department and the individual training company. Therefore, the Department does not endorse any specific course providers and it does not enter any contracts with individual companies for the provision of training.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. If you require any further assistance on this please do not hesitate to contact Philip in my office.
176. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of social protection payments who reside abroad; if he will provide a breakdown of the types of payments being received, in tabular form; the persons entitled to receive these payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35563/16]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not available in respect of all eligible schemes and is not routinely collated by my Department in the format requested. I am however informed that at the end of October there were in excess of 53,600 recipients of payments of the schemes detailed in the attached tabular statement. This figure is based on the information communicated to my Department by the recipient and may exclude persons who have failed to provide an updated address.
With regard to the persons entitled to receive these payments the position remains unchanged from that which I informed the Deputy of in response to Parliamentary Question 405 on the 15th inst.
Recipients of Invalidity Pension, State Pension Contributory, State Pension Transition, Widow's/Widower’s and Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension who are resident abroad at the end of October 2016
|
Invalidity Pension |
State Pension Contributory |
State Pension Transition |
Widow's/Widower’s and Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension |
|
839 |
44,991 |
102 |
7,694 |
