Written Answers Nos. 512-525
512. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the funding provided by his Department to each member of a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51440/17]
View answerAn examination of records held by my Department indicates that in 2016 a payment of €48,700 was made to the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) in respect of a Student Housing Project Manager in the context of Rebuilding Ireland and that in 2017 €45,000 was paid to USI to support a Homes for Study Campaign.
513. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps being taken to ensure that all persons sleeping rough are accommodated as a long-term measure rather than a short-term and reactive one over the Christmas 2017 season. [51471/17]
View answerAt last September's Housing Summit, I emphasised the need for all housing authorities to have sufficient capacity in emergency accommodation and to have appropriate facilities in place for every person sleeping rough, on any night of the week. I also instructed the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, at that time, to set about ensuring the delivery of 200 additional permanent emergency beds by Christmas, in a range of new facilities across the city. 50 of the 200 permanent beds are now in place and the remaining 150 emergency beds will be brought into use over the coming days, with all being in place by mid-December.
As the weather becomes colder, my Department has also been working with local authorities to ensure that their Cold Weather Initiatives are in place. These arrangements ensure that additional temporary beds can be brought into use across a range of existing services and facilities for singles and couples who need them during cold weather periods.
The long-term solution to the current homeless crisis is, clearly, to increase the supply of homes for those who need them. Under Rebuilding Ireland, 50,000 new social housing homes will be delivered over the period to 2021, supported by €6 billion in funding.
A key mechanism for dealing with homeless individuals is through the Housing First Programme, which supports homeless individuals move from emergency accommodation to independent living. 180 tenancies have been established under this Programme to date.
This programme is being prioritised and it is expected that a National Director of Housing First will be appointed shortly to drive the programme. This post will be critical in supporting those who sleep rough or reside in hostel accommodation to enter into independent living arrangements.
514. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number or percentage of HAP recipients' topping up that is being made in payments directly to their landlords beyond the amount of HAP being paid on their behalf; the range and average of top-up payments being made by local authority area; the policy in relation to this situation; the monitoring of it by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51473/17]
View answerMy Department does not routinely collect data in relation to households in receipt of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) who are making additional payments to their landlord beyond that of their HAP payment. However, I am aware that some HAP recipients are making payments directly to their landlords, beyond the amount of HAP being paid on their behalf. There is no legislative provision precluding HAP supported households contributing towards the monthly rent to their landlord. Local Authorities are advised, however, not to provide HAP support to tenancies where the household would not be in a position to meet the rental costs being sought.
It should be noted that the increased rent limits introduced by the Government last year, together with the additional discretion available to local authorities to exceed the maximum rent limit where necessary, are enabling HAP households to find suitable accommodation and willing landlords.
From available data, at the end of Q3 2017, approximately 20% of the total number of households being supported by HAP were benefitting from the additional flexibility that was provided to local authorities to exceed the maximum rent limits. When the additional discretion available to homeless households in the Dublin Region is removed, 14.4% of households nationally were benefitting from the additional flexibility. In those cases, the average rate of discretionary payment being used was 14.9% above rent limits provided.
My Department will monitor this data each quarter, taking into consideration other sources of data such as the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) Rent Index and Average Rent Index Reports, which are published on a quarterly basis. The Rent Index Report is compiled by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), and based on the RTB’s own register of tenancies, the Rent Index reveals the actual rents being paid for rented properties.
This data indicates that the current rent limits and the flexibility to exceed those rent limits provide local authorities with sufficient capacity to assist households in securing rented accommodation that meets their needs.
I am satisfied with how the HAP scheme is currently operating and I consider it to be a key vehicle for meeting housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programme under Rebuilding Ireland. My Department will, of course, continue to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review.
515. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he has taken to ensure that the persons who have been forced into homelessness are registered to vote. [51507/17]
View answerThe Electoral Act 1992 provides for the registration of voters where they are ‘ordinarily resident’. The determination of ‘ordinary residence’ is a matter for decision by each registration authority in the light of the circumstances of each particular case. Depending on the circumstances, the registration authority may consider it appropriate to register people experiencing homelessness at a particular address where they may be residing temporarily.
While the registration of voters is a matter for the registration authorities, in the circumstances, they are expected to take a reasonable and common-sense approach to the inclusion of people experiencing homelessness in the register of electors.
516. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will report on the proposed local government and county council electoral boundary changes; the rationale for such proposed changes; if such changes are to be introduced before the 2019 local elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51514/17]
View answerThe Programme for a Partnership Government sets out a number of commitments in relation to local government reform to ensure that local government funding, structures and responsibilities strengthen local democracy into the future. In particular, the Programme includes a commitment to consider reducing the size of local electoral areas.
The preparatory work in support of a review of local electoral area boundaries is being advanced in my Department. It is intended that the review will be initiated shortly and will be completed in good time before the 2019 local elections.
517. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to introduce a statutory time limit for all applications to An Bord Pleanála, and specifically projects involving substantial investment in the economy in circumstances in which undue delay may be detrimental to the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51534/17]
View answerUnder section 126 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, An Bord Pleanála has a statutory objective to determine normal planning appeals within 18 weeks of receipt of the appeal. Furthermore, under Section 37J of the Act, the Board has an objective to make a decision on applications for strategic infrastructure development within a period of 18 weeks, beginning on the last day for making submissions or observations.
Where the Board does not consider it possible or appropriate to reach a decision within 18 weeks (e.g. because of the particular complexities of a case or the requirement to hold an oral hearing), it will inform the parties of the reasons for this, and will indicate when it intends to make its decision.
In relation to housing developments specifically, the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 provides for new streamlined arrangements to enable planning applications for strategic housing developments, of 100 housing units or more or student accommodation developments of 200 bed spaces or more, to be made directly to the Board for determination within a period of 16 weeks.
The comprehensive Report of the Independent Review Group on the operations of An Bord Pleanála, published in March 2016, identifies over 100 recommendations, including recommendations to change the statutory objective timeframes for the work of the Board.
A high-level implementation group, with representatives from my Department and the Board, has been established to oversee implementation of the Review Group recommendations, some of which may require legislative underpinning. The recommendations in relation to the statutory objective periods within which the Board is expected to make decisions, including decisions on projects involving substantial investment in the economy, are being considered in this context.
518. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the percentage of the €2 million pro bono work that a company (details supplied) was to contribute to the Housing Agency that has been expended to date; the costs that make up this figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51594/17]
View answerThe Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board with support from the Housing Agency. The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope. Further information on pyrite and the scheme are available on the Board’s website, www.pyriteboard.ie.
The Board may be contacted by phone at Lo call 1890 252842 or by email to info@pyriteboard.ie or alternatively at oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie.
In June 2014, an agreement was signed regarding Home Bond’s contribution towards technical and project management services, under the direction and supervision of the Pyrite Resolution Board and/or the Housing Agency, to the value of €2 million.
A Supplemental Agreement with HomeBond dated 4 December 2015 for dealing with structural defects not related to pyritic heave will also defray part of the cost of construction works in some cases.
My Department understands from the Pyrite Resolution Board that almost half of the €2 million (€975,000) has been expended to date.
519. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 690 of 28 November 2017, the details of activities covered by the funding from his Department to an organisation (details supplied). [51762/17]
View answerThe National Federation of Group Water Schemes (NFGWS) is the representative body for the Group Water Schemes (GWS) sector in Ireland. The primary role of the NFGWS is to represent the GWS sector nationally, including working closely with my Department to ensure that adequate and equitable capital and subsidy funding is in place to ensure the provision of high quality water to their domestic members. The NFGWS also works with local authorities, Irish Water and other agencies to ensure the water supplied, and the service provided, by the GWS sector fully meets the standards of the Drinking Water Regulations.
The NFGWS plays a key role in promoting responsible attitudes towards the problem of deficient water supplies in the GWS sector and the need to take remedial action to improve water quality.
A key element of the work of the NFGWS is the development service provided to GWS locally through its development staff. This work includes support, advocacy, advice and training in areas such as source protection, quality assurance, water conservation, as well as promoting long-term sustainable governance and management structures in the GWS sector to achieve consistently high levels of water quality and high standards of service to GWS members.
To achieve this, the work of the NFGWS over the years includes:
contributing significantly to the preparation of the Charter of Rights and Responsibilities for the GWS sector in 2002. Adoption and implementation of this document, revised and updated in 2009, by GWS is a condition of my Department’s subsidy funding;
developing a quality assurance system of drinking water safety planning from source to tap for GWS. Implementation of a quality assurance system by GWS is now a condition on any scheme receiving subsidy funding;
submitting to my Department a proposal for source protection of GWS in 2013. My Department’s Rural Water Programme now incorporates a sub-measure for funding the preparation of plans for source protection;
submitting to my Department an amalgamation/rationalisation strategy in 2016, which advocates further amalgamation/rationalisation within the sector particularly on smaller GWS, and my Department's Rural Water Programme incorporates a sub-measure for funding such amalgamations; and
publishing, this year, a useful guide on disinfection for GWS.
Prior to the establishment of the NFGWS, the GWS sector lacked an overall organisational structure and only a minority of schemes took an active interest in the renewal and improvement of water treatment plants and pipe networks. The expressed commitment of the NFGWS is to work closely with all partners involved to achieve the successful delivery of the GWS sector.
520. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the associated costs of funding one Housing First tenancy in tabular form. [51771/17]
View answerThe Housing First programme is a key housing support for those that are homeless and have complex needs. This includes rough sleepers, long-term users of emergency accommodation, young people exiting care, and those exiting institutions such as prisons and hospitals. Evidence in Ireland and internationally shows the Housing First approach to be an efficient and effective way to address homelessness for these target groups.
While the roll out and implementation of the Housing First programme in the Dublin region is a matter for the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE), my Department is working closely with the DRHE and other urban local authorities to support them deliver on the Housing First targets in Rebuilding Ireland. To date, 180 new Housing First tenancies have been created. In terms of the costs of funding one Housing First tenancy, my Department does not hold that specific data.
I can, however, confirm that the DRHE have incurred expenditure of €1.28 million to date in 2017, in relation to the Housing First programme, which is being delivered through a consortium of the Peter McVerry Trust and Focus Ireland. This contract also provides for the delivery of the regional contact & outreach service for rough sleepers. Furthermore, both the Peter McVerry Trust and Focus Ireland receive significant amounts of capital funding annually from my Department for the delivery of homes to be used for social housing purposes, including Housing First tenancies.
521. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of a new affordable housing scheme; when the scheme will be introduced; the criteria that will be used to determine the persons who will be eligible for affordable housing; the way in which he will ensure affordable housing will be available in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51837/17]
View answerI refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 611, 627 and 629 of 21 November 2017 which sets out the position in relation to this matter.
522. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of freedom of information requests received by his Department to date in 2017; the number that were fully or partially granted; and the number of such requests that were refused. [51855/17]
View answer523. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of freedom of information requests received by his Department to date in 2017; the number in which the period of consideration was completed within four weeks of the receipt of the request; and the number in which the period of consideration was extended by up to four weeks in view of the fact that the necessary resources to complete the request within the original timeframe were not available, in tabular form. [51872/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 522 and 523 together.
As of 30 November 2017, a total of 339 Freedom of Information requests had been received this year by my Department. Of these requests, 173 were either fully or partially granted and 73 were refused. The remainder were either withdrawn, transferred to another FOI body or are as yet undecided.
The table below provides details in relation to the periods of consideration. In the small number of cases where extensions are required, this can be necessary for a variety of reasons and is usually due to the complexity or breadth of the request.
|
- |
No. |
|
Number of FOI requests where the period of consideration was completed within four weeks of receipt of request |
241 |
|
Number of FOI requests where the period of consideration was extended by up to four weeks |
25 |
524. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to fund the appointment by local authorities of additional staff in order that timely inspections of HAP properties can take place in cases in which persons make complaints regarding standards of accommodation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51911/17]
View answer530. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on estate agents advertising unsuitable accommodation; his role in regulating the practice of landlords advertising properties with poor living conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52057/17]
View answer531. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the lack of fire safety certificates in certain properties rented through the local authority housing assistance payment or HAP scheme and the steps that can be taken to ensure that all HAP properties are of the highest safety standards. [52058/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 524, 530 and 531 together.
The Strategy for the Rental Sector, published in December 2016, set out a series of measures to be introduced to ensure the quality of private rental accommodation by strengthening the applicable standards and improving the inspection and enforcement systems.
On 1 July 2017, updated regulatory standards, the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2017, came into effect. These Regulations cover a range of matters including structural condition, ventilation, sanitary facilities and fire safety and include new measures covering heating appliances, carbon monoxide and window safety. In August, my Department published a guidance document to assist and support local authorities in implementing the new Regulations.
All properties let, or available to let, including where a property has been advertised by a letting agent, must comply with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations. All landlords, including those in receipt of Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and management companies where they are also landlords, have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these Regulations. Responsibility for the enforcement of the Regulations rests with the relevant local authority, supported by a dedicated stream of funding provided from a portion of the proceeds of tenancy registration fees, collected by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
Since the establishment of the RTB, over €34 million has been paid to local authorities to assist them in the performance of their functions under the Housing Acts, including the inspection of rented accommodation. Over 185,000 inspections were carried out during this period.
However, the Rental Strategy recognises the need for additional resources to be provided to local authorities to aid increased inspections of properties and ensure greater compliance with the Regulations. Provision has been made for an allocation of €2.5m in 2018, with the intention of providing further increases each year in the period to 2021 to facilitate targeted inspection coverage of 25% of rental properties annually.
It is also my intention to introduce further measures to ensure that landlords meet their obligations in relation to quality, safety and compliance with regulations and standards. For example, when registering a tenancy with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), I am intending that landlords will be required to certify that the property in question is compliant with regulations relating to standards for rental accommodation, overcrowding and fire safety. Failure to provide this certification, failure to register the tenancy or the provision of an untrue certification will all constitute offences, prosecutable by the RTB.
The HAP scheme is underpinned by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. Under section 41 of the 2014 Act, local authorities are required to commence the inspection process within 8 months of the commencement of HAP support being provided in relation to a particular dwelling if not already inspected within the previous 12 months. HAP may be provided on a property which is the subject of a subsisting improvement notice under section 18A of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. HAP shall not be, or shall cease to be, provided on a property which is the subject of proceedings or a prohibition notice under section 18B of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. Where a prohibition notice has come into effect, HAP may continue to be paid for 13 weeks from the date of HAP commencing or the notice coming into force, as appropriate.
There is no requirement under the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations for a rental property to have a fire certificate in place. The statutory requirements in relation to Fire Safety Certificates are set out in the Building Control Act 1990, as amended by Part 2 of the Building Control Act 2007, and in regulations made thereunder. A Fire Safety Certificate is a certificate granted by a local Building Control Authority which specifies that the works or building to which the application relates will, if carried out in accordance with the plans and specifications submitted, comply with the requirements of Part B of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations. A Fire Safety Certificate is generally required before construction work is commenced in the case of a new apartment block, a new building other than a dwelling or an existing building other than a dwelling undergoing an extension, a material alteration or a material change of use. A building used as a dwelling other than a flat is exempted from the requirement to obtain a Fire Safety Certificate.
525. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to the findings of a report (details supplied), the number of households that have relinquished their place on the housing waiting list due to the fact they are in receipt of HAP; the number of those that sought to be placed on a housing transfer list; the number of households on this transfer list; the status of the transfer list vis-à-vis the social housing list, by local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51947/17]
View answerFollowing the commencement of the provisions in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is considered to be a social housing support and consequently households in receipt of a HAP payment are not eligible to remain on the main housing waiting list. However, acknowledging that households on the waiting list who avail of HAP might have expectations that they would receive an allocated form of social housing support, Ministerial directions have issued to ensure that, should they so choose, HAP recipients can avail of a move to other forms of social housing support, through the transfer list.
Following the completion of the HAP roll-out in early 2017, a Ministerial direction was issued instructing local authorities to continue to offer HAP tenants access to other forms of social housing, through the transfer list.
The practical operation of transfer lists is a matter for each local authority to manage, on the basis of their own scheme of letting priorities. The setting of such schemes is a reserved function of the local authority and as such is a matter for the elected members. It is ultimately up to the household to choose if they wish to be placed on a local authority’s transfer list, and I understand that the majority of HAP households do avail of this option. Since its statutory commencement in September 2014, 975 households (at the end of Q3 2017) have transferred from the HAP scheme to other forms of social housing support.
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 over 30,000 households in receipt of HAP and over 20,000 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the scheme.
My Department does not hold information on the number of households on local authority housing transfer lists. The management of these lists is a matter for individual local authorities and the numbers fluctuate continually as, for example, households are granted transfers, in accordance with an authority’s allocation scheme, to take up other accommodation options.
