Written Answers Nos. 119-133
119. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will review the extent to which under present circumstances he can augment the local authority house building programme given the increased incidence of homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2322/17]
View answer120. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to outline the extent to which he can foresee the implementation of a major emergency house building programme to address the needs of countless families currently homeless or due to become homeless as a result of repossessions in respect of buy-to-let properties or family homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2324/17]
View answer122. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to outline the extent to which he remains assured that adequate suitable and serviced building lands remain available in each local authority area to facilitate house building in line with requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2326/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 119, 120 and 122 together.
The publication of Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, has seen a new level of ambition in respect of tackling the housing crises and I am confident it represents a well judged and comprehensive response to the urgent need for social housing and to respond to the need for an increased general housing supply.
To support the ambitious target of 47,000 new social housing units, I have secured €5.35 billion in exchequer investment over the period to 2021. This comprises some €4.5 billion in capital funding and €844 million in support of programmes funded from current expenditure.
A strong pipeline of social housing build projects is now in place. Taking the main local authority housing construction programme as an example, there are now some 255 projects, including 20 turnkey projects, at various stages in the programme, with a capacity to deliver over 4,000 new social homes. These range from large-scale new developments to smaller, infill projects. On rapid builds projects, 350 units are now advancing through various stages of delivery, including construction, across a number of Dublin sites and this will be added to with an additional 650 units this year, with a further 500 units following in 2018. Under the Capital Assistance Scheme, there are over 100 Approved Housing Body projects in the pipeline, which will deliver around 1,000 units. As a further example, under the PPP programme, nearly 1,000 new social units are now in planning with local authorities.
The momentum of approvals will continue in 2017 in order to add to the pipeline and provide the basis for delivering on the increased Rebuilding Ireland targets. Data in relation to the full pipeline of projects is being updated at present and the intention is that this will be finalised and published in conjunction with the next Rebuilding Ireland quarterly implementation report in the coming weeks.
This is in addition to current-funded programmes, such as the Rental Accommodation Scheme, Housing Assistance Payment and various leasing arrangements under my Department’s Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme. Again properties sourced under these programmes are used to accommodate persons on the local authority housing waiting lists, including those in emergency accommodation or at risk of homelessness.
While the construction programme is being advanced, I have also strongly supported local authorities in the acquisition of new and previously owned houses/apartments. In 2016, I provided over €175 million to local authorities for such acquisitions and these approaches are delivering early social housing solutions for people in need of social housing.
Rebuilding Ireland contains a number of integrated actions to underpin active land supply management for the delivery of housing. Initially, this involves identifying and mapping sites in local authority and public ownership with appropriate lands to be master-planned to deliver increased mixed-tenure housing, including social and more affordable homes, to meet demand.
The Housing Agency, in close consultation with my Department and local authorities, has already commenced the mapping of approximately 700 sites in local authority ownership and those held by the Agency under the Land Aggregation Scheme, showing their location, size, boundaries and other information.
This map will form part of the broader National Land Supply Management Strategy (as committed to under Action 3.5 of Rebuilding Ireland), which is being developed within the context of the National Planning Framework (NPF). In this regard, an initial public consultation process will commence later this month with the aim of finalising the NPF later in 2017. Once collated, the map will be made available, and will be updated to record the development and use of these lands.
With regard to the availability of land in private ownership, the Residential Land Availability Survey 2014, which is available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/development-zones/residential-land-availability, indicated that there was 17,434 hectares of residential zoned lands nationally which could theoretically enable the construction of over 414,000 dwellings. The mapped results of the survey are available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://environmentgovie.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=58f92f0517fc4ee0956f8933afc40719. A further Residential Land Availability Survey will be undertaken in due course.
A suite of actions is being implemented under Rebuilding Ireland, building on actions already underway, to ensure these sites are activated, to increase the supply of homes, at a far greater scale and at more generally affordable prices and rents. For example, targeted reductions in development contribution requirements have been introduced and €200m in State funding is being provided for key enabling infrastructure, through the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund.
In this regard, in November 2016, under Pillar 3 of Rebuilding Ireland, I announced details of 23 Major Urban Housing Development Sites, with the potential to deliver up to 30,000 additional homes on existing zoned lands and close to the key areas of demand over the next 3-4 years. These sites will be highlighted as exemplars for the co-ordination and delivery of plan-led housing development and active land management. Further details on these sites can be accessed here: http://rebuildingireland.ie/build-more-homes/.
121. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to outline the extent to which he has examined the possibility of dramatically augmenting a modular homes building programme with particular reference to the need to meet the ever-increasing demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2325/17]
View answer142. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to set out the number of rapid build houses completed by the end of 2016; the number in construction and the number planned to be completed during 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2529/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 142 together.
My Department is working closely with all local authorities in relation to increasing and accelerating the delivery of a range of social housing programmes and supports, including rapid build homes.
At the end of 2016, a total of 350 rapid build homes were advancing through various stages of delivery, including construction, with 22 rapid build homes being delivered and occupied in 2016. A further 650 rapid build homes will be advanced in 2017, with another 500 units to be delivered in 2018.
There has been significant pressure to ramp-up rapid build delivery, which local authorities have been responding to positively. Of particular note is the establishment of a framework of rapid build contractors by the Office of Government Procurement, which means that local authorities across the country will be able to run quicker procurement competitions and advance rapid build projects to site more efficiently and effectively.
Finally, it is important to note that the rapid build programme needs to be viewed in the context of the wider range of social housing build, acquisition and leasing programmes, which are being advanced by local authorities and approved housing bodies (AHBs).
123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if it is recognised that local authorities need to facilitate the housing needs of indigenous rural populations, thereby contributing to the housing stock enabling such families to have a home of their own in their native place without contributing to the pressure adjoining urban areas; if such requirements can be met under existing legislation or if legislative change is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2329/17]
View answerMy Department published Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Rural Housing in April 2005, which set out the national policy framework for planning authorities in drawing up their statutory development plans in relation to the issue of housing in rural areas, taking into account local circumstances and the type of area involved, including areas near large cities and towns, which need careful management of development pressures and other rural areas experiencing population decline.
Under the Guidelines, planning authorities are required to frame their planning policies in a balanced and measured way that ensures that the housing needs of rural communities are met, while avoiding excessive urban-generated housing and haphazard development in areas near cities and towns. The Guidelines also aim to ensure that sites being developed for rural housing are suitable with regard to access and wastewater disposal, and also from landscape and design perspectives.
It is a matter for individual planning authorities to prepare their development plans and the policies contained within such plans, taking account of local and varying geographical and landscape circumstances, as well as the approaches set out under the Guidelines in relation to rural- generated housing. It is also a matter for planning authorities, as well as An Bord Pleanála, to implement the Guidelines and local planning policies in assessing and deciding on individual planning applications and appeals under the development management consent process.
My Department maintains a constant overview of the practical implementation of all statutory planning guidelines, including the 2005 Rural Housing Guidelines. I intend to keep the Guidelines under review, particularly in view of the commitments in the Government’s Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness – Rebuilding Ireland which aim to accelerate the delivery of housing in order to address the current housing supply shortage and the projected housing needs over the coming years, contributing to wider objectives, including the need to support sustainable urban and rural development and communities.
124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if adequate water and sewerage services are sufficiently provided for in County Kildare with a view to meeting the increasing housing demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2330/17]
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.
125. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to outline his views on whether there is an over-reliance by local authorities and approved housing bodies on acquisition rather than building new housing stock in their social housing provision. [2343/17]
View answerOf the 47,000 new social housing units targeted under Rebuilding Ireland, it is estimated that 26,000 will be delivered via construction activity, 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. 10,000 units will be leased by local authorities and AHBs. This indicates clearly the central role of construction activity in the supply of new social housing stock under Rebuilding Ireland.
To support this key role for construction, there is now a very substantial pipeline of new social housing construction projects in place. This is being added to on an ongoing basis in line with the ambitious targets of Rebuilding Ireland. These projects are now at various stages of advancement, ranging from planning and development work by local authorities, across to projects that are on site. I am keen that they are all advanced as quickly as possible and I have assured the local authorities that funding is available to fully support their efforts in this regard.
While the construction programme has been advancing, it has made sense that local authorities take opportunities to acquire housing where there is a social housing need and where good value for money can be obtained and I am satisfied that they are deploying options to both buy and to build new social housing in a balanced way. It is important that they utilise all opportunities to develop new social housing but the mix will increasingly switch towards construction on foot of the substantial pipeline of projects now in place.
126. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to outline his views on whether there has been a low number of social housing project approvals in 2016 and whether new social housing construction is wide of targets set out by his Department's action plan. [2344/17]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 1 on today’s Order Paper.
127. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to outline his plans to reform the national spatial plan; if he will confirm media reports that he plans to designate a number of gateways and hubs in his new plan and focus designations solely on cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2345/17]
View answer145. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to outline his views on directing development primarily to a small number of regional cities and prioritising State resources to achieve this policy objective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2532/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 145 together.
I refer to the reply to Priority Question No. 3 on today’s Order paper.
128. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to outline the status of his Department's plan to triple Housing First tenancies; and his views on whether this can be achieved by mid 2017. [2346/17]
View answerUnder Action 1.12 of Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) is committed to tripling the target for tenancies under its ‘housing first’ programme to 300 by end-2017. The aim is to provide permanent, stable and supported housing to long-term homeless individuals and thus reduce the reliance on emergency accommodation over time.
This programme is operated under a contract which is being delivered through a joint consortium of Focus Ireland and the Peter McVerry Trust. I understand that in the region of 60 tenancies (accommodating some 70 individuals) have been created to date under the programme. The DRHE, Focus Ireland and the Peter McVerry Trust will be dedicating additional staff in 2017 to deliver on this action and I am confident that the target of 300 tenancies by the end of 2017 will be achieved.
129. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to outline his plans for the affordable rental pilot scheme and the substance of same; and the reason for the delay in rolling out this pilot scheme in view of the fact that funding was provided for it in budget 2016. [2347/17]
View answerAction 4.6 of Rebuilding Ireland provides for the introduction of an affordable rental scheme to enhance the capacity of the private rented sector to provide quality and affordable accommodation for households currently paying a disproportionate amount of disposable income on rent.
As set out in the recently published Strategy for the Rental Sector, this commitment is to be progressed through kick-starting supply in rent pressure zones. Lands held by local authorities in rent pressure zones are to be brought to market on a competitive tendering basis, with a view to leveraging the value of the land to deliver the maximum number of units for rental targeting middle income households. The cost of providing rental units is to be permanently reduced by lowering the initial investment and development costs for providers - AHB or private - allowing the rental units to be made available at below market prices without the need for ongoing rental subsidies.
The local authorities concerned will identify a number of sites with the potential for up to 1,000 units of accommodation and will move forward, as soon as possible, to issue calls for proposals from parties interested in developing projects. As speed of delivery will be critically important, appropriate licence arrangements, incorporating clear timescales for delivery, will be a key feature of the process.
This programme is being co-ordinated with the dedicated measures in Rebuilding Ireland to accelerate housing output from the Major Urban Housing Delivery Sites including support from the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) where necessary. Possible project locations include O'Devaney Gardens and Oscar Traynor Road in Dublin. In tandem, new-build rental accommodation is also to be provided in the major build-to-rent projects planned for strategic development zones and other large sites in Dublin and other locations, such as Cherrywood in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area.
130. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to set down the number of houses built by Galway City Council and Galway County Council in 2016 to add to their social housing stock; the number of houses purchased by them in 2016 to add to their social housing stock; the number and location of houses that will be built and completed by them in 2017 and 2018 to add to their social housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2348/17]
View answerFunding is provided to local authorities under my Department’s Social Housing Capital Investment programme, to deliver additional social housing stock through new construction projects and through the acquisition of new and previously owned houses/apartments. There are also a range of funding and delivery mechanisms available to local authorities to deliver social housing in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies. These include the Capital Assistance Scheme and current-funded programmes, such as the Rental Accommodation Scheme, Housing Assistance Payment and various leasing arrangements under my Department’s Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme.
Details on the number of properties constructed, purchased and leased by all local authorities, including Galway City and Galway County Councils, for letting to those on their social housing waiting lists are 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. Information on quarter four of 2016 is currently being finalised and will be published shortly.
Arising from the Social Housing Strategy, targets and provisional funding allocation were notified to each local authority, including Galway City and Galway County Councils. These are available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/housing/social-housing/minsters-kelly-coffey-announce-eu15-billion-social-housing-targets-local. The Galway authorities have a target of 1,126 social housing units for the period out to 2017, supported by an allocation of €58.5m, to be invested in a combination of building, buying and leasing schemes.
Since then, both local authorities have made proposals to my Department in relation to a range of delivery projects and approvals have been issued. Projects to construct new local authority social housing given funding approval by my Department, as well as approved sheltered housing project proposals by AHBs, are set out in project approval announcements made in May 2015, July 2015 and January 2016, which can be seen at the following links:
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,41340,en.htm
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,42225,en.htm
http://www.environ.ie/housing/social-housing/ministers-kelly-coffey-announce-further-1000-social-housing-units.
Subsequent to these announcements, two further such social housing projects have been approved for construction by Galway County Council as follows -
|
Location |
AHB |
Estimated Cost |
No. of Units |
|
Caheroyn, Athenry |
Peter Triest Housing Association |
€407,000 |
3 |
|
Rossaveal Cottages Ros an Mhíl Connemara |
Tearmann Eanna Teo |
€1,175,000 |
8 |
In addition to the above projects, under the €300 million public private partnership (PPP) model for new social housing, 73 new units are earmarked for a site at Ballyburke in Galway City.
The Galway local authorities have also been collaborating with a number of AHBs to deliver additional social housing through the CALF (Capital Advance Leasing Facility) scheme. In 2016, there were 15 new social homes delivered in this way and a healthy pipeline for future delivery is in place with approvals made for the acquisition of a further 204 units across 9 projects by AHBs. A further 53 units were secured under long-term leasing arrangements supported through the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme. An additional 381 households were supported by HAP in Galway County Council with 336 households being supported in Galway City at the end of 2016.
During 2016, I also provided over €1.2 million to the Galway local authorities to purchase new and previously owned houses and apartments for use as social housing units. These approaches are delivering early social housing solutions for people on the waiting lists, while the Councils’ construction programme ramps up.
131. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to set out the points-based criteria on awarding the national tender for public libraries and academic libraries respectively; if the awardees of the contracts benefitted from using an e-invoicing software not yet available here; if the attention of his Department was drawn to the fact, at any stage, that this software was not available to Irish companies before awarding the contracts; the impact of the award of these tenders on the publishing industry, in terms of loss of revenue and job losses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2369/17]
View answerThe provision of public library services, including the procurement of books, is a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority under the Local Government Act 2001. In this regard, a national tender for book stock procurement was run recently by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) on behalf of local authorities. The tender documentation, including technical requirements for the tender, award criteria and the marking scheme, was developed by the LGMA with support from the Education Procurement Service. My Department had no direct role in this process.
The LGMA has confirmed that the process was conducted in a fair and transparent manner and in full compliance with all regulations, policies and guidelines governing public procurement in Ireland. There was no discrimination against any supplier. Indeed, the publication of the tender in six lots sought, as much as possible, to ensure equality of opportunity for all suppliers. At this stage in the process, Irish companies have been successful in four of the six lots.
The procurement of book stock for academic libraries is a matter for the Minister for Education and Skills.
132. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to outline the financial governance protections in place in Meath County Council to prevent either ordinary theft or cyber theft of the council’s funds; the number of signatures that were necessary to transfer money from council accounts to other council accounts or external accounts; if it was necessary that these signatures be received in person or electronically to action these transfers; the financial quantity limits that necessitated these signatures within the council; whether there is a standard system of financial governance throughout all councils or financial governance standards are council specific; the role his Department plays in the development of these financial governance standards; and if he will ensure that the financial governance standards in councils are of the highest standard. [2371/17]
View answerIt is a matter for each local authority to ensure that adequate financial governance measures are in place. My Department is responsible for the legislative framework governing local authorities, which include measures relating to the financing of local authorities and financial governance. In this regard, section 99 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that payments may be made out of the funds of a local authority on the authorisation of the chief executive, or by an employee of the local authority nominated by the chief executive. The legislation also provides that in each case, the payments must be counter-authorised by an employee, other than the person who authorised the payment. The chief executive is responsible for performing all executive functions of a local authority, including functions under section 99 of the Local Government Act 2001 and I have no function in that regard. Accordingly, it is not appropriate for me to comment on the specific case in Meath County Council referred to in the question. Moreover, I understand that this matter is the subject of a criminal investigation.
The elected council has primary responsibility for governance and oversight generally of the local authority. The Local Government Act 2001 also includes specific measures to provide oversight of the financial governance arrangements in place within local authorities. Section 122 of the Act requires each local authority to establish an audit committee. The functions of the audit committee include: the review of financial and budgetary reporting practices within the local authority; and the development of best practice by the local authority of its internal audit function. The accounts of each local authority are subject to statutory audit annually by the Local Government Audit Service. The local government auditors are independent in the performance of their professional functions and may prepare a report on any matter which comes to notice during the course of the audit. Any implications arising from such reports for the financial governance legislative framework would be considered carefully by my Department.
133. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when he will publish the new wind farm guidelines. [2372/17]
View answerIn December 2013, my Department published proposed draft revisions to the noise, setback distance and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. These draft revisions proposed:
- the setting of a more stringent day- and night-time noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments,
- a mandatory minimum setback distance of 500 metres between a wind turbine and the nearest dwelling for amenity considerations, and
- the complete elimination of shadow flicker between wind turbines and neighbouring dwellings.
A public consultation process was also initiated on these proposed draft revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines, which ran until February 2014. The Department received submissions from 7,500 organisations and members of the public during this public consultation process.
In light of the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to finalise the Guidelines and on-going policy and legal developments in this area, my Department is continuing to advance work on the Guidelines and related matters in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, in order to bring the various issues to a conclusion as early as possible. I expect to be in a position to make a statement on the matter in the coming weeks, outlining the timelines for implementation of the various elements.
