Written Answers Nos. 1290-1318
1290. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of money which was spent by his Department in 2016 on external consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33905/17]
View answerThe expenditure by my Department in 2016 on external consultants was €495,258. External consultancy services are only availed of by my Department in circumstances where necessary work cannot be carried out within the resources/expertise available to the Department.
1291. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on the assessment on page 81 of the expert report on concrete bricks (details supplied); and his plans to remove the opt out from the BCAR regulations. [33992/17]
View answerThe Expert Panel on concrete blocks was established by my Department in 2016, to investigate problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in Counties Donegal and Mayo.
The panel had the following terms of reference:
(i) To identify, insofar as it is possible, the numbers of private dwellings which appear to be affected by defects in the blockwork in the Counties of Donegal and Mayo;
(ii) To carry out a desktop study, which would include a consultation process with affected homeowners, public representatives, local authorities, product manufacturers, building professionals, testing laboratories, industry stakeholders and other relevant parties, to establish the nature of the problem in the affected dwellings;
(iii) To outline a range of technical options for remediation and the means by which those technical options could be applied; and
(iv) To submit a report within six months.
On 13 June 2017, the report of the Expert Panel on Concrete Blocks was published and included eight recommendations, which my Department is now advancing. In that context, with regard to Recommendation 3, my Department will undertake a review of the opt-out provision under the Building Control (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 365 of 2015).
1292. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on housing demand assessments in relation to local area development plans (details supplied). [33993/17]
View answerExisting provisions under planning legislation already provide for extensive housing demand assessments as part of the preparation of statutory development plans and local area plans by planning authorities.
The Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010 introduced a requirement that all development plans must include an evidence-based ‘core strategy’. The core strategy must demonstrate consistency with the National Spatial Strategy and Regional Planning Guidelines (to be replaced in due course by the National Planning Framework and Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies), with a particular focus on alignment with regionally agreed settlement hierarchies and population and housing targets.
In addition, Section 94 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) provides that a planning authority must include a housing strategy in its development plan for the purpose of ensuring that the proper planning and sustainable development of the area provides for the housing of the existing and future population of the area, in the manner set out in the strategy. As well as having regard to the social housing assessment now to be prepared annually under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, the purpose of which is to capture the total number of households qualified for social housing support across the country whose social housing need is not being met, in order to better understand the level of need for such support, the housing strategy must take into account:
(a) the existing need and the likely future need for social housing,
(b) the need to ensure that housing is available for persons who have different levels of income,
(c) the need to ensure that a mixture of house types and sizes is developed to reasonably match the requirements of the different categories of households, as may be determined by the planning authority, and including the special requirements of elderly persons and persons with disabilities, and
(d) the need to counteract undue segregation in housing between persons of different social backgrounds.
In addition to the above, a more strategic approach to the assessment of and provision for additional housing requirements in support of long-term planning aims is also being developed as part of the forthcoming National Planning Framework.
1293. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when he expects the independent audit of housing construction costs to be published; and the stakeholder groups and independent experts whose views have been surveyed for the audit. [33994/17]
View answerUnder the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, the Government is committed to a broad range of measures to tackle, among other things, some of the costs associated with the provision of housing. This includes undertaking a detailed analysis, in conjunction with the construction sector, to benchmark housing delivery input costs in Ireland, in order to facilitate an increased level of housing output into the future.
A working group, chaired by my Department, has been established and has met on a number of occasions since December 2016. The working group comprises representatives from the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, the Construction Industry Federation, Engineers Ireland, the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland, IBEC, the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, the Housing Agency and the National Asset Management Agency.
The report is being finalised at present and I will consider it without delay once submitted.
1294. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when he expects the vacant housing strategy to be published. [33995/17]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No 5 on today's Order Paper which sets out the position on this matter.
1295. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the estimated number of section 5 declarations given by each local authority in the latest year available; and the estimated number nationally each year. [33996/17]
View answerPlanning statistics are compiled by each planning authority on an annual basis for collation and publication on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/statistics/planning-statistics-1.
These statistics include data in respect of each authority on planning applications received, the number of invalid applications, decisions to grant or refuse permission etc. However, the statistics gathered do not include information of the type referred to by the Deputy in respect of the number of section 5 declarations issued.
However, section 5(5) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, requires that details of any declaration issued by a planning authority, or of a decision by the Board on referral, must be placed on the planning register and be available for public inspection. These can be accessed through the websites of the relevant local authority, or An Bord Pleanála, as appropriate.
1296. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department has a statutory or rule of thumb definition guiding policy proposals for affordability limits in terms of household income for renters. [33997/17]
View answerI refer to the reply of Question No. 18 on today's Order Paper which sets out the position on this matter.
1297. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to incentivise the development of build to rent units to expand supply in the private rental market. [33998/17]
View answerIn October 2016, my Department issued Circular APH 5/2016 to local authorities, requesting them to prioritise Build-to-Rent (BTR) projects coming forward from housing providers for consideration in their areas and emphasising the critical role that such projects can play in addressing the current acute shortage of rental accommodation. Local authorities were also requested to consider the use of lands in their ownership for such projects and were invited to put forward proposals to my Department for consideration in that regard.
The circular also provided clarity on the planning issues related to such BTR development schemes including on appropriate housing types and locations, management arrangements, Part V requirements, amenities, car parking, etc. Specific amendments were also made in the circular to the Design Standards for New Apartment Guidelines (2015) issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-16 in order to provide greater certainty for the consideration of such developments by planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála.
Earlier this year, a €35m investment in major infrastructure works was launched at Cherrywood, Dublin, representing a first step towards the delivery of over 1,300 new build-to-rent homes on this key Dublin site, that will supply 8,000 new homes in total when fully complete.
As set out in the Strategy for the Rental Sector, the commitment to affordable rental is now focused on kick-starting supply in Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) by using publicly-owned lands. It is intended that lands held by local authorities in RPZs will be brought to market on a competitive tendering basis, with a view to getting affordable rental developments underway. Two local authorities have made important early progress in this regard – South Dublin County Council and Dublin City Council have recently brought sites to the market for development as part of a joint venture with private investors.
My Department is also chairing a working group on Construction Costs to provide a strong evidential basis for consideration of any policy issues that may need to be addressed in relation to housing viability, including in relation to ‘build to rent’ apartment developments.
In addition, my Department is participating in a working group on the tax treatment of the private rental sector, set up under the Rental Strategy and chaired by the Department of Finance. The Working Group has recently completed a public consultation and is expected to report to the Minister of Finance by the end of July on potential changes to the tax and fiscal treatment of the rental sector aimed at increasing supply.
1298. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department has examined proposals to undertake a comprehensive land and property survey detailing the utilisation, vacancy levels and-or occupancy of all property in each local authority area, as a means of identifying a number of issues relevant to the under utilisation of existing property, commercial or residential stock that are not covered by the census; and if he will initiate a pilot study of such a survey. [33999/17]
View answerI refer to the reply of Question No. 5 on today's Order Paper which sets out the position in relation to the re-use of vacant housing.
While I have no plans at present to undertake a survey in respect of utilisation, vacancy levels and/or occupancy of commercial properties, Action 5.9 of Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness commits to reviewing planning legislation to allow the change of use of vacant commercial units in urban areas, including vacant or under-utilised areas over ground-floor premises, into residential units without having to go through the planning process. This proposal is also incorporated in Action 6 of the Action Plan for Rural Development, launched in January 2017. My Department is presently progressing the drafting of the necessary revisions to the planning regulations to give effect to this action and it is intended that the new regulations, which will require the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas, will be made as soon as possible in the Autumn.
My Department is also working with Dublin City Council in the context of the Living City Initiative, to explore the potential for further streamlining of the approach to re-developing and re-utilising vacant properties. Dublin City Council has examined approximately 11,000 rateable units in its functional area. From a visual analysis in a sample number of streets, the City Council has estimated that there may be approximately 4,000 vacant units above commercial premises that could potentially be converted into residential use in its functional area. This kind of detailed analysis will be crucial in determining the scale and scope for prioritising the targeting of vacant properties that could quickly be brought back into use.
1299. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the approximate income from section 48 development levies in 2016 and 2017. [34000/17]
View answerAudited Annual Financial Statements of local authorities for 2016 should be available later this year, with the 2017 Statements following next year. It should be noted that as local authorities operate on an accrual accounting basis, the Audited Statements, when available in due course, will recognise income as earned/billed in the year concerned and not just as cash received.
1300. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 618 of 4 July 2017, if he will provide a response to the question in terms of the estimated cost for extending the development contribution rebate scheme for build to rent properties (details supplied); and if the rebate was only given for units rented below an affordable price point, as defined by his Department. [34001/17]
View answerAs per my reply to Question No. 618 of 4 July 2017, the scheme already caters for residential units whether for occupation, lease or rent – and the rebate applies for units that are constructed and sold under the conditions as set out in Circular PL/13 2015, and which is available on my Department's website at the following link www.housing.gov.ie/search/category/planning?query=circular+2015&=Apply.
The primary objective of the Development Contribution Rebate Scheme is to enhance the viability of the construction and sale of residential housing units at affordable prices in the locations of greatest need.
The rebate will be paid for those units that are completed and sold between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2017 and that meet the conditions of the Scheme, as set out in the Circular. However, the scheme does not specify rent levels at which a qualifying property, once sold, should be set.
As outlined above, rebates are payable on housing units that are completed and sold. Evidence of sale contracts are required before recoupment of contributions can be considered. If developers do not dispose of the properties, as appears to be the case in the example provided by the Deputy, then the rebates are not payable.
I have no plans at present to amend the rebate scheme along the lines proposed and my Department is not in a position to calculate the costs of extending the scheme to build-to-rent properties, in the absence of more detailed information and assumptions.
1301. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the way his department is improving services and increasing supports for persons with disabilities during 2017 [34031/17]
View answerThe National Housing Strategy for People With a Disability (NHSPWD) 2011 - 2016 and associated National Implementation Framework were jointly published by my Department and the Department of Health. They set out the Government’s broad framework for the delivery of housing for people with disabilities and were developed as part of a coherent framework in conjunction with the Government’s mental health policy and Congregated Settings Report. The partnership approach adopted under the Strategy recognises that the provision of suitable housing is only one element in supporting people with disabilities to live fully inclusive lives. Building on the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment to meet the housing needs of people with disabilities, the NHSPWD has been extended to 2020 to continue to deliver on its aims.
Implementation of identified actions in the NHSPWD is being driven primarily by the Housing Agency by means of a dedicated sub-group comprising representatives from my Department, the Health Service Executive (HSE), Department of Health, local authorities, the Irish Council for Social Housing and various disability representative organisations. The Housing subgroup, established in 2012, is continuing work in 2017 under the extended timeframe, to progress a range of priority actions. An Implementation Monitoring Group (IMG) was established in 2012 to monitor and report on progress. The IMG is chaired by a senior official of my Department and comprises representatives from relevant Government Departments, agencies and disability organisations. The IMG met most recently on 28 April 2017 and a further meeting is scheduled for October. Three progress reports on implementation covering the period September 2012 to December 2016 have been published by the IMG to date. These comprehensive reports are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/policy/people-disability/housing-people-disability.
Progress on implementation of the NHSPWD will continue to be monitored and reported on by the IMG.
Some landmark measures in particular have been achieved that will contribute significantly to improving the lives of people with disabilities. These include the establishment of Housing and Disability Steering Groups (HDSGs) in all housing authorities in 2016 to achieve a coordinated and integrated approach to meeting the housing needs of people with a disability at local level. The HDSGs are chaired by Directors of Housing Services and include HSE and disability organisations. Each HDSG has prepared a local Strategic Plan for its own City/County area, to develop specific local strategies to meet identified and emerging need over the next five years. These Plans, along with the annual Summary of Social Housing Assessments, will allow local authorities to plan more strategically for the housing needs of people with a disability and will support the delivery of accommodation using all appropriate housing supply mechanisms.
Another key measure commenced last year is a review by the Housing Agency of the National Guidelines for the Assessment and Allocation Process for Housing Provision for People with a Disability, which have been operational in housing authorities since 2014. This significant body of work involved wide ranging consultation and engagement with relevant stakeholders and the revised Guidelines, when finalised, will take account of experience to date. As such, they should prove to be a practical and useful resource for people with disabilities, housing authorities, practitioners and all relevant stakeholders. I understand that the revised Guidelines will be submitted to my Department shortly for consideration and they will be issued to local authorities as soon as possible thereafter.
In regard to financial supports, my Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) funds up to 100% of project costs advanced by local authorities to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to provide accommodation for people with specific categories of need, including people with disabilities. A provision of €66 million is available for the scheme this year.
My Department also provides funding under three separate schemes for necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works to the houses of people with disabilities and older people in order to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs, and to facilitate the continued occupancy of their own home for as long as possible. The 2017 funding allocation of €59.8m represents an increase of some 6% on the funding provided in 2016, and is targeted to reach 10,000 homes. There is a strong social benefit accruing from this funding in terms of supporting older people, and people with a disability, to continue to live independently in their own homes and therefore, in line with the Programme for Partnership Government, further consideration will be given to increasing this funding over the coming years.
1302. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the investment by his Department since March 2016 in County Louth and parts of east County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34066/17]
View answerMy Department provides funding for a wide range of capital programmes, including local authority housing, voluntary housing, estate regeneration, energy efficiency retrofitting, rural water schemes, the RAPID programme, INTERREG, fire services and library development. The information sought in relation to expenditure under these specific programmes in respect of County Louth will be compiled and forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders. It is not possible to disaggregate funding to Meath County Council in order to identify all the elements that relate to parts of East County Meath.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A.
My Department provides funding for a wide range of capital programmes, including local authority housing, voluntary housing, estate regeneration, energy efficiency retrofitting, rural water schemes, the RAPID programme, INTERREG, fire services and library development.
Information sought with regard to County Louth is set out in the following table. There was no spending in relation to RAPID in that county during the period referred to in the Question. With respect to INTERREG, monies under this programme are apportioned to specific cross-border projects and are not disaggregated by geographical region or county. It is not possible to disaggregate funding in respect of County Meath in order to identify elements that relate to parts of the eastern area of the county.
|
Programme |
Funding since March 2016 (€) |
|
Local authority housing |
8,224,957 |
|
Energy efficiency retrofitting |
1,111,622 |
|
Regeneration/remedial works |
659,641 |
|
Fire services |
392,863 |
|
Group water scheme enhancements |
361,782 |
|
Libraries |
215,013 |
|
Voluntary housing capital assistance |
45,775 |
|
Total |
11,011,653 |
Question No. 1303 answered with Question No. 1255.
1304. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of the working group review of an organisation (details supplied) regulations; the number of meetings held to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34240/17]
View answerThe Working Group on Short-Term Lettings met on 14 June and 6 July, with a further meeting scheduled for 21 July.
Preparation of guidance on the consideration of planning applications relating to short-term lettings, either new developments or changes of use, and the relevant housing and specifically rental sector policy issues which should be considered in this regard, is at an advanced stage. It is my intention to issue this guidance by circular letter to planning authorities in the coming weeks.
The Working Group has also begun to examine potential changes to the existing regulatory framework with a view to making recommendations this Autumn.
1305. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of the senior counsel investigation into certain planning matters in County Donegal; the timeframe involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34245/17]
View answerSenior Counsel has completed his review of certain planning matters in respect of Donegal County Council and a report was submitted to my Department on 12 June 2017.
My Department is currently reviewing and assessing the contents of the report with the aim of preparing a submission for me as soon as possible. Legal advice has been sought in relation to the matter of publication. Once the relevant submission and any legal advices have been considered, I will be in a position to consider the matter further.
1306. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of housing units and size of the overall housing estate owned or managed by the registered voluntary housing bodies in 2016 and 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34267/17]
View answerUnder Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992, housing authorities may provide assistance to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the provision and management of housing accommodation. As Minister, I am empowered to grant approved status to housing bodies for this purpose. AHBs are independent, not-for-profit organisations. They provide affordable rented housing for people who cannot afford to pay private sector rents or buy their own homes, or for particular groups, such as older people or homeless people. AHBs also include housing co-operatives, which are housing organisations controlled by their members/tenants who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions.
To date, there are 547 bodies with approved status. The register of AHBs can be found on my Department's website at:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/voluntary-and-cooperative-housing/register-housing-bodies-approved-status.
In 2014, my Department established an interim Regulation Committee for the AHB Sector under the auspices of the Housing Agency, which, supported by a Regulation Office based within the Agency, oversees implementation of the voluntary regulation code (VRC) for AHBs. At present, 245 AHBs have signed up to the VRC.
My Department does not hold figures on the total number of dwellings provided by AHBs. However, in its 2015 Annual Report, the Regulation Office stated that the 203 AHBs, which at that time had signed up to the VRC, had a total portfolio of 26,904 dwellings and estimated that this constituted more than 90% of the total estimated housing stock in the sector. The final figures for the 2016 Annual Report are not yet available but are likely to show an increase of around 15% in the number of registered bodies with a proportionately smaller increase in the number of dwellings, as the newer registrations mostly comprise smaller AHBs.
Rebuilding Ireland targets the delivery of 47,000 social housing units in the period to 2021. It is estimated that AHBs have the capacity to contribute around a third of these 47,000 new social housing units using a range of delivery methods, including construction, acquisitions and leasing.
Significant progress has been made by the AHB sector over the last number of years, including the delivery of 1,169 units across both capital and leasing schemes in 2016 alone. A strong pipeline of new social housing supply is also evident in the latest Rebuilding Ireland Social Housing Construction Status Report, which is available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link:
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/social-housing-construction-projects-report-2017/ .
The Report provides details of 607 social housing schemes and 10,072 associated units at various stages of development, including 249 AHB projects, with 4,209 associated units.
1307. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of housing tenancy units and size of the overall housing estate of each of the county and city councils in 2016 and 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34268/17]
View answerStatistics in relation to social housing stock are gathered by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) in their annual reports on Performance Indicators in Local Authorities.
These reports provide a range of information in relation to social housing stock including the total number of dwellings in each local authority area, broken down between the level of units provided directly and through the various schemes in operation.
The most recent NOAC report is for 2015, which is available at the following link:
http://noac.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2015-PI-Report.pdf.
1308. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the legislation governing the regulation of the voluntary housing bodies and agencies; his plans to introduce a comprehensive new regulation in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34269/17]
View answerRebuilding Ireland, the Government's Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, recognises the key contribution that Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) make to the delivery of social housing. It is estimated that AHBs have the capacity to contribute around a third of the 47,000 new social housing units that are targeted over the period to 2021.
The housing delivery capacity of AHBs will need to expand greatly and they will require significantly increased external investment. AHBs that have statutorily regulated standards of governance and management capacity will be better able to access private or loan finance.
The proposed Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill and the underlying policy, which was formulated in consultation with the sector, intends to establish a statutory Regulator to oversee the effective governance, financial management and performance of voluntary and co-operative housing bodies. The Bill aims to safeguard public and private investment in the social housing provision sector, to rationalise and enable increased supply from the voluntary and co-operative housing sector and to ensure that the assets built through investments in the sector are managed sustainably. The statutory regulatory framework will provide further assurances to investors, tenants, the Government and to the sector itself that social housing providers operate in a well-regulated and stable environment.
My Department is working with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to finalise the text of the Bill for publication as soon as possible. I had hoped that the Bill would be published during this current Dáil session. However, the complex nature of some of the issues related to transitioning from voluntary to statutory regulation has required additional time. Nothwithstanding this, I expect the Bill to be published in time for early consideration in the Autumn Oireachtas Session. Until such time as the legislation is enacted and the statutory system of regulation is put in place, the interim regulatory arrangements in operation since 2014 will remain in place.
1309. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of social housing units directly built or provided by each county and city councils in each of the years 2008 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34270/17]
View answerUnder my Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme, funding is available to all local authorities to deliver additional social housing stock through new construction projects and through the acquisition of new and previously owned houses/apartments for social housing use. Details on the number of properties purchased and built by all local authorities for the period 2008 to 2016, for letting to those on their social housing waiting lists, are available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision. Information on quarter four of 2016 is currently being finalised and will be published shortly, with information on quarter one of 2017 to follow thereafter.
1310. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of new tenant purchase scheme transactions entered into by local authority tenants with Cork City Council and with Cork County Council in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34285/17]
View answerMy Department does not collate or hold this information.
Local authorities are by law (Section 63(1) of the Local Government Act 2001) independent in the performance of their functions. The operation of the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is a matter for the local authority concerned, in line with legislation, including the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015.
1311. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when consultation on the draft legislative provisions for his departmental remit to transpose Directive 2014/52/EU introducing substantial amendments to the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 2011/92/EU will be provided; when such provisions are expected to be initiated (details supplied); the basis on which these provisions will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34298/17]
View answer1314. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when consultation on the draft legislative provisions for his departmental remit to transpose Directive 2014/52/EU introducing substantial amendments to the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 2011/92/EU will be provided; when such provisions are expected to be initiated (details supplied); the basis on which these provisions will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34320/17]
View answer1333. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when consultation on the draft legislative provisions for his Department to transpose Directive 2014/52/EU introducing substantial amendments to the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 2011/92/EU will be provided; the timeframe for such provisions to be initiated (details supplied); the basis on which these provisions will be introduced; if provisions related to the 2014/52/EU have already been made by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34835/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1311, 1314 and 1333 together.
My Department is working to ensure that the comprehensive transposition of Directive 2014/52/EU relating to environmental impact assessment of certain public and private projects (the 2014 Directive) is progressed as a matter of urgency.
Work is presently underway on the drafting of amendments to the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, which will apply the requirements of the 2014 Directive, with a view to having the necessary legislation in place as soon as possible. Such amendments will be made by way of Regulations under the European Communities Act 1972.
My Department will also be publishing updated Guidance on the implementation of the 2014 Directive by planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála at the same time as the transposing Regulations.
In the interim, my Department issued Circular Letter PL 1/2017 on 15 May 2017 to planning authorities and the Board which outlined the provisions of the 2014 Directive and administrative provisions in advance of its transposition into planning legislation. A copy of the Circular Letter is available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/circular_pl1_2017_implementation_of_directive_201452eu
_on_the_effects_of_certain_public_and_private_projects_on_the_environment_eia_directive.pdf
My Department’s work relates primarily to the planning code but my officials have had a series of meetings with other Departments to assist them in transposing the amending Directive into other relevant development consent codes.
In terms of consultation, my Department held a public consultation on a Key Issues paper, detailing the key changes included in the 2014 Directive and the proposed approach to transposition. My Department has also consulted widely with other Government Departments, the Environmental Protection Agency, An Bord Pleanála, planning authorities, the Irish Planning Institute and the Royal Town Planning Institute of Ireland. A decision to undertake any further consultation in respect of draft Regulations and/or draft Guidance will be made shortly, having regard to the nature and extent of consultations already undertaken and the need to progress transposition in a timely manner.
1312. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the mechanisms in place to enable local authorities to provide for affordable housing schemes under the current guidelines; if funding is available for local authorities for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34305/17]
View answerIn 2011, the Government announced the standing down of the provision of Affordable Housing (the 1999 Affordable Housing Scheme, affordable housing under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, and the Affordable Housing Initiative). In relation to Part V, planning authorities have been informed that they should prioritise the acquisition of social houses on site when making Part V agreements. Funding to support the delivery of Part V units is available from my Department.
The Government recognises the housing affordability pressures faced by many households, particularly in certain parts of the country. It is for this reason that the overarching objective of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is to increase the supply of new homes to 25,000 per annum by 2020. In particular, the aim is to increase the supply of high quality homes at more affordable price points as quickly as possible, in areas where demand is greatest.
As set out in the Strategy for the Rental Sector, published in December 2016, the commitment to develop an affordable rental model, originally contained in Rebuilding Ireland, is now being progressed by local authorities in Rent Pressure Zones. In this regard, Dublin City Council and the Housing Agency, in partnership with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, have developed detailed proposals for specific sites they control in Dublin. My Department is currently working through those proposals with the project sponsors.
On 27 April, details of some 1,700 hectares of land in local authority and Housing Agency ownership were published on the Rebuilding Ireland Housing Land Map, with the potential to deliver some 42,500 homes nationally. All local authorities have been requested to prepare Strategic Development and Management Plans for their lands by 30 September 2017. The final model for bringing forward public lands for housing, including an affordable rental element where appropriate, will be informed by the outcome of the consideration of the initial pathfinder sites.
In parallel, as part of the targeted review of Rebuilding Ireland, my Department is examining the broader issue of housing affordability. Again, the outcome of the consideration of the specific proposals referred to above will be factored into that review process and my Department will also be consulting more broadly with local authorities generally.
1313. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of HAP recipients per local authority; the number of households eligible for HAP; the number of households in receipt of HAP in which one or more householder is working; the amount of funding allocated through the HAP scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34309/17]
View answerThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is now available to all eligible households throughout the State. There are currently more than 24,000 households having their housing needs met via HAP and some 18,000 separate landlords and agents currently in receipt of monthly HAP payments.
Exchequer 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.
HAP is a demand led social housing support; in order to be eligible for HAP support, a household must first qualify for social housing support and be placed on a housing list. A housing authority must carry out an assessment to establish whether the household meets specified statutory eligibility requirements and has a housing need.
The Summary of Social Housing Assessments 2016 publication brings together information provided by local authorities on households in their functional area qualified for social housing support whose social housing need is not being met. This report shows that 91,600 households were assessed as qualified for housing support as on 21 September 2016; the report is available at the following weblink: http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/summary_of_social_housing_assessments_2016.pdf.
A breakdown of the number of households supported by HAP in each local authority area at the end of Quarter 1 2017 is available on my Department's website http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
In relation to the number of households in receipt of HAP in which one or more householder is working, my Department does not collate this data.
I continue to keep the operation of HAP under review but I am currently satisfied with how the scheme is operating and I consider it to be a key vehicle for meeting housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programme committed to under Rebuilding Ireland.
1315. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of the provision of planning guidelines for solar powered developments nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34322/17]
View answerThere are no specific planning guidelines in place in respect of solar farms. Proposals for individual solar farm developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the same manner as other proposed developments. Planning applications are made to the relevant local planning authority with a right of appeal to An Bord Pleanála.
Under the Planning and Development Act, each planning authority's development plan must set out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area concerned. Section 10 of the Act requires a development plan to include, inter alia, objectives for the provision or facilitation of the provision of infrastructure, including energy facilities, and many local authorities have developed renewable energy strategies for their areas in this context.
In making decisions on planning applications, planning authorities and the Board must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, having regard to the provisions of the local development plan, any submissions or observations received and relevant Ministerial or Government policies, including any relevant guidelines issued by my Department. Planning authorities must then make their own decisions based on the specific merits or otherwise of individual planning applications.
I am satisfied that the planning code is sufficiently robust to facilitate the assessment of individual planning permission applications for solar farm developments. However, the matter will be kept under review, in consultation with my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, who has lead responsibility for renewable energy policy, in the context of the Government's White Paper on Energy Policy , published in December 2015, the development of a Renewable Electricity Policy and Development Framework, as well as the finalisation of a new support scheme for renewable electricity by that Department, expected in 2018.
1316. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the steps he has taken to ensure that businesses sell long-term vacant units in town centres in Enniscorthy and Wexford town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34410/17]
View answerDecisions in relation to the sale of vacant commercial units are primarily a matter for the property owners concerned in the first instance and ones in which I do not have a statutory function.
The Programme for a Partnership Government, published in May 2016, includes a commitment to examine reclassifying and incentivising the use of underutilised or vacant areas over ground floor premises in urban areas, for both residential and commercial use. A key objective of Pillar 5 of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, launched in July 2016, is to ensure that existing housing stock is used to the maximum degree possible and focuses on measures to use existing vacant stock to renew urban and rural areas.
Specifically, Action 5.9 of Rebuilding Ireland commits to reviewing planning legislation to allow the change of use of vacant commercial units in urban areas, including vacant or under-utilised areas over ground-floor premises, into residential units without having to go through the planning process. This proposal is also incorporated in Action 6 of the Action Plan for Rural Development, launched in January 2017. My Department is presently progressing the drafting of the necessary revisions to the planning regulations to give effect to this action and it is intended that the new regulations, which will require the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas, will be made as soon as possible in the Autumn.
Question No. 1317 answered with Question No. 45.
1318. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if sufficient funding is available to Kildare County Council to facilitate progress on housing repairs and the restoration of voids; if he will ensure the availability of sufficient funds to meet the requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34444/17]
View answerThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including housing repairs, is a matter for each individual local authority and is not directly funded by my Department. My Department does provide Exchequer support to local authorities to support their work in ensuring social homes in need of significant remediation are returned to use as soon as possible for those on the waiting list. I am satisfied that this Exchequer support to Kildare County Council is sufficient to support their work in remediating vacant social homes and returning these to use. I am keen that this work is carried out as swiftly as possible in all cases, given the need to provide housing and to make best use of our existing social stock.
Over €1.65 million was provided by my Department to Kildare County Council in the period 2014-16 to bring some 95 void or derelict social homes back into use and further funding is being provided in 2017.
