Written Answers Nos. 1636-1655
1636. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the progress that has been made on the commitment in the programme for Government to initiate an affordable housing scheme. [35362/17]
View answerThe Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to develop a "cost rental" housing option, taking account of work already completed in this area, including by NESC and others.
Action 12 of the Strategy for the Rental Sector, published in December 2016, (which can be accessed at: http://rebuildingireland.ie/install/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Strategy-for-the-Rental-Sector-MAR2017-WEB.pdf), provides that my Department will establish and lead an expert group to develop a cost rental model for the Irish rental sector, addressing issues such as funding mechanisms; the need to grow the necessary institutional capacity, particularly within the Approved Housing Body and not-for-profit sector (whether through mergers, new entrants or strategic partnerships); the households to be targeted; and the appropriate regulation mechanisms.
The Cost Rental Expert Group will assess the benefits that a larger and more developed not-for-profit segment could bring to the rental sector and the housing system, and examine the feasibility and effectiveness of different approaches to achieve the desired change. A proposal to establish the Expert Group, including membership and terms of reference, is currently being prepared in my Department.
More generally, 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 (July 2016) 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. A copy of Rebuilding Ireland can be accessed here: http://rebuildingireland.ie/install/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Rebuilding-Ireland_Action-Plan.pdf.
In addition, as set out in the Strategy for the Rental Sector, the commitment to develop an affordable rental model, originally contained in Rebuilding Ireland, is now being progressed by local authorities in designated 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 that they control in Dublin. My Department is currently working through those proposals with the project sponsors.
On 27 April 2017, 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. These sites can be viewed here: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/rebuilding-ireland-land-map/.
All local authorities have been requested to prepare Strategic Development and Management Plans for their lands by 30 September. The final model for bringing forward these lands for housing, including an affordable rental element where appropriate, will be informed by the outcome of the consideration of the aforementioned initial pathfinder sites in Dublin.
Finally, 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 with local authorities. In this regard, as part of the review, my Department is conducting a public consultation to facilitate members of the public and interested parties to provide their opinions and suggestions on the issue. Details of the public consultation, which is open for submissions until 11 August 2017, can be accessed at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/say-public-consultation-review-rebuilding-ireland-launches-today/.
1637. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 1322 of 20 June 2017, if he will provide information on the organisations listed (details supplied) that also received section 10 funding under the Housing Act 1988. [35366/17]
View answerMy Department does not fund any homeless service directly, but provides funding to housing authorities on a regional basis towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988. Under ‘Section 10’ funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources but may incur additional expenditure at their own determination.
Quarterly financial reports are received by my Department from the lead authority in each region, which set out the details of the homeless accommodation and services funded by housing authorities. These reports are published on my Department's website and are available at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.
1638. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of planning permissions that are due to expire that can benefit from the proposed planning permission extension; the location and the town planning numbers of these schemes; the number of units that will be impacted; and if these schemes can still be constructed in view of the changes in building regulations in the interim. [35372/17]
View answer1650. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when each section of the Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017 will commence once the Bill is enacted; the way in which section 28(2) will enable housing schemes to extend planning permission when this particular section will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35743/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1638 and 1650 together.
As my Department does not maintain a national database of planning permissions, the detailed information sought regarding the number and location of planning permissions impacted by the amended provision is not available. However, in line with the focus on implementing Rebuilding Ireland, my Department keeps in regular contact with housing provider representative organisations, which have indicated that they received in the region of 75 enquiries relating to further extensions of the duration of planning permissions of the type addressed in the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2017. That Act, which amends section 28(2) of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016, came into force on its enactment on 19 July 2017.
I intend this week to make the statutory instruments required to commence section 28(2) of the 2016 Act and bring into operation the new scheme for further extensions of the duration of certain planning permissions. It will be a matter for individual developers to apply to the relevant planning authority for a further extension of duration of the planning permission concerned. In the case of qualifying developments where the extended duration of the permission expired or will expire between 19 July 2016 (the date on which Rebuilding Ireland was published) and the day before section 28(2) of the 2016 Act (as amended by the 2017 Act) comes into force, developers have six months from the date of commencement of section 28(2) of the 2016 Act in which to apply for a further extension of duration of that permission. In the case of qualifying developments where the extended duration of the permission expires on or after the date of commencement of section 28(2) of the 2016 Act, the application for a further extension of duration must be made within the last year of the duration of the planning permission, as previously extended. The additional period of the duration of a permission extended under section 28(2) of the 2016 Act cannot exceed 5 years or continue beyond 31 December 2021, whichever first occurs.
As regards the application of Building Regulations to qualifying developments under section 28(2) of the 2016 Act, when building regulations are updated and amended, the new requirements generally apply to works commencing from a specified commencement date set out in the relevant Regulations, subject to transition arrangements. The transition arrangements may provide that the previous regulations apply to works for which planning permission was sought prior to the commencement date of the new regulations and where substantial work has been completed by a specified date. Under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014, primary responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations rests with the designers, builders and owners of buildings, who must ensure that they adhere to the appropriate building regulations, when carrying out building works to which the regulations apply.
1639. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35397/17]
View answerThe National Taking-in-Charge Initiative (NTICI) for residential estates was launched in April 2016 to support and accelerate overall national action on the taking-in-charge process for housing estates. A specific focus of the initiative was to expedite progress by local authorities and relevant stakeholders, including Irish Water, in addressing a build-up of pending cases relating to housing developments not yet taken in charge.
A €10 million fund to kick-start the process of dealing with the taking-in-charge issue was made available in 2016. Under the terms of the NTICI, only those developments subject to valid taking-in-charge applications were eligible for inclusion in the call for proposals. It is important to note that the NTICI was not intended to establish a rolling annual funding programme to take in charge all estates not yet taken in charge, but was instead intended to develop better knowledge and systems to support the taking-in-charge of further estates over time. They are no plans at present to make further funding available for this initiative.
The 2016 NTICI Programme identified and highlighted the scale of housing estates nationwide that await the taking-in-charge process. The experience gained through this new funding initiative has helped to establish a new nationally co-ordinated taking-in-charge database and local authorities can now implement a multi-annual programme, using available financial resources, to progressively address the backlog of estates not yet taken in charge.
Kerry County Council was allocated funding of €362,652 under the NTICI in relation to a number of proposed schemes in Co. Kerry.
A report on the 2016 NTICI programme is currently being finalised by my Department and it is intended to publish the report shortly. The report will include findings and recommendations on sustaining progress on the taking-in-charge issue, which is the responsibility of the relevant local authority.
1640. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount spent by his Department on taxi and or limousine fares in the past two years to date by year and amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35487/17]
View answerExpenditure on taxis, car hire and limousines hire by my Department in the past two years is set out in the following table:
|
- |
Taxis |
Car Hire |
Limousine Hire |
|
21 July 2015 to 31 December 2015 |
€9,009.52 |
€1,984.15 |
€0.00 |
|
2016 |
€8,945.96 |
€135.93 |
€0.00 |
|
1 January 2017 to 20 July 2017 |
€5,522.26 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Total |
€23,477.74 |
€2,120.08 |
€0.00 |
The table excludes costs in respect of car hire in March 2017 amounting to €505.36 which has yet to be recouped to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
In the context of official travel, it is the policy of my Department that public transport should be used wherever possible, where it is deemed necessary to travel for business purposes.
1641. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the names of advisers he has appointed to his office since becoming Minister; the responsibilities of each; the previous employment of each; and the salaries of each. [35620/17]
View answerSubject to Government approval, I currently intend to appoint one Special Adviser, Jack O'Donnell. Mr. O'Donnell has previously served as Deputy Government Press Secretary in the Department of An Taoiseach.
In accordance with the Guidelines and Instructions on Ministerial Appointments for the 32nd Dáil, Mr. O'Donnell will be appointed to the Principal Officer (Standard) PPC Scale - €81,767 to €100,333.
Mr. O'Donnell will be assigned responsibilities across the broad, diverse and challenging agenda of my Department, including housing and local government issues, as well as in relation to media matters. He will also have a role in liaising with the Government Press Office and with other Ministers’ Offices/Special Advisers across Government on relevant policy issues within the remit of my Department.
1642. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to increase the amount payable for rent and storage to persons under the pyrite remediation scheme in view of the fact that rental prices have increased sharply since the scheme was initiated without a corresponding increase in allowances. [35642/17]
View answerThe Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the Pyrite Remediation Scheme and while the Act provides that the scheme can be amended, replaced or revoked, this can only be done in accordance with the scope of the Act. In this regard, any proposal to revise the pyrite remediation scheme is ultimately a matter for the Pyrite Resolution Board and would require detailed consideration of the evidence to support the case for an amendment to the scheme.
The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope. 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 addition, applicants under the scheme must be able to demonstrate to the Pyrite Resolution Board that they have no practicable options, other than under the scheme, to secure the remediation of their homes.
The scheme provides for the recoupment of the vouched cost of alternative accommodation, furniture removal and storage subject to limits of €3,000 and €2,500 (inclusive of VAT), respectively. However, where a scheme participant can satisfy the Housing Agency, who will be making the payments, in advance that suitable rental accommodation cannot be obtained for €3,000 or less the expenses for the accommodation and furniture removal can be combined, subject to the overall limit of €5,500.
My Department is in regular contact with the Pyrite Resolution Board and the Housing Agency with regard to the implementation of the scheme and is satisfied that the arrangements that are currently in place provide the necessary flexibility to support scheme participants in meeting their alternative accommodation needs while their homes are under remediation.
1644. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the estimated cost of increasing central funding to the housing adaptation grant schemes by 50% in 2018. [35714/17]
View answerThe funding allocation in 2017 for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability is €59.8 million, comprising €47.84m Exchequer funding and €11.96 million from local authority resources. It represents an increase of some 6% on the previous year's allocation. Increasing funding under this scheme by 50% would cost an additional €23.92 million to the Exchequer, with a further €5.98m to be contributed by the local authorities.
I am conscious of the social benefit accruing from these Grants in terms of facilitating the continued independent living by older people and people with a disability in their own homes. In line with the Programme for a Partnership Government, further consideration will be given to increasing this funding over the coming years.
1645. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of social and affordable housing commencements for 2017, by all 31 local authorities, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35721/17]
View answer1646. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of social and affordable housing completions for 2016 and 2017, respectively, by all 31 local authorities, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35722/17]
View answer1647. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of social and affordable housing planning permissions currently lodged for 2017 and 2018 by all 31 local authorities in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35723/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1645 to 1647, inclusive, together.
Statistics on the number of social housing properties constructed, purchased and leased by local authorities and AHBs, for letting to those on their social housing waiting lists, are published on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision. Some of these details are currently being finalised in respect of quarter four of 2016 and will be published shortly, with information on quarter one 2017 to follow thereafter.
Information is also publicly available on the new social housing construction projects that are recently completed, on site, or undergoing planning and design. This information is set out in the Status Report on Social Housing Construction Projects, which is published on a quarterly basis, with the most recent version, covering the period to end Quarter 1 of 2017, available at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/social-housing-construction-projects-report-2017/. This list of projects is being added to on an ongoing basis and will be updated as part of the Rebuilding Ireland progress report for Quarter 2 of 2017.
My Department does not have comprehensive information on the Part 8 planning permission process for all local authority social housing developments, as this is a local authority matter and, in the interests of expediting projects, it is not uncommon for the Part 8 process and my Department's approval process to operate in parallel rather than in sequence. However, based on the information available from the local authorities on their social housing construction projects that have received funding approval-in-principle from my Department, some 300 are subject to the Part 8 process and approximately 180 have completed the process at this stage, with others being progressed by local authorities on an ongoing basis.
1648. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of building control officers operating throughout the 31 local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35724/17]
View answerA Building Control Resource Survey was carried out in 2015 which concluded that there were 332 persons (177.35 full-time equivalent), engaged in Building Control activities nationally, comprising:
- 37 Technicians, Building Inspectors and Clerks of Works;
- 111 Administrative Staff; and
- 184 Professional Engineers, Building Surveyors and Fire Officers.
Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible.
1649. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of dog wardens operating throughout the 31 local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35725/17]
View answerUnder the Control of Dogs Acts, local authorities are solely responsible for operating and managing dog control and licensing services in their administrative areas and my Department has no direct role in this regard.
Data provided by local authorities in relation to certain of their dog control functions, including the information sought in relation to dog wardens, is available on my Department's website at the following weblink:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/search/archived/current/sub-type/dog-control/type/statistics?query=.
1651. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the national quality standards framework for homeless services has been published by his Department; and if not, when it is due for publication. [35746/17]
View answerMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities, including operational issues in the day-to-day delivery of services, such as ensuring that contracted services are delivered in a professional manner. Also, it should be noted that all service providers must meet the applicable requirements of statutory codes, in particular the requirements of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Fire Services Acts.
Given that ensuring services are delivered to an appropriate standard is a matter for the relevant housing authorities, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) is currently overseeing the development of a comprehensive quality standards framework which will be applicable to all homeless services for which the Executive has a service level agreement in place. The DRHE has been coordinating the development of these standards in consultation with an advisory group, including representation from various housing authorities, service providers, Tusla, clients and other stakeholders, with a view to having the finalised standards adopted on a national basis by individual housing authorities.
The draft standards have been piloted in over 20 selected services across the country since 2016, with positive feedback to date from relevant services, with a view to their finalisation later this year.
1652. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the statutory powers local authorities have in a situation in which a private homeowner is genuinely concerned that trees growing on a neighbour's property are dangerous; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35750/17]
View answerPlanning legislation places no specific restrictions on the height of trees, nor does it make any particular provision for remedy from any other nuisance which may be caused by trees in an urban residential area. However, there is currently a civil remedy available concerning branches or roots of neighbouring trees encroaching on a person’s property.
The previous Minister of State for Housing and Planning wrote to the Minister for Justice in June 2012 to explore the possibility of providing a broader civil law remedy for parties affected by high trees and hedges on adjoining properties. In this regard, advice was sought on the possibility of legislative provision being made, whereby a person substantially deprived of the enjoyment of their property, such as the deprivation of light caused by high trees on a neighbouring property, could apply to the Courts for an order, and the Courts could make an order as they see fit, e.g. to cut the trees back to an appropriate height. Safety considerations relating to overhanging trees could also potentially be addressed in any such provisions.
The Minister for Justice responded in July 2012, suggesting that disputes of this nature between neighbours could perhaps be more appropriately dealt with through mediation - which is being increasingly used internationally as a tool for the resolution of civil disputes - rather than through the Courts. In this regard, I understand that the Department of Justice has recently published the Mediation Bill 2017, which is currently proceeding through the Houses of the Oireachtas.
1654. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason the midlands homeless region covering the four counties of Longford, Westmeath Laois and Offaly only received 0.84% of the national homeless budget 2016; and his plans to review this to ensure parity based on population and on submissions made by the local authorities, in view of the fact they are severely underfunded for same. [35799/17]
View answerMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. In accordance with section 37(2) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services, including accommodation, rests with individual housing authorities. Therefore, my Department does not fund any service directly, but provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless services.
The purposes for which housing authorities may incur expenditure in addressing homelessness are prescribed in section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. Under the ‘Section 10’ funding arrangements in place between my Department and housing authorities, Exchequer funding is provided on a regional basis, whereby it is delegated to a lead-authority in each region. The counties of Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath comprise the Midlands Region, for which Westmeath County Council is the agreed regional lead-authority.
In accordance with sections 38 and 39 of the Act, a Homelessness Consultative Forum, which in the Midlands includes service providers such as Midlands Simon Community and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and a Statutory Management Group, which includes representatives of the Health Service Executive, advise and assist housing authorities, inter alia, in the configuration and provision of homeless services in their area. My Department has no function in relation to such operational decisions.
The provision of funding from my Department to the regions is based on a programme of scheduled services which each region submits to my Department at the outset of each year. Allocations are therefore based on expected need rather than county populations, which would not be a sound basis for the provision of such funding given the varying scales of homelessness nationally.
In 2016, the Midlands Region received an initial allocation of €800,000 towards their programme of scheduled services. Supplementary to the delegated allocation, my Department considers the recoupment of any additional costs arising as a result of increased rates of homeless presentation, such as the costs of temporary accommodation for families, etc. (my Department has provided such reassurances to the various authorities in this regard over the last two years and again this year). Taking these costs into account, a total of €1,109,748 was recouped to the region by end-2016.
1655. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the location by municipal district, town or village of identified vacant properties in County Kerry, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35832/17]
View answerPillar 5 of the Government's Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is specifically focused on utilising existing housing stock, with a key objective of ensuring that the existing vacant housing stock throughout the country and across all forms of tenure, in both the public and private sectors, is used to the optimum degree. In this regard, Action 5.1 of Rebuilding Ireland commits to the development of a national vacant housing strategy, informed by Census 2016 data.
To this end, the Housing Agency established a working group, comprising senior representatives from my Department, local authorities and from the Housing Agency itself to inform the strategy. My Department has received the output from the work of this group and is presently engaging with key Departments and agencies to consider the analysis and agree on the recommended actions, prior to publication.
While my Department does not hold the information requested by the Deputy, the Central Statistics Office has made available a variety of data from the Census of Population 2016 on vacant residential properties. On 20 April, CSO published a comprehensive report, entitled Profile 1 - Housing in Ireland which can be accessed via the following link: http://www.cso.ie/en/census/census2016reports/census2016publicationschedule/.
As per this Census 2016 data, the total housing stock in County Kerry was 74,094, of which 9,691 were classified as vacant households (excluding holiday homes). Further information on the number of vacant residential properties by small area in respect of County Kerry has since been made available on the CSO website, at the following link: http://census.cso.ie/sapmap/. In this context, the CSO shows a breakdown of the number of vacant dwellings in County Kerry by municipal district as follows:
|
Municipal District |
Number of vacant households (excl. holiday homes) |
|
Listowel |
2,014 |
|
Tralee |
2,422 |
|
South and West Kerry |
3,487 |
|
Killarney |
1,768 |
|
Total |
9,691 |
Due to data protection issues, I understand that the CSO cannot provide the specific location of vacant properties at a more granular level.
