Written Answers Nos. 96-104
96. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of new home completions as measured by the building control management system for each month since the inception of the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14584/17]
View answerThe purpose of the Building Control Management System (BCMS) is to facilitate building control authorities, building owners, builders and construction professionals in discharging their separate responsibilities under the Building Control Act 1990. The system provides a common platform for clear and consistent administration of building control matters across the local authority sector.
The BCMS was not designed to report on housing completions. However, the BCMS does facilitate the receipt and lodgement of commencement notices, statutory certificates and compliance documentation in line with the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations. One such statutory certificate is the Certificates of Compliance on Completion, which confirms to the Building Control Authority that the building works, as constructed, are in compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations. Certificates of Compliance on Completion are required for certain works that submitted a commencement notice on or after 1st March 2014. They are not required for one-off houses that have chosen to opt out of the statutory certification process since 1st September 2015. Certificates of Compliance on Completion may cover multiple buildings or works.
Building Control Authorities are required to keep certain information pertaining to building works that come under the Building Control Regulations 1997-2015 on a statutory register, including particulars in relation to Certificates of Compliance on Completion. BCMS is centrally hosted by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) on behalf of the 31 Local Authorities and has enabled this information to be hosted on a central nationwide register, readily available and updated quarterly at https://www.localgov.ie/en/link-type/bcms.
97. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when he will provide funding to local authorities on the phase 2 house insulation programme. [14595/17]
View answer98. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to provide additional resources for housing maintenance for Dublin City Council in view of the need to upgrade and properly insulate the large older social housing estates located in the council's areas. [14596/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 98 together.
The regular management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, is a matter for each relevant local authority, and it is open to each authority to address maintenance or improvements to their housing stock from within their own resources.
However, my Department is committed to supporting local authorities in maintaining and improving the quality of the national social housing stock through a range of measures including large-scale urban regeneration programmes, improving the standard and energy efficiency of dwellings, pre-letting repairs and improvement and refurbishment works to vacant properties in order to return these to productive use as quickly as possible.
With regard to the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme for social housing stock, my Department has provided very significant financial support to local authorities who are currently undertaking an ambitious programme of insulation retrofitting on the least energy efficient social housing homes. Funding of some €107 million was provided from 2013 to 2016 to improve energy efficiency and comfort levels in over 57,000 local authority homes, benefitting those at risk of fuel poverty and making a significant contribution to Ireland’s carbon emissions reduction targets and energy reduction targets for 2020.
It will be a matter for each local authority, including Dublin City Council, to devise, prioritise and implement appropriate targeted Energy Efficiency Programme works that best fit the specific requirements in their areas. My Department will shortly request submissions from each local authority in respect of their proposed works and related funding requirements for 2017.
99. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department has an evaluation system to invigilate on the performance of local authorities in regard to maintenance and refurbishment of their social housing estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14597/17]
View answer100. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will establish an evaluation and invigilation system to monitor the performance of local authorities and voluntary housing bodies in relation to estate management of their social housing stock. [14598/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together.
The efficient management of social housing stock is vital to ensure that we achieve optimum occupancy while the construction of new build continues to accelerate.
The Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan sets out measures to improve the management of Local Authority housing stock, including the adoption of a common national re-letting performance standard across all local authorities; a preventative maintenance approach to housing stock management; a greater focus on tenant’s roles and responsibilities as well as funding mechanisms to incentivise swift turn-around, consistent standards and pro-active approaches.
The National Oversight & Audit Commission (NOAC) is an independent statutory body established under the 2014 Local Government Reform Act to provide oversight of the local government sector. At present NOAC is finalising a review of local authorities' management and maintenance of their housing stock.
Regarding Approved Housing Bodies (AHB's), as part of the Payment and Availability (P&A) Agreements entered into by AHBs under the social housing leasing programme, AHBs agree:
- to be responsible for the upkeep, management and maintenance of the dwelling the subject of the agreement, and
- to comply at all times during the term of the agreement with the provisions and requirements of the Planning Acts and of the Building Regulations.
Housing authorities are responsible for monitoring compliance with the terms and conditions governing P&A agreements, including ensuring that the dwellings are in a lettable condition and are in compliance with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008. Provision has been made for an administrative fee to be paid in respect of this regulatory role being undertaken by housing authorities. This annual fee equates to 1% of the yearly leasing cost and is paid by my Department at the commencement of the leasing arrangements.
101. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if there are grants being made available to enable persons to refurbish or carry out remedial works to dwelling houses in rural areas in order to make them fully habitable and suitable accommodation for families that wish to reside in same, or that actually owned them and wish to effect necessary improvements to make them habitable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14601/17]
View answerPillar 5 of the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is specifically focused on Utilising Existing Housing Stock, with a key objective of ensuring that the existing vacant housing stock throughout the country and across all forms of tenure, in both the public and private sectors, is used to the optimum degree possible. In this regard, Action 5.1 of Rebuilding Ireland commits to the development of a National Vacant Housing Re-Use Strategy, informed by Census 2016 data, to
- inform the compilation of a register of vacant units across the country,
- identify the number, location and reasons for longer-term vacancies (i.e. over 6 months) in high demand areas, and
- set out a range of actions to bring vacant units back into reuse.
To this end, the Housing Agency, which has lead responsibility for coordinating the development of the Strategy, established a working group in September 2016 comprising of senior representatives from my Department, local authorities and from the Housing Agency itself to inform the Strategy. The Group is due to report in the coming weeks.
An important action that will have a significant impact in the regeneration of vacant properties is the Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS), which has been developed to assist private property owners and local authorities or Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to harness the accommodation potential that exists in certain vacant properties across Ireland. The scheme is targeted at owners of vacant properties who cannot afford or access the funding needed to bring their properties up to the required 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 for 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.
Following on from 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 23 February 2017. 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. Over the period 2016 to 2021, it is anticipated that up to 3,500 units will be secured for social housing under this scheme. Funding to support the cost of bringing new social houses into use using the Repair and Leasing Scheme in 2017 will be released based on proposals submitted by local authorities to my Department rather than by allocation to each local authority. I have provided funding to support ambitious delivery under the scheme in 2017 and I would urge every local authority to work hard to secure units as early as possible and maximise the use of this investment.
I will be carefully monitoring the scheme in 2017 to ensure that it works well 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 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. The full details of this scheme are being finalised and will be communicated to local authorities shortly. I have made an initial €25 million available for this initiative this year and propose to increase this to as much as €50 million in 2018, depending on the uptake. I expect this investment to deliver between 400 and 500 renewed houses for social housing use. The initiative may present opportunities for local authorities and approved housing bodies to tackle dereliction in towns and urban areas, but prospective housing units will always need to be suitable for social housing use, in an area of need, and to represent reasonable value for money.
The Built Heritage Investment Scheme, which comes under the remit of my colleague, the Minister of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs, is a €2m scheme for the repair and conservation of protected structures. Launched in October 2015, this scheme is expected to support in excess of 330 projects across the country in 2017 and to create employment in the conservation and construction industries, while helping to regenerate urban and rural areas.
102. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the position regarding members of the fire service who were injured seriously in the line of duty and have been accommodated with their employment and in situations in which an arrangement has been put in place for lighter duties; the number of such instances in place in the fire service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14606/17]
View answerFire services are provided by local authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. Under the Local Government Act 2001, arrangements in relation to staffing in each local authority are the responsibility of the relevant Chief Executive for that authority.
The information requested by the Deputy is not held by my Department.
103. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of homes delivered and tenanted through initiatives set out in Rebuilding Ireland to bring vacant stock back into use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14607/17]
View answerPillar 5 of the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is specifically focused on utilising Existing Housing Stock, with a key objective of ensuring that the existing vacant housing stock throughout the country and across all forms of tenure, in both the public and private sectors, is used to the optimum degree possible.
To this end, the Housing Agency, which has lead responsibility for coordinating the development of the Strategy, established a working group in September 2016 comprising of senior representatives from my Department, local authorities and from the Housing Agency itself to inform the Strategy. The Group is due to report in the coming weeks.
The Rebuilding Ireland commitments are set out in line with best asset management practices, which will see all local authorities operating to a national re-letting performance standard and greater use of a preventative maintenance approach to social housing stock management. In 2016, over 2,300 vacant social housing units were returned to productive use. This figure does not include units returned to use by local authorities through funding from their own resources. Allocations for 2017 are due to be announced shortly and it is expected that in excess of 1,500 vacant social housing units will be brought back to use under the Voids Programme.
The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) has been developed under Pillar 5 of Rebuilding Ireland to assist private property owners and local authorities or Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to harness the accommodation potential that exists in certain vacant properties across Ireland. The scheme is targeted at owners of vacant properties who cannot afford or access the funding needed to bring their properties up to the required 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.
Following on from 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 23 February 2017. 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. Over the period 2016 to 2021, it is anticipated that up to 3,500 units will be secured for social housing under this scheme.
Other initiatives include the Buy and Renew Scheme. The full details of this scheme are being finalised and will be communicated to local authorities shortly. I have made an initial €25 million available for this initiative this year and propose to increase this to as much as €50 million in 2018, depending on the uptake. I expect this investment to deliver between 400 and 500 renewed houses for social housing use.
This initiative may present opportunities for local authorities and approved housing bodies to tackle dereliction in towns and urban areas, but prospective housing units will always need to be suitable for social housing use, in an area of need and to represent reasonable value for money.
In addition, the Housing Agency is being provided with €70m in capital funding from the Exchequer, with the specific focus of engaging with banks and other entities to acquire properties for social housing nationally. Overall, some 1,600 units are targeted for acquisition under this initiative.
104. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason guidelines listed in a Government-commissioned document (details supplied) stated that the required setback position for wind turbines was 1,209 metres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14645/17]
View answerI understand that the objective of the Report referred to, commissioned by SEAI, was to inform consideration of the impact of potential noise limits on the available wind energy capacity in Ireland. Commissioned by my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, I gather that this was solely an acoustic modelling exercise and that a number of assumptions were made in compiling the report. It is also worth noting the limited scope of this report, which did not include an environmental study.
Within a broader policy context, in 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.
As part of the overall review, and with regard to the recent ECJ Judgement in Case C-290/15 on the Belgian/Wallonian wind energy guidelines, it is proposed to undertake a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of the proposed revisions to the 2006 Guidelines - in accordance with the requirements of Directive 2001/24/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment - before they are finalised. The SEA process will include public consultation.
