Written Answers Nos. 1736-1757
1736. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the statutory instrument pertaining to the rules applying to the change of use of buildings from commercial to residential property will be enacted. [54940/17]
View answer1743. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures or policy initiatives in place to facilitate the conversion of commercial premises to residential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55240/17]
View answer1778. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the date by which he plans to have regulations in place for change of use from commercial to residential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1414/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1736, 1743 and 1778 together.
Action 5.9 of Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness committed to reviewing planning legislation to allow the change of use of vacant commercial units in urban areas, including vacant or under-utilised areas over ground-floor premises, into residential units without having to go through the planning process. This proposal is also incorporated in Action 6 of the Action Plan for Rural Development, launched in January 2017.
My Department has drafted the necessary revisions to the planning regulations to give effect to this action and draft exempted development regulations were laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 13 December 2017 in this regard. It is intended that the new regulations, which, as set out in the Planning and Development Act 2000, will require the approval of both Houses, will be made as soon as possible.
1737. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of Travellers evicted under section 10 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 in 2016 and 2017. [55105/17]
View answerIn accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas.
My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing traveller accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding. My Department has no role in the direct management and maintenance of sites. In relation to evictions under section 10 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992, this is a matter for the relevant local authority and my Department does not hold the specific information requested.
1738. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of Travellers who have been asked to move by a local authority from their accommodation due to fire safety concerns in 2016 and 2017. [55106/17]
View answerIn accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas. This responsibility includes carrying out the necessary health and safety checks on individual traveller halting sites, and where appropriate, taking necessary action to remedy the situation.
My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing traveller accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding. However, my Department has no role in the direct management and maintenance of sites and does not hold the specific information requested.
1739. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of homes acquired by compulsory purchase order by each local authority in tabular form. [55119/17]
View answerWhile the specific information requested by the Deputy is not collected by my Department, the following information has been received from local authorities in respect of the years 2013-2017 and is set out in the following table.
It should be noted that these figures include the compulsory purchase of dwellings for housing purposes as well as for other purposes, including the provision of roads.
|
Local Authority |
Number of homes acquired by CPO 2013-2017 |
|
Carlow |
16 |
|
Cavan |
0 |
|
Clare |
5 |
|
Cork City |
4 3 further homes are with An Bord Pleanála for CPO decision in January 2018 |
|
Cork County |
2 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
No return |
|
Donegal |
No return |
|
Dublin City |
11 |
|
Fingal |
0 |
|
Galway City |
3 |
|
Galway County |
0 |
|
Kerry |
2 |
|
Kildare |
4 |
|
Kilkenny |
0 |
|
Laois |
0 |
|
Leitrim |
0 |
|
Limerick |
4 |
|
Longford |
0 |
|
Louth |
46 |
|
Mayo |
2 |
|
Meath |
0 |
|
Monaghan |
20 Some of the properties acquired are not capable of immediate accommodation without significant refurbishment. The Council is preparing to convert some into social housing and offer the remainder for sale. |
|
Offaly |
No return |
|
Roscommon |
2 |
|
Sligo |
16 |
|
South Dublin |
10 |
|
Tipperary |
0 |
|
Waterford |
1 Another 1 is currently with An Bord Pleanála for CPO decision. |
|
Westmeath |
0 |
|
Wexford |
2 |
|
Wicklow |
3 |
1740. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will address the difficulty facing Rental Accommodation Scheme, RAS, tenants who cannot enter the Housing Assistance Payment, HAP, scheme until their period of termination notice from a RAS tenancy has elapsed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55125/17]
View answerThere are more than 50,000 households currently having their housing needs met via the Housing Assistance Payment scheme (HAP) and the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). A key principle of the HAP scheme is that eligible households source their own accommodation in the private rented sector, which best suits their needs in their area of choice. This is distinct from RAS, which is a different type of social housing support, where the tenant may not always find their own accommodation and instead are allocated a dwelling in accordance with Section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. Unlike HAP, where a RAS tenancy is ending, the local authority retains the responsibility to source further accommodation for that household.
Under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, which provides for HAP, a household in receipt of another form of social housing support, such as accommodation provided under the RAS, will not be generally eligible for HAP. Section 45 (5) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 does allow for the provision of HAP where a household is currently residing in another form of social housing support, except in emergency circumstances. The ending of a RAS tenancy does not fall within the meaning of an emergency as prescribed by that section of the legislation.
My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review. In order to provide greater equity of options between social housing tenants, and in light of the current private rental market, my Department is currently exploring how greater flexibility of movement between allocated social housing supports and HAP could be facilitated. This may require legislative change. In general, I am satisfied with the operation of HAP and I consider it to be a key vehicle for meeting housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programme outlined under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
1741. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will review regulations affecting local authorities’ housing grants for persons with a disability to take into consideration the greater independence and the changing position of persons with a disability reflecting the social model of disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55126/17]
View answerI have no plans to review the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability at this time. The terms and conditions governing the schemes were examined in 2013 by a review group that included representatives of grant beneficiaries and the local authorities. They considered how the benefits of the grants could be spread as widely as possible to achieve fairness and value for money in the grants process.
I am satisfied that the grants continue to support persons with a disability to undertake adaptations to their homes to make them more suitable for their needs, thereby allowing them to live with greater independence.
1742. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the vacant properties and land not in use, owned, rented or leased by his Department or by bodies and agencies under the aegis of his Department by square footage for buildings and acres for land, in tabular form; the address and location of these properties; and the last date of occupancy or use of these properties. [55215/17]
View answerMy Department is not the registered owner of any property or land holding. The Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland are the registered owners of any property in state ownership that is occupied by my Department. With regard to premises and sites occupied by my Department under rent or leases, in general these are rented or leased by the OPW. When my Department vacates a property or it becomes unused, full responsibility for its utilisation reverts to the OPW.
The information requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the individual bodies concerned. Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for each agency is set out in the following table.
|
Agency |
Email address |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie |
|
Ervia, Gas Networks Ireland |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie |
|
Housing Sustainable Communities Agency |
publicreps@housingagency.ie |
|
Irish Water |
oireachtasmembers@water.ie |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
corporate@lgma.ie. |
|
Ordinance Survey Ireland |
Oireachtas@osi.ie |
|
Property Registration Authority |
reps@prai.ie |
|
Pyrite Resolution Board |
oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie |
|
Valuation Office |
reps@valoff.ie |
1744. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the impact that reclassification of tier 3 approved housing bodies as on the Government balance sheet in early 2018 would have on the Government debt, Government expenditure and capital spending plans in each of the years 2018 to 2021 and social housing construction and acquisition targets in each of the years 2018 to 2021; the contingency plans the Government has in place to deal with such a reclassification in early 2018 in particular to ensure that such an eventuality does not disrupt the supply of new social housing by Approved Housing Bodies, AHBs, in each of the years 2018 to 2020; and the plans the Government has in place to see a reversal of such reclassification if Eurostat accepts the Central Statistics Office, CSO, recommendation to designate AHBs and Government entities. [55284/17]
View answerAs part of a review commissioned by Eurostat, the EU Statistical Office, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) were asked in October 2016 to review the classification of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for Government accounting purposes.
The classification was last reviewed in 2014, with a recommendation from the CSO to Eurostat at the time that these Bodies would remain outside of the General Government Sector. This recommendation was accepted by Eurostat, with a proviso that the decision could be reviewed at a future date.
In December the CSO made a decision that 14 of the 16 largest AHBs examined (i.e. those with 300+ homes in their property portfolios) in the initial phase of the review should be re-classified as falling within the public sector, under the broad local government classification. This decision has been sent to Eurostat for their consideration and ultimate determination.
While a final decision has yet to be taken by Eurostat regarding the classification of AHB expenditure, detailed analysis of the potential impacts on the government debt and expenditure will be completed by the relevant Departments and Agencies. To inform these considerations, the CSO is currently engaged in collecting the required data to compile the end-March 2018 Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP) notification tables (also known as the Maastricht returns), covering general government deficit and debt. At the same time, the Department of Finance is also preparing the Stability Programme Update 2018. This will take full account of the figures published by the CSO as part of the government finance statistics release.
My Department will be examining the provisional assessment by the CSO in detail, including the rationale for their recommendation, in close collaboration with my colleague Minister Donohoe’s Departments and the AHB sector itself, to assess the historic and future implications as well as identifying what measures can be taken to manage or mitigate the potential impacts on the capacity of the AHB sector in the supply and management of social housing.
Notwithstanding this assessment by the CSO, the Government still sees an important role for the voluntary housing sector in contributing to delivery of social housing under Rebuilding Ireland, and we intend to press ahead with our ambitious plans to use all mechanisms and schemes, including through the AHB sector, to ensure that we maintain our planned momentum towards meeting the 50,000 Rebuilding Ireland social housing target.
1745. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the arrangements that have been made to review local electoral areas outside those covered by the two committees that have been set up; the way in which they excluded areas of Cork, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Galway, south Dublin, Limerick and Waterford will be dealt with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1027/18]
View answerI established two Local Electoral Area Boundary Committees on 13 December 2017 to review and make recommendations on local electoral areas. They are tasked with reporting to me within six months.
Committee No. 1 is tasked with reviewing and making recommendations on all areas outside of Dublin, other than Cork and Galway. Its tasks include reviewing local electoral areas in Limerick City and County and in Waterford City and County.
Committee No. 2 is tasked with reviewing local electoral areas in Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin.
I have not currently requested that the local electoral areas in Cork and Galway be reviewed, but I have indicated that Committee No. 2 may also be asked to make recommendations on the division of Cork and Galway into local electoral areas.
1746. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he is satisfied that the audits of all local authorities reflect their compliance with national and EU law in respect of the procurement of insurance cover such as public liability and so on; if a value for money audit has been undertaken by the local government auditors in respect of insurance cover whether procured privately by councils or self insurance; if cost comparisons have been undertaken; if he will publish the cost of insurance for each council and the level or cost of claims in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1064/18]
View answerThe function of the Local Government Audit Service is to complete the audits of all local authorities annual financial statements, using a structured audit methodology in accordance with the Code of Audit Practice and related guidelines. Local Government Auditors are independent in the performance of their duties and it is a matter for each auditor to decide what matters to review. It would however be normal for areas of significant expenditure to be included in an annual audit. Any material matters arising would be referred to in the audit report and all audit reports are published on my Department’s website at http://www.housing.gov.ie/search/archived/current/category/local-government-audit-service/sub-type/audit-report/topic/financial-audit/type/publications?query=.
The Value for Money Unit of the Local Government Audit Service has not conducted a VFM audit on insurance in recent years. However, the Local Government Sector, together with Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), set up a Steering Group in 2015 to oversee a VFM review of Irish Public Bodies (IPB), the mutual insurer for local authorities and ETBs. The OGP's Chief Procurement Officer was a member of the Steering Group. The Group concluded its work in September 2016 and found that IPB is providing good value for money.
Local authorities are independent in the execution of their powers and the elected members are democratically accountable for all expenditure of the authority. Details of the cost of insurance for each local authority and the level or cost of claims are a matter for the local authorities concerned; therefore, the information requested is not available in my Department.
1747. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of long-term social housing voids returned to stock by each local authority in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and the amount and source of the funding allocated to each local authority in each year to restore these units to use, in tabular form. [1095/18]
View answer1748. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his Department distinguishes between social housing units that are vacant for a short period of time between tenants and those vacant for longer periods of time for the purposes of managing its social housing stock; and if so, the way in which this distinction is made. [1096/18]
View answer1749. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of the average period that units refurbished under the local authority voids programme in each of the years 2014 to 2016 were vacant prior to their refurbishment, in tabular form. [1097/18]
View answer1750. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of social housing units that received energy efficiency upgrades under the local authority voids programme in each of the years since 2014. [1098/18]
View answer1751. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if there is a minimum period that a social housing unit must be vacant before it is eligible for funding under the local authority voids programme since 2014. [1099/18]
View answer1752. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of the types of refurbishment works that are typically funded under the local authority voids programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1100/18]
View answer1753. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the function of the local authorities void programme, as distinct from local authorities own refurbishment works and if he will account for the way in which his Department defines additional support over and above which local authorities provide. [1101/18]
View answer1754. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the eligibility criteria and application guidelines that are provided to local authorities seeking to make applications to the local authorities void programme. [1102/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1747 to 1754, inclusive, together.
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 Voids Programme, introduced in 2014 by my Department, provides additional support to local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. The maximum funding provided for each unit under this programme is €30,000. In addition, the Derelicts Programme provides funding to remediate more seriously derelict social houses. There is also another smaller 2 into 1 programme, which focuses on converting vacant old bedsit type of accommodation into one bedroom units.
Vacant social houses, which are categorised as voids, need far greater repairs that normal re-letting works to bring them to a suitable letting condition. They are vacant pending this work. The key objectives of the programme are to minimise the turnaround and re-let time of vacant units and return them to use in an energy efficient condition.
Retrofitting is undertaken on properties selected by local authorities on the basis of unit cost, the extent of local housing need and the age/condition of the property. The programme focuses on retrofitting of the fabric of the dwelling (insulation of walls/roofs, window/door replacement, heating system improvement etc.). During the period, 7,160 units had energy efficiency works recouped [1,850, 2,114, 1,770 and 1,426 for 2014 to 2017, respectively]. The remainder may have had works carried out previously under a separate Energy Efficiency programme.
Circulars issued to each local authority outlining the scheme and the information required for those authorities seeking to apply for funding under the scheme. No distinction is made between the length of time a property is vacant before being eligible for funding under the programmes and my Department does not collect data on the average period that a unit was vacant prior to their refurbishment. The scale of the pre-letting works required is a more relevant factor.
Given that amalgamated data across the 3 programmes is provided under Rebuilding Ireland, for consistency purposes, the combined voids data is presented below.
Voids Data 2014 to 2017: incorporating Voids, Derelicts and 2 into 1 Programmes
|
|
Units Returned in 2014 |
Funding 2014 |
Units Returned in 2015 |
Funding 2015 |
Units Returned in 2016 |
Funding 2016 |
Units Returned in 2017 |
Funding 2017 |
Units Returned 2014 - 2017 |
Funding 2014 - 2017 |
|
Carlow |
42 |
€325,111 |
28 |
€300,650 |
8 |
€69,450 |
8 |
€91,750 |
86 |
€786,961 |
|
Cavan |
23 |
€349,137 |
28 |
€307,018 |
32 |
€307,530 |
31 |
€303,112 |
114 |
€1,266,797 |
|
Clare |
65 |
€995,831 |
96 |
€1,472,533 |
79 |
€1,329,700 |
47 |
€966,203 |
287 |
€4,764,267 |
|
Cork City |
212 |
€2,872,028 |
281 |
€4,522,819 |
263 |
€6,812,333 |
81 |
€1,485,357 |
837 |
€15,692,538 |
|
Cork County |
155 |
€1,539,363 |
199 |
€2,091,578 |
98 |
€1,270,488 |
48 |
€1,130,977 |
500 |
€6,032,406 |
|
Donegal |
167 |
€919,797 |
146 |
€1,003,576 |
89 |
€986,690 |
168 |
€1,866,898 |
570 |
€4,776,961 |
|
Dublin City |
499 |
€6,163,465 |
808 |
€10,229,838 |
575 |
€8,683,848 |
543 |
€8,520,549 |
2425 |
€33,597,700 |
|
Fingal |
163 |
€1,938,780 |
139 |
€1,624,632 |
147 |
€1,725,774 |
121 |
€1,329,300 |
570 |
€6,618,486 |
|
South Dublin |
87 |
€627,407 |
27 |
€216,838 |
81 |
€703,736 |
87 |
€718,446 |
282 |
€2,266,427 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown |
5 |
€89,896 |
24 |
€262,768 |
19 |
€183,092 |
31 |
€283,531 |
79 |
€819,287 |
|
Galway City |
26 |
€474,050 |
25 |
€222,025 |
29 |
€346,650 |
11 |
€124,150 |
91 |
€1,166,875 |
|
Galway County |
76 |
€958,263 |
59 |
€705,347 |
37 |
€472,552 |
37 |
€401,159 |
209 |
€2,537,321 |
|
Kerry |
79 |
€718,938 |
127 |
€884,736 |
90 |
€917,549 |
90 |
€1,101,143 |
386 |
€3,622,366 |
|
Kildare |
49 |
€503,463 |
20 |
€359,808 |
24 |
€485,130 |
8 |
€205,960 |
101 |
€1,554,361 |
|
Kilkenny |
25 |
€484,430 |
23 |
€381,639 |
14 |
€351,278 |
16 |
€307,749 |
78 |
€1,525,096 |
|
Laois |
43 |
€257,014 |
12 |
€61,228 |
12 |
€97,053 |
4 |
€33,170 |
71 |
€448,464 |
|
Leitrim |
15 |
€229,072 |
9 |
€177,473 |
51 |
€712,404 |
0 |
€0 |
75 |
€1,118,949 |
|
Limerick |
94 |
€915,969 |
52 |
€500,689 |
18 |
€384,250 |
13 |
€215,520 |
177 |
€2,016,427 |
|
Longford |
16 |
€313,250 |
22 |
€426,535 |
23 |
€506,705 |
0 |
€0 |
61 |
€1,246,490 |
|
Louth |
14 |
€113,620 |
21 |
€292,279 |
8 |
€91,523 |
7 |
€83,518 |
50 |
€580,940 |
|
Mayo |
79 |
€464,508 |
174 |
€292,100 |
25 |
€233,089 |
22 |
€261,986 |
300 |
€1,251,682 |
|
Meath |
59 |
€1,037,501 |
54 |
€855,565 |
76 |
€1,435,700 |
52 |
€768,005 |
241 |
€4,096,771 |
|
Monaghan |
21 |
€92,751 |
13 |
€100,502 |
47 |
€667,944 |
38 |
€505,254 |
119 |
€1,366,451 |
|
Offaly |
30 |
€514,000 |
55 |
€551,532 |
53 |
€846,198 |
7 |
€107,792 |
145 |
€2,019,522 |
|
Roscommon |
34 |
€224,028 |
36 |
€258,773 |
80 |
€808,612 |
3 |
€44,324 |
153 |
€1,335,737 |
|
Sligo |
29 |
€311,648 |
39 |
€439,924 |
68 |
€1,097,909 |
40 |
€909,395 |
176 |
€2,758,876 |
|
Tipperary |
86 |
€935,801 |
115 |
€1,299,180 |
102 |
€1,204,318 |
107 |
€1,324,604 |
410 |
€4,763,904 |
|
Waterford |
32 |
€605,428 |
56 |
€488,724 |
90 |
€1,135,973 |
52 |
€574,309 |
230 |
€2,804,434 |
|
Westmeath |
56 |
€369,518 |
74 |
€650,813 |
43 |
€436,062 |
40 |
€329,113 |
213 |
€1,785,506 |
|
Wexford |
20 |
€316,307 |
24 |
€294,811 |
17 |
€167,007 |
34 |
€428,015 |
95 |
€1,206,140 |
|
Wicklow |
32 |
€650,204 |
43 |
€857,499 |
10 |
€245,887 |
11 |
€276,778 |
96 |
€2,030,368 |
|
|
2,333 |
€26,310,579 |
2,829 |
€32,133,429 |
2,308 |
€34,716,434 |
1,757 |
€24,698,067 |
9,227 |
€117,858,510 |
1755. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 131,132 and 135 of 13 April 2017, the details of the 47,000 social housing units planned under Rebuilding Ireland, broken down by refurbishment, lease, acquisition and build; and if he will provide a detailed explanation as to the way in which his Department plans to monitor the delivery of each of these components, as well as the sources of data that it will be using to report on the progress towards these targets. [1103/18]
View answerThe initial target under Rebuilding Ireland was to deliver 47,000 social homes. However, following my review of these plans and with the overall funding provision increased from €5.35 billion to €6 billion, I have increased the target to 50,000 social homes. I have also placed a greater emphasis on direct build activity by local authorities and approved housing bodies.
Within the revised 50,000 target, almost 33,500 will be delivered through build activity and some 6,500 delivered through acquisitions, with the remaining 10,000 delivered through long-term leasing initiatives, as set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Build |
Acquisition |
Leasing |
|
2016 |
2,260 |
1,755 |
225 |
|
2017 |
3,200 |
1,250 |
600 |
|
2018 |
4,969 |
900 |
2,000 |
|
2019 |
6,385 |
1,025 |
2,130 |
|
2020 |
7,716 |
800 |
2,631 |
|
2021 |
8,907 |
800 |
2,450 |
|
Totals |
33,437 |
6,530 |
10,036 |
The following table shows the elements of the build activity of almost 33,500 social homes, including those that will be built directly by local authorities and AHBs, as well as properties constructed for social housing through Part V and refurbished properties/Voids, together with some 6,500 acquisitions, over the period 2016 to 2021.
|
Delivery |
Build |
Acquisition |
|
Local Authority |
16,328 |
1,480 |
|
AHB |
8,960 |
5,050 |
|
Refurbished properties/Voids |
3,459 |
- |
|
Properties constructed for social housing through Part V |
4,690 |
- |
|
Total |
33,437 |
6,530 |
Since the publication of Rebuilding Ireland, the Government’s attention has been firmly focused on delivery. Implementation of Rebuilding Ireland is being advanced across a number of Departments, under the oversight of the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, Housing and Climate Change, chaired by An Taoiseach. Within my own Department, implementation is led by the Secretary General and other senior officials on an ongoing basis, supported by Working Group structures put in place under each of the Action Plan's five Pillars. In addition, to ensure broader consultation and engagement with delivery agents and stakeholders on implementation progress and emerging issues, an Oversight Group and a Project Board are in operation.
Following my recent review of Rebuilding Ireland, I announced that Minister of State Damien English will lead a new delivery team in my Department working with local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) on social housing delivery. I am confident that this will further add to the impetus already in place for the delivery of much needed social housing homes, across the country, by local authorities and AHBs.
This governance is additional to the ongoing contact my Department has with local authorities and AHBs around all forms of housing delivery, including regular technical meetings to review progress in respect of social housing projects.
1756. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the locations and numbers of the social housing units delivered by NAMA in 2017 (details supplied). [1144/18]
View answerThe National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) plays an important role in the delivery of social housing. To the end of December 2017, a total of 2,472 residential dwellings, which are part of the security for loans that NAMA has acquired, had been secured for use by local authorities or approved housing bodies. These comprise 2,335 completed dwellings and a further 137 that had been contracted and where completion work is on-going.
The following table gives the breakdown of units secured for social housing through NAMA, broken down by County for end 2017.
|
Local Authority |
Completed |
Contracted |
Total |
|
Carlow Co. Co. |
138 |
0 |
138 |
|
Clare Co. Co. |
55 |
0 |
55 |
|
Cork City |
130 |
8 |
138 |
|
Cork Co. Co. |
304 |
17 |
321 |
|
Donegal Co. Co |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Dublin City |
396 |
16 |
412 |
|
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Co. Co. |
272 |
10 |
282 |
|
Fingal Co. Co. |
125 |
18 |
143 |
|
Galway City Council |
196 |
0 |
196 |
|
Galway Co. Co. |
24 |
8 |
32 |
|
Kerry Co. Co. |
42 |
0 |
42 |
|
Kildare Co. Co. |
156 |
16 |
172 |
|
Kilkenny Co. Co. |
56 |
0 |
56 |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
16 |
0 |
16 |
|
Louth County Council |
27 |
0 |
27 |
|
Meath Co. Co. |
38 |
1 |
39 |
|
Monaghan Co. Co |
0 |
38 |
38 |
|
Offaly Co. Co. |
30 |
0 |
30 |
|
Sligo Co. Co |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
South Dublin Co. Co. |
141 |
5 |
146 |
|
Waterford Co. Co. |
51 |
0 |
51 |
|
Westmeath Co. Co |
20 |
0 |
20 |
|
Wexford Co. Co |
102 |
0 |
102 |
|
Wicklow Co. Co. |
7 |
0 |
7 |
|
Grand Total |
2335 |
137 |
2472 |
These and other statistics are available at: https://www.nama.ie/social-initiatives/social-housing/.
The figure of 2,456 published by NAMA in their end of year review was revised upwards to 2,472 following notification to NAMA of a sale which contracted in December 2017 but was not notified to NAMA until 2018.
1757. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will direct agencies dealing with the housing crisis, such as the Residential Tenancies Board, to have free and accessible contact methods for tenants such as freephone numbers from landlines and mobiles; the measures he is taking to ameliorate the difficulties for tenants in the private rental sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1179/18]
View answerUnder section 76 of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2016, a tenancy-related dispute may be referred to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
The RTB are currently in the procurement process for a new Tenancy Management System that will significantly improve the customer experience and on-line interaction. It is estimated that the new system will be operational by the third quarter of 2018.
In the meantime, the RTB have recently launched their new One Stop Shop, as part of the RTB’s on-going commitment to improve customer interaction. This project involves a range of new resources which make it easier for landlords and tenants to access information, and to understand their rights and responsibilities. The One Stop Shop includes a new user-friendly website with forms, tools and templates; a web chat facility; and the extension of the RTB’s call centre opening hours from 8.30am to 6.30pm.
The new free on-line web chat facility, which was introduced in November 2017, allows members of the public to communicate on-line with RTB agents and aims to guide customers through the registration or dispute process. At the end of 2017, the RTB extended the hours of operation of its telephone service from 8:30am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday. The RTB offers callers the choice of calling a lo-call helpline number from landlines and a local number which may be cheaper or free to call as part of some mobile providers' packages.
Further information is available at www.rtb.ie/tenants and the RTB helpline - Lo-call on 0818 30 30 37 (mobile operators might charge a premium rate to the Lo-call number) or 01 702 8100 - available from Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6.30pm.
Threshold, the national housing charity, operates the Tenancy Protection Service (TPS) which is a national service providing advice and support to households living in private rented accommodation who are experiencing tenancy problems, including where a tenancy is at risk of termination. The TPS seeks to protect existing tenancies, keeping tenants in their homes and preventing them from having to access homeless services. For example, the TPS can apply for an enhanced rent supplement payment above existing rent caps, if a tenant is in receipt of rent supplement and is at risk of homelessness due to a rent increase.
The TPS helpline on free-phone 1800 454 454 is available from Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm. Further information is also available at www.threshold.ie.
