Thursday, 21 Sep 2017

Written Answers Nos. 239-247

Social Insurance Data

Questions (239)

Niall Collins

Question:

239. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost in a full calendar year of a proposal (details supplied). [40127/17]

Written answers

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

It is not possible for my Department to provide an estimate for the abolition of employer’s PRSI for new employees on the basis outlined by the Deputy, because of the difficulty in projecting the nature and duration of new jobs taken up by younger jobseekers.

My department does, however, already provide financial support to businesses engaging additional employees through the JobsPlus scheme. JobsPlus is an employer incentive, which offers a financial support to employers who offer employment opportunities to people who are unemployed.

JobsPlus is available to all employers in the private (including commercial semi-state), community, not-for-profit and voluntary sectors and is available to employers who offer any full-time work of over 30 hours per week and spanning at least a 4 day week. There is no limit on the number of new recruits per employer.

JobsPlus was introduced in July 2013 as one of a series of measures contained in the Action Plan for Jobs to replace two existing schemes; the revenue job assist and the employer job (PRSI) exemption schemes. The scheme offers differentiated levels of subsidies to employers to encourage them to focus recruitment on jobseekers who are longer term unemployed.

For jobseekers who are over 24 months out of the labour market, a subsidy of €10,000 is paid monthly to the employer over two years. A subsidy of €7,500 paid monthly over two years is available to employers who recruit a jobseeker who is between 12 and 24 months unemployed. In 2015, eligibility was broadened to include young jobseekers (under 25 year olds) unemployed for four months or more in the previous 6 months and jobseekers transitioning from a one parent family payment. A subsidy of €7,500 is payable in both instances.

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Questions (240)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

240. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the average cost per unit to local authorities of refurbishing and or retrofitting existing units in each of the past five years for which figures are available by county; the cost per unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39943/17]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966 provides that the management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including the implementation of planned maintenance programmes and carrying out of responsive repairs and pre-letting repairs, is a matter for each individual local authority.

The Exchequer funding provided by my Department under the voids programme is to support the return of vacant units to productive use for re-letting in an energy efficient condition at a reasonable cost. This funding is available as an additional support over and above what local authorities provide themselves towards such work and the authorities can and do contribute additional funding if they so wish. Table 1 below gives details of all the units returned to productive use since the commencement of the programme and the allocation thus far in 2017.

Table 1: Voids Programme – Average cost of units from 2014 to 2016

Local Authority	Units returned 2014	Funding 2014	Average cost per unit	Units Returned 2015	Funding 2015	Average cost per unit	Units Returned 2016	Funding 2016	Average cost per unit	2017 Allocation Unit	2017 Funding Allocation
Carlow	42	€325,111	€7,740.74	28	€300,650	€10,737.50	8	€69,450	€8,681.25	8	€94,000
Cavan	23	€349,137	€15,179.87	28	€307,018	€10,964.93	32	€307,530	€9,610.32	12	€221,950
Clare	65	€995,831	€15,320.48	96	€1,472,533	€15,338.89	79	€1,329,700	€16,831.65	24	€514,308
Cork City	212	€2,872,028	€13,547.30	281	€4,522,819	€16,095.44	151	€1,442,538	€9,553.23	43	€871,000
Cork County	155	€1,539,363	€9,931.37	199	€2,091,578	€10,510.44	97	€1,200,488	€12,376.16	69	€1,326,850
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown	5	€89,896	€17,979.20	24	€262,768	€10,948.67	19	€183,092	€9,234.93	128	€1,875,185
Donegal	167	€919,797	€5,507.77	146	€1,003,576	€6,873.81	83	€766,499	€13,427.21	377	€8,313,500
Dublin City	467	€6,163,465	€13,198.00	787	€10,858,088	€13,796.81	531	€7,129,848	€11,739.96	11	€188,621
Fingal	165	€1,938,780	€11,750.18	139	€1,624,632	€11,688.00	147	€1,725,774	€8,688.10	151	€2,108,750
Galway City	26	€474,050	€18,232.69	25	€222,025	€8,881.00	28	€309,150	€9,636.43	16	€174,400
Galway County	76	€958,263	€12,608.72	59	€705,347	€11,955.03	37	€472,552	€11,041.07	30	€642,500
Kerry	79	€718,938	€9,100.48	103	€884,736	€8,589.67	90	€917,549	€12,771.68	56	€778,865
Kildare	49	€503,463	€10,274.76	20	€359,808	€17,990.40	24	€485,130	€10,194.99	7	€140,000
Kilkenny	25	€484,430	€19,377.20	23	€381,639	€16,593.00	11	€156,278	€20,213.75	9	€182,500
Laois	43	€257,014	€5,977.06	12	€61,228	€5,102.33	12	€97,053	€14,207.10	5	€41,440
Leitrim	15	€229,072	€15,271.47	9	€177,474	€19,719.33	47	€566,620	€8,087.74	16	€260,700
Limerick	98	€915,969	€9,346.62	52	€500,689	€9,628.63	18	€384,250	€12,055.74	32	€554,000
Longford	16	€313,250	€19,578.13	22	€426,535	€19,387.95	23	€506,705	€21,347.22	37	€225,000
Louth	9	€113,620	€12,624.44	21	€292,279	€13,918.05	8	€91,523	€22,030.65	7	€87,500
Mayo	80	€464,508	€5,806.35	86	€878,600	€10,216.28	25	€233,089	€11,440.40	22	€353,200
Meath	59	€1,037,501	€17,584.76	54	€855,565	€15,843.80	65	€989,420	€9,323.54	47	€842,000
Monaghan	21	€92,751	€4,416.71	13	€100,502	€7,730.92	40	€302,944	€15,221.85	13	€182,000
Offaly	35	€514,000	€14,685.71	55	€551,532	€10,027.85	41	€408,426	€7,573.59	7	€135,500
Roscommon	34	€224,028	€6,589.06	36	€258,773	€7,188.14	72	€529,811	€9,961.62	4	€74,500
Sligo	29	€311,648	€10,746.48	39	€439,924	€11,280.10	68	€1,097,909	€7,358.48	44	€738,697
South Dublin	92	€627,407	€6,819.64	27	€216,838	€8,031.04	81	€703,736	€16,145.72	92	€1,397,022
Tipperary	86	€935,801	€10,881.41	115	€1,299,180	€11,297.22	100	€1,122,318	€11,223.18	58	€751,200
Waterford	42	€605,428	€14,414.95	56	€488,724	€8,727.21	83	€745,973	€8,987.63	52	€853,820
Westmeath	56	€369,518	€6,598.54	74	€650,813	€8,794.77	43	€436,062	€10,140.98	8	€88,371
Wexford	20	€316,307	€15,815.35	24	€294,811	€12,283.79	17	€167,007	€9,823.94	11	€231,500
Wicklow	35	€650,204	€18,577.26	43	€857,499	€19,941.84	10	€245,887	€24,588.70	9	€174,300
TOTAL	2326	€26,310,578	€11,311.51	2696	€33,348,183	€12,369.50	2,090	€25,124,311	€12,021.20	1,405	€24,329,179

Furthermore local authorities are currently undertaking an ambitious programme of insulation retrofitting, with the support of my Department, on the least energy efficient social homes. The aim of the Programme is the improvement of energy efficiency and comfort levels, benefitting those at risk of fuel poverty and making a significant contribution to Ireland’s carbon emissions reduction targets and energy reduction targets for 2020.

The programme is being implemented in a number of phases: Phase 1 commenced in 2013 and is focused on providing attic/roof insulation and the less intrusive cavity wall insulation in all relevant properties, while Phase 2, which has been piloted in both Fingal and Westmeath County Councils, will focus on the external fabric upgrade of those social housing units with solid/hollow block wall construction.

The funding made available by my Department is subject to limits depending on the nature of the retrofitting work. Under Phase 1, the grant limits are currently set at €3,500 per unit while the grant limits relevant to Phase 2 are €14,650 for mid-terrace and €17,650 for end-terrace units, reflecting the more complex works required under this phase.

From 2013 to end 2016, funding of some €107 million has been provided to improve 58,000 local authority homes. The average cost of retrofitting these units is €1,833 per unit, with the bulk of the units upgraded under Phase 1 in accordance with the relevant limits.

Details of the average per cost per unit, broken down by local authority for the years 2013 – 2016, are set out in table 2 below.

Table 2: Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme – Average Costs 2013 - 2016

		2013		2014		2015		2016		2013 - 2016
Local Authority	Units	Average Cost €	Units	Average Cost €	Units	Average Cost €	Units	Average Cost €	Total Units	Overall Average Cost €
Carlow	179	1,842	262	1,473	290	2,720	53	920	784	1,981
Cavan	180	1,895	525	1,621	598	1,297	302	1,084	1,605	1,430
Clare	366	1,737	333	1,497	298	1,739	175	1,491	1,172	1,633
Cork City	397	2,748	950	2,107	2,329	1,400	2,128	2,159	5,804	1,886
Cork County	510	2,400	819	1,318	1,181	1,135	1,622	1,797	4,132	1,587
Donegal	235	1,385	526	1,522	453	1,968	380	2,098	1,594	1,766
Dublin City	449	6,974	3303	1,588	2,469	1,551	496	1,352	6,717	1,917
Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown	757	1,785	1058	1,900	369	2,594	75	2,439	2,259	1,993
Fingal	2135	1,528	146	12,997	326	4,750	207	4,750	2,814	2,734
Galway City	167	1,927	319	1,559	383	2,030	874	2,683	1,743	2,261
Galway County	802	949	325	1,202	290	2,157	461	1,680	1,878	1,359
Kerry	69	7,171	538	871	441	1,246	108	1,354	1,156	1,435
Kildare	201	2,257	694	2,202	311	1,985	468	2,616	1,674	2,284
Kilkenny	415	1,870	212	1,968	260	1,526	21	7,004	908	1,913
Laois	333	1,450	512	1,473	402	1,383	51	1,529	1,298	1,441
Leitrim	146	1,774	164	1,550	550	561	158	1,096	1,018	977
Limerick City	245	1,653
Limerick County	104	3,809	545	1,770	41	1,585	0	0	935	1,958
Longford	521	2,203	227	1,631	142	2,267	0	0	890	2,068
Louth	194	943	430	1,481	502	1,753	761	1,254	1,887	1,406
Mayo	193	2,496	131	3,133	216	2,149	131	2,523	671	2,514
Meath	185	3,473	405	1,671	577	1,872	526	1,663	1,693	1,934
Monaghan	213	1,575	240	1,746	336	968	0	0	789	1,369
Offaly	269	1,339	217	1,094	694	798	287	1,052	1,467	991
Roscommon	90	2,069	422	1,120	202	1,153	107	276	821	1,122
Sligo	189	1,783	265	1,300	624	1,045	280	869	1,358	1,161
South Dublin	223	3,193	601	3,043	390	1,660	346	2,163	1,560	2,523
Tipperary North	898	1,901
Tipperary South	322	1,640	689	1,889	0	0	223	1,466	2,132	2,192
Waterford City	68	8,395
Waterford County	286	1,190	636	1,205	605	3,074	0	0	1,595	2,192
Westmeath	753	1,434	968	888	200	2,449	131	6,592	2,052	1,605
Wexford	757	1,283	1263	817	298	1,497	59	3,499	2,377	1,117
Wicklow	256	5,175	285	4,649	225	1,488	873	2,276	1,639	3,033
Totals:*	13,107	€2,056	18,010	€1,706	16,002	€1,681	11,303	€1,994	58,422	€1,833

*Figures include Phase 1, some Phase 2 (2015/2016) and special projects outside Phase 1/2)

Local authorities are continuing to undertake works under the programme in 2017 and submit claims for funding on an on-going basis as works are completed. As such, my Department does not yet have complete figures for the average costs of units retrofitted this year.

Housing Assistance Payment Data

Questions (241)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

241. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the annualised cost of the average monthly rent paid to landlords under the HAP scheme in each of the years since the inception of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39962/17]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

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 27,000 households having their housing needs met via HAP and some 20,000 separate landlords and agents currently in receipt of monthly HAP payments.

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. All landlord costs are recouped via the HAP SSC.

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 HAP became a national scheme with its extension to the 3 remaining local authorities in the Dublin Region on 1 March 2017.

Furthermore, revised HAP and Rent Supplement rent limits took effect from 1 July 2016. Additional flexibility to exceed the prescribed maximum rent limits was extended to all local authorities where HAP was operational.

Taking these factors into account, the annualised cost of the average monthly rent paid to landlords under the HAP scheme in each of the years since the inception of the scheme is as follows:

Year	Average monthly rent paid to landlords under the HAP scheme at year end	Annualised cost of the average monthly rent paid to landlords under the HAP scheme
2014	€462	€5,544
2015	€527	€6,324
2016	€636	€7,632
2017	€688 (at end of Q.2, 2017)	€8,256

I continue to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review. I am 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.

Tenant Purchase Scheme Review

Questions (242)

John McGuinness

Question:

242. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the review of the tenant (incremental) purchase scheme 2016 is now complete; his plans to introduce changes to the scheme; if he will review the minimum reckonable income of persons and allow long standing tenants to purchase their homes whether on social welfare or not but with proof of savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39971/17]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

The new Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme for existing local authority houses came into operation on 1 January 2016.  The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme.  To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum, have been in receipt of social housing support for at least one year and have been allocated a house under a local authority allocation scheme.

In line with the commitment given in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, a review of the first 12 months of the Tenant Purchase scheme’s operation has been undertaken. The review has incorporated analysis of comprehensive data received from local authorities regarding the operation of the scheme during 2016 and a wide-ranging public consultation process which saw submissions received from individuals, elected representatives and organisations.

The review is now complete and a full report setting out findings and recommendations has been prepared.  Following consultation with relevant Departments on implementation arrangements, I expect that definitive proposals will be submitted to me very shortly.

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Questions (243)

Barry Cowen

Question:

243. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the position regarding Government plans as per the confidence and supply arrangement to introduce an affordable housing scheme; the timeframe for such plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40005/17]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

As I have previously signalled, the issue of housing affordability is being examined by my Department, in consultation with local authorities and the Housing Agency, in the context of the review of Rebuilding Ireland.

I expect this work to be concluded in the coming weeks and I will be considering the potential role of new initiatives in relation to affordable housing.

Vehicle Registration Data

Questions (244)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

244. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of cars currently taxed which were registered in each of the years since 2000 to July 2008; the number of non-vintage cars registered before 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40024/17]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

The numbers of private vehicles (excluding vintage vehicles) taxed at 31 August 2017 and which were first licensed prior to July 2008 are set out below:

Year of  Registration	Number
Prior to 2000	40,857
2000	37,482
2001	36,994
2002	52,045
2003	67,828
2004	91,390
2005	121,597
2006	145,243
2007	166,691
Jan to July 2008	136,005
Total	896,132

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Questions (245)

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Question:

245. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of houses his Department plans to build in County Donegal in the next five year period as part of his recently announced plans and housing strategy; his overall social housing strategy for County Donegal; the agreed targets and timelines with emphasis on the overall present housing need; the projected need for the next five year period for the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40069/17]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Rebuilding Ireland has put in place the funding resources to accelerate the delivery of social housing for all local authorities. Critically, €5.35 billion in Exchequer investment has been secured to support its implementation and to deliver 47,000 social housing units through build, refurbishment, acquisitions and leasing, over the period to 2021.

This level of national funding to implement Rebuilding Ireland's targets means that funding is available to all local authorities, including Donegal County Council, to advance their housing delivery plans. 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/refurbishments and a significant proportion of these will involve new construction.

A comprehensive status report 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, delivering 10,000 units, 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.

These 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 status report includes 24 construction projects of various scale in County Donegal involving over 300 new social homes. The precise timing for the advancement of each of these projects, including completion dates and tenanting, is a matter for the relevant local authorities and approved housing body concerned, in the first instance.

Further project approvals are being added to the construction programme as they are developed by local authorities and approved housing bodies, updated details of which will be published on a regular basis. 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.

In addition to these construction schemes, Donegal County Council acquired 100 new social homes in the period since 2015 and have made great progress in returning vacant properties to productive use to further accommodate people on their housing waiting list in the same period.

There are also a range of other social housing delivery methods that are being utilised alongside traditional construction, including securing new properties under long-term lease agreements, the Rental Accommodation Scheme and the Housing Assistance Payment, all of which will be used to meet the 21,000 social housing solutions targeted for delivery nationally this year. Overall in 2016, over 1,100 social housing solutions were delivered in the Donegal County Council area. A breakdown of this delivery is available on my Departments website at the following link:

http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/attachments/1a2-sh-2015-todate-brkdn-final_2017.xlsx.

Arising from the Social Housing Strategy, targets and provisional funding allocation were notified to Donegal County Council in April 2015 that covered the period out to 2017. Now with the increased national targets under Rebuilding Ireland, increased targets beyond 2017 will be issued to local authorities. These will be based on the most recent statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments, the results of which show that there were 91,600 households on local authority waiting lists as at 21 September 2016. Donegal County Council had 1,267 households qualified for social housing support, compared to 1,675 in 2013, a reduction of 24.4%.

It is essential that any new targets under Rebuilding Ireland are aligned with the results of the most recent Summary of Social Housing Assessments, so that delivery and resources can be aligned with the up-to-date, priority housing needs locally. I anticipate new targets for individual local authorities will be finalised and notified to each authority shortly.

Social and Affordable Housing Funding

Questions (246)

Dara Calleary

Question:

246. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the way in which the €160 million in European Investment Bank funding approved in June 2017 will be used to provide social and or affordable housing; the number of houses that will be built; the local authorities in which these developments will take place; the timescale involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40073/17]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

In June 2017, the European Investment Bank agreed a framework loan arrangement of €160 million to provide financing for the three project bundles under the Social Housing PPP Programme.  The EIB will work with the preferred bidder, when selected, for each project bundle in respect of the provision of loan finance to support delivery of this important social infrastructure.

The Social Housing PPP Programme involves an investment with a capital value of €300 million.  It is to deliver 1,500 social housing units in total, via three bundles.  The first bundle, which comprises six PPP sites, is to provide over 500 units in the Greater Dublin Area.  Two of the sites are located in the Dublin City Council area with one each in the County Council areas of South Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow and Louth.

The second bundle, comprising eight PPP sites which are to provide over 450 units across the country, was announced in June 2016.  Three of the sites are located in the Cork County Council area, with one each in the Galway City Council and Waterford City & County Council areas.  There is a further one site in each of the County Council areas of Clare, Kildare and Roscommon.

The identification and selection of sites for the third project bundle is currently underway and is expected to be finalised in the coming months.

Each individual bundle of sites takes an estimated 37-48 months to deliver in total, including planning, procurement and construction.  It is expected that construction would commence in 2018 on the first bundle of sites, with units becoming available from 2019.

Defence Forces Medicinal Products

Questions (247)

Clare Daly

Question:

247. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question number 2104 of 11 September 2017, the date on which he expects to receive the report of the working group on Lariam. [40040/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

I understand that the Report has been finalised by the Working Group. I anticipate that it will be submitted to me in the near future.