Written Answers Nos. 1804-1824
1804. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he or his Department has been informed by Mr. Donald Tusk or his offices regarding a consultation process on possible changes to European constituencies before the 2019 European elections take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1473/18]
View answerMy Department has not received direct correspondence from Mr Donald Tusk or his office regarding possible changes to European constituencies.
However, on 11 November 2015, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the reform of the electoral law of the European Union. This resolution contains a Proposal for a Council decision adopting the provisions amending the Act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage (i.e. the European Union’s ‘Electoral Act’) which is the subject of on-going discussions in the Council of the European Union’s Working Party on General Affairs. In the context of these discussions within the Working Party on General Affairs, one Member State circulated a proposal in December last to allow a number of seats in future elections to the European Parliament to be allocated to transnational lists (i.e. a European Union-wide constituency). It is understood that this proposal will be considered by the Working Party in due course.
Separately, national constituencies for European Parliament elections were most recently reported on in the Constituency Commission Report 2017 (June 2017), where no change to the existing arrangements for European Parliament constituencies was recommended. At the time of that reportthere was no change to the number of members to be elected in Ireland. However, in light of population change in MemberStates and having regard to the proposed withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU, there may be a need to adjust the distribution of seats in advance of the next elections to the European Parliament in 2019. This work is being undertaken on the initiative of the European Parliament.
In this context, the European Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs, in early September 2017, published a draft report on the composition of the European Parliament for 2019-2024. It is anticipated that the European Parliament will vote in plenary on this matter later this year after which a proposal will be brought to Council.
In the event that Ireland’s total number of seats in the European Parliament is changed in respect of the 2019-2024 parliamentary term, it will be necessary to review and revise our European constituency arrangements. Section 5(1A) of the Electoral Act 1997 makes provision for the establishment of a committee to make a report in relation to European Parliament constituencies. This was done in 2013 prior to the last elections to the European Parliament.
1805. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the use of commercial accommodation providers as a means of accommodating homeless families with children will cease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1549/18]
View answerIt is recognised that hotel accommodation is inappropriate for accommodating homeless families for anything other than a short period of time. Accordingly, the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness includes the objective that hotels will only be used in limited circumstances as emergency accommodation for families. To meet this objective, in addition to providing for long-term housing needs, housing authorities are pursuing the delivery of a range of additional and enhanced family-focused facilities, or family hubs, which offer a greater level of stability than is possible in hotels, while move-on options to long-term independent living are identified and secured.
The long-term solution to homelessness is to increase the supply of new homes and the provision of social housing supports as envisioned in Rebuilding Ireland. During the course of 2017 almost 26,000 social housing solutions were provided. My Department, local authorities and approved housing bodies will continue to work closely, quickly and proactively to identify further solutions and increase social housing solutions so that we can continue to give those experiencing homelessness the support they need.
1806. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of family hubs by county; the capacity of each hub; his plans for the number of hubs and capacity for the fourth quarter of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1551/18]
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 emergency accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities.
It is recognised that hotel accommodation is inappropriate for accommodating homeless families for anything other than a short period of time. Accordingly, the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness includes the objective that hotels will only be used in limited circumstances as emergency accommodation for families. To meet this objective, in addition to providing for long-term housing needs, housing authorities are pursuing the delivery of a range of additional and enhanced family-focused facilities, or family hubs, which offer a greater level of stability than is possible in hotels, while move-on options to long-term independent living are identified and secured. There are now more than 430 units of family accommodation in hub facilities, as detailed in the following table, while another 38 unit facility is to become operational in Dublin this month. Further such facilities are being planned for delivery in 2018, details of which will become available as projects are finalised by housing authorities.
|
Location |
Number of Family Units |
|
Drumcondra, Dublin 3 |
34 |
|
Clontarf, Dublin 3 |
25 |
|
Swords, Co. Dublin |
6 |
|
Rialto, Dublin 8 |
4 |
|
Gardiner St., Dublin 1 |
98 |
|
Francis St., Dublin 8 |
30 |
|
Dundrum, Dublin 14 |
12 |
|
Tallaght, Co. Dublin |
40 |
|
Tallaght, Co. Dublin |
9 |
|
Crumlin, Dublin 12 |
25 |
|
Clontarf, Dublin 3 |
11 |
|
Monkstown, Co. Dublin |
17 |
|
Clonliffe Road, Dublin 9 |
50 |
|
Malahide Road, Co. Dublin |
7 |
|
Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 |
13 |
|
Athy, Co. Kildare |
10 |
|
Dublin Rd., Limerick |
10 |
|
Childers Rd., Limerick |
30 |
1807. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the projects undertaken to consolidate or amalgamate existing legislation, including the cost, the duration, the number of staff required and if this process was carried out by his Department or outsourced in each of the years 2007 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [1568/18]
View answerThe information requested in the question is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Projects Undertaken to consolidate or amalgamate existing legislation |
Cost |
Duration of project |
Number of Staff Required |
DHPLG or Outsourced |
Process outsourced? (Yes/No) |
|
2007 |
Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (unofficial consolidation) |
N/A – part of Department’s regular staff costs |
N/A – ongoing part of Business Unit’s work – 2001 Regulations are updated as the Regulations are amended, subject to staff resources |
2 |
DHPLG |
No |
|
2008 |
Nil |
|||||
|
2009 |
Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (unofficial consolidation) |
N/A - part of Department’s regular staff costs |
N/A – ongoing part of Business Unit’s work – 2001 Regulations are updated as the Regulations are amended, subject to staff resources |
2 |
DHPLG |
No |
|
2010 |
Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (unofficial consolidation) |
N/A – part of Department’s regular staff costs |
N/A – ongoing part of Business Unit’s work – 2001 Regulations are updated as the Regulations are amended, subject to staff resources |
2 |
DHPLG |
No |
|
2011 |
Nil |
|||||
|
2012 |
Foreshore Acts (unofficial consolidation) |
N/A - part of Department’s regular staff costs |
N/A – ongoing part of Business Unit’s work |
1 |
DHPLG |
No |
|
2012 |
Planning and Development Act 2000 |
Consolidation of the Act was undertaken by the Law Reform Commission. Information is available at http://www.lawreform.ie/ |
||||
|
2013 |
Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (unofficial consolidation) |
N/A – part of Department’s regular staff costs |
N/A – ongoing part of Business Unit’s work – 2001 Regulations are updated as the Regulations are amended, subject to staff resources |
2 |
DHPLG |
No |
|
2013 |
Planning and Development Act 2000 |
Consolidation of the Act was undertaken by the Law Reform Commission. Information is available at http://www.lawreform.ie/ |
||||
|
2014 |
Foreshore Acts (unofficial consolidation) |
N/A - part of Department’s regular staff costs |
N/A – ongoing part of Business Unit’s work |
1 |
DHPLG |
No |
|
2014 |
Dumping at Sea Act (unofficial consolidation) |
N/A - part of Department’s regular staff costs |
N/A – ongoing part of Business Unit’s work |
1 |
DHPLG |
No |
|
2014 |
Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (unofficial consolidation) |
N/A – part of Department’s regular staff costs |
N/A – ongoing part of Business Unit’s work – 2001 Regulations are updated as the Regulations are amended, subject to staff resources |
2 |
DHPLG |
No |
|
2014 |
Planning and Development Act 2000 |
Consolidation of the Act was undertaken by the Law Reform Commission. Information is available at http://www.lawreform.ie/ |
||||
|
2014 |
Planning and Development Act 2010 |
Consolidation of the Act was undertaken by the Law Reform Commission. Information is available at http://www.lawreform.ie/ |
||||
|
2015 |
Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (unofficial consolidation) |
N/A – part of Department’s regular staff costs |
N/A – ongoing part of Business Unit’s work – 2001 Regulations are updated as the Regulations are amended, subject to staff resources |
2 |
DHPLG |
No |
|
2015 |
Planning and Development Act 2000 |
Consolidation of the Act was undertaken by the Law Reform Commission. Information is available at http://www.lawreform.ie/ |
||||
|
2015 |
Planning and Development Act 2010 |
Consolidation of the Act was undertaken by the Law Reform Commission. Information is available at http://www.lawreform.ie/ |
||||
|
2016 |
Planning and Development Act 2000 |
Consolidation of the Act was undertaken by the Law Reform Commission. Information is available at http://www.lawreform.ie/ |
||||
|
2016 |
Revision of Housing Act 1966 |
Consolidation of the Act was undertaken by the Law Reform Commission. Information is available at http://www.lawreform.ie/ |
||||
|
2017 |
Planning and Development Act 2000 |
Consolidation of the Act was undertaken by the Law Reform Commission. Information is available at http://www.lawreform.ie/ |
||||
|
2017 |
Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 |
Consolidation of the Act was undertaken by the Law Reform Commission. Information is available at http://www.lawreform.ie/ |
||||
|
2017 |
Dumping at Sea Act (unofficial consolidation) |
N/A - part of Department’s regular staff costs |
N/A – ongoing part of Business Unit’s work |
1 |
DHPLG |
No |
|
2017 |
European Communities (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (unofficial consolidation) |
N/A - part of Department’s regular staff costs |
N/A – ongoing part of Business Unit’s work |
1 |
DHPLG |
No |
|
2017 |
Commercial Rates legislation (unofficial consolidation) |
N/A - part of Department’s regular staff costs |
N/A – ongoing part of Business Unit’s work |
2 |
DHPLG |
No |
|
2017 |
Revised Building Control Regulations 1997-2015 -Updated to 1 January 2017 |
Consolidation of the Regulations was undertaken by the Law Reform Commission. Information is available at http://www.lawreform.ie/ |
||||
|
2017 |
Revision of Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 and Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 |
Consolidation of the Acts were undertaken by the Law Reform Commission. Information is available at http://www.lawreform.ie/ |
||||
|
2018 |
Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (unofficial consolidation – still underway) |
N/A – part of Department’s regular staff costs |
N/A – ongoing part of Business Unit’s work – 2001 Regulations are updated as the Regulations are amended, subject to staff resources |
2 |
DHPLG |
No |
1808. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the drawdown of funding from the local infrastructure housing activation scheme in 2017. [1575/18]
View answer1827. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of funding that has been drawn down to the end of 2017 under the local infrastructure housing activation fund; the funding and projects expected to be funded in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1898/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1808 and 1827 together.
The total cost of the 34 projects which received preliminary approval under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund in March 2017 was €226 million, of which 75% (€169.5 million) will be funded by my Department, with local authorities funding 25% (€56.5 million). Grant agreements have been signed in respect of 29 LIHAF projects so far and I expect to sign further grant agreements in the near future. All projects were allowed to go to design phase in advance of signing grant agreements.
Funding for LIHAF is ring-fenced within the overall housing budget and will be available for local authorities to drawdown over the lifetime of the projects. Preliminary approvals were announced last March and due to the need for necessary preparatory work such as design, planning and public procurement the projects incurred very small expenditure levels in 2017. The total expenditure on LIHAF for 2017 was €1.67 million. It is expected that construction will commence on many projects in 2018 and a substantially accelerated drawdown is likely this year.
Through proactive management of the broader housing programme, the underspend in 2017 was applied to other housing activities, ensuring that the funding available in 2017 was fully applied to housing priorities.
As part of Budget 2018, I announced an additional €50 million funding which will be available for a second LIHAF call and which will again be subject to matching funding of 25% by local authorities. This capital funding will facilitate the provision of more public infrastructure to unlock further sites and activate more housing supply. I intend issuing a further call for proposals under LIHAF early this year and it will be open to all local authorities to submit new projects or resubmit previous unsuccessful projects for consideration at that time.
1809. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of rapid build units completed in 2017. [1576/18]
View answer1812. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of social housing unit acquisitions completed in 2017. [1579/18]
View answer1813. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of Part V units completed in 2017. [1580/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1809, 1812 and 1813 together.
Through the supports made available from my Department, funding is available to all local authorities to deliver additional social housing stock through new construction projects, the acquisition of new and previously owned houses/apartments for social housing use and through working with approved housing bodies.
Provisional details on the number of properties purchased and built in all local authority areas, for letting to those on the social housing waiting lists in 2017, are available on my Department’s website at the following links:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/rebuilding-ireland/social-housing-delivery-2017-ministers-statement.
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/attachments/rebuilding_ireland_progress_against_targets_14.01.2018.xlsx
Under the Social Housing Capital programme, 208 Rapid Delivery homes were completed by end 2017 (186 of which were during 2017) with in excess of 470 further homes at various stages of advancement, the vast majority of which are scheduled for delivery in 2018. Under the Department’s current funding programmes, approved housing bodies are also being asked to consider delivering schemes using Rapid Build methodologies and a number of them have or will transfer schemes from traditional to Rapid Delivery over the coming months.
I also publish separate details on the outputs under Part V arrangements and these are also available on my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/affordable-housing/affordable-housing-and-part-v-statistics.
Information is respect of 2017 is currently being finalised and will then be formally published.
1810. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of lease and repair scheme units completed in 2017. [1577/18]
View answer1830. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of properties that have been offered to each local authority under the repair and leasing scheme; the number that have been accepted; the number that are now occupied for each local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1901/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1810 and 1830 together.
The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) has been developed to assist private property owners and local authorities or Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to harness the accommodation potential that exists in certain vacant properties across Ireland.
The scheme is targeted at owners of vacant properties who cannot afford or access the funding needed to bring their properties up to the required standard for rental property. Subject to the suitability of the property for social housing, and the agreement of the property owner, the cost of the necessary repairs up to a maximum of €40,000 will be met upfront by the local authority or an approved housing body (AHB).
The Department is currently gathering data from local authorities in order to report detailed progress on the scheme in the final quarter of 2017. This will be published shortly. However, at the end of Q3, 292 properties had been deemed suitable and local authorities were negotiating with properties owners; a further 231 properties were being inspected for suitability by local authorities; 18 Agreements to Lease had been signed. A detailed breakdown of the RLS scheme data for Q3 2017 is available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
I have reviewed the operation of the scheme as part on the on-going review of Rebuilding Ireland, which examined all opportunities to accelerate and improve social housing delivery as well as initiatives to bring more vacant houses back into use at a faster pace. The outcome of this review is being finalised and will be announced shortly.
1811. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of long-term leases for social housing units completed in 2017. [1578/18]
View answerThe Government has set out an ambitious set of targets for the delivery of social housing to the period to 2021 in its Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan. A commitment to deliver 50,000 new social housing homes through a range of delivery mechanisms is being supported by a multi-annual Exchequer commitment totalling €6.5 billion over the period of the plan. These targets will be achieved using a combination of building, purchasing and leasing high quality properties to meet the needs of households on local authority waiting lists around the country.
Of the 50,000 social housing homes to be delivered under Rebuilding Ireland, 10,000 will be leased by local authorities and approved housing bodies under leasing arrangements from a range of different sources. A total of 3,500 properties are targeted to be achieved using the Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) which harnesses the potential of existing vacant stock and brings it back into use for social housing. The remaining 6,500 properties to be leased are intended to be secured under long-term lease arrangements from a variety of sources.
Yesterday, I published the provisional social housing output figures for 2017. These details are available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/2017-social-housing-output-figures-published/.
This report identifies that the social housing leasing target of 600 homes under Rebuilding Ireland was exceeded, with 798 new social housing homes being delivered through leasing schemes.
Data on social housing leasing, funded by my Department, in respect of all local authorities to end Q3 2017 is published on my Department’s website at the following link:http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision. Similar data in relation to Q4 2017 will be published shortly.
1814. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the rates refund applying to vacant commercial property in respect of each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1585/18]
View answerLocal authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on the occupiers of rateable property in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015.
Legislative provision is made for the refund of rates paid on vacant commercial properties in certain circumstances. The Local Government Act 1946 provides that where a property is unoccupied on the date of the making of the rate, the owner becomes liable for rates. However, the owner is entitled to a refund if the property is vacant for specified purposes, these being if the premises are unoccupied for the purpose of additions, alterations or repairs; where the owner is bona fide unable to obtain a suitable tenant at a reasonable rent; and where the premises are vacant pending redevelopment. The collection of rates and the determination of eligibility for a refund in this context are matters for each individual local authority.
The Local Government Act 1946 provided that the owner was entitled to a 100% refund in most local authority areas. Separate legislation governed refunds in the cities of Dublin, Limerick and Cork, where the same criteria for refunds applied but only 50% of the rates paid were refundable.
With effect from 1 June 2014, when the relevant provision commenced, the Local Government Reform Act 2014 gives discretion to the elected members of individual local authorities to vary the level of rates refunds that apply in individual local electoral areas within the authority’s administrative area. The Local Government (Financial and Audit Procedures) Regulations 2014 provide that the decision to alter the rate of refund should be taken at the annual budget meeting and that the rate of refund decided in respect of the relevant local electoral area shall apply to eligible persons for the year to which the budget relates. The absence of a decision to vary the refund means that the existing legislative provisions regarding the rate of refunds apply (either 100% or 50% as set out above). Guidance has been provided to local authorities and elected members in that regard.
My Department has collated information regarding the decisions by local authorities in relation to refund rates from 2015 to 2017. For 2015, four local authorities chose to amend their refund rate. Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council reduced its rate from 100% to 75%. Galway City and Louth County Councils reduced their rates from 100% to 50%. Limerick City and County adopted a refund rate of 25%. All other local authorities chose to retain the existing 2014 refund rate for 2015. This included Dublin City and Cork City which both retained the pre-existing 50% refund rates in their local authority areas.
For 2016, all local authorities continued with the same refund rate adopted in 2015, except Waterford City and County Council, which reduced its refund rate from 100% to 70%.
For 2017, five local authorities chose to amend the refund rate they had for 2016. Dublin City Council reduced from 50% to 45%, Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council reduced from 75% to 50%, Fingal County Council reduced from 100% to 75%, Limerick City and County Council reduced from 25% to 10% and Waterford City and County Council reduced from 70% to 55%.
1815. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount allocated and the amount drawn down by each local authority in 2017 for the housing aid for older people, mobility aids, housing adaptation and disability schemes, respectively, in tabular form. [1586/18]
View answerInformation on the allocations to each local authority under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability for 2017 is available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/rebuilding-ireland/older-people/minister-coveney-announces-eu598million-improve-homes-older. The detailed administration of this funding, including the apportionment across the individual grant schemes, is a matter for the local authorities.
My Department’s website also contains information on the Housing Adaptation Grants paid by local authorities at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/social-and-affordble/other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics. This information is currently available up to 2016; the information in respect of 2017 is currently being compiled and will be available shortly.
1816. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will report on the method of measuring residential unit building completions; the improvements that will be made to the accuracy of recording the number of new residential units for each quarter in 2018; his views on the latest house completion statistics for 2015, 2016 and 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1589/18]
View answerESB Connections were used for many years as a proxy for housing completions. It is recognised that the ESB connections data include reconnections of properties vacant for two years or more and while the bringing back into use of vacant properties of this kind is welcome in terms of making efficient use of the overall housing stock, it is important that an improved breakdown is generated in relation to the different elements within the overall data.
Accordingly, my Department is collaborating with the ESB Networks and the Central Statistics Office to obtain additional, more granular data from their datasets and I expect that we will begin to see improved data on foot of this as we progress further into 2018. In the interim, my Department has continued to publish the existing dataset on ESB connections, qualified along the lines above, and data up to end 2017 is now available on the Department's website at the following address:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-building-and-private-rented/construction-activity-esb-connections.
This shows the increasing trend in connections in recent years, from 12,666 in 2015, rising to 14,932 in 2016 and rising further to 19,271 in 2017.
1817. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the position regarding an application for a thatched roof grant by a person (details supplied). [1630/18]
View answerCommunications have issued directly to the applicant in this case who has sought a thatching grant, seeking the return of the ‘Certificate of Approval’ that is prepared following the first inspection of the house. This Certificate must be signed by the thatcher, who carried out the work, as well as by the applicant. The last communication from my Department to the applicant was November 2017 and the certificate is awaited and should be returned to my Department as soon as possible.
1818. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a comprehensive public consultation on a review of the commercial rates system has been instigated; if so, the stage it is at; the length of time it will take to conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1635/18]
View answerCommercial rates form an important element of the funding of all local authorities. However, the legislative basis for the levying of rates consists of over 20 separate pieces of legislation, some dating back to the 19th century. My Department has developed legislative proposals to modernise and consolidate the legislation governing commercial rates into a single enactment.
In this regard, the Government last year approved the drafting of a Rates Bill. The General Scheme of the Bill is currently with the Attorney General’s office for drafting, with a view to its introduction as soon as possible.
1819. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the way the vacant site levy will operate and impact on persons who own such sites in County Kildare; if a list of such sites is available; if landowners will be notified if their plot is listed; the exemptions to having a site listed as vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1668/18]
View answerThe Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 introduced a new measure, the vacant site levy, which is aimed at incentivising the development of vacant, under-utilised sites in urban areas. Under the Act, planning authorities are required to establish a register of vacant sites in their area. The levy will be applied by planning authorities, commencing on 1 January 2019 in respect of sites which were vacant and on the vacant site register during the year 2018, and will subsequently be applied on an annual basis thereafter, as long as a site remains on the vacant site register in the preceding year.
Planning authorities are empowered to apply an annual vacant site levy of 3% of the market value of vacant sites, exceeding 0.05 hectares in area, which, in the planning authority’s opinion, were vacant or idle in the preceding year, in areas identified by the planning authority in its development plan or local area plan for residential or regeneration development.
Reduced or zero rates of levy may apply in specific circumstances in order to help alleviate the financial burden faced by owners of vacant sites which are subject to a site loan and where the loan is greater than the market value of the site (i.e. a negative equity situation), and also where the site loan is greater than 50% of the market value of the site.
The planning authority, or the Valuation Tribunal on appeal, may also deem that a vacant site has a zero market value where no market exists for the site or the site is contaminated land and the necessary remediation costs in order to use or develop the site exceed the market value of the site itself. In addition, where there is a change in ownership of a vacant site, or on the death of the owner of a site, the amount of levy chargeable on such site in respect of that year or the previous year shall be zero.
The Act provides that the planning authority will notify owners of vacant sites at various stages throughout the process, including when the planning authority intends to enter the vacant site on the register, when it has been entered on the register and when the levy falls due for payment. Owners of vacant sites may make submissions to the planning authority in respect of their sites at various stages in the process. There are also a number of appeals provisions, including an appeal against the entry of a site on the register, an appeal of market value determination of a site and appeal against demand for payment of the levy.
Vacant site registers were established in January 2017 by planning authorities and planning authorities are engaging in the necessary preparatory work, prior to the application of the levy with effect from January 2019 in respect of sites identified on the register in 2018. As required under the Act, this includes the identification of specific vacant sites for entry on the register as well as the registered owners of the sites in question along with undertaking a site valuation.
My Department does not maintain a central register of vacant sites as each local authority administers the vacant site register in respect of their functional area. As provided for under the Act, the register in respect of Kildare County Council is available for inspection at its offices and online on its website, at http://kildare.ie/countycouncil/Planning/VacantSites/index.html.
My Department continues to monitor and engage with local authorities in relation to implementation of the vacant site levy and, as recently as 8 November 2017, held a seminar with authorities in this regard.
As part of Budget 2018, an increase in the rate of the levy was announced. Under the new arrangements, the levy will be applied at the rate of 3 per cent of the market value of a vacant site from January 2019 for sites entered on the vacant site register of a local authority in 2018. For vacant sites on the register for a second and subsequent years, an increased 7 per cent rate of levy will be applied. I am intending to bring forward the necessary legislative amendments to give effect to these rate changes in the near future.
1820. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if local authority tenants who had works carried out to their dwelling by their local authority to adapt the home for the particular needs of a member of the household are excluded from applying for the incremental tenant purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1683/18]
View answerThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 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 and having been in receipt of social housing support for at least 1 year.
The Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015 governing the Scheme provide for a number of specified classes of houses to be excluded from sale, including houses provided to local authorities under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, houses specifically designed for older persons, group Traveller housing and houses provided to facilitate people with disabilities transferring from institutional care to community-based living.
Local authorities may, within the provisions of the Regulations, exclude certain houses which, in the opinion of the authority, should not be sold for reasons such as proper stock or estate management. It is a matter for each individual housing authority to administer the Scheme in its operational area in line with the over-arching provisions of the governing legislation for the scheme, and in a manner appropriate to its housing requirements.
1822. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the deadline for submissions to the local government boundary committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1709/18]
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.
The Committees are independent in the performance of their functions and the arrangements necessary for receipt of submissions are a matter for the Committees themselves. Nevertheless, it is anticipated that each Committee will advertise a public consultation in due course. Any queries can be directed to boundarycommittee@housing.gov.ie.
1823. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a person must produce a receipt showing they paid domestic water charges now that they are abolished in view of the fact that when persons are selling their houses, including local authorities selling a house under the tenant purchase scheme, persons are required to produce a receipt for a charge that does not exist, especially in situations in which the charge was never paid; the position regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1723/18]
View answerThe Water Services Act 2017 (No. 29 of 2017), which was enacted on 17 November 2017, reflects the recommendations of the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services, which was published in April 2017 and approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas.
The Act provides for the discontinuance of domestic water charges for dwellings as set out in the Water Services Act 2014 and for the refund of domestic charges paid by customers. It also repealed section 3A of the Water Services Act 2014, which provided that upon the sale of a property, a certificate of discharge was required from Irish Water to show that the relevant water charges had been paid. This repeal is provided for in section 5(1)(b)(ii) of the 2017 Act.
1824. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the proportion of employees in his Department or in organisations under its remit registered disabled. [1860/18]
View answerPart 5 of the Disability Act 2005 provides for a statutory annual report on the employment of people with disabilities in the public sector.
The latest available figures relate to 2016 when 4.7% of staff in my Department declared themselves as having a disability as defined under the Disability Act 2005. The Department only records data on those staff members who have self-declared their disability.
My Department is also required to collate and report on the employment of people with disabilities in respect of bodies/agencies under its remit. My Department submitted the detailed 2016 report to the National Disability Authority (NDA) in compliance with Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 last year for publication by the NDA in due course. The bodies under the remit of my Department have changed since the 2016 report was submitted, as a result of transfers of functions; therefore, data will have been submitted in 2016 in respect of bodies no longer under the aegis of my Department and other Departments will have been responsible for submitting data with regard to bodies that are now under my Department's remit. I understand that the 2016 report has not yet been published, and I would refer you to my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, who has responsibility for this matter.
