Written Answers Nos. 937-954
937. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount collected by local authorities on an annual basis to licence puppy farms; the number of inspections that take place; the measures taken to ensure regulation of this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30596/18]
View answerI have no responsibility in regard to the matter raised which falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Rural and Community Development.
938. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans for legislative change to give effect to the section of the European Union's energy performance of buildings directive which deals with the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in new residential and non-residential buildings with more than ten parking spaces and such buildings that are undergoing major renovations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30605/18]
View answerThe revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU) 2018/844 came into operation on 9 July 2018 and Member States are required to bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 10 March 2020.
The revised Directive requires that in the case of new non-residential buildings and non-residential buildings undergoing major renovation with more than 10 parking spaces, Member States shall ensure the installation of at least one electric vehicle charging point and ducting infrastructure to enable the installation of vehicle charging points at a later stage for one in every 5 parking spaces subject to the conditions of the Directive. Member States are also required to ensure the installation of ducting infrastructure to enable the installation of vehicle charging points at a later stage for every parking space subject to the conditions of the Directive.
In addition, Member States shall lay down requirements for the installation of a minimum number of recharging points for all non-residential buildings with more than twenty parking spaces, by 1 January 2025. Member States are also required to advance measures in order to simplify the deployment of recharging points in new and existing residential and non-residential buildings and address possible regulatory barriers, including permitting and approval procedures, without prejudice to the property and tenancy law of the Member States.
My Department is the lead Department for the coordination of the implementation of this Directive and will be working with other Departments and Public Sector bodies to implement the Articles of the revised Directive in the coming months.
939. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a full review of the pyrite remediation scheme will be carried out with a view to including all homes with a category 1 rating in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30663/18]
View answer940. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the definition of the exceptional circumstances clause when accessing appeals of refusals for applications to the pyrite remediation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30664/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 939 and 940 together.
The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board with support from the Housing Agency.
The provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material and not to damage arising in any other circumstance, e.g. such as pyrite in concrete blocks.
The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” for affected homeowners who have no other practical option to obtain redress and is limited in its application and scope. The full conditions for eligibility under the scheme are set out in the scheme which is available on the Board’s website, www.pyriteboard.ie.
The scheme is applicable to dwellings, which are subject to significant damage attributable to pyritic heave established, in accordance with I.S. 398-1:2017 - Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol. In this regard, it is a condition of eligibility under the scheme that an application to the Board must be accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment with a Damage Condition Rating of 2. Dwellings which do not have a Damage Condition Rating of 2 are not eligible to apply under the scheme. This ensures that, having regard to the available resources, the focus of the scheme is on dwellings which are most severely damaged by pyritic heave. I have no proposals to amend this eligibility criterion.
Where a dwelling, otherwise not eligible for inclusion in the scheme, adjoins a dwelling already included in the scheme, such a dwelling may be considered in accordance with the exceptional circumstance provisions set out in section 17 of the Act. Section 17 provides that exceptional circumstances may apply where -
- failure to include a dwelling in the scheme may result in damage to that dwelling or damage to the dwelling being remediated under the scheme, or
- pyrite remediation work is causing or may cause damage to a dwelling.
The Housing Agency will consider if exceptional circumstances apply when the Remedial Works Plan is being drawn up and the Board will be informed of any recommendation for a decision in the matter. To date, no dwellings have been included in the pyrite remediation scheme under the exceptional circumstances provisions of the Act.
My Department is in regular contact with the Board and the Housing Agency in relation to the implementation of the scheme and is satisfied with the arrangements that are currently in place, including in relation to appeals.
The latest figures available indicate that a total of 2,107 applications have been received under the pyrite remediation scheme. Of the 2,107 applications received so far, 1,656 dwellings have been included in the scheme and the applicants notified accordingly.
A further 87 applications have been validated and referred to the Housing Agency for the Assessment and Verification Process, while another 233 applications are at the initial Application and Validation Process. 131 applications under the scheme were not successful.
Of the 1,656 dwellings that have been included in the pyrite remediation scheme:
- 217 are at remedial works planning stage,
- 43 are at tender / tender analysis,
- 269 are under remediation, and
- 1,127 are complete.
A sum of €30 million was announced under Budget 2018 to fund the operation of the pyrite remediation scheme this year. This allocation will facilitate the remediation of some 430 additional dwellings and is a clear signal of the continuing importance attached by Government to addressing the issue of significant pyritic damage in private dwellings.
Ultimately, the Pyrite Resolution Board, together with the Housing Agency, will arrange for all eligible dwellings to be remediated to a high standard and at no additional cost to the affected homeowners. Remediation works will continue to be carried out at the earliest possible opportunity having regard to the existing demands of the scheme and the optimum use of available resources.
941. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the review of the tenant purchase scheme will be published; when changes to the scheme will be announced in view of the report's recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30701/18]
View answerThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme which came into operation on 1 January 2016 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.
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.
942. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the impact on proposed dune conservation works at Portrane Beach, The Burrow, Portrane County Dublin of a planning application under section 3 of the Foreshore Act 1933 for a pre-installation survey, site investigation and installation of a sub-sea fibre optic cable at Portrane Beach has been taken into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30720/18]
View answerThe possible impacts on proposed dune conservation works at Portrane Beach, The Burrow, Portrane, County Dublin by the activities proposed under the application will be examined as part of the technical assessment process for applications for consent under the Foreshore Act 1933 (as amended).
943. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of the new €2 billion urban regeneration and development fund, URDF; his views on its potential to deliver affordable homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30728/18]
View answer944. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will report on the information session on the urban regeneration and development fund held on 9 July 2018 for local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30729/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 943 and 944 together.
A new Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) was announced as part of Project Ireland 2040 to support the compact growth and sustainable development of Ireland’s five cities, regional drivers and other large urban centres. The funding is designed to leverage a greater proportion of residential and commercial development, supported by infrastructure, services and amenities, within the existing built-up areas of our larger urban settlements.
My Department has responsibility for implementing the URDF, which has an allocation of €2 billion over the 10-year period of the National Development Plan (NDP) to 2027, with €100 million available for expenditure in 2019 and an overall allocation of €550 million earmarked for the Fund up to the end of 2022.
On 3rd July, I announced the first call for proposals under the URDF. The application process will run until end-September 2018. The Fund will operate on a competitive, bid-based Exchequer grant basis, with proposals being required to demonstrate that they will be:
- Innovative and transformational urban regeneration projects;
- Public-sector led and with the option of community and/or private sector partners;
- Matched by at least 25% direct funding from other public and/or private sources;
- A minimum bid of €2m;
- A catalyst for development that would not otherwise occur; and
- Likely to leverage significant further public and private sector investment.
This Fund has enormous potential to deliver more affordable homes as part of the redevelopment and revitalisation of urban core areas, and my Department would welcome proposals addressing measures to improve housing affordability, in addition to a range of proposal types in the context of urban regeneration and development. I would urge eligible public sector organisations to avail of the opportunity through collaboration and making best use of the skills and talent available to design creative and innovative proposals.
The information seminar which my Department organised yesterday, 9 July 2018, and which I attended, was aimed at providing some policy context and more detailed guidance on the Fund for potential lead partners from Local Authorities, Regional Assemblies and Government Departments and to provide clarity on any queries arising, to ensure that we can maximise the potential of the available funding to help meet the National Strategic Objectives set down in the NPF, both in 2019 and over subsequent years. I am greatly encouraged by the level of engagement and interest of all who attended and I look forward to seeing funding applications for proposals that are innovative, ambitious and collaborative and that are capable to delivering on the key objectives.
My Department will monitor the process in relation to the Fund and will consider the issue of further guidance in light of the level of queries that may emerge throughout the application period. My Department will also consider facilitating further information-sharing events with local authorities and other stakeholders over the summer months, as appropriate.
Detailed information on the URDF and the application process can be viewed at the following links: www.gov.ie/urdf and www.npf.ie.
945. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of the serviced sites fund for affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30730/18]
View answerI have recently invited applications, under the Serviced Sites Fund, from a number of local authorities to support the provision of key enabling infrastructure on their land, to get their sites ready for affordable housing.
Given that funding for housing-related infrastructure can now be sought under the €2 billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, I have re-directed the €50 million funding, originally earmarked for a further call under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund, to the Serviced Sites Fund, increasing the scale of the Fund from the previously announced €25 million to €75 million. When local authority co-funding is included, an overall minimum investment of €100 million will be available to offset the costs of providing both on-site and off-site enabling infrastructure for sites in order for them to be brought into use for affordable housing.
The Serviced Sites Fund is being targeted, in the first instance, to areas where increasing house prices and rents have created a significant affordability gap for first-time buyers and for those who wish to rent: Dublin; Cork; Galway; Meath, Kildare, Louth and Wicklow.
As regards the affordable homes to be delivered as a result, they will either be made available under affordable purchase or cost rental. In this regard, I have recently 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. My Department, in consultation with the Housing Agency and the local government sector, is currently finalising the associated regulations and guidance. It is envisaged that the delivery and allocation of affordable homes, funded under the SSF, will be administered under the provisions of the 2009 Act.
The ambition of local authorities should not be limited to affordable purchase, however. Recognising that it is often those households renting in the main urban areas that face the greatest affordability challenge, the development of a viable cost rental sector is a key Government objective. A cost rental model is being developed by my Department, the Housing Agency, relevant local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies in the context of a number of pilot cost rental projects, and the findings and outcomes of this model will provide the template to develop further projects at scale.
946. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the parameters of affordable homes further to his statement (details supplied); the way in which affordable is defined; the persons that will be eligible for these homes; the way in which the allocation of the homes will be operated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30731/18]
View answerWhile there is no universally agreed, ideal price/rent to income ratio or minimum residual income requirement, there is general agreement that lower-income households in particular should not be paying more than roughly one third of their disposable income on housing costs.
As Minister, I have been clear that we also need to address issues of housing affordability, recognising the pressures that exist for low- to middle-income households, particularly in Dublin and certain other of our main urban centres. Recognising that people want a choice of affordable purchase and rental, depending on their stage of life and circumstances, a range of initiatives are being progressed, targeting the delivery of more affordable homes to households generally with maximum income of €50,000 for single applicants and €75,000 for joint applicants.
In order to underpin progress in this area, 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. The associated detailed regulations and guidance are close to finalisation in consultation with the Housing Agency and local authorities.
An allocation scheme (of priority) will be developed in local authorities, agreed by the elected members, in accordance with principles and qualifying parameters set out in the Regulations.
I am also determined that cost rental homes become a major part of our rental landscape in the future. It is clear that there is a gap between social housing and the rental market that needs to be filled, making a sustainable impact on housing affordability, national competitiveness, and the attractiveness of our main urban centres as places to live and work.
The Housing Agency, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and a number of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) have been working to get our first cost rental pilot, at Enniskerry Road, ready for tenders to issue shortly. In parallel, Dublin City Council, my Department and the National Development Finance Agency are undertaking detailed modelling and financial appraisal on a major site, at St. Michael’s Estate in Inchicore, to assess its suitability for a significant cost rental development. The work of that multi-disciplinary team is progressing well and should be concluded shortly.
947. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the extent to which Irish Water has in place the necessary plans and resources to replace the deficient pipe network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30749/18]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels.
Up to 2021 Irish Water plan to invest approximately €73m per annum to reduce leakage. A range of interventions are being implemented, including pressure management activities, active leakage control measures, water mains renewal and continued customer side savings. These interventions are targeting approximately 61m litres per annum to be saved by 2021 against the 2017 baseline.
If the Deputy has more specific queries in relation to water services issues, Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
948. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons on the housing list in east County Cork by local electoral area, LEA. [30795/18]
View answerDetails on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each housing authority area are provided in the statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recent SSHA carried out in 2017, details the number of households on all local authority waiting lists as at 28 June 2017.
The results of the SSHA include breakdowns by each local authority across a range of categories. The results do not provide a breakdown of the numbers by electoral area and my Department does not hold such data.
The 2017 report also includes the results of the 2016 summary for comparative purpose. Full details in relation to the 2017 assessment are available on my Department's website at the following link.
The SSHA is now being carried out an annual basis and the results of the 2018 summary will be published once finalised.
949. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons in east County Cork in receipt of housing assistance payment, HAP by local electoral area, LEA; and the cost of this support. [30796/18]
View answer950. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons on rental accommodation scheme, RAS, in east County Cork by local electoral area, LEA; and the cost of this support. [30797/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 949 and 950 together.
My Department does not hold data on Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) tenancies or Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) tenancies by local electoral area, but rather collects data by local authority area.
The number and cost of tenancies supported under RAS for the period 2011 to 2016, broken down by local authority area, is available on my Department’s website at the following link under the Rental Accommodation Scheme heading - www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
Expenditure by Cork County Council on the scheme in 2017 amounted to €6,098,411 and expenditure for the period 1 January to 30 April 2018 was €2,110,667.
882 RAS tenancies were supported by RAS in Cork County Council’s administrative area on 30 April 2018. RAS continues to be an important solution to meet social housing need, but with the national roll-out of HAP now complete, the number of new RAS tenancies commencing will decline.
The number of tenancies supported under HAP for the period 2014 to 2017, broken down by local authority area, is available on my Department’s website at the following link under the Housing Assistance Payment heading - www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
HAP is a flexible and immediate housing support that is now available to all eligible households throughout the State. There are currently over 37,000 households in receipt of HAP and over 20,000 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the scheme. HAP commenced in Cork County Council on 15 September 2014 and the total numbers of active HAP tenancies at end 2017 was 2,647. The 2017 average monthly rent paid to landlords under the HAP scheme in County Cork was €689.
In respect of the provision of HAP funding, Limerick City and County Council provides a highly effective HAP transactional shared service on behalf of all local authorities. This HAP Shared Services Centre (SSC) manages all HAP related rental transactions for the tenant, local authority and landlord. Accordingly, my Department does not recoup individual local authorities in respect of HAP rental payments in their administrative areas but rather recoups all landlord costs via the HAP SSC.
951. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the allocation of Traveller specific accommodation funding to each local authority; and the value of the drawdown of that funding by each local authority for each of the years 2008 to 2018. [30907/18]
View answerIn accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
Housing authorities submit funding proposals for individual Traveller specific projects and developments on an annual basis. These projects are assessed on a case-by-case basis in my Department in advance of allocations being made. In addition, further funding may be considered by my Department throughout the year in the light of progress across the programme generally. There is regular contact between my Department and housing authorities in order to try to ensure maximum progress and drawdown. If it becomes clear that allocations or part thereof may be unspent, then those allocations will be diverted to alternative projects and developments.
The amount of funding allocated and drawn down by housing authorities for Traveller specific accommodation from 2008 to date in 2018 is set out in the attached table.
952. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the ongoing work to address the issue of securing green certs or a form of certification for homes affected by pyrite but without structural damage. [30908/18]
View answerI.S. 398-1:2017 - Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol sets out the process for assessing and determining whether a building has been damaged by reactive pyrite or is likely to be in the future and it categorises the building.
While the standard provides an objective, reliable and robust means by which dwellings can be tested and categorised, there is no statutory requirement on any homeowner to carry out testing on their property in order to confirm the presence or otherwise of reactive pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material. However, it is open to any homeowner to undertake testing on their home if they so wish to obtain confirmation that their home is not affected by pyrite.
References to “red”, “amber” and “green” as originally referred to in the Report of the Pyrite Panel (June 2012) and I.S. 398-1:2013 have been removed in I.S. 398-1:2017, which was introduced in August, 2017 and replaced its predecessor. Building categories A, B, C, and D have been redefined in terms of the extent of susceptibility to expansion of the hardcore and the potential for future damage to the building from pyritic heave.
Buildings are categorised by means of a ‘Certificate of Building Categorisation for Reactive Pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material’ as per Annex B of I.S. 398-1:2017, based on the results of the Building Condition Assessment and the classification of the hardcore material.
To obtain a Category A Certificate following assessment under the requirements of I.S. 398-1:2017 (previously referred to as a "green" Certificate) the building must have a;
- Damage Condition Rating of 0 and hardcore which has negligible susceptibility to expansion; or
- Damage Condition Rating of 1 or 2, and hardcore which has negligible susceptibility to expansion and also has an alternative probable cause for the damage.
The Category A certificate is issued in respect of dwellings that have been assessed, at the request of the homeowner, in accordance with I.S. 398-1:2017. The issuing of such certificates is a matter entirely for the homeowner and the professional they engage; it is not part of the pyrite remediation scheme.
Where a house has been remediated under the pyrite remediation scheme, a certificate of remediation is provided and the issue of a Category A certificate does not arise.
953. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the expenditure within his Department by project or funding headline for 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018. [30909/18]
View answerDetails of expenditure from my Department's Vote in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018 are set out in the tables below.
954. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the Bill to ban microplastics will be published. [30940/18]
View answerThe preparation of a General Scheme of a Bill to provide for the prohibition of the sale, manufacture, import or export of certain products containing plastic microbeads is at an advanced stage. It is intended to bring this to Government at the earliest opportunity, with a view to drafting progressing as a priority, so that the Bill can be published in the 2018 autumn/winter legislative session.
