Written Answers Nos. 73-85
73. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the contacts he has had with the Minster for Justice and Equality, relevant Department officials and local authority housing managers to discuss the difficulties faced by the 500 people who are currently in direct provision despite having refugee status; and if he will consider providing these persons with additional supports to help them find housing. [35453/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the issue of direct provision is a matter for my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality. My Department has, however, been working closely with that Department on housing issues arising in the context of refugees. An operational sub-group under the auspices of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme Taskforce, composed of all relevant Departments of State and other bodies, such as representatives of local authorities and the Irish Red Cross, is currently being established to support the process of housing these refugees. This sub-group will be co-chaired by my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality.
Arrangements are being advanced at local authority level to support the housing of these refugees, including through the Housing Assistance Payment Scheme (HAP), and a range of other supports to facilitate the integration of individuals into their new communities.
76. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of his Department’s ongoing engagements with Dublin City Council residents and other interested parties in Longboat Quay Dublin; and the steps being taken by the relevant authorities to deal with the outstanding building regulations and fire compliance issues at that site. [35443/16]
View answerThe specific matters in relation to the Longboat Quay development are currently before the Courts and, as a consequence, are sub judice. In the circumstances, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the matter at this time.
In response to the many building failures that have emerged over the past decade, my Department introduced the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014, which provide for greater accountability in relation to compliance with Building Regulations in the form of statutory certification of design, lodgement of compliance documentation, mandatory inspections during construction and validation and registration of certificates.
Part B of the Building Regulations 1997 (as amended), sets out the legal requirements in relation to fire safety in respect of new buildings and in respect of existing buildings undergoing works involving an extension, material alteration or a material change of use. The requirements under Part B represent the national statutory minimum standards of fire safety provision applicable to the construction of new buildings and dwellings.
The Building Regulations are subject to continuous review and improvement in the light of technical progress, changes in standards and construction practices as well as developments within the construction industry. In this context, a review of Part B of the Building Regulations is now at an advanced stage; a public consultation in the matter has recently closed and my Department is currently reviewing the responses received.
77. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the working group of officials comprising senior representatives from his Department, local authorities and other relevant actors to bring forward proposals for new urban regeneration measures chaired by a Minister of State (details supplied) have decided on a list of proposals or a course of action for urban regeneration; the part that public or private partnerships will play in those proposals; and the timeframe for same. [35465/16]
View answerThe Programme for a Partnership Government, published in May 2016, sets out the ambitious priority attached to urban regeneration by the Government, incorporating a series of specific actions, aimed at facilitating the regeneration of our urban centres, many of which have been adversely impacted by our recent economic difficulties. The Government’s Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness – Rebuilding Ireland, published in July 2016, further reinforces the Government’s commitment to the area of urban regeneration.
In this context, a Working Group, which I chair and which comprises senior representatives from my Department, local authorities and other relevant bodies, has been established and will bring forward proposals for new urban regeneration measures as early as possible. It is intended that the new measures will complement the existing regeneration programme under my own Department’s Social Housing Capital Programme, as well as other social regeneration initiatives already under way.
The Working Group will seek to deliver a new urban renewal scheme to regenerate central urban areas in our cities and towns, which will address urban decay and associated issues relating to social housing, poverty, segregation, unemployment, crime, anti-social behaviour, etc. The Group aims to bring forward proposals for consideration by the end of the year.
In the context of the priority being attached to urban regeneration by the current Government, I will be aiming to identify scope for increased funding for a range of measures that will address deep-rooted disadvantage, while simultaneously developing an approach to urban regeneration that empowers people to work together to improve their communities, to reduce poverty, disadvantage and inequality. It is intended that these new measures will also include strengthening the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) as well as re-activating funding to areas covered by the RAPID (Revitalising Areas through Planning, Investment and Development) Programme through the local authorities.
Having held its inaugural meeting in mid-June, the Working Group has met on three occasions and is due to meet again in the coming weeks to consider emerging proposals.
78. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the extent to which he has liaised with the various local authorities to determine the progress to date in achieving or exceeding the targets identified in his Rebuilding Ireland action programme with particular reference to the local authorities in the greater Dublin area in County Kildare; if, in view of the ever increasing demand for local authority houses he may find it necessary to broaden the scope and scale of the programme to include; the reintroduction of accessible local authority house building loans, the development of private service sites on which applicants of an appropriate income level may build their own homes and where possible the facilitation of those in rural areas with access to their own sites who may also be in a position to provide their own houses, thereby maximising the opportunities in the housing area with obvious social and economic benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35420/16]
View answerMy Department is liaising on an ongoing basis with the various local authorities, including Kildare County Council and the other councils in the greater Dublin area, in relation to progress in delivering on the targets identified in Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. There is already a strong pipeline of new social housing delivery projects in place nationally, involving both local authorities and approved housing bodies and that pipeline is being added to through the enhanced targets under Rebuilding Ireland. My Department will remain engaged with all local authorities to support the increased and accelerated delivery of social housing.
In regard to assisting people with building/purchasing their own homes, a standard annuity mortgage is available from local authorities targeted at lower income first time buyers. The loan can be up to 97% of the price of the house subject to a maximum loan of €200,000. A local authority mortgage is an annuity mortgage with variable interest rates so repayments can go up and down in line with interest rate changes. The Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 408 of 2012) prescribe in detail the terms and conditions applicable to local authority housing loans. Key eligibility criteria provide that a loan applicant must be a first time buyer and must be able to show their local authority that they cannot get a loan from a bank or building society. Also, the gross income (before tax) of a single income household in the previous year must be €50,000 or less and the combined gross income (before tax) of a two - income household in the previous year must be €75,000 or less.
Another option is the Home Choice Loan, a Government backed mortgage for First Time Buyers. First time buyers can apply for a Home Choice Loan to purchase a new or second hand property or build their own home. Home Choice Loan provides up to 92% of the market value of a property purchased. The maximum loan amount is €285,000. The loan is a normal capital and interest bearing mortgage which is repaid on a monthly basis. Home Choice Loan offers one variable interest rate. The rate is currently set at 3.25% variable, APR 3.30%. Further information is available at www.homechoiceloan.ie.
Serviced sites initiatives have been successful in the past in enabling people with the means to build their own homes, but without access to a suitable site, to meet their housing requirement while also contributing to urban and village rejuvenation. Actions 5.12 and 5.13 of Rebuilding Ireland are aimed at ensuring that a range of demonstration projects and brown field development opportunities are progressed by local authorities as part of their public housing building programmes. The potential of a serviced site programme will be considered in the context of the progression of these actions in tandem with wider land supply actions, such as the commitment set out in Action 3.5 to prepare a National Land Supply Management Strategy.
80. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the progress of the housing assistance payment scheme, HAP, across each local authority; his views on whether it is on target to reach the numbers planned in Rebuilding Ireland; his further views on whether this scheme faces more challenges in areas of the country where rents are particularly high; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35481/16]
View answerThe implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a key Government priority and the accelerated roll-out of the scheme on a national basis is an important early action for completion in Rebuilding Ireland: An Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. HAP is now available to all qualified households in 19 local authority areas, with over 14,900 households currently being supported by the scheme and around 10,000 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to those households. A breakdown of the number of households supported by HAP in each local authority area at the end of September 2016 is available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
Rebuilding Ireland commits to accelerating the roll out of the HAP scheme to nine further local authorities by the end of 2016 and the remaining three Dublin local authorities by the end of March 2017, completing the national roll-out of the scheme. An intensive programme of training for Cavan, Kerry, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Roscommon, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow County Councils is currently ongoing in preparation for the proposed introduction of the scheme in these areas from 1 December 2016, subject to the necessary regulations being in place.
The full roll-out of the scheme will be completed by March 2017, with the introduction of HAP to the administrative areas of Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown and Fingal County Council. A multi-agency HAP Implementation Dublin Working Group has been established to advise and prepare for the introduction of the scheme to the Dublin region based on experience of the roll-out to date, and the particular pressures and characteristics of the rental market in Dublin.
Rebuilding Ireland also commits that an additional 12,000 households will be supported by HAP in 2016, and a further 15,000 new households in 2017. Reflecting on the current average weekly rate of new households being supported by the scheme (350 per week over the last three weeks , and 230 per week for the year to date ), I am confident that the 2016 target will be met.
The Action Plan makes a specific commitment that as part of the accelerated delivery of the scheme, the housing needs of 1,750 homeless households will be met through the Homelessness Pilot of the HAP scheme over 2016 and 2017 . As of 14 November 2016 a total of 594 tenancies had been set up under the pilot scheme this year, exceeding the Rebuilding Ireland target of 550 homeless households to be supported by the scheme in 2016.
While the level of supply in the rental market is challenging, HAP continues to offer many families stable and supported social housing. The recent increases to maximum rent limits underpinning the HAP scheme, together with the additional flexibility provided to local authorities in operating the scheme locally, mean that HAP can and will continue to offer families ongoing support and access to good quality housing in communities of their choice.
81. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the position in relation to the proposed Monksland boundary change which proposes moving Monksland from County Roscommon into neighbouring County Westmeath; when the Boundary Commission is expected to deliver a final report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31010/16]
View answerThe Athlone Boundary Committee, which was established in June 2015, was tasked with carrying out a review of the boundary between County Westmeath and County Roscommon and to make recommendations it considers necessary in the interests of effective and convenient local government. No boundary change was proposed on the establishment of the committee. The report of the committee was submitted recently and is under consideration. This is the first of four reports to be provided by independent statutory committees which have been conducting reviews of the local authority boundaries at Athlone, Carlow, Drogheda and Waterford. I intend to publish all of the reports together if possible, once received, at an early date.
84. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide additional funding to Donegal County Council to offset the additional costs incurred for providing alternative housing and significant housing stock repairs to council properties affected by mica blocks. [35446/16]
View answerThe management and maintenance of the social housing stock in County Donegal is a matter for the Council in the first instance, as housing authority for the area. My Department provides funding to the authority through a range of programmes for the development and acquisition of new social housing and to upgrade existing stock.
It is a matter for the Council to identify issues and remedies if their housing stock is affected by mica blocks and, if necessary, to raise this with my Department with whom there is ongoing technical dialogue around social housing issues.
85. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the total number of landlords who currently own more than 20 units of private rented accommodation; the total number of such units and the total number of registered tenancies in these units. [35461/16]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) is an independent statutory body established under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. I have no function in relation to the operational matters of the Board. However, the information concerned could be sought from the RTB.
The Clerk of the Dáil has requested that arrangements be put in place to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies to members of the Oireachtas. Following the issue of Circular LG (P) 05/16 from my Department on 20 September 2016, the RTB have set up a dedicated email address for this purpose at OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie.
