Written Answers Nos. 2031-2050
2031. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the expert group to develop plans for a cost rental model for housing has been established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38209/17]
View answerThe Strategy for the Rental Sector, published in December 2016, noted that the Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to develop a "cost rental" option, taking account of work already completed in this area, including by the National Economic and Social Council and others.
In line with this commitment, Action 12 of the Strategy commits my Department to lead an Expert Group to develop a cost rental model for the Irish rental sector. This Group will address issues such as funding mechanisms, the need to grow the necessary institutional capacity, particularly within the AHB and not-for-profit sector (whether through mergers, new entrants or strategic partnerships), rent levels, the households to be targeted and the appropriate regulation mechanisms.
The Expert Group will assess the benefits that a larger and more developed not-for-profit segment would bring to the rental sector and the housing system, by increasing supply of rental accommodation for low to middle-income households and ensuring new capacity is developed and attracted into Ireland. The Group will also consider various proposals advanced in this regard, including the proposal to establish a semi-State company to progress the cost rental model, in the course of its work.
Subsequent to the conclusion of the focused review of Rebuilding Ireland, it is my intention to establish this Expert Group in the coming weeks and the development of a proposal regarding its membership and terms of reference is currently being finalised in my Department.
2032. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to raise the 3% rate of the vacant site levy in view of the limited housing construction under way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38210/17]
View answerThe Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 introduced a new measure, the vacant site levy, which is aimed at incentivising the development of vacant, under-utilised sites in urban areas. Under the Act, planning authorities are required to establish a register of vacant sites in their areas, beginning on 1 January 2017, and to issue annual notices to owners of vacant sites by 1 June 2018 in respect of vacant sites on the register on 1 January 2018. The levy will be applied by planning authorities, commencing on 1 January 2019 in respect of sites which were vacant and on the vacant site register during the year 2018 and will subsequently be applied on an annual basis thereafter, as long as a site remains on the vacant site register in the preceding year.
Planning authorities are empowered to apply an annual vacant site levy of 3% of the market value of vacant sites exceeding 0.5 hectares in area - with reduced or zero rates of levy applying in specific circumstances – which, in the planning authority’s opinion, were vacant or idle in the preceding year, in areas identified by the planning authority in its development plan or local area plan for residential or regeneration development. The 3% rate of vacant site levy is consistent with the rate applied to derelict sites under the Derelict Sites Act 1990.
All levies due on an individual site will remain a charge on the land concerned until all outstanding levies due are paid. Accordingly, under the vacant site levy provisions, there will be a cumulative effect associated with not activating a site for development purposes for each year that a site remains vacant or idle.
As the Deputy will be aware, I have initiated a focused review of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness, with a particular focus on strengthening the measures already in place, including for example the vacant site levy, as well as identifying new initiatives that will add value and raise ambition across all five Pillars of the Action Plan, including measures that seek to bring land and property into active use for housing purposes. Following detailed consideration of the issues, in close consultation with other relevant Government colleagues, I anticipate that details of proposed actions arising from the review will be finalised in the coming weeks.
2033. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of rapid build houses which have been built to date; the additional number expected to be completed by the end of 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38211/17]
View answerFollowing the completion of 22 rapid build houses in Poppintree in 2016, an additional 21 houses have now been completed and occupied in St. Helena’s Drive, Finglas. Details of other schemes due for completion in 2017 and 2018 are as follows:
|
Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot |
24 homes, scheduled for completion and allocation in September 2017 |
|
Mourne Road, Drimnagh |
29 homes, scheduled for completion and allocation in September 2017 |
|
St. Helena’s, Finglas |
21 homes allocated, 18 remaining on the site are scheduled for completion and allocation in September 2017 |
|
Belcamp, Dublin,17 |
38 homes, scheduled for completion and allocation September 2017 |
|
Wellview, Mulhuddart |
20 homes, scheduled for completion and allocation in November / December 2017 |
|
Woodbank, Rathvilly |
17 homes, scheduled for completion and allocation end 2017/early 2018 |
|
Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot |
53 homes, scheduled for completion and allocation end 2017/early 2018 |
|
St. Aidan’s, Brookfield |
71 homes, scheduled for delivery Q2 2018 and Q3 2018 |
|
Pinewood, Balbriggan |
25 homes, scheduled for delivery Q1 2018 |
|
George’s Place, Dun Laoghaire |
12 homes, scheduled for delivery in early 2018 |
|
Avondale, Mulhuddart, Fingal |
44 homes (20 units scheduled for delivery in Q2 2018 & 24 in Q 3 2018) |
|
Killininny Road, Firhouse, South Dublin |
24 homes scheduled for delivery in Q3 2018 |
|
St Cuthberts, Clondalkin, South Dublin |
59 homes scheduled for delivery in Q4 2018 |
|
Hansfield, Dublin 15 |
36 homes, outline design and costs currently being prepared |
My Department has recently asked all Local Authorities to review the social housing projects in their areas and in the interest of achieving earliest delivery, they have been requested to consider their suitability for Design and Build contracts under the Framework set up by the Office Of Government Procurement. They are being asked to consider, in particular, schemes which are amenable to early commencement, particularly in terms of their approved planning status.
2034. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he expects to publish the full vacant house re-use strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38212/17]
View answerMy Department is presently engaging in consultations with a number of other Government Departments and agencies in relation to vacancy issues within the wider review of Rebuilding Ireland. Subject to the outcome of these discussions, I expect to be in a position to complete this work next month.
2035. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of new social houses constructed by each local authority to date in 2017; the additional number of social houses that will be completed by each local authority by the end of 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38213/17]
View answerDetails on the number of social housing properties constructed, purchased and leased by local authorities and approved housing bodies, 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. Information is currently being finalised in respect of quarter one of 2017 and will be published shortly, with information on quarter two 2017 to follow thereafter.
A comprehensive status list of social housing schemes for all local authority areas can be accessed at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/social-housing-construction-projects-report-2017/ .
This status report covers the period up to the end of Quarter 1 of 2017 and lists 607 approved social housing construction projects, their locations and also includes a range of information relating to their advancement, including those delivered during 2016 and to the end of Quarter 1 of 2017, it also shows those progressing through planning, design and construction. Details in respect of Quarter 2 of 2017 will be published shortly on the Rebuilding Ireland website.
These 607 projects are funded under a range of different initiatives such as local authority construction, turnkey developments, rapid delivery, regeneration programmes and construction and turnkey developments by Approved Housing Bodies. The precise timing for the advancement of each of these projects, including completion dates, is a matter for the relevant local authorities and AHBs concerned, in the first instance. However, within the overall 21,000 social housing solutions targeted for delivery this year, some 4,500 of these will be delivered through new builds/acquisitions and a significant proportion of these will involve new construction.
Further project approvals are being added to the construction programme as they are developed by local authorities and AHBs, details of which will be included in the next quarterly report under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan. I am keen that all local authorities advance their social housing projects as speedily as possible and I have assured them that funding is in place to support their activity in this regard.
2037. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the actions he has taken and the specific actions he plans to take to enforce breaches of housing laws in cases in which landlords are favouring short-term tourist rentals over long-term tenancy lets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38215/17]
View answerUnder Action 18 of the Strategy for the Rental Sector, my Department has established a Working Group of all the major public stakeholders with a policy interest in Short-Term Letting. Three meetings of the Working Group have been held to date and work is progressing well.
The proposals under consideration are aimed at facilitating the short-term letting of accommodation within permanent residences – homesharing – while protecting the existing stock of residential property in areas of high demand, safeguarding neighbourhood amenity and consumer protection and generating revenue to address negative externalities of short-term letting.
The Working Group is developing guidance for issue to local authorities when considering planning applications relating to short-term lettings and will also report to me later this year on the appropriate regulatory approach for short-term tourism-related lettings and the identification of any necessary amendments to existing legislation required to give effect to such regulation.
2038. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to influence the Mackinnon report on the restructuring of Cork County Council in favour of stability and economic harmony for its ratepayers and community as a whole. [38224/17]
View answer2052. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will intervene and act on section 13.2.27 of the Mackinnon report into the proposed boundary extension of Cork City Council (details supplied); his views on whether the oversight group has seen its role as purely one of implementation of the report rather than to seek a mutual agreement between the two local authorities; his further views on whether negotiations are required regarding the scope of the boundary; and his further views on whether it is his duty to take into account the views of those affected by the proposals of the report. [38576/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2038 and 2052 together.
The Cork Local Government Implementation Oversight Group has been established to oversee arrangements for the alteration of the boundary between the respective areas of jurisdiction of Cork City Council and Cork County Council, in light of the recommendation in the report of the Cork Expert Advisory Group.
The group’s first task is to present a detailed Implementation Plan by end September 2017, engaging with the two local authorities, with a view to developing detailed and comprehensive proposals for the boundary alteration and to ultimately oversee the implementation of agreed recommendations.
At this stage it is a matter for the Oversight Group to progress its work, the output from which I will consider in due course.
2040. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he is satisfied with the arrangements for supervision of erectors and installers of timber frame construction systems in view of the many faults which have been exposed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38260/17]
View answer2041. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he is satisfied that National Standards Authority of Ireland, NSAI, renews agrément certificate 04/0198 in view of the frequency of faults found on sites; if he will direct the NSAI to delete this agrément certificate from their website and withdraw approval of the certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38261/17]
View answer2042. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact of the many defects found in buildings for which the fire safety certificate was based on the specifications set out in agrément certificate 04/0198; if he will request the various building control authorities to conduct tests to ensure compliance with the certificates and pursue enforcement of the building regulations by the provider of the timber frame systems in cases in which defective works are discovered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38262/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2040 to 2042, inclusive, together.
The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is an autonomous body under the aegis of the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation. The process of Agrément certification applies to those products and processes which do not fall within the scope of existing construction standards, either because they are innovative or because they deviate from established norms.
NSAI Agrément assesses, specifies testing, and where appropriate, issues Agrément certificates confirming that new building products, materials, techniques and equipment are safe and fit for purpose in accordance with the Irish Building Regulations and with the terms of the certificate. NSAI is the national certification authority providing, inter alia, a certification service to enable businesses demonstrate that Irish goods and services conform to applicable standards.
Under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014, primary responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations rests with the owners, designers and builders of buildings. Enforcement of the Building Regulations is a matter for the 31 local building control authorities who have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement under the Acts.
The minimum performance requirements that a building must achieve are set out in the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations in 12 parts classified A to M. Under Part D, Materials and Workmanship, there is an overarching requirement that all works should be carried out using proper materials, "which are fit for the use for which they are intended and for the conditions in which they are to be used” to ensure compliance with the regulatory requirements as prescribed.
Where innovative products are used, third party certification, such as Agrément Certification, is a means of demonstrating how products or systems can meet the requirements of the building regulations, including Part B, Fire Safety. Care should be taken to read the terms and conditions of such certification and ensure that the content of the certification is strictly adhered to during construction, in conjunction with the Fire Safety Certificate where relevant.
In response to the building failures that have emerged over the past decade, my Department introduced the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 9 of 2014), which require greater accountability in relation to compliance with Building Regulations in the form of statutory certification of design and construction by registered construction professionals and builders, lodgement of compliance documentation, mandatory inspections during construction and validation and registration of certificates. A Certificate of Compliance on Completion is jointly signed by the builder and the assigned certifier. In effect, the statutory Certificate of Compliance on Completion certifies that a building is compliant with all relevant requirements of the Building Regulations.
Finally, in relation to timber frame construction, Irish Standard 440: 2009/A1:2014 Timber Frame Construction, Dwellings and other Buildings (I.S. 440) specifies requirements for materials, design, manufacture, construction details, site work and quality control for platform timber frame construction. It requires that the responsibilities for the tasks involved in the planning, structural design, site erection and inspection be agreed and recorded prior to the commencement of each project. I.S. 440 also gives specific details relating to fire; including the construction of separating walls, horizontal and vertical fire stopping, cavity barriers and detailed fire stopping junctions for walls and floors and service penetrations. Manufacturers of timber frame buildings are assessed under an approval scheme operated by NSAI for compliance with I.S. 440 requirements including Factory Production Control (FPC) and a register of compliant manufacturers is available on the NSAI website.
The developments and reforms outlined above have brought an order and discipline in relation to compliance on all construction projects.
2043. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of a report with his Department into allegations of planning irregularities in County Donegal; if the report has been finalised and presented to him; the date on which he plans to publish the report; the action he will take both in County Donegal and generally as a result of the findings of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38269/17]
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 my consideration as soon as possible. Legal advice has recently been received in relation to the matter of publication. Further legal advice has been requested in relation to the contents of the report. Once the relevant submission and legal advices have been considered, I will be in a position to make a decision on publication and to outline my response to the Report.
2044. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the source of the revenue being used to refund Irish Water customers. [38285/17]
View answerIt is anticipated that funding to refund water charges will be provided by the Exchequer through Voted expenditure.
2045. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the annual percentage of non-commercial State-sponsored bodies staff under the remit of his Department who were women in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017 in tabular form. [38365/17]
View answerThe details requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the individual bodies concerned. Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for each agency is as below:
|
Agency |
Email address |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie |
|
Housing Sustainable Communities Agency |
publicreps@housingagency.ie |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
corporate@lgma.ie. |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie |
2047. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of households in receipt of housing assistance payment by county. [38495/17]
View answer2048. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of children in each household in receipt of housing assistance payment, in tabular form. [38496/17]
View answer2049. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons that applied for the housing assistance payment in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017, by county. [38497/17]
View answer2050. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the funding allocated to each county for housing assistance payment in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [38498/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2047 to 2050, inclusive, together.
The 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 26,000 households having their housing needs met via HAP and some 18,000 separate landlords and agents currently in receipt of monthly HAP payments.
A breakdown of the number of households supported by HAP in each local authority area at the end of Quarter 2 2017 is 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 .
In relation to the number of children in each household in receipt of HAP, my Department does not collate this data; however, a summary of the household classes supported by the HAP scheme at end of Quarter 2 2017 is set out below:
- Single/ Single Sharing - 31%
- Couple/ Couple Sharing - 4%
- Lone Parent with Children - 40%
- Couple with Children - 25%
HAP is available to any household that has been assessed as eligible for social housing support in accordance with the statutory definitions. 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 .
Limerick City and County Council provides a highly effective HAP transactional shared service on behalf of all local authorities. This HAP Shared Services Centre (SSC) manages all HAP related rental transactions for the tenant, local authority and landlord. Accordingly, my Department does not recoup individual local authorities in respect of HAP rental payments in their administrative
areas but rather recoups all landlord cost via the HAP SSC.
The HAP scheme is funded through a combination of Exchequer monies and tenant differential rents collected in respect of HAP tenancies. The Exchequer outturn for the HAP scheme in 2014 to 2016 is as follows:
|
Year |
Outturn €M |
|
2014 |
0.394 |
|
2015 |
15.64 |
|
2016 |
57.69 |
It should also be borne in mind that the HAP scheme was implemented on a statutory phased pilot basis with an initial 7 local authorities operating the scheme for four months in 2014, an additional 11 in 2015, a further 10 in 2016 and becoming a national scheme with the 3 remaining local authorities in the Dublin Region on 1 March 2017.
Budget 2017 has increased the Exchequer funding for the HAP scheme to €152.7 million, in order to meet the continuing costs of existing HAP households, and the costs of the additional 15,000 households, targeted under Rebuilding Ireland, to be supported by HAP in 2017.
I continue to keep the operation of the HAP scheme 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.
