Written Answers Nos. 422-439
422. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the annual support from his Department to each local authority to the housing capital programme in each of the years 2000 to 2016, in tabular form. [13143/17]
View answerThe information sought in respect of funding provided to local authorities under the main social housing delivery programmes is set out in the table. The data for 2015 and 2016 includes amounts self-funded by certain local authorities from surplus Local Property Tax receipts.
In addition, my Department also funds a range of other capital programmes in relation to regeneration and stock improvement and the delivery of specific housing solutions such as Traveller accommodation and supports for older people and people with a disability.
As my Department's current financial management system was implemented in 2004, the information sought prior to that date is not readily available and its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work.
|
Local Authority |
2016 €million |
2015 €million |
2014 €million |
2013 €million |
2012 €million |
2011 €million |
2010 €million |
2009 €million |
2008 €million |
2007 €million |
2006 €million |
2005 €million |
2004 €million |
|
Carlow |
4.82 |
2.35 |
2.89 |
3.22 |
3.45 |
2.93 |
5.03 |
9.43 |
23.25 |
13.73 |
18.39 |
20.14 |
10.06 |
|
Cavan |
2.84 |
2.23 |
1.61 |
2.33 |
2.03 |
1.24 |
4.98 |
11.63 |
14.38 |
11.06 |
5.58 |
14.17 |
13.60 |
|
Clare |
4.13 |
4.23 |
3.81 |
4.25 |
1.88 |
4.40 |
7.36 |
17.75 |
26.12 |
17.09 |
18.24 |
11.35 |
17.72 |
|
Cork City |
20.97 |
22.06 |
2.19 |
2.06 |
3.09 |
2.09 |
27.16 |
64.21 |
81.01 |
66.28 |
99.62 |
60.09 |
52.84 |
|
Cork County Council |
22.04 |
9.92 |
2.91 |
5.46 |
9.29 |
18.09 |
46.51 |
77.18 |
75.98 |
76.22 |
54.53 |
57.69 |
32.19 |
|
DL Rathdown |
13.99 |
16.20 |
2.78 |
5.16 |
20.38 |
5.00 |
34.96 |
38.93 |
32.91 |
20.74 |
31.59 |
14.37 |
17.63 |
|
Donegal |
2.87 |
2.13 |
4.05 |
2.14 |
2.77 |
6.26 |
13.31 |
27.61 |
45.77 |
35.70 |
47.96 |
40.90 |
29.15 |
|
Dublin City |
75.71 |
43.25 |
35.16 |
27.85 |
20.29 |
25.90 |
69.10 |
84.64 |
175.82 |
137.10 |
130.70 |
79.24 |
108.90 |
|
Fingal |
15.64 |
37.07 |
11.33 |
7.96 |
9.78 |
17.74 |
31.48 |
20.56 |
34.11 |
25.08 |
36.26 |
33.23 |
29.94 |
|
Galway City |
0.61 |
4.15 |
1.19 |
1.31 |
6.57 |
8.96 |
12.73 |
18.13 |
28.01 |
30.93 |
19.08 |
10.40 |
6.50 |
|
Galway County Council |
4.43 |
1.44 |
3.79 |
3.12 |
2.71 |
4.09 |
8.02 |
14.37 |
25.48 |
26.83 |
25.78 |
12.22 |
13.06 |
|
Kerry |
4.78 |
4.53 |
1.25 |
1.42 |
1.55 |
5.19 |
19.16 |
22.67 |
37.67 |
37.29 |
25.93 |
32.41 |
23.24 |
|
Kildare |
23.40 |
13.95 |
4.71 |
5.44 |
7.02 |
26.79 |
21.72 |
35.04 |
55.18 |
43.78 |
38.80 |
37.27 |
18.00 |
|
Kilkenny |
8.47 |
6.62 |
1.59 |
3.04 |
7.12 |
5.29 |
12.73 |
16.29 |
28.55 |
29.77 |
24.35 |
15.59 |
12.95 |
|
Laois |
3.87 |
4.66 |
3.97 |
0.75 |
2.31 |
5.01 |
8.39 |
9.70 |
21.12 |
24.49 |
22.91 |
32.41 |
21.75 |
|
Leitrim |
1.46 |
0.36 |
0.53 |
1.18 |
0.53 |
0.14 |
2.76 |
5.11 |
4.55 |
2.88 |
3.98 |
4.37 |
5.56 |
|
Limerick (unified) |
4.64 |
0.80 |
2.07 |
4.90 |
7.30 |
9.12 |
20.75 |
44.83 |
37.99 |
31.83 |
24.13 |
25.37 |
27.00 |
|
Longford |
1.59 |
0.64 |
1.09 |
0.83 |
2.76 |
1.86 |
7.88 |
13.65 |
18.86 |
17.82 |
20.67 |
18.47 |
15.51 |
|
Louth |
9.57 |
5.18 |
2.68 |
3.44 |
11.38 |
5.42 |
18.44 |
31.74 |
38.81 |
41.88 |
37.95 |
28.48 |
28.44 |
|
Mayo |
5.27 |
1.84 |
1.19 |
2.80 |
1.86 |
1.39 |
7.37 |
16.45 |
26.38 |
19.63 |
16.28 |
11.55 |
11.38 |
|
Meath |
17.44 |
5.25 |
2.65 |
5.96 |
3.06 |
7.90 |
14.16 |
28.63 |
27.26 |
27.34 |
14.62 |
14.39 |
16.64 |
|
Monaghan |
5.87 |
2.62 |
2.38 |
2.35 |
2.86 |
3.37 |
4.95 |
14.19 |
19.16 |
11.91 |
10.19 |
15.39 |
8.56 |
|
Offaly |
2.85 |
2.27 |
2.58 |
1.36 |
2.88 |
3.06 |
13.98 |
16.03 |
23.13 |
22.22 |
15.06 |
11.35 |
6.16 |
|
Roscommon |
1.65 |
0.74 |
0.72 |
1.17 |
2.01 |
1.28 |
3.91 |
8.40 |
9.88 |
11.71 |
9.25 |
15.99 |
4.89 |
|
Sligo |
3.56 |
2.79 |
4.02 |
1.16 |
5.62 |
11.95 |
9.52 |
15.61 |
23.69 |
19.91 |
14.50 |
17.68 |
12.42 |
|
South Dublin |
18.69 |
9.26 |
9.58 |
12.48 |
10.83 |
9.39 |
29.89 |
58.34 |
34.15 |
74.72 |
44.15 |
79.36 |
57.86 |
|
Tipperary (unified) |
7.44 |
6.13 |
1.82 |
1.76 |
3.53 |
4.24 |
20.43 |
20.99 |
37.99 |
31.78 |
27.94 |
18.40 |
25.33 |
|
Waterford (unified) |
9.60 |
6.84 |
5.67 |
2.87 |
10.46 |
9.23 |
14.06 |
26.81 |
38.09 |
53.47 |
42.11 |
24.11 |
18.56 |
|
Westmeath |
4.31 |
1.11 |
2.20 |
0.70 |
3.55 |
2.52 |
9.55 |
14.40 |
17.52 |
16.64 |
16.82 |
9.92 |
8.37 |
|
Wexford |
9.03 |
5.45 |
3.46 |
1.28 |
3.27 |
7.22 |
11.54 |
24.15 |
35.75 |
34.39 |
23.77 |
25.15 |
23.05 |
|
Wicklow |
4.90 |
12.28 |
1.11 |
4.63 |
10.32 |
6.89 |
14.90 |
21.39 |
35.27 |
28.84 |
30.32 |
29.81 |
26.74 |
|
Total |
316.41 |
238.29 |
126.98 |
124.36 |
182.46 |
223.93 |
526.75 |
828.84 |
1,133.84 |
1,043.06 |
951.45 |
821.25 |
704.03 |
423. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 65 of 23 February 2017, if the application of the rent pressure zone scheme to the rental accommodation scheme, housing assistance payment and social housing current expenditure programme leases was intentional or accidental. [13155/17]
View answerIt is the intention of the legislation to limit rent increases in private rented accommodation in Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) to a maximum of 4% per annum, including in those tenancies supported by the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).
The 4% limit does not apply to tenancies supported by the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP). However, the effect that the limit is expected to have on market rent inflation will help contain cost increases from a local authority perspective in the context of the periodic rent reviews that form part of the SHCEP contractual arrangements.
424. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13197/17]
View answerThe Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, brought into operation a grants scheme to assist with the cost of remediation of septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed, following inspection under the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Inspection Plan, to require repair or upgrading.
The grant scheme ensures that the limited financial resources available are targeted towards householders, particularly those on lower incomes, who incur expenditure directly as a result of the implementation of the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012. The scheme does not apply to businesses.
Full details of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, are clearly set out in the explanatory leaflet and application form published on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/en/Publications/Environment/Water/FileDownLoad,33607,en.pdf.
425. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of the estates in County Galway (details supplied) on his Department's unfinished housing estates list that remain unfinished. [13200/17]
View answerThe annual survey of Unfinished Housing Developments last completed by my Department in 2016 indicates that 15 unfinished housing developments remain in Galway, the details of which have been set out in the table. I intend to publish a full listing of all remaining unfinished developments as part of the Fifth Annual Implementation Report on the Government's Action Programme on Unfinished Housing Developments later this month.
Unfinished Housing Developments
|
Lios Garbh |
- |
Ballinasloe |
|
Ard Na Speire |
Moycullen Road |
An Spideal |
|
Bun Na Coille |
Mountain Road |
Moycullen |
|
Carrigweir |
Weir Road |
Tuam |
|
Corr An Tochair |
Dunmore Road |
Williamstown |
|
Cottage Hill |
Athenry Rd |
Loughrea |
|
Cuirt na hAbhann |
Oranmore Road |
Claregalway |
|
Cul Na Coirre |
Church Road |
Headford |
|
Garrai An Droichid |
Killora |
Craughwell |
|
Lough Eala |
St Brigids Rd. |
Portumna |
|
Bothar na Sleibhe |
Loughwell |
Moycullen |
|
Pairc Na Ri |
Park Rd Ballydavid South |
Athenry |
|
The Fairways/An Mhinleog |
Tuam Road |
Dunmore |
|
Tir an Choir |
Vicars Choral |
Tuam |
|
Ard na Gaoithe |
Mount Pleasant |
Loughrea |
426. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans for homes that are affected by pyrite but have been left out of the current remediation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13255/17]
View answerThe Pyrite Resolution Board, with the support of the Housing Agency, is responsible for the implementation of the pyrite remediation scheme. The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope. The full conditions for eligibility under the scheme are set out in the scheme which is available on the Board’s website, www.pyriteboard.ie.
The scheme is applicable to dwellings, which are subject to significant damage attributable to pyritic heave established, in accordance with I.S. 398-1:2013 - Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol. In this regard, it is a condition of eligibility under the scheme that an application to the Board must be accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment with a Damage Condition Rating of 2. Dwellings which do not have a Damage Condition Rating of 2 are not eligible to apply under the scheme. This ensures that, having regard to the available resources, the focus of the scheme is on dwellings which are most severely damaged by pyritic heave. I have no proposals to amend this eligibility criterion.
427. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to extend and expand the pyrite remediation scheme for homes that failed to reach the high thresholds set down under the previous Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13256/17]
View answerThe Pyrite Resolution Board, with the support of the Housing Agency, is responsible for the implementation of the pyrite remediation scheme. The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope. The full conditions for eligibility under the scheme are set out in the scheme which is available on the Board’s website, www.pyriteboard.ie.
The scheme is applicable to dwellings which are subject to significant damage attributable to pyritic heave established in accordance with I.S. 398-1:2013 - Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol. In this regard, it is a condition of eligibility under the scheme that an application to the Board must be accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment with a Damage Condition Rating of 2. Dwellings which do not have a Damage Condition Rating of 2 are not eligible to apply under the scheme. This ensures that, having regard to available resources, the focus of the scheme is on dwellings which are most severely damaged by pyritic heave. I have no proposals to amend this eligibility criterion.
428. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of the boundary extension from County Waterford into south Kilkenny (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13260/17]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question Nos.160 and 161 of 15 February 2017. The position is unchanged.
429. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the actions he will take to promote the acceptance by landlords of the HAP scheme in order that they will be more inclined to accept tenants availing of this benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13263/17]
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 was an important early action for completion in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
HAP is now available to all qualified households in 31 local authority areas, with over 19,000 households currently being supported by the scheme. A breakdown of the number of households supported by HAP in each local authority area at the end of December 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.
While the level of supply in some rental markets is challenging, the increased rent limits provided by the Government in July 2016, together with the additional discretion available to local authorities to exceed the maximum rent limit where it is necessary to secure suitable accommodation, are allowing households to find suitable accommodation and willing landlords. In excess of 300 additional tenancies are being supported by HAP each week, and there are now some 15,000 separate landlords and agents currently in receipt of monthly HAP payments.
My Department has engaged with the landlord sector since commencement of the scheme in September 2014. This has afforded the sector an opportunity to provide valuable feedback in relation to the operation of the HAP scheme and has, in turn with feedback from other sectors, helped to inform and shape the operation and implementation of the scheme into its next phase, i.e. a national scheme.
I have also recently launched a new HAP website, www.hap.ie, dedicated to providing prospective HAP tenants and landlords with the information that they need to better understand how HAP works. My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review, particularly in the Dublin area where the scheme has now been made available since 1 March 2017.
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.
430. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department has received an application for funding under the Traveller accommodation programme from Galway City Council in respect of a two bed extension of a property in Galway city (details supplied); when a decision will be made in relation to this application in view of the fact that the application for a housing extension was made to Galway City Council over a year ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13274/17]
View answerTraveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) are strategic five-year rolling programmes for the provision of Traveller accommodation in a local authority area, with the current round of TAPs running from 2014 to 2018. Provision for unforeseen or emerging accommodation needs, such as an extension to a local authority property as outlined in the Question, would not be reflected in TAPs and I can confirm that My Department has not received any funding application from Galway City Council under its TAP for an extension to the property in question.
However, my Department provides funding to local authorities, including Galway City Council, under the Programme to Support Housing Adaptations and Extensions to Social Housing Units to meet the needs of households in a range of circumstances, including to address overcrowding. The management of the programme locally, and the selection, prioritisation and submission of individual projects, is a matter for each local authority. Ahead of the formal funding allocations for 2017, local authorities have scope to continue activity under the programme up to a maximum value of 65% of their 2016 allocation.
431. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason Meath fire services are not being dispatched to assist the ambulance and paramedic services in County Meath (details supplied). [13282/17]
View answerResponsibility for the provision of emergency medical services, including pre-hospital emergency care, rests with the Health Service Executive (HSE) which operates the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and emergency departments in hospitals in accordance with health sector legislation and national policy. The HSE operates under the remit of my colleague, the Minster for Health.
As Minister with policy and legislative responsibility for fire safety and the provision of fire services by local authorities, I am primarily concerned that local authority provided fire services are meeting their statutory obligations in respect of provision of fire services and fire safety. These responsibilities include the important activity of community and other fire safety initiatives as well as response to 999/112 calls. In 2013, the policy document “Keeping Communities Safe” was published and, for the first time, set out standards and norms against which local authorities can benchmark their fire services. In April 2016, the first report of the External Validation Group, titled “Local Delivery – National Consistency”, was published. This report assessed the review process undertaken in each of the 27 local authority fire services, and provided an appraisal of the current state of our local authority fire services.
In general, there is a high degree of collaboration and co-ordination of emergency activity among the Principal Emergency Services. In some circumstances, the HSE’s NAS calls for assistance from fire services in responding to certain categories of 999/112 emergency calls. Such calls are typically in respect of, but not limited to, ECHO (life threatening) emergencies. As well as being able to call on Community First Responders, the NAS is aware that many fire services are equipped with automatic external defibrillators and have trained their fire-fighters in Cardiac First Responder and Emergency First Responder to Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council standards. Fire services are so equipped and trained in the first instance for ensuring the health and safety of their own staff, but can use their skills and equipment where they encounter casualties at emergency incidents.
Fire services generally respond to calls for assistance from external bodies in accordance with protocols operated within the three fire services Regional Communications Centres. However, there is no national framework or agreement for cross-mobilisation between the Principal Emergency Services.
The feasibility of fire services being commissioned by the HSE to provide a response service in support of the NAS in responding to ECHO emergency calls is currently being discussed at national level at the Fire Services National Oversight & Implementation Group, which consists of fire service management and staff representatives. Any proposal emerging from these discussions will be considered in the first instance by the Management Board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management and could be used as the basis for discussions with the Health sector on this matter, if relevant.
Experience has shown that any proposal for formalising such assistance needs to be subject to appropriate governance and cost reimbursement arrangements and to be set in the context of a service agreement which will not impact on or adversely affect fire services' primary roles. It is important in such circumstances to ensure that local authority and fire services' resources are not diverted from their statutory fire service and fire safety responsibilities where they are providing assistance for another public body. The potential impact on the current Community First Responders schemes would also have to be assessed.
432. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the estimated amount it would cost to adequately upgrade the infrastructure in the wastewater plants in the 38 agglomerations across the State that are deemed to be in breach of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. [13292/17]
View answerThe Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive mandates the required standards for the collection and treatment of waste water from urban areas and sets various deadlines for meeting these standards. All requirements of the Directive should have been met by the end of 2005 at the latest. As such, achieving compliance with the requirements of this Directive is a long standing issue.
With regard to the 38 agglomerations identified in the current EU infringement process, Irish Water estimate that investment of €1bn in waste water treatment plants is necessary to ensure adequate treatment of waste water from these urban areas.
It must be emphasised that this is the level of investment necessary to address specific failures with regard to appropriate treatment of waste water in the 38 agglomerations. Further significant investment is required to ensure ongoing compliance in all agglomerations, facilitate ongoing capital maintenance and upgrade needs, ensure the proper functioning of waste water collection systems, and provide for adequate treatment capacity to facilitate future population and economic growth.
433. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 160 of 8 February 2017, the reason a housing assistance payment, HAP, was denied to homeless families for a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13316/17]
View answer434. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 160 of 8 February 2017, if he will report on the examination his Department is undertaking of Part 4 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 regarding housing assistance payment, HAP, and regeneration areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13317/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together.
I refer to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 160 of 8 February 2017. The position remains unchanged.
One of the key functions of housing authorities is to provide or manage the provision of social housing support in a way that counteracts undue segregation between persons of different social backgrounds and ensures the provision of an appropriate mix of dwelling types and tenure classes.
Once a household has been deemed eligible for social housing support, it is a matter for the local authority to examine the suite of social housing supports available, including the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, to determine the most appropriate form of social housing support for that household in the administrative area of that local authority. Accordingly, local authorities may refuse to provide HAP in an area where they consider there to be an over concentration of social housing supports in place.
In relation to the individual case raised by the Deputy, local authorities are by law independent in the performance of their functions and I, as Minister, cannot intervene in relation to the procedures followed, or decisions made, by local authorities in the provision of social housing support, including the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme.
435. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that in line with the one person one salary principle, no public servant that is a member of a State board or agency under the control of his Department is currently in receipt of remuneration in the form of board fees and if any such remuneration is being paid that such payment will be discontinued and payments that were wrongfully paid will be reclaimed. [13325/17]
View answerDetails in relation to the expenses of Board members are available within the respective annual reports of the State agencies under the aegis of my Department. Where public servants are appointed to such Boards, no fees are payable. This is set out clearly in the Remuneration and Superannuation element of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, published by my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, which also indicates that the implementation of and adherence to these arrangements is the responsibility of individual State Bodies.
436. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to assist families that have out grown their affordable homes and cannot sell without clawback or rent them out to move to bigger homes for fear of being penalised; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this has caused untold and undue hardship for some persons in view of the fact it does not take cognisance of families growing or circumstances changing. [13372/17]
View answerThe Affordable Housing Schemes helped qualifying applicants, who would not have otherwise been in a position to purchase a home, to become home owners through purchase of designated affordable units. Houses sold to first time buyers under the various affordable housing schemes were priced at a significant discount from their market value. Buyers were free to sell their properties at anytime. However, in order to prevent short-term profit-taking on the resale of the house to the detriment of the objectives of the schemes, the schemes contained a clawback provision.
Under the clawback provisions, as set out in the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002, as amended, where the purchaser proposes to sell the unit within 20 years of the date of purchase, he/she must refund to the local authority a percentage of the proceeds of the sale of the unit. The percentage of the proceeds to be repaid will be related to the proportion of discount from the market value originally received from the local authority. A full refund must be paid if the unit is sold within the first 10 years of occupancy. A reduction of 10% per annum is given for each full year of occupancy between 10 and 20 years and after 20 years of full occupancy no refund would be due to the local authority.
However, where a person is selling an affordable home and the clawback amount payable would reduce the proceeds of resale below the initial price actually paid, the legislation provides for the amount of the clawback payable to be reduced to the extent necessary to avoid that result.
I have no plans to amend these provisions, which I consider to be equitable and reasonable.
437. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department regularly inspects homes rented under the housing assistance payment scheme to check if they are fit for purpose and up to standard. [13373/17]
View answerMinimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, as amended by the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) (Amendment) Regulations 2009, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992.
Responsibility for inspection of rental properties as well as enforcement of the regulations rests with the relevant local authority. All landlords have a legal obligation, including those under HAP, to ensure that their rented properties comply with the regulations governing the minimum standards for rented accommodation. Under section 41 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, local authorities are required to commence this inspection process within 8 months of HAP being paid in relation to a particular dwelling if not already inspected within the previous 12 months.
The Strategy for the Rental Sector, published in December 2016, recognises that the quality of rental accommodation is critical to the success and sustainability of the residential rental sector and its attractiveness as a long-term accommodation option for households. The inspection capacity of Local Authorities will be strengthened in order to increase the number and frequency of inspections. In addition to updated regulations, procedures for a more efficient, standardised and transparent inspections and enforcement approach across all Local Authority areas will be introduced; and specific ring-fenced funding for inspections will be provided from 2018 onwards, with the aim of achieving a 25% annual inspection coverage of rental properties by 2021.
438. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will make all leases of buildings taken out by councils and Departments transparent and post them online. [13374/17]
View answerI have no function in relation to the matter raised in the Question. This is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, as delivery of the Property Asset Management Delivery Plan and development of the State Property Register, which includes details of properties owned or leased by Government Departments, local authorities and state agencies, is being led by the Office of Public Works (OPW) chaired Steering Group on Property Asset Management.
The information sought in respect of local authorities is not held in my Department as property management issues are a day to day operational matter for the authorities concerned.
With regard to premises and sites occupied by my Department under leases, all such leases are with the OPW.
My Department also shares with other Government Departments the rent and ancillary costs of a premises occupied by Ireland's Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels.
439. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some local authorities publish the details of the companies that win their tenders, while others do not because they state it is commercially sensitive; and if he will instruct all local authorities to publish the details of the companies that win their tenders. [13375/17]
View answerPublication of award information relating to tenders is required under both EU and National Procurement rules.
Under EU Directive 2014/24/EU and the European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016, contracting authorities that have awarded a public contract or concluded a framework agreement must publish a notice of the results of the award procedure no later than 30 days after the award of the contract or the conclusion of the framework agreement. Award notices must include the name and address of winning tenderer/framework members and the price of the winning tender. This Directive relates to public contracts exceeding the EU threshold of €209,000 (exclusive of VAT) for local authority contracts.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 10/14 also requires that buyers publish all Contract Award Notices over €25,000 on the eTenders website on completion of the award. This is a separate step to publication required under the EU Directive and Regulations. This provision came into effect from 1 August 2014.
In addition, under section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 each local authority is required to publish a FOI Publication Scheme that includes procurement information including a link to all current tender competitions on the eTenders website and, on a quarterly basis, details of public contracts awarded for values over €25,000 (exclusive of VAT) including the name of the winning contractor and the value of the contract. This requirement came into effect on 14 April 2016.
The Local Government Strategic Procurement Centre, based in the Local Government Management Agency, is actively engaging with the Procurement Officers designated in each local authority to ensure full compliance with the requirements of procurement law and policy.
Overall lead responsibility for public sector procurement matters rests with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform.
