Written Answers Nos. 200-226
200. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools here which were oversubscribed for admissions for entry to junior infants in August and September 2015 and 2016; the location of these schools by county and the figures by reference to each patron bodies concerned with each such school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9510/17]
View answer201. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children seeking a place in junior infants in 2015 and 2016 that were not registered on the roll of a primary school in respect of each year; the reason for such non-attendance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9511/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together.
Schools are not required to report to my Department on the number of applicants who are refused enrolment and, therefore, the information requested by the Deputy is not available.
My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area.
Parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of my Department, or in the case of an Educational Training Board (ETB) school to the ETB in the first instance, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school, expels a student or suspends a student for 20 or more days in any school year. Further information on the Section 29 appeals process is available on the Department's website www.education.ie.
The Educational Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency (EWS) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The EWS can be contacted at 01-7718500.
202. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the supports available for children in the education system who have been diagnosed with narcolepsy; and the funding for these supports in each year from 2009 to 2016. [9520/17]
View answerMy Department has provided information to all schools in regarding the condition of Narcolepsy, likely symptoms and the effect of the condition of Narcolepsy on students.
The information provided for schools also set out the possible accommodations which can be made for children with Narcolepsy in schools.
The purpose of providing such information to schools was to increase the awareness of schools in relation to this little known condition, to assist them in recognising symptoms, and to give some guidance for schools on the accommodations and supports which may be provided for children with Narcolepsy. This information has also been provided to the National Council for Special Education and the National Educational Psychological Services.
Additional educational supports may be made for children, if necessary, with medical conditions such as Narcolepsy. If it is considered that a child requires additional teaching assistance in school, due to the effect of their illness on their learning ability and participation in school, learning support may be provided for the child from the school's resource teaching/learning support provision.
A new model for allocating Special Education Teaching Resources to mainstream primary and post primary schools will be introduced from September 2017. This new model will be a fairer and better way to allocate resources to support children with Special Educational Needs.
An additional 900 teaching posts have been provided to support the introduction of this new allocation model. This substantial additional provision will ensure that up to 1,000 schools will receive additional allocations, where the new model indicates additional need. No school will receive an allocation of resources less than the allocation they received in the 2016/17 school year.
The Special Education Home Tuition scheme provides a compensatory educational service to children with a significant medical condition which is likely to cause major disruption to their attendance at school on a continuing basis. Eligibility under this provision is assessed with reference to a completed medical report and attendance records supplied by the school in which the pupil is enrolled. The maximum allocation of home tuition hours for children with a medical ailment is 10 hours per week, with the allocation reflecting the age of the child and their level of attendance.
In some instances access to Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support may be provided for children who do not have an assessed disability, but whose medical condition is such that they require access to care support in order to be able to attend school. If a school or parent considers that their child has care needs arising from the medical condition Narcolepsy, such that they might require access to SNA support in order to attend school, the school may assist the pupil from within their existing SNA allocation or make an application to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) for SNA support for their child. The NCSE is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools.
Post primary school students with special needs may have special arrangements made for them while sitting State examinations such as the Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate. Candidates with disabilities can apply through their school for reasonable accommodation during examinations.
Students with Narcolepsy can access the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) scheme, which is a college/university scheme which offers enhanced access routes to third level education for pupils with disabilities. Further details are available at www.accesscollege.ie/.
Details of funding for individual disabilities is not recorded by my Department and is therefore, not available in relation to supports for children with narcolepsy.
203. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if there are any exceptions to the requirement to have a VAT number in order to tax a vehicle under the commercial rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9222/17]
View answerTo be taxed as a commercial vehicle, a vehicle must be constructed as a goods vehicle and must be used solely in the course of trade or business. Under section 2 of the Finance (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Act 1952, if a vehicle is being used in a manner that would attract a higher rate of tax, the tax becomes payable at that rate. In other words, if a vehicle is also being used in a private capacity and the relevant private rate applying to the vehicle is higher than the goods rate, then the vehicle must be taxed at the private rate. Licensing authorities have an obligation under Article 3 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 1992 to be satisfied that a vehicle is correctly taxed and it is thus open to a motor tax office to seek appropriate documentation to support a claim for the commercial rate of motor tax. Such documentation may include evidence of registration for VAT, a certificate of commercial insurance or, at the discretion of the licensing authority concerned, any other documentation that would indicate that the applicant is in trade or business. It is up to the individual concerned to provide whatever evidence is required by the local authority in order for it to be satisfied that the applicant is entitled to claim what is in effect a concessionary rate of tax.
204. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if there are any grants available to old age pensioners for the installation of a house alarm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9374/17]
View answerWhile the installation of house alarms is not funded, my Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme. This scheme encourages support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards 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, an independent company, who took over this role from my Department in September 2015, given that organisation’s significant experience delivering programmes on behalf of Government. Once registered with Pobal, the community-based organisations can submit applications for personal monitored alarms on behalf of elderly people living in their defined area of operation. There is no closing date for receipt of registrations.
Full information can be found on the Pobal website – www.pobal.ie - together with a list of the registered community organisations by county. Pobal also operates a telephone helpline facility to assist with any queries (01 5117222), or can be contacted by email at onlinesupport@pobal.ie.
205. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on an off balance sheet funding mechanism in relation to the supply of housing; the sources of the €5.3 billion fund aimed at delivering 470,000 social units by 2021; the number of these homes that have commenced construction; the number of homes that will be delivered by year end 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9104/17]
View answerAction 2.4 of Rebuilding Ireland provides that the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) will work with the private sector to establish a funding vehicle capable of facilitating off-balance sheet investment in delivering social and private housing, through acquiring properties for onward long-term leasing to local authorities and approved housing bodies, and through activating new residential construction for the broader build-to-rent sector. Work on developing the new funding vehicle is underway within the NTMA. Potential models for the structure of the vehicle are currently being examined and developed. The Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan will deliver 47,000 social housing units, through build, refurbishment, acquisitions and leasing over the period to 2021. The Plan is supported by exchequer investment of €5.35 billion and a further €200 million is provided for the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund which will provide enabling infrastructure on key sites to open up lands for early development. The funding provision for specific Housing programmes on an annual basis will be finalised over the period of the Action Plan, as part of the annual Budgetary process.
On Monday last, I published a Social Housing Construction Projects Status Report, which lists all approved projects including those delivered in 2016 and those at various stages of advancement through planning, design and construction. This report can be seen at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/rebuilding_ireland_-_social_housing_construction_status_report_-_q4_2016.pdf.
It contains a range of information in relation to each separate social housing construction project, including the local authority area, project name, AHB name where applicable, the number of units and the status of each application in terms of its current level of advancement.
206. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of social housing units in each of the 31 local authorities as of 31 January 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9111/17]
View answerInformation on the number of dwellings directly provided by each local authority for social housing is set out in reports of the National Oversight and Audit Commission. The most recent report, ‘Performance Indicators in Local Authorities 2015’, is available at the following link:
http://noac.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2015-PI-Report.pdf.
207. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of housing units built or purchased by each of the 31 local authorities in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9112/17]
View answerUnder my Department’s Social Housing Capital Investment and Social Housing Current Expenditure Programmes, funding is provided to local authorities to deliver additional social housing stock through new construction projects and through the acquisition of new and previously owned houses/apartments.
Details on the number of properties constructed, purchased and leased by all local authorities, for letting to those on their social housing waiting lists are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
Information on quarter four 2016 is currently being finalised and will be published shortly.
208. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the rate of vacant housing units in relation to housing stock belonging to each of the 31 local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9113/17]
View answerInformation on the number of dwellings vacant in each local authority area is set out in reports of the National Oversight and Audit Commission. The most recent report, ‘Performance Indicators in Local Authorities 2015’, is available at the following link: http://noac.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2015-PI-Report.pdf.
The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including the implementation of planned maintenance programmes and carrying out of responsive repairs and pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, is a matter for each individual local authority under section 58 of the Housing Act, 1966 and are not directly funded by my Department.
It should be noted that the Voids programme introduced in 2014, along with the Derelicts programme introduced in 2016, have seen the remediation of approximately 7,200 units between 2014 and 2016. These programmes have provided funding to support the authorities in tackling those houses that may require a greater level of remediation than the normal level of pre-letting repairs, which remain the responsibility of local authorities as part of their on-going repair and maintenance of local authority housing.
209. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of residential units starts that were registered with a company (details supplied) in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9114/17]
View answerMy Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing and planning statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of policy. The figures that the Deputy has requested are available on my Department's website at the following web link under ‘registrations by month/year’;
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-building-and-private-rented/construction-activity-starts.
It should be noted that these figures do not include all residential building activity and as such, they should be monitored in conjunction with other indicators to gain a more comprehensive overview of the sector.
210. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on the possibility of participants in the fair deal scheme being able to rent out their homes tax free up to the value of the rent-a-room scheme, which is €14,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9115/17]
View answerI am informed by my colleague, the Minister for Health, that participants in the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), also known as “Fair Deal”, scheme which provides financial support for those in need of long-term nursing home care, contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost.
Participants in the Scheme contribute up to 80% of their assessable income and a maximum of 7.5% per annum of the value of assets held. In the case of a couple, the applicant’s means are assessed as 50% of the couple’s combined income and assets. The first €36,000 of an individual’s assets, or €72,000 in the case of a couple, is not counted at all in the financial assessment. The capital value of an individual’s principal private residence is only included in the financial assessment for the first three years of their time in care.
The Rent a Room relief applies to income from the letting of a room or rooms in a residential premises that is occupied by the individual claiming the relief as his/her sole or main residence during the particular tax year. The relief is not available where an entire residential unit is let.
There is no prohibition on an NHSS participant renting out their home if they wish. Rental income is included in the overall calculation of assessable income and the applicant’s contribution towards the cost of care. Certain allowable deductions can be netted off against a person's means prior to the calculation of their contribution to care. These include health expenses, income tax, social insurance contributions and levies required by law such as the Local Property Tax, and borrowings in respect of the principal private residence.
Action 17 of the Strategy for the Rental Sector commits to examining the treatment under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme’s financial assessment of income from the rental of a person’s principal private residence where they move into long-term residential care. My Department is currently engaging with the Department of Health in the matter with a view to formulating a joint approach.
211. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of residential units the Housing Agency has purchased for social housing from January 2016 to date in 2017; the cost of same; the number of units purchased in each of the 31 local authority areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9116/17]
View answerThe role of the Housing Agency is to work with and support local authorities, approved housing bodies and my Department in the delivery of housing and housing services. From January 2016 up until the launch of Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness in July 2016, the Agency purchased 20 properties at a total cost of €3,199,500, on behalf of local authorities, for social housing use. Under Actions 2.5 and 5.6 of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, the Housing Agency will actively and positively continue its engagement with banks and investment companies in relation to its acquisitions programme. To that end €70m has also been provided to the Agency in 2017 to establish a revolving fund to acquire some 1,600 units over the period to 2020 for social housing use. Since the launch of Rebuilding Ireland, the Agency has purchased a further 65 properties at a total cost of €10,171,000.
Therefore, the Agency has purchased a total of 85 properties from January 2016 to date in 2017 at a total cost of €13,370,500. In addition to these completed purchases, the Agency has signed contracts to purchase a further 173 properties. Completion of the purchase of these properties is anticipated shortly, subject to contract.
The following tables break down the number of units purchased by the Agency across the relevant local authority area.
Properties purchased prior to launch of Rebuilding Ireland
|
Local Authority |
Number Units Purchased |
Cost |
|
Cork City Council |
1 |
€140,000 |
|
Dublin City Council |
3 |
€490,000 |
|
Fingal County Council |
3 |
€635,000 |
|
Galway City Council |
1 |
€255,000 |
|
Galway County Council |
1 |
€105,000 |
|
Kildare County Council |
2 |
€385,000 |
|
Limerick City & County Co. |
3 |
€292,000 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
1 |
€110,000 |
|
South Dublin County Co. |
2 |
€460,000 |
|
Waterford City & County Co. |
2 |
€180,000 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
1 |
€147,500 |
|
Total |
20 |
€3,199,500 |
Properties Purchased since the launch of Rebuilding Ireland
|
Local Authority |
Number Units Purchased |
Cost |
|
Carlow County Council |
1 |
€60,000 |
|
Cavan County Council |
1 |
€110,000 |
|
Clare County Council |
2 |
€270,000 |
|
Cork City Council |
1 |
€130,000 |
|
Cork County Council |
1 |
€35,000 |
|
Dublin City Council |
5 |
€1,245,500 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
1 |
€185,000 |
|
Donegal County Council |
3 |
€260,000 |
|
Fingal County Council |
7 |
€1,472,500 |
|
Galway City Council |
3 |
€721,000 |
|
Galway County Council |
1 |
€120,000 |
|
Kerry County Council |
1 |
€40,000 |
|
Kildare County Council |
6 |
€965,000 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
1 |
€160,000 |
|
Laois County Council |
7 |
€715,000 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
2 |
€162,000 |
|
Longford County Council |
1 |
€145,000 |
|
Louth County Council |
3 |
€525,000 |
|
Meath County Council |
3 |
€555,000 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
1 |
€185,000 |
|
Offaly County Council |
1 |
€130,000 |
|
South Dublin County Co. |
5 |
€925,000 |
|
Sligo County Council |
1 |
€108,000 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
1 |
€55,000 |
|
Waterford City & County Co. |
1 |
€72,000 |
|
Wexford County Council |
3 |
€375,000 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
2 |
€445,000 |
|
Total |
65 |
€10,171,000 |
212. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if each local authority has now established a derelict sites register and has the necessary resources to prioritise this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9117/17]
View answerThe Derelict Sites Act 1990 requires every owner and occupier of land, including a statutory body and a State authority, to take all reasonable steps to ensure that land does not become or does not continue to be a derelict site. It also requires that local authorities take reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site. To this end, local authorities have been given substantial powers under the Act in relation to such sites, including to:
- require specified measures to be taken in relation to a derelict site,
- impose a levy on sites which are included in their derelict sites register, and
- acquire derelict site s by agreement or compulsorily.
Under section 8(1) of the Derelict Sites Act 1990, each local authority was required, within one year after the commencement of the Act, to establish and thereafter maintain a derelict sites register. Under section 8(5) of the Act, a copy of the derelict sites register compiled by a local authority can be inspected at the offices of the authority in question during office hours. This facilitates members of the public to engage, if they so wish, with their local authority in relation to addressing individual derelict sites.
I understand that each local authority has established, and maintains, a derelict sites register as required. It is a matter for individual local authorities to allocate the necessary resources for the fulfilling of their statutory obligations in this regard.
213. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if each of the 31 local authorities have a complete property assets register in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9118/17]
View answerLocal Authorities are independent in the execution of their powers and the directly elected members are democratically accountable for all expenditure of the authority. Notwithstanding their independence, local authorities are required to keep proper accounting, books, records and control systems including a register of fixed assets and a register of lands in accordance with the Accounting Code of Practice (ACOP) and Accounting Regulations for Local Authorities in Ireland, issued by my Department. A copy of the updated Accounting Code of Practice is available on my Department’s website at the following weblink:
www.housing.gov.ie/search/archived/current/category/local-government/type/publications?query=code.
In accordance with Sections 107 and 108 of the Local Government Act 2001, authorities are responsible for the maintenance of all accounting records including the preparation of the Annual Financial Statement (AFS). The Local Government Audit Service provides an independent scrutiny of the financial stewardship of local authorities, including an audit opinion on the AFS of individual local authorities, on an annual basis. The Local Government Audit Service prepares an associated audit report as provided for in Section 120(1)(c) of the Local Government Act 2001.
The provision of detailed information regarding property registers and their completeness or otherwise is a matter for each individual local authority.
214. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the progress on a national taking in charge initiative as set as a key objective in Pillar 5 of the housing policy document, Rebuilding Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9119/17]
View answerThe National Taking-in-Charge Initiative (NTICI) for residential estates, with funding of €9 million, was launched in April 2016 to explore enhanced systems and procedures and new methods of working to accelerate the taking-in-charge process of housing estates. Of the funding allocated, €7.7 million was paid out to local authorities and almost 330 developments containing 13,400 units have either been taken in charge or works have taken place and the development will now proceed to be taken in charge by the relevant local authority at an early date.
Under the terms of the NTICI, only those developments subject to valid taking-in-charge applications were eligible for inclusion in the call for proposals. It is important to note that the NTICI was not intended to establish a rolling annual funding programme to take in charge all estates not yet taken in charge, but was instead intended to develop better knowledge and systems to support the taking-in-charge of further estates over time. I intend that the experience and learning from the operation of the NTICI over the course of 2016 will be used to point the way forward in relation to supporting the taking-in-charge process into the future and my Department intends to publish a report on the Initiative’s findings and recommendations by this Summer.
Further information on the NTICI can be found on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/search/archived/current?query=Taking%20in%20Charge.
215. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the progress made on implementing a choice based social housing allocation system across all 31 local authorities as set out as a key objective of Rebuilding Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9120/17]
View answerThe Government’s Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing & Homelessness contains a commitment to extend the use of choice-based letting (CBL) by local authorities as a method of allocating social housing support. This is in recognition of the benefits that a CBL system can deliver to social housing applicants, existing social housing tenants and to local authorities. On 30th September 2016, I made the Social Housing Allocation (Amendment) Regulations 2016 which required that all local authorities must, if they have not already done so, provide for CBL as a method of allocation in their housing allocation schemes by 31 December 2016.
I understand that a majority of local authorities have now used CBL as a way of allocating some of their social housing properties. Where it has been introduced, the feedback has been very positive both from the authorities themselves and the customers they serve.
To facilitate the wider operation of CBL my Department issued updated guidance to authorities in December 2016. The Department will continue to liaise with housing authorities with a view to ensuring that CBL is implemented as widely as possible across the country.
216. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when he will extend the repair and leasing initiative (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9136/17]
View answerI can confirm that following the success of the initial pilot in Waterford and Carlow local authorities, the Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) is being rolled out on a national basis from today.
I am making an additional €26m available to fund the scheme in 2017, which brings the total amount available this year to €32m. This additional investment in 2017 means that delivery under the scheme can be accelerated and up to 800 vacant properties can be brought back into use as new homes for families on local authority waiting lists this year. This funding represents a frontloading of the €140m being made available for the scheme over the next 5 years.
I will be carefully monitoring the scheme in 2017 to ensure that it works and is cost effective. Likewise, this analysis will assist in determining its delivery potential for future years, as well as whether additional financial resources are required in that context.
The scheme is targeted at owners of vacant properties who cannot afford or access the funding required to bring them up to the standard for rental property. Subject to the suitability of the property for social housing, and the agreement of the property owner, the cost of the necessary repairs will be met upfront by the local authority or an approved housing body (AHB). This allows for the property owner to sign-up to a lease arrangement for a length that is linked to the value of the repairs, subject to a minimum of 10 years. The value of the repairs will then be offset incrementally against the agreed rental payment over a defined period within the lease.
A property owner can either choose to arrange a contractor to carry out the repairs themselves, or the local authority or AHB can arrange this instead. Property owners will not be required to take on landlord responsibilities and the local authority or AHB will have on-going management and maintenance responsibilities in respect of the properties.
The local authority will determine the eligibility for the scheme, having regard to the location and the suitability of the property for social housing and also taking into consideration the extent of the repairs that may be required. The maximum costs of repairs allowable under this initiative will be €40,000. My Department is working closely with local authorities to implement the scheme locally.
The Repair and Leasing Scheme is one of a number of initiatives in Rebuilding Ireland to address vacant properties around the country. Other initiatives include the Buy and Renew Scheme which provides funding for local authorities to purchase vacant properties and remediate them and a new National Vacant Housing Re-Use Strategy which is currently being finalised.
217. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the original date of application for each application for social housing made to his Department; the number of units in each application; the status of each application; when construction commenced or is due to commence; when each development is expected to be completed, or has been completed, by local authority in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9137/17]
View answerOn Monday last, I published a Social Housing Construction Projects Status Report, which lists all approved projects including those delivered in 2016 and those at various stages of advancement through planning, design and construction. This report can be seen at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/rebuilding_ireland_-_social_housing_construction_status_report_-_q4_2016.pdf.
The report contains a range of information in relation to each separate social housing construction project, including the local authority area, project name, AHB name where applicable, the number of units and the status of each application in terms of its current level of advancement.
218. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the annual number of persons in receipt of HAP; the annual cost since its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9138/17]
View answer239. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of rent supplement for each of the years from 2011-2017; the annual cost of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9138/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 218 and 239 together.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) has been rolled out to local authorities on a statutory phased basis since September 2014. As HAP is rolled out nationally it replaces Rent Supplement for households with a long-term housing need.
The annual cost of the HAP scheme to the Exchequer is made up of the continuing cost of supporting the tenancies in place at the end of the previous year; the additional cost of the new tenancies; the costs associated with the making of HAP payments; the administration cost of local authorities in their operation of the scheme, and the costs associated with providing public access to general information on the HAP scheme.
There are currently more than 18,000 households supported by the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) in 28 local authority areas, including homeless households being supported by the DRHE operated scheme for the Dublin Region. The following table shows the number of additional households supported by HAP, the number of local authorities operating the scheme, the Exchequer Allocation and outturn by each year of operation:
|
Year |
Additional Households supported at end of year |
No. of local authorities operating HAP Scheme at end of year |
Exchequer Allocation €M |
Outturn €M |
|
2014 |
485 |
7 |
.500 |
.394 |
|
2015 |
5,680 |
18 |
23.2 |
15.64 |
|
2016 |
12,075 |
28 |
47.7 |
57.69 |
My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review. However, I am satisfied with how the HAP scheme is operating and I consider it to be a key vehicle for meeting housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programme under Rebuilding Ireland.
219. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has requested local authorities to ascertain the number of swimming pools that are in private residences across the country in view of his support for an excessive use water charge. [9182/17]
View answerAs provided for in the 'Confidence and Supply Arrangement' agreed in the context of supporting a minority government, a Special Oireachtas Committee is currently deliberating on the findings of the Expert Commission on Domestic Public Water Services. This work is due to be completed by mid-March 2017. The Oireachtas will then consider the recommendations of the Special Committee and will vote on the enduring funding model for public domestic water services within a further period of one month. This vote would therefore be expected to be taken by mid-April 2017. Among the key issues the Committee is considering is the Expert Commission's recommendation in relation to a charge for excessive use of water. No information in relation to swimming pools in private residences is available in my Department and I have not requested that such information be collated.
220. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when a decision will be made on an application for final approval on funding for a local authority house to be built by Galway County Council for persons (details supplied) in County Galway; if urgent approval will be given to this funding in view of the housing need involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9203/17]
View answerMy Department has recently received a Stage 4 submission from Galway County Council in relation to the construction of the dwelling referred to in the question. This submission is currently being assessed by my Department and I expect that a recommendation will issue to Galway County Council shortly.
221. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the cost per year for the past three years for the retrieval and return of hard copy files stored at off site locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9306/17]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 493 of 17 January 2017 which sets out the position on this matter.
222. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the timeframe for maintenance to be carried out on housing for tenants already living in social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9319/17]
View answerThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including the implementation of planned maintenance programmes and carrying out of responsive repairs to tenants already living in social housing and pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, is a matter for each individual local authority under section 58 of the Housing Act, 1966. In line with commitments in Rebuilding Ireland, An Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, my Department is working with local authorities on a strategy that will see all local authorities operating to a national re-letting performance standard and using a preventative maintenance approach to housing stock management.
In addition, in order to ensure the fullest use of local authority social housing stock, the Voids programme was introduced in 2014, followed by the Derelicts programme in 2016, and collectively, these two programmes have seen the remediation of approximately 7,200 units between 2014 and 2016.
These programmes have provided funding to support the authorities in tackling those houses that may require a greater level of remediation than the normal level of pre-letting repairs that is the responsibility of local authorities as part of their on-going repair and maintenance of local authority housing and, without the funding, would most likely have remained vacant. Instead these units were brought back into productive use and made available for re-letting.
223. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if additional funding will be provided to the local authorities to provide social housing for the waiting lists in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9320/17]
View answerOn Monday last, I published a Social Housing Construction Projects Status Report, which lists all approved projects, including those delivered in 2016 and those at various stages of advancement through planning, design and construction. This report, which includes a number of projects for Cavan and Monaghan areas, which are either recently completed or being advanced, can be accessed at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/rebuilding_ireland_-_social_housing_construction_status_report_-_q4_2016.pdf.
Funding is provided by my Department to local authorities in line with their advancement of social housing construction projects. Accordingly, rather than a pre-set allocation of funding for this year, the level of funding to be provided to both Cavan and Monaghan local authorities will be directly linked to the scale of delivery they achieve on their approved projects.
I am keen that both local authorities advance these projects as speedily as possible and I have assured all local authorities that funding is in place to support their activity in this regard.
224. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the cost per year for the past three years for the storage of data and or files on cloud storage or third party servers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9404/17]
View answerThe cost per year for storage of data and or files on cloud storage or third party servers is set out in the following table:
|
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
129,746.70 |
110,022.85 |
159,681 .25 |
The main costs relate to hosting charges associated with my Department’s Geographic Information Systems. This includes cloud based servers, databases and hosting as well as data storage. Since May 2013, certain costs are charged on a Shared Service basis with the Heritage Division of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Their element of hosting costs is not included in the table.
225. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if all regulatory impact assessments for his legislative proposals are published on his Department websites; the web address for each such site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9420/17]
View answerRegulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) are commonly undertaken within my Department at an early stage in the policy development process, as they are regarded as a valuable tool in deciding the best approach to take. In general, after the text of a Bill has been agreed by Government, any related RIA is published on the Department’s website, www.housing.gov.ie.
The following table sets out the position as regards proposals in the Government’s legislation programme for Spring/Summer 2017:
|
Legislative Proposal |
RIA Published (Y/N) |
Website address |
|
Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill |
Y |
www.housing.gov.ie/planning/foreshore/ria-maritime-area-foreshore-amendment-bill-2013 |
|
Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill |
Y |
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/voluntary-and-cooperative-housing/ria-general-scheme-housing-regulation |
|
Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016 |
Y |
www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/legislations/ria_as_of_9_dec_2015.pdf |
|
Building Control Bill* |
N |
N/A |
|
Commercial Rates Bill* |
N |
N/A |
|
Electoral Commission Bill* |
N |
N/A |
|
Water Environment Bill* |
N |
N/A |
*Heads of Bill not yet submitted to Government
226. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of the implementation of the An Bord Pleanála review group report; the actions taken to date; the timeframe for future actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9460/17]
View answerFurther to the Organisational Review of An Bord Pleanála, undertaken by an independent expert panel and published in March 2016, an Implementation Group, comprising representation from my Department and An Bord Pleanála, has been established to oversee the implementation of the Review Group recommendations. To date, the Group has met on three occasions (18th October 2016, 25th November 2016 and 26th January 2017). The Implementation Group has published its Terms of Reference and Plan for Implementation, which are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/organisational_review_of_abp_implementation_group_-_terms_of_reference_plan_for_implementation_-_final.pdf.
