Written Answers Nos. 193-210
193. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans for the building of social housing in the Dublin 14 and 16 areas; the exact location; the number of houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43059/17]
View answerRebuilding Ireland has put in place the funding resources to accelerate the delivery of social housing for all local authorities. Arising from Budget 2018, I am very pleased that over €6 billion in exchequer investment has now been secured to support its implementation and to deliver an increased number of 50,000 social housing homes 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 to advance their housing delivery. 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, including those referred to by the Deputy, 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 2 of 2017 and lists almost 700 schemes or phases of schemes delivering 11,000 new social homes, their locations and a range of information relating to their advancement, including those delivered during 2016 and to the end of Quarter 2 of 2017. It also shows those progressing through planning, design and construction. Details in respect of Quarter 3 of 2017 will be published shortly.
These 700 schemes 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 and tenanting, is a matter for the relevant local authority 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 there are also a range of other social housing delivery methods that are being utilised alongside traditional construction, including harnessing vacant properties, purchasing suitable units from the market, and 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 this year.
194. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason an organisation (details supplied) is only allocated 1.5% of the overall homeless budget in view of the fact that there is a greater need; the formulae used to allocate the moneys; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43072/17]
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 for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988.
Funding is provided to housing authorities throughout the course of the year on the basis of scheduled services and any emerging costs arising as a result of increased rates of homeless presentation; my Department has provided reassurance to housing authorities in this regard and keeps the funding needs of the various housing authorities under constant review.
In the light of the statutory functions and the funding position as set out above, the Midlands Simon Community, or any service provider, should engage directly with the relevant housing authorities in the Midlands Region in relation to the requirement for services.
195. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of Irish Water staff who are front-line staff. [43092/17]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Irish Water has entered into service level agreements (SLA) with each local authority for the provision of water services. Staff in local authorities working under these arrangements remain local authority employees.
Staffing within Irish Water is a matter for the company and I have no function in the matter. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
196. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to deal with issues that arise from section 18(4)(a) of the Local Government Act 2001 regarding councillors taking maternity leave from their elected role; his further plans to review this legislation in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43097/17]
View answerSection 18(4) of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended, provides that councillors may be absent from meetings of a local authority for up to 6 months, either on health grounds or for another reason in good faith, and retain their seats subject to a resolution of the elected members of the Council. This period may be extended to 12 months, upon the passing of a resolution by the elected members of the Council, and to 18 months, again upon the passing of a resolution by the Council.
It is also the case that a councillor who is absent for a period of up to 6 months is entitled to continue to receive the full amount of his or her representational payment of €16,645 for so long as he or she continues to be a member of their local authority. Councillors who are absent for a period exceeding 6 months may continue to receive 50% of the representational payment for the next succeeding 6 months.
Notwithstanding this existing position, and acknowledging my Department's responsibility under the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020 to work for greater female representation in politics, my Department will review existing supports available to councillors taking maternity leave.
197. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of homeless families registered in the Cork area; the number for the same period in 2016; and if they are resident in emergency accommodation, shelters or other settings. [43125/17]
View answerHouseholds, including homeless households, that have been assessed by their local authority as having a housing need, are placed on the housing waiting list. The oversight and management of housing waiting lists is a matter for the individual housing authorities, in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated regulations, and the details requested by the Deputy are retained by Cork City and Cork County Council.
It should be noted that my Department does produce reports on a monthly basis capturing details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. These reports are based on data provided by housing authorities and produced through the Pathway Accommodation and Support System (PASS) and include a county level breakdown of the homeless adult population.
These official homelessness reports are published on my Department's website and can be accessed using the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data .
198. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a local authority that is within a rent pressure zone is entitled to increase the rates for the rented portion of a home that has been purchased under the shared ownership scheme at an amount that is above the 4% per year limit for RPZs; if he will request local authorities to limit increases to 4% or less; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43159/17]
View answerThe Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 amends the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to provide for the introduction of Rent Pressure Zones. The 2004 Act applies to every dwelling that is the subject of a tenancy, subject to a limited number of exceptions. The dwellings to which the Act does not apply are set out in section 3(2) of the Act and include dwellings occupied under a shared ownership lease.
Under the Shared Ownership (SO) scheme which operated from 1991 to 2010, a borrower purchased at least 40% of the cost of their home by means of a local authority mortgage loan and then pays rent to the local authority on the remaining equity in the shared ownership house. Shared ownership arrangements are not subject to the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2016.
My Department, together with the Housing Agency, the Housing Finance Agency and local authorities, has considered the affordability issues facing some borrowers who purchased properties under the SO schemes and devised a more affordable long-term path towards full home ownership. A range of measures have already been taken to reduce the monthly repayments of these borrowers. In addition, a new restructuring option has been available to SO borrowers since April 2016, which involves rolling up all outstanding debt into a single annuity loan.
The feasibility of this new option for each SO borrower will be determined by their local authority, and may not be appropriate in all cases. For example, in some instances, continuing with the current SO arrangement may be the best option for both the SO borrower and the local authority, or in other cases where the outstanding debt may not be sustainable for the borrower in the long-term, the Local Authority Mortgage to Rent (LAMTR) option might ultimately be the appropriate solution. There is no obligation on any SO borrower to restructure their loan arrangement.
Local authorities, in implementing the restructuring option, are directing SO borrowers to seek financial and legal advice, prior to accepting any offer of a restructuring option. SO borrowers will be advised by their local authority, in the first instance, to contact the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) to seek free financial and legal advice. The new Abhaile Service, accessed via MABS, can also assist SO borrowers who are in arrears to access free independent expert financial and legal advice. Full details of the supports offered by the Abhaile Service are available from www.keepingyourhome.ie. Under the restructuring option, local authorities will arrange where SO borrowers require financial and legal advice outside of that provided via MABS, to pay the cost of these fees to a maximum of €1,000 excluding VAT.
199. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the action he will take in view of the recognition in a review (details supplied) of Air Corps whistleblower claims that the author was not in a position to consider the substances in use or implications for human health arising from such use as these issues are outside their competence. [43179/17]
View answer200. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a comprehensive inquiry will take place into the health and safety regime in the Air Corps and compliance with that regime in a period stretching back over 20 years in view of a review (details supplied). [43180/17]
View answer201. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the action he will take in view of the description of a review (details supplied) by its own author as an informal review; and if a formal review will now take place. [43181/17]
View answer202. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the action he will take in view of the finding of a review (details supplied) by its own author that it is their view that a review of the kind envisaged by the terms of reference is impractical and therefore they can only comment in general terms on the safety regime; the way in which he plans to deal with this identified impracticality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43182/17]
View answer203. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the observation in a review (details supplied) that, in the context of a work environment subject to military discipline in which obedience to the instructions of a superior is a key requirement, there are obvious difficulties for a person raising safety concerns; his further views on the view of the informants in this matter that they were not able adequately to raise safety concerns and that when they did raise concerns these were ignored; and the action that will be taken to address the difficulties and concerns of the informants. [43183/17]
View answer204. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the observation in a review that the Defence Forces need to be able to demonstrate that an adequate system is in place to ensure that safety concerns can be raised by a member of any rank and to show that it has an ethos which makes safety the concern and responsibility of all; and the action he will take to achieve this. [43184/17]
View answer205. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the observation in a review (details supplied) that the military authorities need to ensure that the role of the Health and Safety Authority in relation to workplace safety is understood and that there is an effective system in place to enable persons to raise safety concerns. [43185/17]
View answer206. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the military authorities ensure that documentation and records detailing compliance with safety regimes exist and that they are readily accessible to staff as per the observation in a review (details supplied). [43186/17]
View answer207. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will authorise an independent and comprehensive health assessment of the informants' claims and of Defence Forces health and safety records in dealing with hazardous chemicals over the past 25 years. [43187/17]
View answer208. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the action he will take in view of the recognition in a review (details supplied) of Air Corps whistleblower claims that the author was not in a position to judge whether there is now or was at the relevant time an actual level of exposure which was in fact potentially harmful. [43188/17]
View answer209. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the action he will take in view of the observation in a review (details supplied) of Air Corps whistleblower claims that all Defence Forces personnel are supposed to receive a routine medical at regular intervals but there appears to have been no special provision for personnel involved in maintenance work or a special alert in relation to persons that may have handled toxic chemicals. [43189/17]
View answer210. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the action he will take in view of the observation in a review (details supplied) of Air Corps whistleblower claims that risk assessment material which the author saw are not comprehensive enough to provide a clear view of the basis for the assessment made. [43190/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 199 to 210, inclusive, together.
I have made it clear that the health and welfare of the men and women of the Defence Forces is a priority for me and therefore, I ensured that protected disclosures alleging exposure to chemical and toxic substances whilst working in the Air Corps in Baldonnel were investigated by an independent third party. I have furnished the report to those who made the protected disclosures and, before considering any further steps, I will await their views. In light of this and given that some of the allegations relate to matters that are the subject of litigation, commenced before the protected disclosures were made, it would not be appropriate to comment further.
Separately and in parallel to the independent review, following an inspection in 2016, the Air Corps has continued to work with the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) to improve its health and safety regime. I have been informed by the military authorities that the HSA has formally noted the considerable progress made to date by the Defence Forces towards implementation of a safety management system for the control of hazardous substances. Subject to completion of the improvement plan the HSA investigation is closed. However, it must be noted that in the Air Corps health and safety is a matter of ongoing monitoring, supervision and adjustment.
