Written Answers Nos. 521-540
521. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding proposals to resolve the anomaly for women who are receiving a reduced State pension, contributory, owing to a change in 2012 in the pay-related social insurance, PRSI, calculation method in circumstances in which these women took time out of work to rear their children. [29140/18]
View answerOn the 23rd January, the Government agreed to a proposal that will allow pensioners affected by the 2012 changes in rate bands to have their pension entitlement calculated under a total contributions approach which will include up to 20 years of a new HomeCaring credit.
The TCA will ensure that the totality of a person’s social insurance contributions - as opposed to the timing of them - determines their final pension outcome. In particular it will benefit people whose work history includes an extended period of time outside the paid workplace, while raising families or in a full-time caring role.
This approach will make it easier for many post-2012 pensioners affected by the 2012 rate band changes who are currently assessed under the yearly average model, to qualify for a higher rate of the State Pension (contributory). A person who reached pension age after 1st September 2012 and has a 40 year record of paid and credited social insurance contributions, subject to a maximum of 20 years of the new HomeCaring credits, will qualify for a maximum contributory pension where they satisfy the other qualifying conditions for the scheme. Up to 10 years of other credits, for example, awarded when on Jobseekers or Illness Benefit, may also be used, subject to the total credits not exceeding 20 years.
So, for example, a person might receive a maximum pension based on 20 years paid PRSI contributions, 5 years jobseeker credits, and 15 years HomeCaring Credits (before or after 1994), over a 50 year period and qualify for a maximum rate pension, despite additional gaps of up to 10 years. Those with fewer contributions will have a pro-rata entitlement. For example, someone with 18 years PRSI contributions and 18 years homecaring may qualify for a 90% contributory pension.
Work is underway to draft legislation to enable implementation of these arrangements. In line with the legislation, IT solutions must be developed to implement the changes. Accordingly, in the final quarter of this year, the Department will begin inviting impacted recipients of the State Pension (contributory) to seek a review of their pension calculations, with the first payments being made in the first quarter of 2019, backdated to the 30th March 2018.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
522. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 541 of 19 June 2018, if the way in which resignation letters from customers are automatically generated and worded by JobPath providers will be reviewed; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) had an offer to be reinstated one month after they were asked to leave and three days after the issuing of their P45 while the offer to take up an internal grievance procedure only came through correspondence on 31 May 2018, three days after a P45 issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29161/18]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is currently being compiled by my officials and will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.
523. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 541 of 19 June 2018, the level of engagement and fact checking a deciding officer undertook with Seetec regarding the case of a person (details supplied) who ultimately had a sanction imposed on their payment; the way in which deciding offers and Seetec employees communicate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29162/18]
View answerIn this case, the decision of the deciding officer (DO) of 29 May 2018 was made based on the information provided in an application for Jobseekers Allowance (JA). The customer was disqualified from receiving JA for a period of 5 weeks as he voluntarily left his employment with Seetec. The decision was made in line with section 147(4) (a) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended.
The employer in this instance (Seetec) was contacted by my Department and they confirmed on form UP20 (Reason for termination of employment) that the person concerned did leave their job voluntarily.
After considering the response from the employer, the DO made the decision in line with current social welfare legislation and guidelines.
It is standard practice for staff in the Department to contact all employers, including Seetec, in order to determine the reason for the termination of an employment.
An appeal was received from the person concerned in Ballyfermot Intreo Centre on 26 June 2018 and forwarded on to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for consideration.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
524. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application regarding a disability appeal by a person (details supplied); when a decision will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29172/18]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 23 April 2018. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
If the means of the person concerned are insufficient to meet his needs he should contact the Community Welfare Services with a view to making an application for supplementary welfare allowance.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
525. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance appeal by a person (details supplied); when a decision will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29173/18]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 23 April 2018. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal hearing.
If the means of the person concerned are insufficient to meet her needs she should contact the Community Welfare Services with a view to making an application for supplementary welfare allowance.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
526. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person in receipt of a widow's non-contributory pension is not eligible to apply for the telephone support allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29183/18]
View answerThe new weekly Telephone Support Allowance (TSA) is a payment of €2.50. Customers of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection who are in receipt of a qualifying payment and who are also in receipt of the Living Alone Allowance and the Fuel Allowance automatically qualify for the TSA. Approximately 127,000 customers are in receipt of the TSA payment. The estimated full year cost of the scheme is €16.14 million.
The primary objective of the TSA is to allow the most vulnerable people at risk of isolation, including the elderly and those with disabilities, access to personal alarms or phones for security. The allowance will also encourage social contact and assist in the prevention of social isolation for those groups.
The criteria for receiving the TSA requires a person to be in receipt of the living alone increase. People on widow’s non-contributory pension are automatically transferred to the State pension non-contributory once the recipient reaches the age of 66 (i.e. at State pension age) to ensure alignment with the secondary benefits that are available to people in receipt of the State pension, and may qualify for the living alone increase and the TSA at that time.
The schemes that allow a person aged under 66 to receive the living alone increase or the TSA are Invalidity Pension, Disability Allowance, Incapacity Supplement or Blind Pension. Because of the qualifying criteria for these schemes recipients would be considered more vulnerable to social isolation. This is not generally the case for people in receipt of widow’s non-contributory payment who are aged less than 66, and who will not, as a rule, have an incapacity of that nature.
Any decision to extend both the living alone increase and the TSA to include people on the widow’s non-contributory payment would have budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in the context of budget negotiations. It would also be necessary to consider whether they would be a priority group for the extension of such benefits ahead of other groups.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
527. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29244/18]
View answerCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
As a result of an appeals officer’s decision, CA was awarded to the person concerned on 29 June 2018. First payment will issue to his nominated post office on 5 July 2018, arrears for the period 7 September 2017 to 4 July 2018 have also issued.
The person concerned was notified on 29 June 2018 of this outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
528. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a payment will issue to a person (details supplied) who has been awarded disability allowance following an appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29259/18]
View answerFollowing a successful appeal, this gentleman’s disability allowance (DA) has been re-instated with effect from 23 November 2016. The first payment will be made by his chosen payment method on 6 July 2018.
Arrears of payment due, which include the Christmas Bonus, will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
529. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason review information is sought annually regarding persons in receipt of a carer's allowance or carer's support grant even in cases in which the medical evidence supplied highlights permanent injuries or illnesses which will not improve through the passage of time; if a review of the system will be carried out and measures put in place to ensure that the information is not sought in such cases in view of the fact that it places unnecessary pressure on the families involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29398/18]
View answerA person is paid Carer’s Allowance each week on the basis that he/she continues to meet all of the caring requirements. Such persons receive payment of the Carer’s Support Grant automatically.
A carer who is not in receipt of Carer’s Allowance may still qualify for the annual ‘standalone’ Carer’s Support Grant. Initial application is made through completion of an application form. In subsequent years each carer receives a short questionnaire, seeking confirmation that his/her circumstances have not changed. For example that they continue to provide full-time care to the ill person, that they do not work outside the home for more than 15 hours a week or receive a Jobseeker’s payment.
This questionnaire is usually the only contact my Department has with the carer and ensures that only those who continue to meet the scheme requirements receive payment for that year.
530. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the live register for the Dublin 7 and 15 areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29421/18]
View answerLive Register statistics from the Blanchardstown and Navan Road Intreo Offices approximate the Live Register for Dublin 15 and 7 respectively. The Live Register for both areas is characterised by a downward trend, as shown in the following tabular statement.
Live register figures for Blanchardstown and Navan Road.
|
Date |
LR State |
LR Blanchardstown |
LR Navan Road |
LR Navan Rd + Blanchardstown |
|
2013 MAY |
421,290 |
8,468 |
6,314 |
14,782 |
|
2017 MAY |
262,702 |
5,747 |
3,622 |
9,369 |
|
2018 MAY |
223,502 |
4,547 |
2,963 |
7,510 |
Overall, the Live Register in Blanchardstown and Navan Road Offices has fallen by almost 49% in the 5 years to May 2018, close to the reduction of 47% nationally. During the last year to May 2017, the Live Register in Dublin 15 and 7 has fallen by 1,859 people, or almost 20%, compared to 15% nationally.
The Government’s primary strategy to tackle unemployment since 2012 is twofold. First, through policies set out in the Action Plan for Jobs, to create an environment in which business can succeed and create jobs.
Second, through Pathways to Work we ensure that as many of these new jobs and other vacancies that arise in our economy are filled by people taken from the Live Register.
To date these policies have been effective in reducing unemployment, both nationally and in Dublin 7 and 15. I am confident that they will continue to do so.
531. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason there is a difference in carer's allowance and foster carer's allowance (details supplied). [29431/18]
View answerCarer’s allowance (CA) and the foster care allowance (FCA) are fundamentally different in their purpose. CA is a primary social protection income support paid by my Department to those on low incomes who are providing full-time care and attention to a person requiring such care.
FCA which is the responsibility of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, which falls under the remit of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, is intended, not to provide income support, but to recompense foster carers for the expense incurred in relation to looking after a child.
Foster carer’s may qualify for a range of income supports from my Department including:
- CA, where a foster carer is providing full-time care and attention to a child who requires such care, subject to satisfying the scheme conditionality.
- Monthly child benefit in respect of the foster child,
- A weekly increase - €29.80 - for a qualified child (which can include a foster child) where the foster parent or his or her spouse/partner is in receipt of a weekly income support from my Department,
- The Back to Work Family Dividend where the foster parent transitions from eligible social welfare payments into employment and
- Working Family Payment (formerly known as Family Income Supplement) where the foster child is a qualified child for the purposes of the scheme and the foster family qualify for a payment.
In addition, social welfare legislation provides that foster care allowances paid by Tusla are not taken into account in assessing the means of any weekly social assistance payments.
Foster carers operate within a very specific framework, are subject to rigorous scrutiny and ongoing monitoring by Tusla and the children in their care are subject to a care plan. These factors mean that foster carers have additional responsibilities and duties in respect of those children, such as working with the children's families, Tusla and Health Service Executive personnel. The weekly rates of FCA are €325 and €352 per week for a child under 12 and a child over 12 respectively.
I should point out that weekly rate of carer’s allowance at €214, is among the most generous in the social welfare system, and the means test is also substantially higher and applies disregards of €332.50 for a single/legally separated person and €665 for a carer who is married, in a civil partnership or co-habiting. This disregard applies to any means that a carer may have i.e. earnings, savings, property, etc.
The tax treatment of carer’s allowance and foster care allowance is a matter for the Department of Finance.
532. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made in respect of an application by a person (details supplied) for carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29435/18]
View answerCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
I confirm that my department received an application from of the person concerned for CA in respect of two care recipients (her parents) on the 25 October 2018.
The application was awarded on 16 February 2018 in respect the provision of full-time care and attention to her father and first payment issued to her nominated post office on 8 March 2018.
Arrears of allowance due from 26 October 2017 to 9 March 2018 also issued.
The person concerned was notified on 16 February 2018 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have such a disability that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continual supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.
The evidence submitted in support of the application for the provision of full-time care and attention to her mother was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.
The person concerned was also notified on 16 February 2018 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision on 12 March 2018 and submitted additional evidence in support of their application. This evidence is currently being examined.
Once the review is completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
533. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to extend the housing adaptation grant for persons with a disability to include funding for equipment for the extended space such as sensory equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28837/18]
View answerThe Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability is available to assist in the carrying out of works which are reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation of a person with a disability who has an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual impairment.
The detailed administration of the scheme, including the assessment, approval and payment of individual grants to applicants, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority. The types of works allowable under the scheme include the provision of extensions including for a sensory room, downstairs toilet facilities, stair-lifts, access ramps, accessible showers, adaptations to facilitate wheelchair access and any other works which are reasonably necessary. Currently, I have no plans to extend the housing adaptation grant to accommodate the full fit-out of the extended facilities.
534. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if there is leniency available from penalties for persons who have inadvertently failed to pay a non-principal private dwelling charge. [29024/18]
View answerThe Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, provides the legislative basis for the Non Principal Private Residence (NPPR) charge. The NPPR charge, which has since been discontinued, applied in the years 2009 to 2013 to any residential property in which the owner did not reside as their normal place of residence.
The self-assessed charge was set at €200 per annum and liability for it falls, in the main, on owners of rental, holiday and vacant properties. Section 6 of the 2009 Act, as amended, provides that the owner of a liable property who fails to pay the charge, in addition to him or her being liable to pay the charge, is liable to pay to the relevant local authority a €20 late payment fee in respect of each month or part of a month in which the charge, any late payment fee, or any part of such charge or fee, remains unpaid.
Part 12 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014 also deals with the collection of undischarged liabilities relating to the NPPR charge. The Act provided for a period from 2 March 2014 to 31 August 2014 during which time no new late penalties were applied to existing liabilities. If payment was not made in full or if settlement terms were not agreed by the end of that period, an additional late payment fee of €120 per liability date applied on 1 September 2014. As the charge applied in each of the years from 2009 to 2013, there were five liability dates – 31 July 2009 and 31 March for each of the years 2010 to 2013. In addition to this late payment fee to be applied per liability date, the entire NPPR liability is then increased by a factor of 50% and frozen.
Under the Act, it is a function of a local authority to collect NPPR charges and late payment fees due to it, and all charges and late payment fees imposed and payable to a local authority are under the care and management of the local authority concerned. In this regard, application of the legislation in particular circumstances is a matter for the relevant local authority.
Under section 77 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014, my Department issued guidance to local authorities concerning matters relating to arrears of the NPPR charge and late payment fees to ensure that a consistent national approach is adopted. The guidelines, which are available at http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/LocalGovernment/Administration/FileDownLoad%2C37899%2Cen.pdf, encourage local authorities to take a proactive approach to ensure that any outstanding NPPR liabilities are discharged in the most equitable, efficient and economically beneficial manner and include guidance in respect of dealing with hardship cases. It is expected, in the majority of cases, that local authorities will collect the full NPPR charge liability from owners. In some cases, this may be by means of arrangement by instalment. All non-compliant owners or owners with queries should log on to www.nppr.ie or, alternatively, contact their local authority to discuss any matters they wish to clarify and to make any outstanding payments.
Should an initial claim of hardship be rejected by a local authority, the claimant should also be afforded, if requested, a further appeal to a more senior officer in the local authority. Ultimately, should a subsequent appeal be unsuccessful the complainant should be notified as early as is possible. Claimants should also be informed that if they are still not happy with the determination they can appeal to the Office of the Ombudsman.
535. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to delete the requirement to have a member of An Garda Síochána sign the supplementary register form in view of the recent experiences of persons applying to be placed on the electoral register; and his further plans to make it compulsory that a voter on the supplementary register would have to produce photographic identification when applying for the ballot paper on the day of poll. [29275/18]
View answerElectoral law provides that an application for inclusion in the supplement to the Register of Electors must be signed by the applicant in the presence of a member of An Garda Siochana from the applicant's local Garda station who must first be satisfied as to the person's identity before signing, dating and stamping the form. The Garda may request photographic or other identification. Where the applicant establishes in writing that he/she is unable to progress the application in this way, the form can be signed by the applicant in the presence of an official of the registration authority who is satisfied as to his or her identity. Again, photographic or other identification may be required. If neither option is viable due to physical illness or physical disability, the application form must be accompanied by a medical certificate.
Current guidance for Local Returning Officers is that 25% of voters should have their ID checked at polling stations.
Work on scoping potential improvements to the electoral registration process is underway in my Department. This work is looking at, among other things, proposals made by the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht in its report of the consultation on the proposed Electoral Commission in 2016.
While the current registration system has served us well, there is potential to modernise the registration process and to make it more streamlined and accessible for electors and for those administering the system. We need to ensure, on the one hand, that everyone entitled to be on the register is registered and that their information is accurate, and on the other hand, that appropriate measures are in place to counteract any possible abuses. The management of identity verification is a crucial element in the overall integrity of the register and will be the subject of detailed consideration to ensure we find the correct balance between efficiency and accessibility and the need for robust systems we can continue to rely on.
Conscious of the importance of the register and its role in our democracy and the need to ensure security and integrity are key priorities for any changes being considered, the process being planned is expected to take 2-3 years to complete. This will include a significant consultation element at an early stage, currently anticipated in the Autumn, which will offer an opportunity to all relevant stakeholders, including the public, to contribute.
536. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the rationale for only choosing one planner to sit on the board which decided on an application (details supplied) for an incinerator at Ringaskiddy. [29433/18]
View answer537. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to concerns about a conflict of interest for board members who decided on an application (details supplied) due to their links to a group which has been an advocate for incineration projects here. [29434/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 536 and 537 together.
The appointment process for ordinary Board members of An Bord Pleanála is set out under section 106 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and the associated Regulations. This provides that appointments to the Board by the Minister are generally made from candidates nominated by panels of prescribed bodies which are representative of a broad range of societal interests. It is a matter for the Chairperson of the Board to arrange the distribution of the business of the Board among its members and I have no function in this matter.
An Bord Pleanála operates under a Code of Conduct as required by section 150 of the Act of 2000, one of the purposes of which is to ensure that any potential conflicts of interest relating to its statutory functions are dealt with in an appropriate manner. This Code is available for viewing on the Board's website at the following link: http://www.pleanala.ie/about/conduct.htm.
Section 13 of the Code outlines the procedures for dealing with conflicts of interest in the context of Board meetings, where appeals and other planning cases are determined. Section 15.2 of the Code specifically requires that a Board member shall not deal with any case in any capacity on behalf of the Board where the member had any involvement at any time in the matter, either on a personal basis or on behalf of a previous employer or as a member of any other organisation or voluntary body.
Furthermore, section 15.4 requires that a Board member shall not knowingly deal with a file relating to a planning authority or a private practice where he or she was previously employed during the previous 2-year period or any voluntary or professional organisation of which the person is or was a member during the previous 2-year period.
Under section 30 of the Act of 2000, as Minister, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned. Therefore, I cannot make any comment in relation to individual planning applications.
538. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the proposals to introduce a mayor for Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28648/18]
View answerThe Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to consider directly elected mayors in cities as part of a broader range of local government reform measures aimed at strengthening local democracy. In response to this commitment, work on a policy report on local government leadership, governance and administration, including in relation to directly elected mayors for cities, is at an advanced stage of preparation in my Department. I expect to be in a position to have this report submitted to Government in the coming weeks, and subject to Government approval, the intention is that the report would then be forwarded to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government for consideration.
539. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of voids in each county; the number that have been refurbished since January 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28649/18]
View answerThe Voids Programme, introduced in 2014 by my Department, provides additional support to local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. The purpose of the Voids Programme is to ensure that vacant units are actively targeted, with a view to minimising the turnaround and re-let time of these units and return them to use in an energy efficient condition. Without substantial refurbishment, these social homes would have been left vacant and in turn would not be part of the active social housing stock.
Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966 provides that the management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including the implementation of planned maintenance programmes and carrying out of responsive repairs and pre-letting repairs, is a matter for each individual local authority.
My Department does not hold information on the number of outstanding voids in each county, as this number changes according as the refurbishment of some units is completed and others become vacant. Statistics in relation to social housing stock are collated by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) in their annual reports on Performance Indicators in Local Authorities. These statistics are set out by local authority and include the percentage of such dwellings that were vacant at the end of the year, with the last year for which the statistics are available being 2016. This report is available at the following link: http://noac.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2016-PI-Report.pdf.
The report on social housing activity for Quarter 1 of 2018, which includes information on the number of vacant units refurbished under the programme, is currently being compiled and will be published in the coming weeks.
My Department is continuing to engage on an ongoing basis with local authorities with a view to progressing measures to bring as many vacant and underutilised properties as possible back into use.
540. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the process for using State-owned lands for housing; when he expects building to commence particularly in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28650/18]
View answerThe development of any residential land in housing authority ownership is in the first instance a matter for the local authority concerned, including its elected members. I want to see local authorities realise new social and affordable homes from their lands without delay, with particular emphasis on prioritising those sites with the greatest potential to deliver housing at scale, in the short to medium term.
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. The map also includes details of some 300 hectares of land in the ownership of other State or semi-State bodies, with the potential to deliver a further 7,500 homes. Importantly, we have large sites in Dublin, Cork and other key urban areas where housing and homelessness pressures are greatest. All these sites can be viewed at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/rebuilding-ireland-land-map/
Many local authorities have well-developed plans for many of their sites. Backed by €6 billion in Exchequer funding under Rebuilding Ireland, significant progress is being made in ramping up the social housing programme. The most recent details of the social housing construction programme are published on the Rebuilding Ireland website and can be accessed at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/?s=Q4+construction+status+report.
In addition, local authorities in Dublin are bringing forward major sites for mixed-tenure development such as the 900 homes at Kilcarbery in Clondalkin, where procurement will be finalised in the Autumn, and O’Devaney Gardens, a site capable of delivering 600 homes in the City Council area where the procurement process is moving into competitive dialogue stage and should be finalised in early 2019. Proposals for other key sites across Dublin are also being developed.
With regard to the provision of affordable homes to buy or rent, early indications from the key local authorities identified lands for 4,000 affordable homes and we are working to increase this ambition to 10,000 homes in the longer term. In order to support local authorities to get their sites ready for affordable housing, I am providing increased funding of €75 million for enabling infrastructure, via the Serviced Sites Fund. I have recently invited applications under the Fund.
Furthermore, I have now commenced the relevant provisions of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, the effect of which is to place the new scheme for affordable purchase on a statutory footing.
