Written Answers Nos. 675-695
675. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will initiate a meeting between the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the chairperson of the board of Horse Racing Ireland and the chief executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council with a view to releasing an unused vacant site (details supplied) to the local authority for the provision of mixed tenure, social and affordable housing. [7198/18]
View answerI assume the Deputy is referring to the site VS.0001 listed on the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Vacant Site Register.
As the owner of the site, Horse Racing Ireland has primary responsibility for any future plans for its development. My Department will continue to work with all State bodies, including local authorities, to ensure, where appropriate, housing is delivered from publicly owned sites that are available for development.
I anticipate that there is significant potential for the delivery of social and affordable homes from local authority lands, and indeed from the broader State land bank. Following on from the Housing Summit on 22 January, I have asked local authority Chief Executives to submit, in the coming weeks, an outline of their respective affordable housing programmes, with a particular emphasis on Dublin, Galway, and Cork, where there is the greatest affordability gap. As part of this exercise, I have also asked local authorities to consider State-owned sites in their areas that would be strategically important for them, in terms of the delivery of housing. The overall scale of delivery, and timescales, will be informed by these responses.
The delivery of additional social and affordable homes, to buy or rent, will rely on the State developing the full potential of its residential land bank. In the context of my Department's role in driving and co-ordinating housing delivery, I am establishing a dedicated Residential Land Management and Development Group to oversee this important work.
676. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he has taken to ensure the housing assistance payment rates are in line with market rents in Cork city; if a review has been conducted recently (details supplied); if there is a review scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7271/18]
View answer677. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to extend the 50% homeless rate of HAP to support those leaving homelessness available in the Dublin region to the Cork and other regions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7272/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 676 and 677 together.
The Homeless HAP Place Finder Service operating in the Dublin local authorities, and in Cork City Council, is a targeted support for homeless households who are finding it difficult to secure HAP tenancies. The Place Finder Service has been successfully utilised by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) across the Dublin local authorities since February 2015, with more than 2,000 households currently being supported by the Homeless HAP scheme. A similar service began operating in Cork City in 2017.
In order to further assist homeless households in exiting emergency accommodation the Homeless HAP Place Finder Service is now available in each of the 31 local authorities. All local authorities are now being provided with the options to pay deposits and advance rental payments for any households in emergency homeless accommodation, in order to secure accommodation via the HAP scheme.
From available data, at the end of Q4 2017, approximately 22% 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, 16.7% of households nationally were benefitting from the additional flexibility. In those cases, the average rate of discretionary payment being applied was 15.7% above rent limits provided. In the case of Cork City Council, at the end of Q4, 2017, 34.3% of households had benefitted from additional discretion with the average rate being 14% above the rent limits provided.
My Department and I are constantly monitoring HAP data, as well as other key information relating to the private rental market. Indications are that the current HAP 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. Increasing the HAP rent limits in particular local authority areas could have further inflationary effects on the private rented sector, which could have a detrimental impact on the wider rental market, including for those households who are not receiving HAP support.
In cases where a tenant, currently on a local authority waiting list, wishes to access rented accommodation with HAP support in another local authority area, I have directed local authorities to provide that HAP tenants continue to be dealt with by their originating local authority. However, the rent limits will be those that apply in the local authority where the property is situated. The originating local authority will engage with the relevant new local authority to facilitate eligible requests for inter-authority movement. Where homeless households have sourced or been assisted by the Place Finder Service in sourcing accommodation outside the Dublin area, the relevant rate of support is based on the rent limits that apply in the local authority where the property is situated. The DRHE have been advised to consult with the new local authority in relation to the appropriate level of support that should be provided. However, the Place Finder Service can still pay a deposit and rent in advance on behalf of the tenant.
In order to maintain the equitable treatment of all housing applicants, inter-authority movement for HAP applicants is based on the current social housing eligibility income bands, i.e. movement will only be facilitated across local authorities with income bands that are equal or higher; or where shared areas of choice are already operated.
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.
678. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons who have taken up the vacant housing repair and lease scheme by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7304/18]
View answer679. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the budget expenditure for the vacant housing repair and lease scheme, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7305/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 678 and 679 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 dwellings across Ireland. The RLS was established on a pilot basis in Waterford and Carlow local authorities in October 2016 and expanded nationwide from 23 February 2017.
The scheme is targeted at owners of vacant dwellings who cannot afford or access the funding needed to bring their dwellings up to the required standard for rental property. Subject to the suitability of the dwelling for social housing, and the agreement of the property owner, the cost of the necessary repairs will be met upfront by the local authority or an approved housing body (AHB).
Provisional 2017 outputs, across the range of delivery methods available to local authorities and approved housing bodies, were published on 15 January 2018 and are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/rebuilding-ireland/social-housing-delivery-2017-ministers-statement.
My Department is currently validating data from local authorities in order to report detailed progress by local authority on the RLS in the final quarter of 2017. This will be published shortly. However, I can confirm that at the end of 2017, a total of 820 applications had been received under the scheme. Local authorities were engaging with the property owners in relation to 573 properties, 31 agreements for lease had been signed and 9 homes had been delivered and tenanted. A detailed breakdown of the RLS scheme data up to end Q3 2017 is available on my Department’s website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
While my Department is currently finalising detailed output data across each of the social housing delivery programmes in 2017, it is already clear that the RLS has not yet delivered the level of new social housing homes envisaged. I have reviewed the operation of the scheme, as part of the review of Rebuilding Ireland, and I have concluded that the scheme has significant potential but there are areas where it can be improved to make it more attractive and effective. At the Housing Summit held on 22 January 2018, local authority Chief Executives were advised that, from 1 February 2018, a number of key changes are being made to the scheme. These include:
- a reduction in the minimum lease term required from 10 to 5 years;
- increasing the proportion of market rent available to property owners where they take on more responsibilities under the tenancy, meaning that up to 92% of market rent will be available; and
- provision of additional funding for property owners, over and above the current €40,000 limit, where the dwelling is a bedsit type dwelling being brought into compliance with the Standards for Rented Houses Regulations and made available for social housing.
In total, my Department spent €196,385 on the Repair and Leasing Scheme in 2017. I am making €32 million available for the scheme in 2018 and I expect local authorities and approved housing bodies to continue to implement the scheme locally and to achieve the target of 800 new properties this year.
680. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if relief measures will be put in place for members of group water schemes in view of the discontinuation of the domestic water charging regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7306/18]
View answerIn late 2017, my Department conducted a review of group water scheme subsidies. The review involved discussions with the National Federation of Group Water Schemes, the representative body of the group water sector. Discussions concluded in December, when I approved revised subsidy levels. The new subsidy arrangements, endorsed by a special delegate conference of the Federation on 13 December 2017, came into effect on 1 January 2018.
The changes implement the recommendation contained in the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services (JOCFFDWS), endorsed by both Houses of the Oireachtas in April 2017, that there be equity of treatment and equivalent financial support between households using public water services and those availing of private water services. The subsidy scheme is demand-led and available to all eligible group water schemes irrespective of county location.
The revised subsidy levels are as follows:
1) For the annual subsidy towards the operation and maintenance costs of group water schemes providing a supply of water for domestic purposes (known as ‘Subsidy A’):
The maximum subsidy per house in private group water schemes has increased from €140 per household to €231. An increased maximum subsidy of €281 per household is available for small schemes of less than 100 houses that are willing, in the interests of providing in the long-term a more sustainable water supply to their members, to progress towards rationalisation or amalgamation with other schemes.
The maximum subsidy per house for public group water schemes has increased from €70 per household to €115. These are schemes that supply their members with water that is provided by Irish Water.
The portion of costs than can be recouped by group water schemes has also increased. Typically up to 60% of costs have been covered by the subsidy payments. This has increased to 85%. There are also changes and simplifications to how these costs are assessed.
2) For the additional subsidy that is paid towards the costs of group water schemes that have long-term Operation and Maintenance Contracts (for example, as part of a Design Build Operate project) for the delivery of water (known as ‘Subsidy B)’:
There has been an increase in the level of volumetric costs incurred by group water schemes operating under these contracts that is recoupable, from 60% to 85%. This will allow for a greater portion of costs to be included within the subsidy payment.
In addition to the above, my Department is currently finalising proposals to increase the level of grant support for users of private wells, details of which I will be announcing shortly.
Separate to the initial review of group water scheme subsidy levels and also in fulfilment of the JOCFFDWS recommendations, I will shortly be establishing a working group to conduct a wider review of investment needs in rural water services. The review will focus on issues such as governance, supervision and monitoring of the sector, and capital investment requirements. It is anticipated that this group would engage with relevant stakeholders and will aim to complete its work by mid-2018.
Cognisance will be taken in this regard of any required measures to support the implementation of the finalised River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021, which I plan to finalise and publish early this year.
681. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if an initial free water allowance for agricultural holdings that are subject to the water charging regime will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7307/18]
View answerFarming households using a public water supply, like other domestic users, do not pay domestic water charges, save for excessive use as provided for in the Water Services Act 2017. The Act provides for the discontinuance of water charges for domestic customers and a threshold of free water supply for domestic households.
In respect of non-domestic water use, the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, as amended, provides that Irish Water shall collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) and the CRU has been given statutory responsibility for protecting the interests of customers. With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. All non-domestic customers were transferred to Irish Water under the existing charging regime of each local authority with no changes, as instructed by the CRU.
From 2001, national water pricing policy required local authorities to recover the costs of providing water services from all non-domestic users of these services. This policy provided for charges based on actual metered consumption and is consistent with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive. The existing arrangements for all non-domestic customers are remaining in place with no changes for the time being.
I understand that the CRU is conducting a review of all aspects of non-domestic water tariffs and in conjunction with Irish Water will establish an enduring non-domestic tariff framework. Information Notes are published by the CRU from time to time to inform and update stakeholders on the broad approach being pursued and setting out the proposed timeframe for the overall project and outlining details of papers to be published by the CRU for public consultation and corresponding timelines.
682. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the projects considered under the local infrastructure housing activation fund, LIHAF, in 2016 and 2017; the projects approved; the locations of each; the funding which was provided to each project; if the funding has been drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7312/18]
View answer74 proposals for funding under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) were submitted by 21 local authorities in October 2016, of which 34 projects received preliminary approval in March 2017, at a total cost of €226 million. A list of the 74 proposals submitted is set out in the table below. Details of the 34 projects that received preliminary approval are available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/lihaf/. Local authorities were allowed to proceed to design phase on all of these projects, pending final approval and sign-off of a grant agreement between my Department and local authorities.
To date, I have given final approval for 29 of the 34 infrastructure projects, which will activate supply of almost 18,000 housing units on previously inaccessible sites, and grant agreements in respect of those projects have been signed. The cost of these projects is €177 million, of which €133 million will be funded by my Department and €44 million will be funded by local authorities. Discussions on the remaining projects are being finalised or have been moved for consideration under LIHAF 2 later in 2018. Information regarding the 29 approved projects is detailed in the second table below.
Funding of €1.67 million was drawn down in respect of LIHAF projects in 2017, which was mainly in respect of design costs. It is expected that this will increase substantially in 2018 as projects move to the construction stage. 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 involved. Through proactive management of the broader housing programme, the LIHAF underspend in 2017 was diverted to other housing activities, ensuring that the funding available in 2017 was fully applied to housing priorities.
Table of 74 LIAF Proposals
|
Local Authority |
Proposal |
|
|
1 |
Clare |
Ennistymon |
|
2 |
Shannon Lands East |
|
|
3 |
Claureen Ennis |
|
|
4 |
Cork City |
Old Whitechurch Road |
|
5 |
South Docks |
|
|
6 |
Mahon |
|
|
7 |
Cork County |
Midleton |
|
8 |
Ballincollig |
|
|
9 |
Carrigtwohill |
|
|
10 |
Carrigaline |
|
|
11 |
Glanmire |
|
|
12 |
Carrigaline |
|
|
13 |
Crosshaven |
|
|
14 |
Cobh |
|
|
15 |
Charleville |
|
|
16 |
Clonakilty |
|
|
17 |
Fermoy |
|
|
18 |
Mallow West |
|
|
19 |
Mallow North |
|
|
20 |
Mitchelstown N.E. |
|
|
21 |
Mitchelstown S.E. |
|
|
22 |
Donegal |
Windyhall, Letterkenny |
|
23 |
Dublin City |
Forbes Street Bridge |
|
24 |
Dodder Bridge |
|
|
25 |
Ballymun Road Infrastructure |
|
|
26 |
Belmayne and Clongriffin |
|
|
27 |
Grangegorman Energy Centre |
|
|
28 |
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
Cherrywood |
|
29 |
Kiltiernan Glenamuck |
|
|
30 |
Sandyford: Public Open Space |
|
|
31 |
Woodbrook Shanganagh |
|
|
32 |
Clay Farm |
|
|
33 |
Fingal |
Donabate Distributor Road |
|
34 |
Barnhill, Clonsilla |
|
|
35 |
Baldoyle Stapolin |
|
|
36 |
Oldtown Mooretown |
|
|
37 |
Galway City |
Bothar an Choiste |
|
38 |
Galway County |
Athenry |
|
39 |
Kildare |
Naas |
|
40 |
Kildare |
|
|
41 |
Maynooth |
|
|
42 |
Newbridge |
|
|
43 |
Celbridge |
|
|
44 |
Leixlip |
|
|
45 |
Sallins |
|
|
46 |
Kilkenny |
Western Environs |
|
47 |
Ferrybank |
|
|
48 |
Limerick |
Adare |
|
49 |
Castletroy |
|
|
50 |
Greenpark |
|
|
51 |
Mungret |
|
|
52 |
Louth |
Newtown Drogheda |
|
53 |
Northern Environs Drogheda |
|
|
54 |
Mount Avenue Dundalk |
|
|
55 |
Mayo |
Westport |
|
56 |
Ballina |
|
|
57 |
Meath |
Farganstown, Navan |
|
58 |
Stamullen |
|
|
59 |
Dunshaughlin |
|
|
60 |
Ratoath |
|
|
61 |
Kilcock |
|
|
62 |
Nevinstown, Navan |
|
|
63 |
Offaly |
Chancery Lane, Tullamore |
|
64 |
South Dublin |
Adamstown SDZ |
|
65 |
Ballycullen Oldcourt LAP |
|
|
66 |
Clonburris SDZ |
|
|
67 |
Corkagh Grange |
|
|
68 |
Tipperary |
Ardgeeha Lower, Clonmel |
|
69 |
Twohig, Clonmel |
|
|
70 |
Waterford City and County Council |
Gracedieu |
|
71 |
Kilbarry |
|
|
72 |
Westmeath |
Brawny Road, Athlone |
|
73 |
Ardmore Road, Mullingar |
|
|
74 |
Wexford |
Wexford |
LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE HOUSING ACTIVATION FUND
LIST OF 29 Projects with Signed Grant Agreements and their total cost
|
Local Authority |
Project name |
Infrastructure funded |
Total funding under LIHAF |
Amount to be funded by Dept (75%) |
|
Clare |
Claureen, Ennis |
• New link road including services• Roundabout |
3.66 |
2.75 |
|
Cork City |
Old Whitechurch Road |
• Re-routing power lines. • Road improvements.• Water and drainage improvements |
9.89 |
7.42 |
|
Cork City |
South Docks |
• South Docks Transition Zone transport infrastructure • Eastern Gateway Bridge western approach road • Marina Park - District Park• Kennedy Park upgrade |
15.50 |
11.63 |
|
Cork County |
Midleton (Water-rock) |
• Knockgriffen junction upgrade• New spine link road• Storm water sewer |
5.50 |
4.13 |
|
Cork County |
Carrigaline |
• Upgrade of Shannonpark roundabout |
0.60 |
0.45 |
|
Cork County |
Glanmire |
• The Glanmire Sustainable Transport Package• Upgrade of Dunkettle road (northern section)• Other road improvements including new link road and junction upgrades |
5.90 |
4.43 |
|
Dublin City |
Dodder Bridge |
• New public transport bridge across the Dodder near the point it empties into the Liffey. |
15.75 |
11.81 |
|
Dublin City |
Belmayne Clongriffin |
• Road Improvements• New Main Street |
3.00 |
2.25 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
Cherrywood |
• Druid's Glen Road (road only), • Druid’s Glen bridge - (short bridge structure transversing valley),• New N11 junction 'Q' at Druid Glen Road and • Druid's Glen Road (bridge feature) |
15.19 |
11.39 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
Clay Farm |
• Construction of 600m of new loop road |
4.70 |
3.53 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
Woodbrook Shanganagh |
• Revision of the Woodbrook roundabout on the old N11• Road improvements to support housing development• Access to a future proposed DART station. |
4.16 |
3.12 |
|
Fingal |
Donabate Distributor Road |
• Distributor Road• Bridge over railway line |
15.50 |
11.63 |
|
Fingal |
Oldtown Mooretown |
• Road improvements • Junction works at Rathbeale Road |
4.90 |
3.68 |
|
Fingal |
Baldoyle Stapolin |
• Ramp providing pedestrian and cyclist access to Clongriffin Train Station• Attenuation areas• Regional Park• 'Hole in Wall' staggered junction upgrade works |
6.18 |
4.64 |
|
Kildare |
Sallins |
• Provision of community and amenity services |
0.93 |
0.70 |
|
Kildare |
Naas |
• Naas inner relief road |
6.00 |
4.50 |
|
Kildare |
Maynooth |
• Maynooth Eastern Relief Road• Bridge crossing railway and Royal Canal |
14.50 |
10.88 |
|
Kilkenny |
Ferrybank |
• Provision of community and amenity services |
0.62 |
0.35 |
|
Kilkenny |
Western Environs |
• Distributor Road from the N76 Callan Road to the Circular Road• Upgrade of the Circular Road to the Kilmanagh Road• Upgrade the Kilmanagh Road on the Northern Boundary of the Western Environs Area• Linear park and internal amenity areas |
6.76 |
5.07 |
|
Limerick |
Mungret |
•Provision of new road infrastructure |
10.50 |
7.88 |
|
Louth |
Newtown Drogheda |
• Access Road |
1.22 |
0.92 |
|
Louth |
Mount Avenue Dundalk |
• Road Improvements |
3.33 |
2.50 |
|
Meath |
Ratoath |
• Phase 1 - Ratoath outer relief road |
3.15 |
2.37 |
|
Meath |
Farganstown, Navan |
• Access road |
5.68 |
4.26 |
|
South Dublin |
Kilcarbery / Corkagh Grange |
• Spine access road, including junction upgrade• Pumping station and rising foul main to existing sewer network• Foul sewer outfall |
4.39 |
3.29 |
|
South Dublin |
Clonburris SDZ |
• Surface water upgrade improvement scheme |
3.00 |
2.25 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
Gracedieu |
• Access Road |
1.32 |
0.99 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
Kilbarry |
• Distributor road |
3.39 |
2.54 |
|
Westmeath |
Brawny Road, Athlone |
• Access Road |
1.83 |
1.37 |
683. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of a deed of rectification (details supplied) in County Kildare. [7316/18]
View answerUnder the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) was established as and from 4 November 2006. The PRA replaces the Registrar of Deeds and Titles as the registering authority in relation to property registration in Ireland and, subject to the above Act, is independent in the performance of its functions.
The Deputy will be aware of the service for Oireachtas members introduced in 2006 through which information can be obtained on the current status of applications, such as the case referred to, which was introduced in May 2006. This provides a speedier, more efficient and more cost effective alternative to submitting Parliamentary Questions. It is operated by the PRA and is available all year round.
The Deputy's query has been forwarded to the PRA for attention and direct reply via the above mentioned service.
684. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the targets he has set to improve the rate of inspections for privately rented properties by local authorities; the monitoring system in place to ensure persons that rent substandard accommodation can expect to be held to account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7322/18]
View answer687. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of rental property inspections expected to be carried out in each local authority as a result of the provision of €2.5 million of funding for this purpose, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7354/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 684 and 687 together.
As I outlined in my reply to Question No. 1825 of 16 January 2018, 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.
Since the establishment of the Residential Tenancies Board (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 facilitate increased inspections of properties and ensure greater compliance with the Regulations. Provision has been made for an allocation of €2.5 million in 2018, with the intention of providing further increases each year in the period to 2021 to enable targeted inspection coverage to reach 25% of rental properties annually.
The Working Group on Rental Standards, comprising representatives of my Department, local authorities and the RTB, will be examining resource and performance management issues, including budget allocation, target setting and performance monitoring and reporting, as part of its work programme for the first half of 2018.
685. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) raised in correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7328/18]
View answerMy Department has already approved the delivery of new social housing in the area in question on a turnkey basis, following a proposal made by the County Council based on a local selection process managed by the Council.
I understand that subsequent to the selection process, a developer has been unable to advance one of the selected projects under the conditions of the local selection process to date. However, negotiations are continuing between the Council and the developer, which it is hoped will be successful in providing a way forward for the delivery of completed units, on a phased delivery basis.
686. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to establish and maintain a central register of vacant sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7353/18]
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 areas, beginning on 1 January 2017. Planning authorities will be issuing notices to owners of vacant sites by 1 June this year in respect of vacant sites on their respective registers on 1 January 2018, indicating that the levy will apply to those sites on 1 January 2019.
My Department does not maintain a central register of vacant sites. Under the 2015 Act, each local authority is responsible for administering the vacant site register in respect of their functional area. I have no plans to change these arrangements.
However, my Department has actively engaged with local authorities in relation to the implementation of the vacant site levy, holding information seminars for local authorities on 25 May 2016 and 8 November 2017, and issuing a circular letter to planning authorities on the detailed arrangements in relation to implementation of the levy on 1 July 2016.
My Department will continue to monitor implementation of the levy to ensure that it is being fully used, in line with its intended purpose of incentivising the development of vacant or under-utilised sites in urban areas and so that the full potential of the measure can be realised.
688. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he is taking to maximise the use of State-owned lands to deliver affordable rental and purchase homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7355/18]
View answerThe active management of the publicly-owned housing land bank is a key part of a range of complementary actions being progressed under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, designed to accelerate and increase housing output.
To this end, details of some 1,700 hectares of land in local authority and Housing Agency ownership were published on the Rebuilding Ireland Housing Land Map, with the potential to deliver some 42,500 homes nationally. The map also includes details of some 300 hectares of land in ownership of other State or semi-State bodies, with the potential to deliver a further 7,500 homes. All of the mapped sites can be viewed at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/rebuilding-ireland-land-map/.
A new Affordable Purchase Scheme is being introduced. It will be governed by the relevant provisions of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, which will be commenced shortly. It will be targeted at households with annual gross income below €50,000 for a single applicant or €75,000 for joint applicants. The maximum discount permissible under the Act is 40% and the sale prices will vary, depending on costs, the discount given and other relevant factors.
Once the relevant legislative provisions are commenced, I will develop detailed regulations covering the operation of the Scheme, including the full eligibility criteria. The elected members of each local authority will then determine the order of priority for the sale of affordable homes to eligible households.
In addition, I am providing funding of €25 million over 2018 and 2019 for a targeted programme, where the local authority will make low-cost serviced sites available for affordable housing, within the parameters of the overall affordable purchase scheme that will be set down in Regulations. My Department is currently drawing up the criteria for access to this fund, taking account of broader policy on affordable housing, and will be seeking submissions from local authorities in the coming weeks.
The Government is also determined to make affordable cost rental a major part of the Irish housing system. Under this approach, rents are set at levels to recover construction costs and to facilitate the management and administration of developments. Accepting that this innovative concept will take time to test and deliver, a pilot cost rental project is currently being progressed in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, in conjunction with the Housing Agency and Approved Housing Bodies, on publicly-owned land. The pilot project is providing significant lessons to the State in terms of the delivery of cost rental and in parallel, discussions are ongoing with the European Investment Bank regarding experiences in delivering cost rental and other affordable models in other jurisdictions that could also work in Ireland.
The delivery of additional affordable homes, to buy or rent, will rely on the State developing the full potential of its residential land bank. In the context of my Department's role in driving and co-ordinating housing delivery, I am establishing a dedicated Residential Land Management and Development Group to oversee this important work.
I anticipate that there is significant potential for the delivery of affordable homes on local authority lands. Following on from the Housing Summit on 22 January, I have asked local authority Chief Executives to submit, in the coming weeks, an outline of their respective affordable housing programmes, with a particular emphasis on Dublin, Galway and Cork, where there is the greatest affordability gap. The overall scale of delivery, and timescales, will be informed by these responses.
690. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures being taken to assist families, such as a person (details supplied), that are stuck in properties in negative equity; the schemes available for them to avail of; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7394/18]
View answerA key aim of the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is to increase housing supply, across all tenures, to achieve total housing output of at least 25,000 homes per year by 2020 and to deliver housing at more affordable price points. However, the range of supports put in place under the Plan is primarily focused on helping those households most in need of support in meeting their housing costs and, therefore, social housing and addressing homelessness have been the key priorities.
Similarly, insofar as mortgage holders are concerned, the priority has been to provide supports for those borrowers experiencing most difficulty in meeting their mortgage repayments. In that regard, I refer to the reply to Question No. 149 to the Minister for Finance on today's Order Paper. In addition, for those homeowners whose mortgage position is unsustainable, there are two Mortgage to Rent schemes in place, one for homeowners with mortgages from a private financial institutions and the second for those with a local authority mortgage, under which an Approved Housing Body or the relevant local authority can take over ownership of the home, while the household is allowed to remain in their home as a social housing tenant.
691. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has had discussions with other Departments with a view to reducing commercial rates on city and town centre businesses in order to revitalise core urban centres, which are frequently losing out to edge-of-town shopping; his plans to consider such measures in conjunction with his Cabinet colleagues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5959/18]
View answerLocal authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015.
Commercial rates form an important element of the funding of all local authorities. However, the legislative basis for the levying of rates is spread over a number of enactments, some dating back to the 19th century. Many of the provisions are outdated and not suitable for business trends in the modern era. My Department has developed legislative proposals to modernise and consolidate the legislation governing commercial rates. Among the measures included in the General Scheme of the Bill are provisions to allow a local authority to introduce rates alleviation schemes to support the implementation of policy objectives, including: local economic and community plans; objectives contained in Development Plans and Local Area Plans; and national planning policies.
In this regard, the Government has 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.
692. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress made in resolving the regulatory licensing issues that pose an impediment to the development of the seaweed industry; the research carried out on the production of a sustainable management plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7116/18]
View answerThere are two Departments with responsibility for the regulation of seaweed. My Department has responsibility under the Foreshore Act for the regulatory regime applying to the harvesting of wild seaweed while responsibility for the licensing of seaweed cultivation, and policy in this area is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
While I have responsibility for licensing under the Foreshore Act, I have no statutory role in the development of the seaweed industry from an economic development perspective. However, I do recognise that regulatory issues may be inhibiting growth in the sector. My aim is to bring clarity to the regulatory regime applying to wild seaweed harvesting, seeking to balance existing rights and commercial potential, while also ensuring sustainability of the resource and compliance with the State's obligations under domestic and EU environmental law.
A number of applications for licences to harvest wild seaweed are on hand in my Department. While examining the possibility of issuing licences for wild seaweed harvesting it became apparent that rights to harvest wild seaweed may already exist in some areas to which these applications apply.
In this regard, my Department has engaged with the Property Registration Authority (PRA) to attempt to establish the extent of these existing appurtenant rights specified in Land Registry folios to harvest wild seaweed. On foot of this engagement, the PRA has provided my Department with data detailing the extent of the rights in seven of the western seaboard counties, namely Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Clare, Galway, Mayo and Donegal.
My Department has also met with the Attorney General's office on several occasions to examine the implications of the interaction between the existing seaweed harvesting rights and the applications for licences by companies. My Department is continuing to work on this complex legal issue, with a view to making substantial progress as quickly as possible.
693. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to initiate a boundary commission on European Parliament boundaries, in view of a recent European Parliament decision to extend the number of MEP seats here from 11 to 13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7447/18]
View answerThe composition of the current 2014-2019 European Parliament was established by European Council Decision 2013/312/EU of 28 June 2013 establishing the composition of the European Parliament which, in the case of Ireland, provided for the election of 11 MEPs. The current number of MEPs in the European Parliament is 750 plus the President with each Member State having between 6 and 96 Members.
Council Decision 2013/312/EU provided that it would be revised again in advance of the 2019-2024 parliamentary term upon an initiative of the European Parliament to be presented before the end of 2016. The launch of this process was, however, postponed by the European Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs (i.e. the AFCO Committee) until after the referendum in the United Kingdom on its withdrawal from the European Union.
On 7 September 2017, a draft report on the composition of the European Parliament for 2019-2024 was published by the AFCO Committee. This draft report was adopted, with some amendments, at a plenary meeting of the AFCO Committee on 23 January 2018. In broad terms, the revised report adopted proposes, among other things, that:
- when the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union becomes legally effective, 27 of the United Kingdom’s 73 seats would be re-distributed among 14 Member States, of which 2 would go to Ireland, increasing Ireland’s MEPs from 11 to 13 in number. This would mean a reduction in the overall size of the European Parliament from 751 to 705 members;
- however, if the date on which the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union becomes legally effective takes place after the European Parliament elections are held in May/June 2019, the number of MEPs to be elected from each Member State for the 2019-2024 parliamentary term would remain the same as that of the current parliament. The additional seats would only be filled on the date after which the United Kingdom's withdrawal becomes legally effective.
These proposals were approved at a plenary of the European Parliament on 7 February 2018. My Department understands that it will now be put to the European Council for a unanimous decision, and then returned to Parliament for a final vote.
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 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.
694. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount spent by her Department on photography by photographer and-or agency, public relations or communications advice external to the media officers of her Department, by agency; the use of public relations or communications advice by an agency fully funded by her Department by agency and month, in tabular form since 1 January 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6744/18]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in respect of the level of expenditure by my department on photography, public relations or communications advice during the period in question is set out in the tables below.
The hiring of photographers for Ministerial or Departmental events is dependent on a number of factors, including the nature of the engagement, the expected level of media interest and the national/regional scope of the subject. Certain costs included relate to the photographic documentation of important heritage sites, a key function of my Department, rather than to specific occasions. At all times, value for money is a critical consideration in the context of the booking of photographers.
2016 Total: €9,819
|
Engagement |
Photographers |
Expenditure |
|
Launch of design phase for archives storage in National Archives |
Conor McCabe |
€431 |
|
Launch of website of compensation claims for property losses during 1916 Rising |
Conor McCabe |
€431 |
|
Commemorating Women of 1916 |
Conor McCabe |
€431 |
|
2016 Post Primary Schools Flag Ceremony |
Robbie Reynolds |
€553 |
|
Launch of Action Plan for Historic Houses |
Lorraine Teevan |
€310 |
|
EU Language Jobs Announcements, RHA Gallery |
Maxwell Photography |
€395 |
|
Centre of Excellence for EU Irish Language Careers meeting with Minister of State |
Andrew Downes |
€250 |
|
Moneen Cave Excavation |
Thorsten Kahlert |
€1,300 |
|
Ireland 2016 Peace Proms |
Big O |
€400 |
|
Wreath Laying at South Dublin Union, Easter Monday |
Big O |
€212 |
|
State Ceremonial for Women of 1916 |
Maxwell Photography |
€775 |
|
2016 - Last Flag for School Delivery, Tallaght Hospital |
Maxwell Photography |
€689 |
|
2016 - images for Participating Children and Staff |
Maxwell Photography |
€499 |
|
2016 - Liberty Hall (additional images) |
Maxwell Photography |
€138 |
|
Opening screening of 1916 Documentary, National Concert Hall |
Maxwell Photography |
€590 |
|
LEADER Programme Launch |
Lorraine Teevan Photography |
€564 |
|
Roger Casement Event |
Maxwell Photography |
€590 |
|
Thomas Kettle Memorial Service |
Maxwell Photography |
€486 |
|
Ionad an Phiarsaigh Official Opening |
Táin Bó Media Teo |
€221 |
|
St Enda's Rathfarnham |
Conor McCabe |
€554 |
2017 Photography: €10,640
|
Engagement |
Photographers |
Expenditure |
|
Recording of interim conservation works at Moore Street |
Con Brogan |
€4,200 |
|
Culture Ireland - Launch of Edinburgh Fringe Festival |
Maxwell Photography |
€516 |
|
Dave Pollock book launch |
Fota Foto |
€123 |
|
Opening of Killarney House |
Valerie O'Sullivan |
€950 |
|
Opening of Shekina exhibition |
Con Brogan |
€325 |
|
Thomas Ashe commemoration |
Maxwell Photography |
€630 |
|
Biodiversity Week Burren National Park |
Conns Cameras |
€484 |
|
National Biodiversity Action Plan launch |
Maxwell Photography |
€621 |
|
Launch of 'Centenary' book at GPO, Dublin |
Maxwell Photography |
€695 |
|
Launch of Action Plan for Rural Development |
GPhotos |
€150 |
|
"The Moore Street Report – Securing History" presented to the Minister by the Moore Street Consultative Group |
Maxwell Photography |
€121 |
|
Launch of online genealogy toolkit for schools |
Maxwell Photography |
€499 |
|
Cruinniú na Cásca |
Maxwell Photography |
€689 |
|
Announcement that Jesse Jones to represent Ireland at 57th International Art Exhibition in Venice |
Maxwell Photography |
€465 |
|
Sean Cassidy "Buttons and Bows" artwork |
Maxwell Photography |
€172 |
2018 Photography €352.20
|
Engagement |
Photographers |
Expenditure |
|
Photographs for the Department's site "Whodoeswhat.ie" |
Táin Bó Media Teo |
€73.80 |
|
Launch of new App by Minister of State at Oireachtas na Samhna 2017 |
Táin Bó Media |
€98.40 |
|
Official meeting with the Scottish Cabinet Secretary, Fiona Hyslop. |
Pat Byrne Photographer |
€180 |
Similarly, the engagement of external groups for the provision of specialised services, including public relations firms, is dependent on a number of factors, including the expertise and resources available within my Department. In this context, value for money is at all times a critical consideration
Public Relations €19,988
|
Year |
Amount |
||
|
2016 |
Q4PR |
Publicity campaign for Irish Language employment opportunities in the European Institutions |
€17,000 |
|
2017 |
Nicholas Quaife |
Public Relations - Creative Ireland Programme |
€2,988 |
Finally, in light of the large volume of information requested by the Deputy, arrangements are being made for information in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department to be compiled and forwarded to the Deputy, in accordance with the timelines set out in Standing Orders.
695. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of indigenous films and foreign films, respectively, that have been made each year with the assistance of Irish Film Board funding over the past five years; and the number of these films that were profit making. [6798/18]
View answerThe Irish Film Board (IFB) is the national development agency for Irish film making and the Irish film, television and animation industry. The Film Board supports writers, directors and production companies across these sectors by providing investment loans for the development, production and distribution of film, television and animation projects. Production funding is only available to Irish production companies with the focus on supporting Irish creative talent. Therefore all films have significant Irish production content and the Film Board does not categorise its films as "indigenous" or "foreign". Of course, given the nature of the film industry many films also include an element of co-production with other States.
Whether a film makes a financial return is dependent on a range of factors including the nature of the funding sources and terms and conditions attaching to it. The IFB provides limited recourse production loans to Irish production companies. This means that if the film achieves a certain level of commercial success the IFB participates in a share of the revenue from that success. The amount that the IFB recoups on an annual basis from those films it supported is published in its Annual Reports which are available on its website www.irishfilmboard.ie/about/ifb-annual-reports.
