Written Answers Nos. 1279-1300
1279. Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if legislation is planned to cease the practice of developers advertising new homes with price on application and no published price (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24347/18]
View answerAs I previously outlined in my reply to Questions Nos. 594 and 599 of 15 May 2018, I have no function in relation to the regulation of how property websites and advertisements for properties for sale display information, including whether they provide specific asking prices or not.
I have no plans to introduce legislation in relation to the assignment of conditions of planning permission regarding the advertisement of new houses or apartment developments without a price.
1280. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of land available for the provision of local authority housing by local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24410/18]
View answer1281. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of local authority units of accommodation under construction by local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24411/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1280 and 1281 together.
The active management of the publicly-owned housing land bank is 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. These mapped sites can be viewed at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/rebuilding-ireland-land-map/.
In addition to this mapping exercise, all local authorities, have been requested to prepare Strategic Development and Management Plans for housing lands in their ownership, with particular emphasis on prioritising those sites with the greatest potential to deliver housing at scale, in the short to medium term.
From a longer-term strategic perspective, as part of Project Ireland 2040, the Government announced its intention to establish a new National Regeneration and Development Agency, which will have a role in managing the State's wider publicly-owned land bank to ensure that overall development needs, including housing, are met. The new Agency will work closely with local authorities, Government Departments, Agencies and other State and semi-State bodies to secure the best use of public lands and ensure the delivery on the objectives of the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan.
In respect of the number of local authority houses under construction, this is set out in the Social Housing Construction Status Report which is published on a quarterly basis. The report covering the period up to end Quarter 4 2017 was published on 19 April 2018 and is available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-social-housing-construction-status-report-q4-2017/. The report provides project details of the social housing construction pipeline in place at end-2017 for all local authorities, including those being delivered in partnership with approved housing bodies.
The report shows a pipeline of over 13,400 social homes, a substantial increase on the 8,430 homes in the pipeline a year earlier. At end 2017, almost 2,600 social homes were completed, with another 3,650 homes under construction, 1,900 homes about to go on site and the remaining 5,300 homes progressing through the various stages of planning, design and procurement.
1282. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to extend the homeless HAP scheme to additional local authority areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24412/18]
View answerThe Homeless HAP Place Finder Service is a targeted support for homeless households who are finding it difficult to secure HAP tenancies. The function of the Service is to work with homeless households to identify potential rental properities and support them to secure the 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 3,000 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 to exit emergency accommodation, since January 2018, the Homeless HAP Place Finder Service can now be made available in each of the 31 local authority areas. I have provided sanction to local authorities to recruit the necessary personnel required to operate an apporpriate Place Finder Service in their areas. To date 14 local authorities have expressed an interest in making this support available to homeless households. I also provided local authorities with the capacity to pay deposits and advance rental payments on behalf of households in emergency homeless accommodation or who are at immediate risk of entering emergency accommodation in order to secure accommodation via the HAP scheme. To qualify for these specific additional supports available to homeless households, a household must have been determined by the relevant local authority to be homeless within the meaning of section 2 of the Housing Act 1988. The operation of local homeless services, including the Place Finder Service, is a matter for each local authority.
Aside from the specific Place Finder supports available to homeless households who could benefit from HAP, every local authority has discretion to exercise flexibility and agree to a HAP payment, up to 20% (up to 50% in the Dublin local authority areas only) above the maximum rent limit for that household type where it is necessary, because of local rental market conditions.
1283. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of family hubs that are to be provided in Dublin in 2018; the number of families that the hubs will accommodate on an emergency basis; the planned delivery dates for each of the family hubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24413/18]
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 accommodation and associated services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities.
Family hubs offer family living arrangements with a greater level of stability than is possible in hotel accommodation, with the capacity to provide appropriate play-space, cooking and laundry facilities, communal recreation space, while move-on options to long-term independent tenancies are identified and secured.
There are currently 20 family hubs in operation, 17 of which are in Dublin. Two additional facilities will open in Dublin in June and August respectively. This will bring the total number of hubs operating in Dublin to 19 with a combined capacity of over 500 family units.
My Department is working closely with the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) on the development of further family hubs. A range of options are being pursued by the DRHE, aimed at introducing at least 400 further units of accommodation for families in the Dublin region. While it is not possible at this point to provide precise delivery dates for these facilities, every effort will continue to be made to secure delivery as expeditiously as possible.
1284. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding property registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24415/18]
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.
Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for the Property Registration Authority is reps@prai.ie.
I have been advised that a request for information relating to this question was received by the PRA on 31 May 2018 and a response was issued on 5 June 2018.
1285. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary question No. 2074 of 11 September 2017, if his attention has been drawn to the wide variation in the capacity of local authorities to collect commercial rates; if his Department has considered offering assistance to local authorities to improve their capacity to maximise the important revenue stream to improve local services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24464/18]
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 pursuant to the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority.
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 is developing proposals for a consolidated Rates Bill to modernise and consolidate the legislation in this area. In this regard, the Government approved the drafting of a Rates Bill in April 2017. It is currently with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for drafting, with a view to its introduction as soon as possible.
The Debt Management Project Implementation Board, on which my Department and the Local Authority Sector were represented, was established by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in February 2015, to progress the recommendations of the Debt Management Review, which was published in 2014. As part of this process, the local authorities undertook a range of work to improve collection levels including;
- Setting targets for reduction of arrears of commercial rates in each local authority;
- Improved reporting of rates debts in local authority financial statements;
- Introduction of strengthened policies relating to debt collection; and
- The development and rollout of a training and education programme.
As part of this process, the local authority sector prepared a business case for stronger enforcement powers in the collection of commercial rates. This business case was endorsed by the Project Board. Provision for strengthened enforcement powers for local authorities is included in the Rates Bill currently being drafted.
1286. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if there is provision to deviate from the terms of the original planning permission in regard to the water and waste water conditions set out in planning permission in situations in which an extension of duration is applied for and granted to a planning permission; if Irish Water has a role with respect to variations; if so, the nature of the role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24485/18]
View answerSection 42 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, relating to the extension of the duration of a planning permission, does not provide for the making of any substantive change to a permission, other than the period during which the permission has effect. Apart from conditions relating to the giving of adequate security for the satisfactory completion of the development concerned, there is no provision in that enactment for attaching conditions to a decision to extend the duration of a permission or for consultation with third parties in the matter.
1287. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on a case; the options open to persons (details supplied) in this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24509/18]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2014-2016 to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants.
Where there is a dispute between a landlord and tenant in respect of a failure of either party to fulfil their obligations under the Acts, or a dispute in relation to whether or not a tenancy exists, the dispute may be referred to the RTB for resolution.
Due to the quasi-judicial role of the RTB, it would be inappropriate for me, as Minister, to comment on or to interfere in, the specifics of any case.
1288. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to expand the local authority tenant purchase scheme beyond three bedroom houses; if two bedroom properties and larger houses will be included; and if there is discretion allowed for local authorities. [24538/18]
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 one 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 local 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.
In line with the commitment given in Rebuilding Ireland, a review of the first 12 months of the Scheme’s operation has been undertaken. The review has incorporated analysis of comprehensive data received from local authorities regarding the operation of the scheme during 2016 and a wide-ranging public consultation process which took place in 2017 and saw submissions received from individuals, elected representatives and organisations.
The review is now complete and a full report has been prepared setting out findings and recommendations. In finalising the report some further consultation was necessary and due consideration had to be given to possible implementation arrangements. These matters are now almost completed and I expect to be in a position to publish the outcome of the review shortly.
1289. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the local electoral boundary review will be published; and the date for publication. [24545/18]
View answerI established two independent Local Electoral Area Boundary Committees on 13 December 2017 to review and make recommendations on local electoral areas having regard to, among other things, the results of Census 2016 as well as the commitment to consider reducing the size of territorially large local electoral areas as set out in A Programme for Partnership Government (May 2016). The reviews are to be completed well in advance of the next local elections which are scheduled for mid-2019. In this regard, the Committees are tasked with reporting to me within six months of their establishment, that is by tomorrow 13 June 2018, after which the necessary arrangements will be made to publish their reports.
1290. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the implementation of the programme for Partnership Government as it applies to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24578/18]
View answerMy Department is responsible for over 70 commitments under the Programme for a Partnership Government.
Progress reports on the implementation of the Programme are published on a regular basis by the Department of the Taoiseach. The most recent progress report was published in December 2017 and can be accessed at the following link: Programme for Government Implementation.
I expect a further report, providing a comprehensive update on progress since May 2017 for all Departments, to be published shortly. In terms of the commitments under my Department's remit, this will set out progress in relation to a range of areas, including:
- the commitment in Budget 2018 of €1.9 billion for investment in housing during 2018;
- 7,065 new homes brought into the active social housing stock last year;
- 17,916 new HAP tenancies established in 2017, exceeding the target by almost 3,000;
- in excess of 4,700 exits from homelessness into sustainable tenancies in 2017;
- the launch of Project Ireland 2040 earlier this year - a twenty year spatial strategy backed up by a ten-year, €116 billion capital investment programme.
1291. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when phase two energy refit funding will be allocated to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24598/18]
View answerThe Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme, which commenced in 2013 to improve the energy efficiency and comfort levels in local authority homes, is being implemented in a number of phases. Funding of some €115.7 million has been provided from 2013 to the end of 2017 to improve almost 64,000 local authority homes, benefitting those at risk of fuel poverty and making a significant contribution to Ireland’s carbon emissions reduction targets and energy reduction targets for 2020.
Phase 1 of the Programme focused on providing attic/roof insulation and the less intrusive cavity wall insulation and is expected to be completed this year. Phase 2 will focus on the external fabric upgrade of those social housing units with solid/hollow block wall construction and has been successfully piloted by Westmeath and Fingal County Councils.
My Department has recently contacted all local authorities seeking details of their work proposals under both phases of the Programme in 2018. Following analysis of these proposals, funding allocations will be issued to local authorities and Phase 2 will be rolled out nationally. As Phase 2 attracts co-funding at a rate of 50% under the European Regional Development Fund 2014 – 2020 it must be implemented in accordance with all relevant EU regulations and the management and control procedures, including procurement, as required by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
1292. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to extend the rent pressure zone to Dundalk in view of the crisis in rental costs and student accommodation costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24659/18]
View answerSection 24A of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, as amended, provides that the Housing Agency, in consultation with housing authorities, may make a proposal to the Minister that an area should be considered as a Rent Pressure Zone. Following receipt of such a proposal, the Minister requests the Director of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to conduct an assessment of the area to establish whether or not it meets the criteria for designation and to report to the Minister on whether the area should be designated as a Rent Pressure Zone. For the purpose of the Act, ‘area’ is defined as either the administrative area of a housing authority or a local electoral area (LEA) within the meaning of section 2 of the Local Government Act 2001. There is no provision for any other type of area to be designated as a Rent Pressure Zone.
For an area to be designated as a Rent Pressure Zone, it must satisfy the following criteria set out in section 24A(4) of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 (as inserted by section 36 of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016):
(i) The annual rate of rent inflation in the area must have been 7% or more in four of the last six quarters; and
(ii) The average rent for tenancies registered in the area with the RTB in the last quarter must be above the average national rent (the National Standardised Rent in the RTB’s Rent Index Report) in the last quarter (€1,054 per month in Q4 2017).
As the average rent in both of the Dundalk LEAs, as set out in the Table below, is currently below the national average rent, they do not qualify for consideration to be designated as a RPZ. However, the Housing Agency continues to monitor the rental market and may recommend further areas for designation. Where, following the procedures set out in the Act, it is found at a future date that additional areas meet the criteria, they will be designated as Rent Pressure Zones.
|
Local Electoral Area |
Quarters > 7% |
Average 2017 Q4 (€) |
|
Dundalk Carlingford |
5 |
€795.74 |
|
Dundalk South |
5 |
€968.79 |
Rent Pressure Zones have their legal basis under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2016, which regulate the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented residential sector. Pursuant to section 3(1) of the 2004 Act, the Acts apply to every dwelling that is the subject of a tenancy. The provisions of the Acts, including those provisions providing for the rent pressure zone measure, do not apply where the dwelling is occupied by a person under an agreement which is not a tenancy agreement.
Licensing agreements, such as those that apply in respect of some types of student accommodation, are not covered by the legislative protections of the Residential Tenancies Acts because they are not deemed to be tenancy agreements for the purposes of the Acts. Consequently, the restrictions on rental increases in Rent Pressure Zones, provided for in the Acts, do not apply to accommodation types that are not subject to a tenancy agreement.
However, if there is any doubt as to the type of agreement in place in respect of individual dwellings, for example whether it is a tenancy or licence, the matter should be referred to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) for a determination.
In addition, the Department of Education and Skills (DES) is liaising with my Department, including through the forum of the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Student Accommodation which is convened by the DES, to examine the wide range of student accommodation types (and ancillary services) available with a view to considering how best to regulate the associated pricing arrangements.
1293. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the criteria for the extension of the rental pressure zones to other areas of the country in view of the increases that continue to take place in counties such as County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24697/18]
View answerFor an area to be designated a Rent Pressure Zone, it must satisfy the following criteria set out in section 24A(4) of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, as amended:
(i) The annual rate of rent inflation in the area must have been 7% or more in four of the last six quarters; and
(ii) The average rent for tenancies registered in the area with the RTB in the last quarter must be above the average national rent (the National Standardised Rent in the RTB’s Rent Index Report) in the last quarter (€1,054 per month in Q4 2017).
The Residential Tenancies Board’s latest quarterly Rent Index Report for Q4 2017, which was published in March 2018, shows reductions in the rate of rental inflation across both national and Dublin rents. The slowdown in the quarterly growth rate in Dublin rents to 1.1% in Q4 2017 is particularly noteworthy, bringing the annualised growth rate over 2017 to 5.2%, a drop from 8% in the year to Q3 2017. Significantly, this 5.2% increase for Dublin is the lowest annual growth rate since 2013. This latest quarterly index provides evidence that the introduction of the RPZs, in December 2016, is having a positive effect on rent inflation, particularly in Dublin.
The RTB Rent Index Report also includes a summary of the data used as the criteria for designating Rent Pressure Zones in relation to all Local Electoral Areas in the country. This allows everyone to see exactly where their area stands in relation to average rent levels and increases and possible designation.
For the purpose of the Act, ‘area’ is defined as either the administrative area of a housing authority or a local electoral area within the meaning of section 2 of the Local Government Act 2001. There is no provision for any other type of area to be designated as a Rent Pressure Zone.
There are 5 local electoral areas in County Wicklow - Baltinglass, Bray, Greystones, Wicklow and Arklow. Three of these - Bray, Greystones and Wicklow - have been designated as Rent Pressure Zones.
The Housing Agency continues to monitor the rental market and may recommend further areas for designation. Where, following the procedures set out in the Act, it is found at a future date that additional areas meet the criteria, they will be designated as Rent Pressure Zones.
1294. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of pre-planning meetings that have taken place in relation to housing developments, including one-off rural houses, by local authority area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24720/18]
View answerPlanning statistics compiled annually by planning authorities for collation and publication on my Department’s website do not include data on the number of pre-application meetings involving developers and planning authorities that were held in relation to proposed developments.
Such information as may be compiled by planning authorities may be sought directly from the relevant planning authority, as appropriate.
1295. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount drawn down under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund per annum to date; the number of affordable homes built; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24725/18]
View answerMy Department issued the first call for proposals under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) to all local authorities in August 2016. Preliminary approval was given to 34 projects in March 2017 and I have since fully approved funding for 30 of those projects, including roads, bridges and parks, at a cost of approximately €195 million, with an associated housing delivery of 20,000 housing units by 2021.
All projects that received preliminary approval in March 2017 were allowed to proceed to design phase immediately after that and most are going through the planning and tendering phases at the moment, with one at construction stage.
Local authorities can draw down the funding allocated to their projects at any stage, once the project cost has been incurred. My Department invited the 14 local authorities involved to submit their first tranche of certified expenditure at the end of 2017 and the total submitted by local authorities for draw down was €1.6 million.
While there was an underspend by local authorities in 2017, funding for LIHAF is ring-fenced within the overall housing budget and through proactive management of the broader housing programme, any LIHAF underspend in 2017 was diverted to other housing activities, ensuring that the funding available in 2017 was fully applied to housing priorities.
The low level of the draw-down to date by local authorities reflects the stages which these infrastructure projects are at currently. The expenditure incurred during the design, planning and tendering stages is significantly lower than that at the construction stage so a major increase in drawdown is expected as projects progress through to construction.
While I am anxious for the infrastructure and the housing to be delivered as fast as possible, I recognise that local authorities must observe proper design, planning and tendering procedures. My Department will continue to monitor progress on these sites and ensure that every effort is made to secure the timely delivery of the infrastructure involved.
While LIHAF is designed primarily as a housing supply activation measure, as part of the terms of the fund, local authorities were asked to leverage the funding to ensure that housing activated by LIHAF would be made more affordable. Following final approval of projects, details of the projected delivery under LIHAF for all 30 projects were updated and are available at www.rebuildingireland.ie/lihaf. Some of the housing will be delivered in tandem with the infrastructure, with other sites needing the infrastructure to be in place before housing can be delivered. As the projects move forward over 2018 to 2021, my Department will be in a position to update on delivery of housing, including the provision of reduced-cost and affordable homes on these sites.
1296. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the review of income eligibility limits for social housing will be finalised and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24726/18]
View answerThe Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.
The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs, plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. It is important to note that the limits introduced at that time also reflected a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced prior to the new system coming into operation, in order to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn, both promoting sustainable communities and also providing a degree of future-proofing.
As part of the broader social housing reform agenda, a review of income eligibility for social housing supports has commenced. The Housing Agency is carrying out the detailed statistical work which will underpin this review on behalf of my Department. I expect the results of the review to be available for publication in late Summer 2018.
1297. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the review of the tenant purchase scheme will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24727/18]
View answerIn line with the commitment given in Rebuilding Ireland, a review of the first 12 months of the Scheme’s operation has been undertaken. The review has incorporated analysis of comprehensive data received from local authorities regarding the operation of the scheme during 2016 and a wide-ranging public consultation process which took place in 2017 and saw submissions received from individuals, elected representatives and organisations.
The review is now complete and a full report has been prepared setting out findings and recommendations. In finalising the report some further consultation was necessary and due consideration had to be given to possible implementation arrangements. These matters are now almost completed and I expect to be in a position to publish the outcome of the review shortly.
1298. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if plans will be approved for additional housing in County Laois, incorporating social housing, affordable housing and private housing in the event of the county council bringing proposals forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24728/18]
View answerThe Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is firmly focused on increasing supply and the priority for Government attention is to support those in society with the greatest housing access and affordability challenges. In that context, the focus is on meeting the housing needs of those in the lower-income categories, particularly those in need of social housing supports and other households that are most challenged from an affordability perspective, such as first-time buyers. The significant progress being made in these areas is outlined on the Rebuilding Ireland website at www.rebuildingireland.ie.
In Budget 2018, the social housing allocation was increased to over €6 billion for the lifespan of Rebuilding Ireland, with a target of 50,000 social housing homes to be delivered by 2021, and some 87,000 households to be supported through the Housing Assistance Payment Scheme and the Rental Accommodation Scheme. In 2017, almost 26,000 households had their social housing need met, significantly ahead of the target set.
In May 2018, I wrote to all local authorities, including Laois County Council, setting out their individual social housing targets across build, acquisition and leasing for 2018 and also for 2018-2021. Details of these are available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-social-housing-delivery-targets-for-local-authorities-2018-2021/.
In respect of social housing build targets for 2018, a strong pipeline is already in place for local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to deliver on these targets. The 2018 build target is for the delivery of 4,969 additional social housing homes, including 3,819 local authority and AHB build units. The Quarter 4 2017 Construction Status Report, which is available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link, http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-social-housing-construction-status-report-q4-2017/, provides details of projects on a local authority by authority basis.
I announced new housing affordability measures in January of this year. These target both affordable purchase and rental units to be delivered initially from local authority housing land-banks, with the potential to deliver more than 3,000 new affordable homes to buy or rent initially, with a target delivery of at least 10,000 new affordable homes in the medium to longer term.
Delivery of affordable homes will require local authorities to maximise the potential delivery of new homes from their land bank. This may include mixed-tenure developments on appropriate sites and my Department will continue to work with Laois County Council and all local authorities with regard to any social and mixed-tenure housing proposals that they bring forward, in order to maximise delivery and also harness appropriate opportunities to deliver on additional build units in 2018.
1299. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when additional projects in County Kildare will be considered for LIHAF funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24729/18]
View answer1302. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when applications will be invited from local authorities for the second tranche of LIHAF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24826/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1299 and 1302 together.
The Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund was designed to activate housing supply by putting in place the enabling public infrastructure necessary to ensure that large scale development could take place on key sites in urban areas of high housing demand. Final approval was given for 30 projects under LIHAF in 2017 and these projects will stimulate development of approximately 20,000 housing units across 14 local authorities.
Activation of housing development at scale is a priority under Pillar 3 of Rebuilding Ireland, but so too is the delivery of more affordable homes and I note the particular challenges in the cities of Dublin and Cork where people are facing the greatest affordability challenges.
Earlier this year, I announced a package of initiatives to help alleviate affordability pressures faced by households, particularly in those areas of high housing demand and high accommodation costs. The measures announced include the establishment of the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, the re-introduction of an affordable purchase scheme, and the introduction of cost rental projects. Further details on the suite of initiatives can be found at http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/min-murphys-statement-on-affordable-homes/.
Importantly, the new affordability measures are specifically targeted at delivering more affordable homes from the State's land bank. In this regard, and to aid local authorities further in delivering affordable housing from their sites, as part of Budget 2018, the Government announced the establishment of a new Serviced Sites Fund to unlock local authority-owned lands specifically to deliver affordable homes. The funding will support local authorities to provide enabling infrastructure on sites which they own, particularly in urban areas facing the greatest affordability challenge. I intend to issue a call for proposals under the Fund in the near future.
Within this cross-cutting policy context, I am also reviewing the plans for a second call under LIHAF, in light of the new measures referenced above, the importance of synergy with the Serviced Sites Fund, and the imminent calls for proposals under the new €2bn Urban Regeneration and Development Fund and the €1bn Rural Regeneration and Development Fund under Project Ireland 2040 and the 10-year National Development Plan. These funds are aimed at enabling residential and commercial development, supported by infrastructure, services and amenities, within the existing built-up areas of all of our urban settlements as well as transforming our rural towns and villages and their outlying areas, to ensure that they are viable and attractive places in which to live, work, invest and visit.
I expect to make a decision regarding a second call under LIHAF shortly.
1300. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if each approved construction, turnkey and large scale acquisition projects, that is, capital funded in 2015 and 2016 have been completed and occupied in accordance with Appendix 2 of Laying the Foundations: Housing Actions Report in April 2016, in tabular form. [24769/18]
View answerSince the publication in April 2016 of the Housing Action Report Laying the Foundations, Rebuilding Ireland has further increased the targets and the funding resources for the delivery of social housing. Critically, €6 billion in exchequer investment is now available for the delivery of 50,000 social housing units through build, refurbishment, acquisitions and leasing, over the period to 2021.
This funding is available to all local authorities to advance their social housing construction programmes, including projects detailed in appendix 2 of the Laying the Foundations report. Substantial additional construction projects have been added to the social housing delivery programme since then and with a view to greater transparency in this area, I publish, on a quarterly basis, a comprehensive status report of all the social housing construction schemes for all local authority areas. These reports show details such as the project locations and a range of information relating to their advancement, whether completed or on site or progressing through planning, design and construction and it includes projects approved in 2015 and 2016 and listed in appendix 2 of the Laying the Foundations report.
The most recent of these quarterly reports was published on 19 April 2018. It covers the period up to end Quarter 4 2017 and is available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-social-housing-construction-status-report-q4-2017/.
The report shows a pipeline of over 13,400 social homes, a very substantial increase on the 8,430 homes in the pipeline a year earlier. At end-2017, almost 2,600 social homes were completed, with another 3,650 homes under construction, 1,900 homes about to go on site and the remaining 5,300 homes progressing through the various stages of planning, design and procurement.
The report covering the period to the end of Quarter 1 of 2018 is currently being compiled and will be published in the coming weeks. Further social housing project approvals are being added to the construction programme as they are developed by local authorities and approved housing bodies. I am keen that all local authorities advance their social housing projects as speedily as possible and I have assured them that funding is in place to support their activity in this regard.
