Thomas Byrne
Question:239. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the rural cottage scheme will re-open. [2279/18]
View answerDepartmental Schemes
Questions (239)
Written answers
Local authorities have a number of options available to them in meeting social housing needs. These include, if they consider it appropriate, the transfer of a site from a person qualified for social housing to the local authority, and the building of a social house on the site by the local authority, to be tenanted by the person who transferred the site. I understand that the scheme referred to by the Deputy was of this type.
It is of course open to any person who is qualified for social housing support to make any particular proposal to the relevant local authority, for their consideration, in connection with the provision of a site. However, the actual operation of such an approach to social housing provision continues to be a matter for the relevant local authority concerned.
Capital Expenditure Programme Review
Questions (240)
Dara Calleary
Question:240. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his key priorities in the forthcoming capital review; the projects submitted for priority inclusion in the review; the status of negotiations with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2293/18]
View answerWritten answers
My Department’s overall key priorities in terms of capital investment in the period to 2027 include:
- social housing delivery and regeneration;
- output of housing generally, supported by targeted infrastructural investment;
- investment in our water services infrastructure through Irish Water and rural water programmes;
- supporting sustainable growth in our urban areas and through our regions through urban renewal programmes; and
- capital investment in other local authority programmes funded by my Department in areas like fire safety and supporting the critical role played by Met Éireann in ensuring we have effective and resilient weather forecasting and emergency management systems.
Engagements in relation to future capital investment in the context of the capital plan are continuing between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. These engagements are also being used to ensure effective alignment between the capital plan and the National Planning Framework, with the intention to finalise and publish both together in the coming weeks.
Departmental Data
Questions (241)
Dara Calleary
Question:241. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if bullying or sexual harassment claims have been lodged in his Department in each year since 2011; if so, the number of either complaints on an annual basis, in tabular form; if these complaints have been investigated; the outcome of each investigation; and the policies in place in his Department to combat bullying and sexual harassment. [2319/18]
View answerWritten answers
There have been two complaints of bullying lodged by staff members in my Department since 2011. There have been no sexual harassment claims in the period in question. These cases were investigated fully under the “Positive Working Environment Policy” which was the Anti-Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Bullying Policy for the Civil Service in operation at the time. Following the investigation neither complaint was upheld.
|
Year |
Bullying |
Sexual Harassment |
|
2011 |
0 |
0 |
|
2012 |
2 |
0 |
|
2013 |
0 |
0 |
|
2014 |
0 |
0 |
|
2015 |
0 |
0 |
|
2016 |
0 |
0 |
|
2017 |
0 |
0 |
|
2018* |
0 |
0 |
* to date
The Civil Service is committed to protecting the dignity and respect of staff across all organisations. The Civil Service policy ‘Dignity At Work’ was developed in partnership between Civil Service management and the Staff Panel of Unions. The policy aims to promote respect, dignity, safety and equality in the workplace. The policy has been brought to the attention of all staff and is available on my Department’s intranet. A copy of the policy can be found at the following link: http://hr.per.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/here.pdf.
Social and Affordable Housing
Questions (242)
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy
Question:242. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the policy of the removal of staged payments to small and medium sized developers of new social housing under Rebuilding Ireland will be reinstated or alternatively if a bridging finance scheme can be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2325/18]
View answerWritten answers
The large majority of social housing projects initiated by local authorities are implemented through standard contracts for public works, following a competitive tendering process. Contractors in such cases are paid on a staged basis as the project advances.
Local authorities may also acquire social housing either through acquisitions of second-hand or newly completed houses, or through turnkey developments. In these circumstances payment is made on delivery, which has been the approach utilised for a number of years. However, options do exist for local authorities to agree staged delivery with developers. Where suitable, this can facilitate the early delivery of completed housing and earlier payments to the developer.
Housing Provision
Questions (243, 244)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:243. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of the proposed provision of €25 million over 2018 and 2019 to unlock local authority owned lands specifically for affordable models such as co-operative schemes; the progress that has been made in developing models of affordable housing and co-operatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2371/18]
View answerRichard Boyd Barrett
Question:244. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the advice which can be given to co-operative housing bodies such as an organisation (details supplied) that wishes to meet with local authorities and present proposals for a co-operative housing project in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area in view of the fact that as yet no process exists for such proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2372/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together.
Recognising that housing affordability is a major issue for some households and that while initiatives introduced to date are having an impact and will have a greater impact in time, the Government considers that a further package of targeted measures focused on addressing affordability is needed to enable low- to moderate-income households, that do not qualify for social housing supports, to purchase or rent homes, particularly in Dublin and other major urban areas.
This will include, but will not be limited to, the deployment of €25 million Exchequer funding, over 2018 and 2019, to unlock local authority-owned lands specifically for affordable housing and further measures in relation to improving the viability of apartment development. Having consulted with relevant local authorities, my Department is currently developing the criteria for accessing the Fund and I expect to be in a position make a call for proposals to local authorities in the near future.
In the interim, prior to any further affordability measures being finalised, I encourage approved housing bodies, local authorities, industry professionals and banks to work together in a collaborative and proactive way to frame proposals, so that optimum delivery of much needed affordable homes will be achieved from the Fund without delay.