Thursday, 25 May 2017

Written Answers Nos. 106-126

Teaching Council of Ireland

Questions (106)

Joan Burton

Question:

106. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he received the Teaching Council report on teacher supply; the reason he has not published the report to date; when he will do so; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many primary schools are reporting great difficulties in filling vacancies when teachers are absent due to illness and other reasons; and the way in which his Department proposes to assist schools with these difficulties. [25181/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy is referring to the report of the Technical Working Group (TWG) which was set up by the Teaching Council to formulate advice on teacher supply. The Report focusses on the development of a model of primary teacher supply, while outlining the work which will be required to establish a model of post primary teacher supply. The report was submitted to my predecessor, Minister Jan O’Sullivan.

The aim of my Department’s policy is to achieve a balance between the supply of, and demand for, teachers. The Deputy will see from the Report that this is complex, particularly at post primary level, and it was important that the report was given careful consideration by officials of my Department and that suitable supporting actions were identified before publication. I intend to publish the TWG’s report shortly.

The report sets out an approach to planning which scopes out the work necessary to develop models for teacher supply in the medium to long term. It is of value in relation to building data models for predicting future requirements in the long term. However it does not address current issues.

In overall terms my Department does not have evidence of a recent or current general shortage of primary teachers, including for substitute positions. However, I am aware that some schools are experiencing difficulty in recruiting substitute teachers, and I am committed to examining all possible means of addressing this issue.

In that regard, officials in my Department have been giving consideration to the short term measures that might be implemented to increase the supply of teachers and, in conjunction with the publication of the report, I intend to outline these measures, including the employment by schools of retired teachers and an increase in the number of days per school year that a teacher on career break may work as a substitute.

Minor Works Scheme Data

Questions (107)

Joan Burton

Question:

107. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the grants for school improvements which are made available to school boards on an annual basis; the reason in some cases schools are uncertain with regard to the continuation of a scheme until late in the school year; if he will inform schools at the start of a school year regarding such grants and when they will be paid; the cost of the minor works grant; and if it will be paid annually to schools as a matter of policy. [25182/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The conditions governing the Grant Scheme for Minor Works to Primary School properties are outlined in Circular Letter 0062/2013. The grant must be used on the physical infrastructure of the school or on items of furniture and equipment for educational use including IT related equipment.

The Circular Letter states that the grant will only be paid in future years as funding permits. Consequently, it is advisable that schools do not commence any capital works until the Minor Works Grant is lodged to their bank account. The grant which first came into operation in 1997 has issued in all school years since then with the exception of the 2012/2013 school year.

My Department’s 2017 capital allocation for the school sector funds the Large Scale Projects Programme, the Additional Accommodation Scheme, Site Acquisitions, the Emergency Works Scheme, the Summer Works Scheme, furniture and equipment grants and other smaller programmes.  The overall 2017 capital position, and in particular expenditure levels, will be assessed in the late autumn. Resulting from this exercise the issue or otherwise of the 2017/2018 Minor Works Grant at that time will be determined.

When the Minor Works Grant was issued for the 2016/2017 school year last November, the total cost of the grant amounted to €27.8m

School improvements are also delivered under the Summer Works Scheme and the Emergency Works Scheme but these are application based and only involve certain schools in any given year.

Schools Inspections

Questions (108)

Joan Burton

Question:

108. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and post-primary schools in which departmental inspectors carry out inspections on a yearly basis; the nature of such inspections; his views on the concerns expressed by teachers regarding excessive paper checking associated with his Department's supervision of schools; and the number of schools at each level which are in the school improvement programme. [25183/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

In 2016, the Inspectorate carried out a total of 779 inspection visits and 197 school self-evaluation advisory visits in primary schools and 752 inspection visits and 77 school self-evaluation advisory visits in post-primary schools and centres for education.

Since 2010, the Inspectorate has developed a range of inspection models varying from short one-day, unannounced inspections to more detailed and thorough inspections of schools. All of these models were developed following extensive collaboration and consultation with schools and the education partners. The full range of new and revised inspection models came into effect on 1 September 2016. A key issue that was addressed in the development of these inspections was to ensure that a greater focus is placed on classroom observation and less attention paid to the examination of documentation. In response to comments from the education partners, a single simplified guide to inspections was published for primary schools and a similar guide prepared for post-primary schools. These guides provide full details of the range of inspections used in schools, and they contain a list of the small number of documents that are required of schools during inspections. The majority of the documents required should be readily available in schools as they are part of the normal planning that would be expected in schools.

The range of inspection models in use includes the following:

Short, unannounced “incidental” inspections are carried out in a large number of primary and post-primary schools each year. They focus on the quality of classroom work and provide an opportunity to offer advice and feedback to individual teachers and to the school principal. These inspections are also used to collect information about the school, and the Inspectorate uses this information to plan a proportion of its other inspections.

Subject inspections/curriculum evaluations evaluate the quality of teaching and learning of a curriculum area in primary schools or a subject in post-primary schools.

DEIS evaluations evaluate the quality of action planning for improvement in both primary and post-primary schools included in the DEIS scheme, and the impact that this has on the learning of students.

Inspections of Special Educational Needs (SEN) Provision are conducted in primary and post-primary schools. Specialised inspections are also conducted in schools attached to High Support Units, Special Care Units and Children detention Centres.  

Programme evaluations examine the quality of programmes such as Transition Year, the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme, the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme and the Junior Certificate School Programme in post-primary schools.

Whole-School Evaluations evaluate the quality of teaching and learning, and the quality of the leadership and management in primary and post-primary schools.

Evaluations of Centres for Education are conducted mainly in Youthreach centres that provide “second-chance” educational opportunities for young people who have dropped out of mainstream schooling.

Follow-Through inspections take place in a proportion of schools in which inspections have occurred previously. These inspections, introduced in 2012, seek to establish the extent to which earlier recommendations have been implemented and act as an encouragement to boards and teachers to advance improvement in schools.

The current suite of inspection models means that short inspections occur more frequently in schools; schools in which there is a greater risk to the learning of students are identified more quickly; and a proportion of more intensive inspections can be conducted where the need for improvement is likely to be greatest. Follow-through inspections also provide added flexibility that helps to increase the impact of inspection for improvement.

In addition to the inspection models listed above, inspectors currently carry out inspections of the work of conditionally registered teachers at primary level on behalf of the Teaching Council. These inspections help to inform the Council’s decisions on teachers' registration. In the school year 2015/16, a total of 3 222 inspection visits were made to conditionally registered teachers for this purpose.

There are currently 26 primary and 7 post-primary schools in the school improvement process.

Teachers' Remuneration

Questions (109)

Joan Burton

Question:

109. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to end pay inequality between teachers appointed after 2010 and those appointed earlier specifically by reversing the decision of 2010 to impose pay cuts on new entrants in the same way as the withdrawal of the universal qualification allowance from entrants after February 2012 is being reversed. [25184/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As a consequence of the financial crisis, there was a need to enact a number of measures to reduce public expenditure so as to stabilise the country's public finances. A previous Government reduced the salaries and allowances payable to all new entrants to public service recruitment grades by 10% with effect from 1 January 2011. This decision also required that such new entrants would start on the first point of the applicable salary scale, which in the case of teachers had the effect of reducing their starting pay by a further 4-5%. Later in 2011, the Government placed a cap on the overall level of qualification allowances that could be earned by teachers.

Subsequently in 2012, following the public service-wide review of allowances, the Government withdrew qualification allowances for new teachers altogether. However, the Government partially compensated for this by deciding that new entrant teachers would henceforth commence on a new salary scale which had a starting point higher than the starting point of the old scale.

The public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start. I have used this to negotiate substantial improvements in pay for new teachers. The agreement reached with TUI and INTO will see pay rises of between 15-22% (between €4600 and €6700) for new entrant teachers.  The agreements also provide for earlier permanency for younger teachers, new promotion opportunities and new flexibilities in working hours. 

The agreements have restored an estimated 75% of the difference in pay for more recently recruited teachers and deliver full equality at later points in the scale.  This is substantial progress and strikes an equitable balance with other claims for funding on my Department, particularly needs such as enhanced service for children with special educational needs, for disadvantaged schools, for growing schools, for Higher Education and for apprenticeships. 

It must be borne in mind that the pay reduction for post-2011 entrants to the public service applied to all public servants and not just teachers, and that any restoration of these measures in respect of teachers would be expected to be applied elsewhere across the public service. While I am not in a position to provide an estimate of the total cost of restoring all post-1 January 2011 entrants in all areas of the public service to the pre-2011 pay scale arrangements, I can say that in the case of education and training sector employees, including teachers, the estimated current full year cost would be in the order of €85 million.  Clearly, the cost across the entire public service would be substantially higher.

However there are other types of equality that we must also bear in mind, for example equality between public servants and people who work elsewhere or don’t work at all.  It would also not be equal or fair for us to do unaffordable deals with particular groups of public servants that mean that we do not have the money left in the public purse to provide increases in social welfare payments for vulnerable groups, tax reductions for people at work, or investments in improvements in public services that people rely on.

In education, there is a well-established increment system. Teachers are not paid equally. For example, the pay scale for teachers appointed prior to 2011 ranges from €32,009 to €60,155 depending on the date that the individual began teaching. Part of the negotiation to date has secured a convergence of the scales of recruits at different periods.

Any further negotiation on new entrant pay cannot focus on just one sector. A broader assessment of pay and new entrant pay will be informed by the recently published analysis of the Public Service Pay Commission. The Government established the Commission to examine pay levels across the public service, including entry levels of pay. The Government also supports the gradual, negotiated repeal of the FEMPI legislation, having due regard to the priority to improve public services and in recognition of the essential role played by public servants.

I accept that the teacher unions have outstanding pay demands and that the new entrant deal does not travel the full distance that they set out to achieve. However, it does represent significant progress, and the door is not closed to the trade union movement seeking to advance the issue further in the context of public service pay talks.  My colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, invited the Public Services Committee of ICTU to discussions on public service pay and a continued approach to the unwinding of the FEMPI legislation and these discussions are now underway.

Apprenticeship Data

Questions (110)

Niall Collins

Question:

110. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 166 of 16 May 2017, if the ten new apprenticeships planned to commence in 2017 are the first apprenticeship categories to be rolled out under category 1 as identified by the Apprenticeship Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25206/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

There are currently five new apprenticeship programmes that have been developed by the Apprenticeship Council following its first call for proposals in 2015. Last year the Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship launched in September and the Industrial Electrical Engineering Apprenticeship got underway in November. Three further new programmes are currently recruiting apprentices and will commence in May and June of this year, two in the medical devices area and one in polymer processing. Subject to successful validation, ten further new programmes are scheduled to commence in 2017 in various sectors including hospitality, accounting and financial services. All fifteen of these programmes were originally categorised by the Apprenticeship Council as category 1.

The Apprenticeship Council continues to work closely with consortia in developing proposals arising from the first call into sustainable apprenticeships. Details of all statutory apprenticeships currently operational or in development can be found on the new apprenticeship website www.apprenticeship.ie

Earlier this month, a second call for proposals was issued to refresh the pipeline of apprenticeship proposals established through the first call.  The second call will remain open until 1st September.

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Questions (111)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

111. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the circumstances raised in correspondence about a person (details supplied) have been considered under the review of the student grant scheme; the steps that have been put in place which will allow this person avail of the special rate of maintenance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25238/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Student Grant Scheme provides that in order to qualify for the special rate of grant, an applicant must meet the following conditions:

1. The applicant must qualify for the standard rate of grant.

2. Reckonable income must not exceed €22,703; and

3. On the 31st December of the relevant period, the reckonable income must include an eligible long-term payment prescribed in the Student Grant Scheme.

The applicant referred to by the Deputy did not have an eligible lone-term payment on 31st. December and therefore did not qualify for the special rate of maintenance. However, the applicant did secure student support at the 100% grant level.

The current system of student support is underpinned by the Student Support Act 2011. A review of the Act has commenced, with a view to ensuring that student supports continue to effectively target those most in need of assistance.  All relevant issues, including an examination of the qualifying criteria for the special rate of grant, will be considered as part of this review.

Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.

Schools Refurbishment

Questions (112)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

112. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason refurbishments to a school (details supplied) in Trim, County Meath, have been delayed; the expected start date for these refurbishments; when his Department will be in contact with the patron; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25250/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that it is my Department's intention to relocate the school in question to the property referred to in the details supplied to meet the school's permanent accommodation needs.

The property in question transferred to the Minister’s ownership last year. This building is a listed structure that requires extensive refurbishment to make its facilities fit for modern school purposes. In that regard, a significant financial investment will be required and this has to be considered within the overall available capital envelope. I am not, therefore, in a position at this stage to indicate when the refurbishment works will be undertaken. My Department will be in further contact with the Patron when any further update is available.

In the interim period, my Department will be making arrangements to extend the school’s current lease on its temporary premises until June 2018.

Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding

Questions (113)

John Paul Phelan

Question:

113. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when he expects the submission for funding for the Aghancon and Clareen group water scheme in County Offaly to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25052/17]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

My Department’s new Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2016-2018 includes funding for group water schemes, through Measure 1(b), where rationalisation / amalgamation of such schemes can ensure a more sustainable supply of water and enhance compliance with the water quality standards of the Drinking Water Regulations 2014.

Aghancon and Clareen group water schemes in County Offaly were approved by my Department under the programme in August 2016, with funding confirmed to Offaly County Council in November 2016, as a pilot amalgamation project in order to better inform the amalgamation process under the programme. The Aghancon and Clareen group water schemes should engage with Offaly County Council and proceed under its advice and guidance.

Pyrite Remediation Programme

Questions (114, 115)

Brendan Ryan

Question:

114. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the funding for the pyrite remediation scheme to cover the remediation of pyrite damaged homes for each year since its inception to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24797/17]

Brendan Ryan

Question:

115. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to broaden the terms of the pyrite resolution board to include level one homes as a matter of urgency. [24800/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 115 together.

The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board with support from the Housing Agency.  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.

Some €2.2 million was provided to the Housing Agency in 2014 to meet expenditure incurred under the scheme in respect of design work, contractors, expenses to homeowners, operational costs, the administrative costs to the Housing Agency and the remediation of 5 dwellings in the final quarter of that year.

An additional sum of €10 million was made available in Budget 2015 to fund the operation of the scheme in 2015.  A further 148 dwellings had remedial works completed under the scheme in 2015.

An allocation of €19 million was provided for the pyrite remediation scheme in Budget 2016 to meet activity under the scheme in 2016.  Sanction for a further €7.6 million to support additional activity under the scheme last year was granted in late August 2016.  Some 400 dwellings were remediated under the scheme in 2016. 

A sum of €22 million was announced under Budget 2017 to fund the operation of the pyrite remediation scheme in 2017.  This allocation will facilitate the remediation of some 400 additional dwellings this year and is a clear signal of the continuing importance attached by Government to addressing the issue of significant pyritic damage in private dwellings.  As at end April 2017 an aggregate total of 701 dwellings were completed since the scheme was first introduced.

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Questions (116)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

116. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the degree to which he expects to meet the imminent demand in respect of housing following the displacement of tenants from private accommodation for a variety of reasons and the immediate needs of such tenants as of now; if he is satisfied that the various local authorities can meet this need as required and, at the same time, deal with those who have been on local authority waiting lists for several years and keeping in mind the lack of appropriate emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25137/17]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

In line with a commitment given under the Social Housing Strategy 2020 (published in 2014) the Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) is now being carried out on an annual basis from 2016 onwards. The preparation of the SSHA every year will assist in providing a more comprehensive picture of the dynamic numbers applying for social housing supports and of emerging trends. This will enable housing authorities and my Department to ensure that the pipeline for social housing delivery over time matches the profile of those in most need. The Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness sets ambitious targets to deliver a range of housing across the public and private sectors and the data obtained from the SSHA is of crucial importance in ensuring that the right type of housing is delivered in the right areas.

Pillar 2 of the Action Plan aims to accelerate social housing delivery and provides that over the period of the plan (2016-2021) 47,000 homes will be delivered under the various social housing programmes. Together with an expansion of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme nationwide, this will ensure that the supply of appropriate social housing supports meets demand.

19,055 social housing supports were provided in 2016, supported by expenditure of €935 million. This exceeded the target of 17,240 for 2016, giving a very positive start to the challenge of meeting the ambitious targets in Rebuilding Ireland. I am confident that the robust system of monitoring of the Plan's progress that has been put in place at every level should help to ensure that the early progress made can be maintained and built upon in the coming months and years.

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Questions (117)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

117. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the extent to which he has received notification or information from the local authority in County Kildare regarding provision of emergency housing on a large scale such as modular housing units; if sufficient sites have been identified in or adjacent to existing centres of population with a view to meeting the combined demands of those already on local authority waiting lists and those being displaced from private rental accommodation for a variety of reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25138/17]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

The social housing construction projects currently underway by Kildare County Council are included in the recently updated Status Report on Social Housing Construction Projects, which is available at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/social-housing-construction-projects-report-2017/. This includes 17 construction projects delivering 301 new social homes for the county, which are at various stages of advancement including on site, undergoing planning and design, and projects recently completed.

I expect that Kildare County Council will continue to bring forward new projects which will continue to be focussed on their areas of greatest need. This may include projects under the rapid delivery programme where, I understand, the Council is examining options in relation to suitable sites.

I have assured Kildare County Council that funding is available to support them in the delivery of all such projects, both those already in train and further projects that they develop through the range of delivery streams.

Local Authority Housing Provision

Questions (118)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

118. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the degree to which he continues to have discussions with the various local authorities adjacent to Dublin with a view to meeting the emergency needs of persons being displaced from their homes through no fault of theirs who find themselves in need of emergency accommodation; if his attention has been drawn to the serious shortage of such accommodation in counties such as Kildare; his plans to meet this challenge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25139/17]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

My Department continues to work closely with housing authorities in the areas most affected by deficits in housing supply to ensure that they are making every effort possible to meet the emergency accommodation needs of households presenting to them.

My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. One of the five pillars of the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness is focused specifically on addressing homelessness and sets out a range of integrated measures through which local authorities, other public bodies, approved housing bodies and other relevant organisations are responding to the homelessness challenge. Ultimately the solution rests in achieving a significant increase in housing supply, particularly in relation to social housing in respect of which 47,000 units of accommodation are to be provided over the period to 2021, supported by €5.35 billion in funding.

Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services, including accommodation, rests with individual local authorities. The purposes for which housing authorities may incur expenditure in addressing homelessness are prescribed in Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. The funding needs of the various housing authorities are kept under review on an ongoing basis. In Budget 2017, the Government approved funding of almost €98 million for homelessness, compared to an initial provision of €70 million last year, €53 million in 2015 and €45 million in 2014.

Local Authority Housing Provision

Questions (119)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

119. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the extent to which the local authority housing building programme is being augmented in the counties adjacent to Dublin in order to ensure the availability of adequate housing support in the short term for those on local authority waiting lists over a long period and those now coming onto such lists as a result of bank repossessions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25140/17]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

Rebuilding Ireland has put in place both the targets and funding resources to accelerate the delivery by 2021 of 47,000 social homes. This work is already well underway and we are increasingly seeing new social housing construction projects move onto site.  I recently published the latest update of the Status Report on Social Housing Construction Projects, which now includes over 600 social housing construction projects, delivering over 10,000 social housing units. This is available at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/social-housing-construction-projects-report-2017/.

The construction projects listed in the Status Report are either on site, at different stages of planning and design or have recently been completed.  As would be expected, given housing need, the Dublin area local authorities and those adjacent to Dublin feature very strongly in this construction programme. The same is true in relation to the delivery in the greater Dublin area of social housing through other means, which are also being vigorously pursued through the resources available under Rebuilding Ireland. This includes the acquisition of houses and apartments, the long-term leasing of homes by local authorities and AHBs for social housing use, including via the National Treasury Management Agency’s Special Purpose Vehicle and the Repair & Leasing Initiative, and the accelerated rollout of the Housing Assistance Payment Scheme.

Further new social housing projects are being added to the delivery pipeline on a continuous basis and I am keen that all local authorities advance these projects as speedily as possible. This delivery will continue to be weighted in line with housing need and this can be particularly seen in relation to the rapid delivery programme, where a number of build projects are on site in the greater Dublin area that will deliver 200 new social homes over the coming months, with work already underway on advancing a further round of projects.

Housing Data

Questions (120)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

120. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of houses and new housing starts in each of the counties immediately adjacent to Dublin city and county over the past 12 months; the expectation in this regard in the next six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25141/17]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

My Department publishes a range of datasets relating to housing market activity on the statistics area of its website.  Details of commencement notices received by each of the 31 local authorities are published as a monthly series which can be accessed through the following weblink: 

http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-building-and-private-rented/construction-activity-starts.

In respect of completions data, since the 1970’s, my Department has published ESB data on residential homes connected to the ESB grid as a proxy for house completions, as it represents the best available indicator that a residential unit is becoming available for occupation.  This dataset includes recently completed once-off homes, multi-unit scheme developments and apartments as well as some re-connections to the grid, where properties that have been unoccupied for over two years are being brought back into use.  This dataset is also published as a monthly series, broken down by local authority, and can be accessed through the following weblink - 

http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-building-and-private-rented/construction-activity-completions.

Returns up to and including February 2017 are currently available in respect of both datasets and data in respect of March 2017 will be published shortly.

Both datasets show that the pace of house-building activity is gathering momentum.  Driven by the strong supply side measures provided for under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, including an expanding social housing programme and the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund, housing supply should continue to strengthen in 2017 and beyond.  The ESRI's Spring Quarterly Economic Commentary forecasts that national housing output will grow to 18,500 units during 2017, which would be an increase of 23.89% on the 14,932 in 2016.

Urban Development

Questions (121)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

121. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the extent to which progress is ongoing in regard to the resolution of issues affecting stalled development at Naas town centre; if adequate plans are in hand to enhance the profile of the town by way of a specific development strategy culminating on the development of the various available sites in the town including the town centre development with a view to encouraging increased footfall in the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25142/17]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

The management of certain issues relating to the stalled Naas town centre development is primarily a matter for Kildare County Council in the first instance, and I have no function in the matter.

However, as I have previously outlined,  the securing of a satisfactory conclusion to the development of the site in question - which is of significant strategic importance to the town of Naas - has been a particular focus of the Council's efforts over the last number of years. In this regard, I am informed by the Council that it continues to actively engage with NAMA - which has a controlling interest in the site - on the issue of the site being offered for sale as soon as possible, with a view to facilitating the completion of the development.  The Council will continue to support and work in partnership with any stakeholders involved in the site. Subject to satisfactory planning approval, there is no impediment to accessing the site, or to appropriate development of the site.

The Council has also advised that during the last 18 months, it has initiated and supported a number of projects with the strategic objective of ensuring that the social and economic development of Naas is protected and enhanced, underpinned by the work of the Naas Roads and Transport Steering Group, the URBACT Group and the Naas Regeneration Group.  The Council has also received the approval of the National Transport Authority to prepare a Traffic Management Study of Naas which will form an important element in the development of a Strategic Social and Economic Plan for Naas.

Local Authority Housing Provision

Questions (122)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

122. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if, in view of the urgent need to meet public housing demand throughout the country, all efforts might concentrate on the provision of a targeted number of local authority housing in each local authority area within the next 12 months and postpone further auditing of numbers on local authority waiting lists until at least 25% of the existing need is met thereby enabling local authority officials to concentrate on the priority of meeting the existing needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25143/17]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

As the Deputy may know, the Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) was traditionally carried out every three years. A commitment was given in the Social Housing Strategy 2020 (published in 2014) to move to producing the SSHA on an annual basis from 2016 onwards. This commitment has been advanced, as it was felt that it was imperative that the SSHA be carried out every year because the provision of housing is a demand led service and it is vital to have regularly updated information on the scale and nature of demand.

The undertaking of the SSHA on an annual basis will assist in providing a more strategic picture of the dynamic numbers applying for social housing support and emerging trends. This approach will ensure that vulnerable groups in particular are accurately reflected within the assessment process, particularly in light of their additional support requirements. It will also ensure the changing formulation of households, with the increasing number of older people and people with special needs living independently in our communities, is reflected in the SSHA.

A key issue is to ensure that housing needs can be broken down into sub-groups, so that social housing delivered matches more closely the profile of those in need. Rebuilding Ireland has ambitious targets to deliver a range of housing across the public and private spectrum and the data obtained from the SSHA is of crucial importance in ensuring that the right type of housing is delivered in the right areas for the right people.

Question No. 123 answered with Question No. 51.

Housing Provision

Questions (124)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the extent to which facilities are available to meet the housing needs of the indigenous rural population throughout rural Ireland by way of ensuring an adequate number of houses in keeping with good planning principles to facilitate in so far as is possible the indigenous needs of those living in rural areas thereby reducing the impact on housing lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25145/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

Based on ESB connections data, around half of the 15,000 new homes completed last year were one-off houses, mainly built in rural areas, which account for less than 40% of the national population. The high proportion of overall national house-building taking place in rural areas points to the degree to which indigenous communities in rural areas are being facilitated in meeting their housing needs in those rural areas, with a degree of overspill development from cities and towns as well.

In addition, my Department’s Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Rural Housing (2005) are designed to ensure that planning authorities strike a balance between managing the future of rural areas from a development perspective and at the same time enabling housing requirements of rural communities to be met. The Guidelines set out how planning authorities should frame their development plan policies for the different types of rural areas which may exist within the development plan area, which range from rural areas close to cities and towns at risk of overspill development and remoter areas with low levels of development pressure and consistent patterns of population decline. The Guidelines also set out policy advice on issues such as access to appropriate wastewater treatment facilities, potential impacts of the development on groundwater, landscape, natural and cultural heritage and addressing road safety issues (e.g. frontage onto national roads).

I am satisfied that a sufficiently flexible and robust policy framework is in place to ensure that rural communities can meet their housing needs.

I also recognise that the major shortfalls in housing provision are in our larger cities and towns and that it is in and around these key locations that we must focus our efforts to boost supply, as outlined in the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, to avoid driving unsustainable overspill development in rural areas as a result of undersupply in urban locations.

Local Authority Housing Mortgages

Questions (125)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

125. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will urgently examine the need to install a robust local authority housing loan system, similar to that available in the 1980s, with the objective of ensuring that persons who do not qualify for local authority housing on income grounds can at least apply for a loan to buy or construct their own houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25146/17]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

There are currently two housing loan finance offerings available from local authorities for first time buyers unable to get adequate loan finance from a building society or bank.  When the loan products, the House Purchase Loan and the Home Choice Loan, were introduced, careful attention was given to the terms and conditions that should be applied to them. Decisions on all loan applications must be made in accordance with the applicable statutory Credit Policy in order to ensure lending prudence and to assist local authorities across the sector to engage consistently in responsible mortgage lending, in the best interests of borrowers and local authorities as lenders alike.  

Information on the number of local authority loans approved and issued is available on my Department's website http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-prices-loans-and-profile-borrowers/local-authority-loan-activity

I am currently examining the Home Choice Loan scheme and am also considering how local authority mortgages can be better publicised to ensure that creditworthy households who may be unable to source adequate loan finance from commercial lenders but could be eligible for one of the local authority mortgages, are made aware of the opportunity. 

Local Authority Housing Data

Questions (126)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

126. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of local authority houses directly under construction by the local authorities to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25147/17]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

Details in respect of the substantial pipeline of new social housing construction projects that is now in place are set out in the Status Report on Social Housing Construction Projects, the latest update of which I published last week and which is available at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/rebuilding-ireland/coveney-publishes-details-further-progress-social-housing-schemes. Details of all the social housing construction projects being implemented across the 31 local authority areas are set out in the Report, including the number of new social homes covered by each separate project.

The Report covers over 600 projects, involving over 10,000 new social homes, and includes projects completed in 2016 and in the 1st quarter of this year, and others that are on site or at various stages of advancement through planning and design.  The scale of the construction pipeline as at end-Quarter 1 2017 represents a major escalation in the social housing build programme and more projects are being added on an ongoing basis, to ensure we deliver on the Rebuilding Ireland targets. I am keen that all local authorities advance their social housing projects as speedily as possible and I have assured them that funding is in place to support their activity in this regard.