Written Answers Nos. 622-643
622. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will report on the progress with EUROSTAT in respect of allowing credit union investment of surplus funds in social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31498/17]
View answerThe agreed Programme for a Partnership Government recognises the potential role that credit unions can play in housing finance and supports the efforts of the Registrar of Credit Unions at the Central Bank to gradually lift current lending restrictions as appropriate, including for housing. The Programme further provides for consideration, with all stakeholders, as to how credit unions can support the delivery of social housing.
Credit Union bodies have set out proposed means by which funding could be provided by credit unions to Approved Housing Bodies for the development of social housing. My Department and the Department of Finance have met with the credit union representative bodies on a number of occasions to examine how credit unions can assist in the area of financing social housing delivery.
Conscious of the independence of the Central Bank in its regulatory role in respect of credit unions, bilateral engagement has taken place between my Department and the Department of Finance to consider the potential regulatory and legislative implications of credit union involvement in the social housing sector. Both Departments have also met with the Central Bank to provide information of a technical nature in relation to social housing funding arrangements. This was with a view to assisting the Central Bank in understanding how these arrangements operate, as it deals with issues arising from proposals put forward for credit union investment in social housing.
I note the publication in May 2017 by the Central Bank of the Consultation on Potential Changes for the Investment Framework for Credit Unions. The potential changes that are provided for would allow for investment by credit unions in the delivery of social housing by the larger Approved Housing Bodies which are categorised as ‘Tier 3’ under the voluntary regulation framework for the AHB sector.
Ultimately, the funding mechanisms required will have to be put in place in the first instance by the credit union, with the support of their members and with the agreement of the Central Bank. My Department will continue to contribute to this process by providing necessary technical advice and support.
The Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme provides a means whereby properties can be built or bought by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) with the combined use of State and private funding, and leased by AHBs and Local Authorities from private providers, for the provision of social housing. This scheme is underpinned by a lease and other legal agreements. These provide that rental payments are made by the State over an agreed long-term time period, typically 20 years. In return, the housing unit is made available for social housing purposes.
Changes are now being proposed to this scheme in order to facilitate larger institutional private investors to become involved in the financing of social housing. Subject to other regulatory requirements being met, this could include credit unions.
The National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) is acting as financial advisor to my Department in this work and has undertaken market engagement in the development of the scheme. The new arrangements arising from this process are currently being tested to ensure that there is no negative impact arising from how they are viewed and treated in respect of the State’s General Government Balance. As part of this process, the proposed changes are being examined by Eurostat. Work on the scheme is well advanced, with details expected to be announced in the coming months.
623. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to tackle the growing unsustainable reliance of the local authority sector on commercial rates for its income; and his further plans to redress this imbalance through increasing central government allocations to the sector. [31501/17]
View answer624. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to reform and modernise the commercial rates system in order to rebalance local authority financing and reduce the burden on business. [31502/17]
View answer625. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the commercial rates collection process; and his views on whether a centralised model either through the Office of the Revenue Commissioners or a lead authority approach in which one local authority provides the service on behalf of the other local authorities is appropriate. [31505/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 623 to 625, inclusive, together.
Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation pursuant to the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority, as are the costs of collection.
Commercial rates form an important element of the funding of all local authorities. However, the legislative basis for the levying of rates is spread over a number of enactments, some dating back to the 19th century. Many of the provisions are outdated and not suitable for business trends in the modern era. My Department has developed legislative proposals to modernise and consolidate the legislation governing commercial rates. The Government approved the drafting of a Rates Bill at its meeting on 11 April 2017. These proposals will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny in due course.
The Debt Management Project Implementation Board, on which my Department was represented, was established by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in February 2015, to progress the recommendations of the Debt Management Review, which was published in 2014. The Project Implementation Board concluded its work in 2016 and recommended that a Central Collection Agency was not justified at this time. This was due to the fact that the improvements which had been made by the Public Sector Bodies (PSBs) and the targets set for those PSBs for the period to 2018 were close to those that might be expected of a Central Collection Agency.
The funding system that applies to local authorities is a complex one, as authorities derive their income from a variety of sources including commercial rates, charges for goods and services, funding from my Department, and from other Departments and agencies for a range of activities. While capital funding levels declined in line with national economic circumstances, they have now started to increase significantly again.
The monetary amount of each income source to local authorities in the years 2010 - 2015 is set out in Table 1 while Table 2 sets out each revenue income source as a proportion of the total. Table 3 sets out the total capital income over the same period.
Table 1.
|
Income |
Year |
|||||
|
Revenue Income sources |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Revenue Income sources |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Goods & Services |
€1.52bn |
€1.482bn |
€1.352bn |
€1.38bn |
€1.394bn |
€1.304bn |
|
Commercial rates |
€1.43bn |
€1.449bn |
€1.497bn |
€1.494bn |
€1.5bn |
€1.496bn |
|
Income from local sources |
€2.95bn |
€2.931bn |
€2.849bn |
€2.874bn |
€2.894bn |
€2.8bn |
|
Grants & subsidies |
€1.225bn |
€1.195bn |
€939m |
€850m |
€871m |
€878m |
|
Other income* |
€923m |
€865m |
€791m |
€794m |
€355m |
€386m |
|
Income from external sources |
€2.148bn |
€2.06bn |
€1.73bn |
€1.644bn |
€1.226bn |
€1.264bn |
|
Total Income |
€5.098bn |
€4.991bn |
€4.579bn |
€4.518bn |
€4.12bn |
€4.064bn |
Table 2.
|
Income |
Year |
|||||
|
Revenue Income sources |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Revenue Income sources |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Goods & Services |
30% |
30% |
30% |
31% |
34% |
32% |
|
Commercial rates |
28% |
29% |
33% |
33% |
36% |
37% |
|
Income from local sources |
58% |
59% |
63% |
64% |
70% |
69% |
|
Grants & subsidies |
24% |
24% |
20% |
19% |
21% |
22% |
|
Other income* |
18% |
17% |
17% |
17% |
9% |
9% |
* Other income includes: the General Purpose Grants (GPG) which were paid to local authorities until 2014; Local Property Tax (LPT) allocations which commenced in 2015 and replaced GPGs; the County Charge which ceased in 2014 when local authorities and the former town councils merged; and Pension Related Deductions which local authorities retained as income from 2009 to 2015.
Table 3.
|
Capital Income |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
€2.898bn |
€2.516bn |
€1.805bn |
€1.396bn |
€1.154bn |
€1.311bn |
It is important to note that, while income from commercial rates in 2015 makes up an increased proportion of local authorities' income compared to previous years, the quantum of rates income has not increased significantly in monetary terms.
Central Government funding of local authorities similarly presents a complex picture, with transfers, both current and capital, coming from a wide range of Departments and Offices, not solely from my Department, for a variety of purposes. Some streams of funding are delivered directly from funding departments to local authorities, while others are routed through departmental agencies.
The Comptroller and Auditor General reports on the Central Government funding of local authorities as part of his Annual Report. This report provides an overview of the funds flowing from and through central government sources to local authorities and the purposes for which funds have been provided. The latest report, for 2015, is available at the following link;
www.audgen.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?/documents/annualreports/2015/Report/En/Chapter4.pdf.
I am satisfied that the current funding model is enabling local authorities to meet an appropriate level of service provision across the State, from the most rural and sparsely populated areas to the large urban centres. As local authorities vary significantly from one another in terms of size, population, public service demands, infrastructure and income sources, my Department keeps the funding system under constant review and works with all local authorities to ensure the local government sector can meet existing and emerging challenges.
627. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if persons residing in direct provision centres are considered in need of housing; if they are included in homelessness figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30786/17]
View answerThe households concerned are not entitled to Social Housing Support (SHS) as they do not have residency rights in the State. It is only after their application for residency has been successfully assessed that they can be considered for SHS.
The assessment of applications for SHS is the responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated regulations. There is a two pronged approach to the assessment that involves, firstly, an assessment of eligibility, followed by an assessment of need. The determination of a household's housing need is arrived at by local authorities in accordance with Regulation 23 of the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011.
The official monthly homelessness reports are produced using data provided by housing authorities via the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS), the single integrated national data information system on State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements overseen by housing authorities. Therefore they do not capture details of individuals in other accommodation arrangements which are not overseen by housing authorities. Information on the number of persons in Direct Provision are available from the Department of Justice.
628. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the role he and his Department have in the licensing of kelp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30795/17]
View answer629. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the process for licensing for kelp is the same for commercial kelp as it is for smaller groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30796/17]
View answer630. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the mechanical harvest of 1,860 acres of kelp in Bantry Bay; if the licence was properly advertised at local and national level; if public consultation took place; if an environmental impact assessment was or is to be taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30797/17]
View answer631. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he or his officials have policy concerns regarding the impact mechanical harvesting of over 100 acres of kelp in Bantry Bay will have on juvenile fish, lobster and other species; if a study has been taken on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30799/17]
View answer632. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he or his officials have concerns regarding the impact of over 1,000 acres in Bantry Bay being used for a mechanical harvest of kelp will have on angling tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30800/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 628 to 632, inclusive, together.
The role of my Department in relation to the harvesting of seaweed is to regulate the activity in accordance with the Foreshore Act 1933, as amended. All applications, regardless of whether by an individual or a company, are assessed in accordance with the provisions of the Act and any environmental legislation in force at the given time. In regulating this activity there is a need to ensure, in so far as possible, that the resource is managed appropriately with the twin aims of protecting the marine environment and allowing for a sustainable level of harvesting of seaweed.
The Deputy's questions relate to a specific license granted to an indigenous Irish company . In 2008, the company submitted a foreshore license application to harvest in Kenmare Bay. No licence issued in respect of the Kenmare Bay application. However, the Marine Licence Vetting Committee, a group of marine experts who advise the Minister of the day on the technical and environmental aspects of foreshore applications, recommended that any future application by the company, should focus on an area outside of a Special Area of Conservation and include a commitment to conduct a detailed programme of monitoring.
The license to harvest in Bantry Bay, originally received in June 2009, met with these and other criteria and was processed in the same thorough way as other foreshore lease and license applications received at that time. Normal public consultation procedures were followed with the application being advertised in a local newspaper (The Southern Star) and it was also made available for inspection at a local Garda Station (Bantry) for a period of 21 days. No submissions were received from members of the public during the consultation period.
In line with the usual procedures, the application was also circulated to various bodies for their views and input. Submissions were received from the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Underwater Archaeology Unit of the then Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Marine Survey Office, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, the Central Fisheries Board and the Marine Institute. The Marine Licence Vetting Committee considered all material pertaining to the application and concluded that subject to compliance with specific conditions the proposed harvesting was not likely to have a significant negative impact on the marine environment. This would include no significant impact on juvenile fish, lobster and other species.
The Marine Licence Vetting Committee recommended that a licence should issue and approval in principle was given by the then Minister in 2011. The final legal papers, the licence between the State and the company giving effect to the decision were completed by the then Minister in 2014.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive applies to a wide range of public and private projects. It is a mandatory requirement for project types listed in Annex I of the Directive. For project types listed in Annex II, it is up to the consenting authority to determine if an EIS is required by carrying out EIA screening based on criteria set out in the Directive. An EIA may also be required where the thresholds set out in the Directive are not met (sub-threshold EIA) or where the project or activity is proposed to be carried out in a Natura 2000 site.
If the consenting authority determines that the EIA Directive applies to a project, it requires that an applicant must prepare and submit an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), following which, the consent authority would carry out an EIA. In this case, the proposed project was not within a Natura 2000 site, was not of a class set out in Annex I of the Directive nor does it fall into Annex II. An EIS was not required and while it was open to the Minister at the time to carry out an EIA, it was not considered necessary.
The licence allows the company to harvest specific quantities of specific species of kelp seaweed on a rotational basis in Bantry Bay. The licenced area is split into five distinct harvesting zones and not all of the seaweed in the bay will be harvested. The total area licenced is 750 hectares (roughly 1,850 acres). The licence provides for a four year rotation of zones with a stand by zone only to be harvested if weather is adverse (99 hectares/240 acres). On average, some 175 hectares/432 acres will be subject to harvest annually, less than 1% of the area of the bay.
The rotational harvesting plan, ensures that only a portion of the bay is harvested each year. To strengthen the sustainability of the harvesting plan for the licenced area within the bay, the harvesting is also subject to a strict monitoring programme, and requires approval of a baseline study prior to commencement of operations. All costs associated with the baseline study which was carried out in September 2016 and costs associated with the monitoring programme were or will be fully borne by the licensee.
The monitoring programme includes comparisons between harvested and non-harvested areas in each zone for density and height of kelp together with quantitative measurements of flora and fauna prior to commencement of harvesting (2016) and in years 3 (2019) and 5 (2021) for 15 areas within each zone.
All details of the application and determination are available on my Department’s website at http://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/foreshore/applications/bioatlantis-ltd.
633. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the position regarding the ongoing situation regarding local authority members terms and conditions. [30879/17]
View answerThe Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to review the supports provided to councillors, in consultation with representative bodies, to enable councillors to continue their important work.
My predecessor as Minister met last year with representatives of the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) and the Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) to discuss the view of their members that positive consideration should be given to improving the range of supports available.
In January this year, taking account of the additional workload on councillors since the 2014 local government reforms were introduced, the then Minister announced important changes to better support councillors in their role as public representatives. Following my appointment as Minister, I am considering the issue of supports for local authority members, with a view to concluding the matter as quickly as possible.
634. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the specific allocation of funding that is planned to be accessed in order to fulfil the offered incentive to landlords to sign up to the housing assistance payment scheme in circumstances in which applicants on the Dublin housing lists are able to seek approval and payment of two months rent in advance and a month's deposit to a landlord; the other regions this funding is accessible by; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30930/17]
View answerExchequer funding for the HAP scheme increased from €57 million in 2016 to €152.7 million for 2017. This increase is in order to meet the continuing costs of existing HAP households, and the costs of supporting an additional 15,000 households to be supported by HAP in 2017. The HAP scheme is funded through a combination of Exchequer monies and tenant differential rents collected in respect of HAP tenancies.
Under the HAP scheme, eligible households source their own accommodation in the private rented sector. The tenancy is between the tenant and the landlord and is governed by the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 (as amended).
While eligible homeless households may source accommodation for themselves, a dedicated placement team, the Place Finder Service, assists homeless households in areas where there is a high demand for properties but low levels of supply making the rental market very challenging, and where the provision of such a service is justified. Currently, a Homeless Placefinder Service is operated in the Dublin region by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive, and in Cork City Council area.
The Place Finder Service seeks out potential properties suitable for households currently identified as homeless. The service liaises with individual households to establish their specific needs and to ensure that any additional supports which may be needed are put in place, it establishes relationships with local property agents and landlords and it assists the household in securing the tenancy. Additional discretion of up to 50% above HAP rent limits is available to the Dublin local authorities to assist in housing homeless households in the Dublin Region. The Place Finder Services can also pay a deposit and rent in advance on behalf of the tenant, meaning that that homeless households are provided with the best chance of finding a new home with the security that HAP provides.
In cases where a tenant, currently on a local authority waiting list, wishes to access rented accommodation with HAP support in another local authority area, I have directed local authorities to provide that HAP tenants continue to be dealt with by their originating local authority. However, the rent limits will be those that apply in the local authority where the property is situated. The originating local authority will engage with the relevant new local authority to facilitate eligible requests for inter-authority movement. Where homeless households have sourced or been assisted by the Place Finder Service in sourcing accommodation outside the Dublin area, the relevant rate of support is based on the rent limits that apply in the local authority where the property is situated. The DRHE have been advised to consult with the new local authority in relation to the appropriate level of support that should be provided. However, the Place Finder Service can still pay a deposit and rent in advance on behalf of the tenant.
In order to maintain the equitable treatment of all housing applicants, inter-authority movement for HAP applicants is based on the current Social Housing Eligibility Income Bands, i.e. movement will only be facilitated across local authorities with Income Bands that are equal or higher; or where shared areas of choice are already operated.
My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review, including the operation of inter authority movement. In general, I am satisfied with the operation of the HAP scheme and I consider it to be a key vehicle for meeting housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programme under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
635. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on the assertion of his predecessor that the social housing capital programme is adequately financed in view of the scale of the housing crisis, years of drastic underspending and the fact that the capital housing budget is still 72% below 2008 spending levels or 65% below the historical average levels for 2004 to 2009. [30945/17]
View answerWhile I fully acknowledge that funding for social housing delivery was severely constrained for a number of years, given the economic circumstances prevailing at the time, under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, the Government has committed funding of €5.35 billion to accelerate the delivery of 47,000 social housing units through build, refurbishment, acquisitions and leasing, over the period to 2021. In addition, €226 million is being provided for the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund through investment in key enabling infrastructure.
This €5.35 billion investment comprises some €4.5 billion in capital funding and €844 million in support of programmes funded from current expenditure. Overall, over 40% of the available capital fiscal space for the 2017 to 2021 period is being assigned to housing. In total, €1.3billion is being made available for housing-related purposes thus year.
The good progress being made under the social housing capital programme is clearly evident from the latest Status Report on Social Housing Construction Projects, which is available at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/social-housing-construction-projects-report-2017/. The report shows that there is a substantial construction pipeline in place which will see over 10,000 new social houses being built over the coming years across 600 different projects. These projects are funded under a range of initiatives such as local authority construction, rapid delivery projects, regeneration programmes and construction developments under the Capital Assistance Scheme and the Capital Advance Leasing Facility for funding projects by Approved Housing Bodies.
The scale of the construction pipeline as at end quarter 1 in 2017, represents a major escalation in the social housing build programme and more projects are being added on an ongoing basis to ensure delivery on the Rebuilding Ireland targets.
636. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the provision which has been made in 2017 under the rural water programme; the facility which has been put in place for local authorities to submit projects for funding in 2017; and if submissions have been received to date. [30956/17]
View answerMy Department's new Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2016 - 2018 was developed through a working group of key stakeholders involving local authorities, the Water Services Transition Office, Irish Water, the National Federation of Group Water Schemes as well as my Department.
Under the new programme there are six different funding measures as follows:
- Measure 1 - Environmental and public health compliance (group water sector): This measure is aimed at improving water quality in existing Group Water Schemes so that they can achieve compliance with the quality parameters of the Drinking Water Regulations 2014.
- Measure 2 - Enhancement of existing schemes (group water sector): This measure supports projects to make existing Group Water Schemes more efficient in their operation (e.g. water conservation, network upgrades and source protection).
- Measure 3 - Rural development (group water sector): This measure supports social and economic development in rural towns and villages and their hinterlands by providing new group water schemes where public water supply schemes or private wells are not an option.
- Measure 4 - Transition of group schemes to Public Water and Waste Water Sector (Irish Water): This measure enables group water and sewerage schemes, where they wish to do with agreement of Irish Water, transition to the public water and waste water sector.
- Measure 5 - Innovation and Research: This measure is aimed at issues in the rural water sector which given the major transition of water services in Ireland, require new and innovative approaches.
- Measure 6 - Individual wells (more commonly called private wells) and on-site wastewater treatment systems (more commonly called septic tanks): This measure is aimed at allowing householders that are dependent on these services to obtain funding support for their improvement.
In May 2017, my Department invited local authorities to submit bids under Measures 1 and 2 of the programme. Bids for Measures 3, 4 and 5 were already invited and approvals made in 2016 on a scheme/project specific basis for the duration of the programme. Measure 6 is a demand led initiative which does not require a specific funding allocation.
In order to maintain momentum in the programme, interim funding allocations issued to local authorities on 13 June 2017 for Measures 2, 3, 4 and 5. Bids under Measure 1 will now be examined by an Expert Panel convened by my Department for approval recommendations which will be on a scheme specific basis. Allocations under Measure 2 are based on a block grant as in previous years. Final funding allocations for all measures will issue to local authorities as quickly as possible.
637. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to grant funding in relation to the cases of persons (details supplied); and if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing hardship being imposed on the persons concerned. [30978/17]
View answerBallyduff Upper Group Water Scheme, a small existing three house scheme located on the Cork – Waterford border, was included by Cork County Council in its 2016 bids under Measure 3 of the Multi-Annual Programme Rural Water 2016 – 2018. This measure supports social and economic development in rural towns and villages and their hinterlands by providing new group water schemes where public water supply schemes or private wells are not an option.
An Expert Panel was convened by my Department to examine the 2016 bids from local authorities for projects under a number of the programme’s measures, including Measure 3, and to make recommendations to the Department on funding. However, following examination of the bids under this measure by the Panel, the Ballyduff Group Water Scheme was not recommended for funding under the programme. My Department accepted the recommendations of the Panel in full in making final overall funding allocations in 2016 to local authorities.
A copy of the Expert Panel's report and consideration of all proposals under the Programme for 2016 for are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-services/rural-water-programme/group-water-schemes-and-rural-water-issues.
In May 2017, my Department invited local authorities to submit bids for schemes for the period 2017-2018 for certain measures including under Measure 1 which is aimed at improving water quality in existing group water schemes to achieve compliance with the parameters of the Drinking Water Regulations, 2014. While it is a matter for Cork County Council to consider which schemes to include in its bids, the Council has not included Ballyduff Upper Group Water Scheme.
638. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the way the taking-in-charge initiative measure funding allocations were calculated for each local authority when the funds were allocated in July 2016; if the allocations were intended to be enough to complete the necessary works; and if local authorities requested or were allocated further funding. [30980/17]
View answerMy Department established a Steering Group, consisting of representatives from Irish Water, the Environmental Protection Agency as well as from within my own Department, to oversee the National Taking-in-Charge Initiative, including funding allocations.
The Steering Group selected the following seven local authorities for demonstration projects - Cork, Clare, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Tipperary and Wexford - as these represented about 70% of problematic housing estates nationwide served by Developer Provided Infrastructure (DPI).
Projects demonstrating the capacity for potential delivery of cost effective sustainable solutions in 2016 and for subsequent taking-in-charge (TIC) and where relevant for asset transfers to Irish Water, were considered to be the most eligible for selection.
Housing estates submitted were selected, using the following criteria:
- Size of eligible estates proposed to be resolved,
- Proposed design solutions, including the provision of any effluent licence and compliance certificates as necessary,
- Cost of proposed solution, including ongoing operational/maintenance costs and any additional funding from other sources,
- Procurement and work method proposals for completion of works, and
- Project timescale for completion to TIC standard, including hand-over to Irish Water where appropriate.
The total funding allocation under Measure 2 was approximately €2 million and was mainly aimed at completing works. However, in the case of one large and complex scheme, NTICI funding assisted in investigating optimal solutions rather than works, with alternate local authority or other funding being required to implement such solutions.
My Department did receive some late requests from local authorities in early 2017, seeking funding to assist in the taking-in-charge of other estates, where developers are no longer operating and where no bonds exist. However, given that the NTICI was never intended as providing a rolling annual programme of funding to facilitate taking-in-charge, but was instead intended to pilot new working methods between relevant stakeholders in accelerating the process, my Department was not in a position to facilitate such funding requests.
A report on the 2016 NTICI Programme is currently being finalised by my Department and I intend to publish the report over the Summer, which will include findings and recommendations on sustaining progress on the taking-in-charge issue.
639. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the funds currently owed by his Department to Meath County Council. [30981/17]
View answerI assume the question refers to the payment of Local Property Tax from the Local Government Fund.
The Local Property Tax allocation for Meath County Council in 2017 is €13,954,243. To date Meath County Council has received €6,977,121.60. A further €6,977,121.60 will be paid by the end of this year.
640. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the way in which the place finder service works; the way in which homeless persons or persons at risk of homelessness access this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30987/17]
View answerA specific and targeted service for homeless households who can benefit from the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme has been available across the four housing authorities in the Dublin Region since February 2015, and is being implemented by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE). The focus is the transitioning of qualified households from emergency accommodation into private rented tenancies. However, support is also provided to prevent households from entering emergency accommodation and homeless services. In addition, a Homeless Placefinder Service is also operating in Cork City since May 2017 and is focused on moving households out of emergency accommodation, primarily.
While eligible households may source accommodation for themselves, the dedicated placement team, the Homeless Placefinder Service, engages directly with property owners and supports qualified households to find suitable tenancies, and to ensure that any additional supports that may be needed are put in place. Homeless specific HAP in Dublin encompasses additional flexibility to exceed the specific rent limit by up to 50%; in Cork this flexibility is up to 20% above the maximum rent limit.
The Service has relationships with local estate agents and property owners and can identify properties quickly. In addition, the Placefinder Service can support homeless households to secure a tenancy by providing upfront payments for deposits and rent. The cost of these deposits is recouped by the Department of Social Protection in respect of eligible households, and the HAP Shared Service Centre (SSC) facilitates the payment of HAP rent payments to landlords, on behalf of local authorities, as is the case ordinarily in the operation of the HAP scheme.
There are currently more than 1,600 formerly homeless households whose needs are being supported by the homeless specific HAP supports in the Dublin region, with an average of 32 additional households a week in 2017 being supported by homeless HAP in Dublin.
641. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when a decision will be made in respect of a 35 year foreshore lease application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30994/17]
View answerThe compilation of the Marine Licence Vetting Committee (MLVC) Report which is a key element of the foreshore decision-making process is now nearing completion. I expect the report to be approved shortly and for the application in question to be submitted for a decision in the coming weeks.
642. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will report on plans to allow UK citizens who have been living here for a significant amount of time a vote in referenda; and if he is examining voting rights for UK citizens as part of Brexit. [30995/17]
View answerOnly Irish citizens are entitled to vote at referendums, in accordance with Article 47.3 of the Constitution. I have no plans to seek to amend the Constitution to give the right to vote in referendums to any other persons.
British citizens, who are ordinarily resident in the State and are 18 years or older, may vote at Dáil, European Parliament and local elections if they are entered in the register of electors. For future European elections, the specific impacts of the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union on European citizenship and the right to vote at elections to the European Parliament will ultimately be a matter to be determined within the negotiating process that has commenced between the United Kingdom and the European Union under Article 50 of the Treaty. As these negotiations have only recently commenced, it is not possible, at this point in time, to state what arrangements will apply into the future between the United Kingdom and the European Union in the matter of European citizenship and the rights pertaining thereto.
643. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the infrastructure projects that have received a contribution from the local infrastructure housing activation fund. [30996/17]
View answer675. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if grant agreements in respect of the 34 approved applications under the LIHAF have been concluded; if so, the projected number of units on each site; the projected number of affordable units on each site; the projected number of social housing units on each site, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31339/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 643 and 675 together.
The aim of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is to relieve critical infrastructural blockages in order to enable the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites in urban areas with high demand for housing.
On 28 March 2017, funding was announced for 34 projects under LIHAF. Funding will be provided to Local Authorities to build public infrastructure such as roads, bridges and public amenities through a public procurement process and these projects will be key to the delivery of 23,000 housing units over the next four years, with a longer term projection of up to 70,000 units as the associated sites are fully built out.
The full list of approved projects, with the projected housing yield for each site, is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/housing/rebuilding-ireland/local-infrastructure-housing-activation-fund-approved-projects. Under Part V provisions, some 10% of the housing to be delivered will be for social housing purposes. Where sites are in public ownership, up to 30% may be for either social housing or potentially housing for the elderly or those with special needs, according to the particular needs of that Local Authority.
The affordability dividend in relation to associated private housing is in the form of a cost reduction proportionate to the LIHAF contribution. The developer may provide a percentage of the houses at a higher cost reduction or spread it out over all of the associated housing to be provided by 2021.
Following approval in principle, the relevant Local Authorities are engaging in negotiations with developers to obtain agreements in relation to land transfer, housing delivery timelines and cost reductions. It is expected that the Local Authorities will conclude agreements with developers this month. Drawdown of funding cannot occur until the grant agreements are in place.
