Written Answers Nos. 748-763
748. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the review of the tenant purchase scheme will be finalised and published; when he plans to amend the conditions of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32214/18]
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.
749. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the cost of implementing a living wage of €11.90 for all employees directly employed and or in agencies funded by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32226/18]
View answerPayment of salaries to staff of my Department is made in line with pay scales approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. If a living wage of €11.90 was introduced the increased annual cost to my Department would be approximately €90,000. This figure will reduce as and when the staff concerned progress along an incremental scale.
The details requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the individual bodies concerned. Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for each agency is set out below:
|
Agency |
Email address |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie |
|
Ervia, Gas Networks Ireland |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Housing Sustainable Communities Agency |
publicreps@housingagency.ie |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie |
|
Irish Water |
oireachtasmembers@water.ie |
|
Irish Water Safety |
oireachtas@iws.ie |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
corporate@lgma.ie |
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland |
Oireachtas@osi.ie |
|
Property Registration Authority |
reps@prai.ie |
|
Pyrite Resolution Board |
oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie |
|
Valuation Office |
oireachtas.enquiries@VALOFF.ie |
750. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a project (details supplied) in County Kildare is being considered for LIHAF funding in view of the benefits it would have for Kildare town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32235/18]
View answerThe aim of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund is to increase housing supply through enabling infrastructure such as roads, bridges and parks.
Kildare County Council submitted seven projects for consideration under LIHAF. Funding was approved for three projects at Sallins, Naas and Maynooth with a total cost of over €21.4 million. However, given the finite resources available under the Fund, the project submitted in relation to an inner relief road in Kildare could not be funded at that time.
However, it is now the case that significantly increased funding will be available for enabling infrastructure projects through the new €2 billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) and the €1bn Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), announced under Project Ireland 2040. Local authorities will also be able to apply to the new Serviced Sites Fund which will support delivery of both off- and on-site infrastructure which can unlock local authority owned lands in order to deliver affordable homes.
Given the cross-over between these funds, I have reviewed whether it is necessary to have a further call specifically under LIHAF, and I have concluded, in consultation with the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, that it would be unnecessary duplication to have separate calls under separate funds for the same types of projects. In addition, I want to give further support to local authorities to bring forward publicly owned sites to provide affordable housing through the new Serviced Sites Fund, under which I have invited applications from the relevant local authorities, including Kildare County Council.
A call for proposals for funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund was issued on 3 July by my Department. The application period for this first call will run until 12 noon on 28 September 2018 and the Fund will operate on a competitive, bid-based Exchequer grant basis. Detailed information on the URDF and the application process are available at www.gov.ie/urdf and www.npf.ie.
The Department of Rural and Community Development opened the call for proposals under the RRDF on 4 July, with the application period under this Fund running until 12 noon on 27 September. More information on the RRDF is available at https://drcd.gov.ie/about/rural/rural-regeneration-development-fund/.
751. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the interaction his Department has had to date with Westmeath County Council on financing a project (details supplied); if he expects a positive outcome from these talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32243/18]
View answerWestmeath County Council submitted an application to my Department for Ministerial sanction to raise borrowings for the development of a leisure facility at Robinstown, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
In accordance with section 106 of the Local Government Act 2001, loan sanction must be approved by the appropriate Minister, which is the Minister responsible for that particular policy area. In this instance, responsibility for issuing the loan sanction will fall to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
My Department is liaising with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in respect of this application. My Department’s role in the sanctioning process is to provide the sanctioning Department with observations on the suitability of sanctioning the loan both from a General Government Balance and a financial and affordability perspective. In reviewing requests for sanction, consideration is given to ensuring that priority infrastructural investment, contractual commitments and on-going projects can proceed.
752. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the overall new build housing target he is working to for 2018 and each subsequent year covered by Rebuilding Ireland; the targets for new build, social housing, affordable housing, cost rental, privately purchased housing and all other types; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32362/18]
View answer753. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the targets for housing output for 2018 and each year remaining under the Rebuilding Ireland plan by type of output, that is, all newly constructed plus all other arrangements such as leasing and use of vacant units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32363/18]
View answer754. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the new build housing target that was set for 2017; the way in which this compares to output by housing type; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32364/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 752 to 754, inclusive, together.
Rebuilding Ireland targets the delivery of 50,000 social homes by 2021, through build, acquisition and leasing, supported by investment of €6 billion. With the increased resources being made available for social housing under Budget 2018, there is now a greater emphasis on direct build activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). In addition, over 80,000 households are to have their needs met under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme and Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). The following table sets out the targets in respect of social housing under the main programme areas for each year of Rebuilding Ireland.
|
Year |
|
Build |
Acquisition |
Leasing |
RAS |
HAP |
|
2016 |
Target |
2,260 |
1,755 |
225 |
1,000 |
12,000 |
|
2016 |
Delivered |
2,965 |
1,957 |
792 |
1,256 |
12,075 |
|
2017 |
Target |
3,200 |
1,250 |
600 |
1,000 |
15,000 |
|
2018 |
Target |
4,969 |
900 |
2,000 |
600 |
17,000 |
|
2019 |
Target |
6,385 |
1,025 |
2,130 |
600 |
16,760 |
|
2020 |
Target |
7,716 |
800 |
2,631 |
600 |
13,000 |
|
2021 |
Target |
8,907 |
800 |
2,450 |
- |
10,000 |
In terms of the specific categories of delivery referred to by the Deputy, the following table shows the elements of the build activity of almost 33,500 social housing homes, including homes that will be built directly by local authorities and AHBs, as well as properties constructed for social housing through Part V and refurbished properties/Voids, together with some 6,500 acquisitions, over the period 2016 to 2021.
|
Delivery |
Build |
Acquisition |
|
Local Authority |
16,328 |
1,480 |
|
AHB |
8,960 |
5,050 |
|
Refurbished properties/Voids |
3,459 |
- |
|
Properties constructed for social housing through Part V |
4,690 |
- |
|
Total |
33,437 |
6,530 |
Details on the number of properties of various categories, purchased and built in all local authority areas, are available on my Department’s website at the following link.
In 2017, 25,901 households had their housing need met, with some 7,095 of these properties delivered under through the build/acquisition and long-term leasing mechanisms. A total of 1,014 new build homes were delivered directly by local authorities. In addition, 761 new build homes were delivered by Approved Housing Bodies and a further 522 new build Part V homes were provided by local authorities and approved housing bodies, bringing to 2,297, the total of new build homes provided in 2017. A breakdown by local authority of all social housing output in 2017 is available on my Department's website at the following link.
The significant expansion of the social housing build programme is evident in the Quarter 4 2017 Social Housing Construction Status Report, which was published on 19 April. The programme includes 846 schemes (or phases) at the end of last year, delivering over 13,400 homes, a very substantial increase on the 8,430 homes in the programme a year earlier. The full report can be accessed at this link.
In 2018, I expect to see nearly 26,000 households having their housing need met. I have advised all local authorities of their minimum social housing targets across build, acquisition and lease both for 2018 and also for the multi-annual period to 2021, details of which can be accessed on my Department's website at this link.
In respect of 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 social housing homes, including 3,819 local authority and Approved Housing Body build units. The Quarter 4 2017 Construction Status Report provides project detail on the existing pipeline in place, which will support the delivery against this target.
Over the course of the first quarter of 2018, projects will have progressed further through the approval process and additional projects will also have been added to the pipeline. The Q1 2018 Construction Status Report is currently being finalised and will be published shortly.
Currently my Department is working with the key local authorities and the Housing Agency to identify sites which would see a significant quantum of new affordable homes delivered from local authority owned land. The analysis being undertaken is progressing well.
With regard to cost rental, I am determined for it to become a major part of our rental landscape in the future. 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.
In overall terms, the aim is to increase overall housing supply, across all tenures, to 25,000 homes per annum by 2020.
756. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons working in the housing delivery office by grades and profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32366/18]
View answerAt the time of its establishment in August 2016, the Housing Delivery Office (HDO) comprised a team of 4 people including staff seconded from the local government sector and the National Development Finance Agency. Having carried out a range of initial initiatives, and taking account of the fact that some assignments to the office were time-limited, the HDO was refocused in September 2017 to work more closely on supporting local housing delivery and land management.
To this end the Housing Delivery Office is currently staffed by three officials; two civil servants at Assistant Principal Officer grade and one officer at the grade of Director of Services, who is currently on secondment to my Department from the local authority sector.
These officials work closely with the extensive range of highly experienced officers within the wider housing and planning areas of my Department and local authorities, across key disciplines such as architecture, planning, engineering and building control, project and construction management, quantity surveying, capital programme delivery and administration.
As with all critical areas of activity in my Department, the resources available to the HDO are kept under regular review in the context of ongoing evolution of the Office's role and, in that context, I expect additional resources to be assigned to the Office in the coming months.
757. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason for the delay in the delivery of housing on a site (details supplied); the reason local residents' proposals were ignored; and the timescale for the commencement of the development. [32396/18]
View answerThe site at Oscar Traynor Road is one of three significant residential sites being brought forward by Dublin City Council under its Housing Land Initiative (HLI), the aim of which is to ensure the delivery of mixed-tenure homes within the City Council area. All three sites under the HLI are identified as Strategic Development and Regeneration Areas (SDRA) within the Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022.
Mixed-tenure developments are an important policy objective in Rebuilding Ireland and uphold the principle of sustainable mixed communities, where housing needs are not subject to rigid segregation, based on income levels. They also provide an opportunity to see major sites developed more quickly, and integrated into existing communities and areas.
Oscar Traynor Road is a major 17-hectare greenfield site with the potential to yield 640 mixed-tenure homes and the elected members of the City Council have determined that the homes will be provided on the basis of a 30% social, 20% affordable, and 50% private tenure-mix.
The land is being brought to market by the Council on a competitive tendering basis, with a view to leveraging its value to deliver the optimal number of units. The aim is to identify the best qualified economic operator to work in collaboration with the Council to identify the optimal solution for the site, in accordance with the City Development Plan 2016 - 2022; the Oscar Traynor Road Feasibility Study, which has been approved by the elected members; and any other Council requirements; and to deliver it as efficiently as possible.
As regards input from the local community, while there is no formal, statutory requirement to establish a consultative forum as part of overall governance, Dublin City Council considers it best practice to engage with local stakeholders, both before the project concept has been determined and as the development progresses. In this regard, I understand that a Community Consultative Forum for the Oscar Traynor Road project has been inaugurated, meets regularly and is working well. This community engagement should provide a forum to discuss and resolve local concerns and have a strong information exchange component.
This is a significant multi-million priority housing project for the City Council and it is progressing through the necessary procurement. I understand that the City Council is targeting the awarding of the contract by June 2019. My Department and I remain committed to working with Dublin City Council to ensure that the mixed-tenure community planned on what is a key site for the sustainable development of Dublin City is delivered effectively in the shortest possible timeframe.
758. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of actions taken on foot of the publication of a report into fire damage at an estate (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32399/18]
View answerIn July 2015, it was agreed that a review be undertaken by an independent fire expert to develop a framework for general application, in the interest of supporting owners and residents living in developments where concerns regarding non-compliance with fire safety requirements arise.
In August 2017, the 'Framework for Enhancing Fire Safety in Dwellings Where Concerns Arise' was published. The framework contains the following:
- an explanation of the statutory provisions in respect of fire safety, namely the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014 and the Fire Services Acts 1981 & 2003, and the respective responsibilities of owners, designers, builders, occupants, local authorities;
- a range of actions that may reduce risk and improve the level of fire safety where deficiencies arise in dwelling houses, apartments and /or the common areas of apartment buildings; and
- a fire risk assessment methodology for professional advisors to prioritise the remedial actions, if any, that may need to be carried out on a dwelling.
The framework is intended to be used as a guide by the owners and occupants of dwellings where fire safety deficiencies have been identified, or are a cause for concern. In addition to owners and occupants, the framework will also be of assistance to professional advisors both in developing strategies to improve fire safety and in developing strategies to enable the continued occupation in advance of undertaking the necessary works to ensure compliance with the relevant Building Regulations. The framework is available on my Department's website at the following link.
Additionally, in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy in June 2017, and in recognition of fears expressed for fire safety, I asked my Department's National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management to convene and coordinate a Task Force to lead a re-appraisal of our approach to fire safety in Ireland. The work of the Task Force has now been completed and its findings are reflected in “Fire Safety in Ireland: Report of the Fire Safety Task Force”, which is available on my Department's website at the following link.
The Management Board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management have now been mandated to oversee the implementation of the report's recommendations.
In addition and in response to the many building failures that emerged in the last decade, my Department has been advancing a building control reform agenda in order to develop and promote a culture of competence, good practice and compliance with the building regulations in the construction sector. This agenda includes:
- the introduction of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014, which require greater accountability in relation to compliance with Building Regulations in the form of statutory certification;
- working closely with the Local Government Management Agency on the oversight and governance of the local authority Building Control System to improve its effectiveness; and
- progressing primary legislation, the Building Control (Construction Industry Register Ireland) Bill 2017.
759. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to cull seals on the west County Kerry coast; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31811/18]
View answerThere are two species of seal in Irish waters - the Harbour or Common Seal and the more numerous Grey Seal. Both are protected under the EU Habitats Directive and Ireland is obliged to maintain their numbers at a favourable conservation level. We are also required to monitor their populations and report to the European Commission on their conservation status. A standardised monitoring programme has been in place for both species since 2009. The most recent report on their conservation status was submitted to the European Commission in June 2013 and is available on the website www.npws.ie.
As part of my Department's established seal monitoring programme, Grey Seal and Harbour Seal numbers have continued to be counted around the country. The next conservation assessment of the status of both seal species is under preparation and is due for submission to the Commission in early 2019
Seals have a broad diet which varies depending on the species of seal, the geographic region and also the availability of fish and other prey. Studies of the interaction between seals and various commercial fisheries in Ireland are ongoing. This work by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Marine Institute and An Bord Iascaigh Mhara, towards which my Department provides technical and licensing input under relevant conservation legislation, includes the recording of seal depredation (damage to fish or removal of fish by seals during fishery operations) as part of the National At Sea Catch Sampling Programme. It also involves targeted regionally based studies concerning seal bycatch for example and the ongoing development of acoustic deterrents to mitigate seal fisheries interactions.
Initial results from the work of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara suggest that acoustic deterrents can play a role in minimising seal predation of catches during hauling and we will continue to work with the Department of Agriculture, Good and the Marine and its agencies, to improve and test this technology.
All of these studies will continue to inform policy in relation to seal protection and meeting our obligations under the EU Habitats Directive.
760. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the allocation for 2018 for the Ulster Canal project. [31805/18]
View answerThe Fresh Start Agreement includes a commitment to undertake a review of the proposed Narrow Water Bridge project with a view to identifying options for its future development, for consideration by the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC). A number of possible options are being developed at present in consultation with stakeholders.
There is no specific allocation of funding for Narrow Water Bridge in 2018.
761. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to provide either a permanent or temporary exhibition space within State-funded museums in Dublin as part of the State commemoration of the Great Famine further to the success of an exhibition (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31665/18]
View answerAs Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, I am responsible for ensuring that appropriate arrangements are in place to commemorate the Great Irish Famine. This year’s National Famine Commemoration took place on Saturday 12th May in University College Cork.
In relation to the reference to plans to provide either a permanent or temporary exhibition space within State funded museums in Dublin as part of the State commemoration of the Great Famine, decisions in relation to any such displays would be operational matters for the relevant cultural institutions or other entities concerned.
762. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 274 of 27 June 2018, the details of the local investigations under way into the suspected mass Famine grave; and the guidance issued by her Department in this regard. [31673/18]
View answerThe advice given in response to the enquiries received by my Department in this case was that, by establishing the identity of local landowners in the nineteenth century and by clarifying the proximity of the granite pillar to any former demesnes/estates, related historical documents might provide information that would be helpful in establishing the origins of the pillar. That guidance also took account of data from the First Edition Ordnance Survey maps that is indicative of such historical land use in the area.
763. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the ratio of men and women at each Civil Service grade within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31689/18]
View answerThe following table shows the ratio of men and women at each civil service grade and equivalents within my Department as of the 31 May 2018.
|
Grade |
Total |
Female |
Male |
|
Secretary General |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
Principal Officer * |
21 |
5 |
16 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer * |
106 |
48 |
58 |
|
Higher Executive Officer * |
72 |
44 |
28 |
|
Administrative Officer * |
82 |
37 |
45 |
|
Executive Officer * |
157 |
91 |
66 |
|
Clerical Officer * |
89 |
56 |
33 |
|
Service Officer |
17 |
6 |
11 |
|
State Industrial |
106 |
37 |
69 |
|
TOTAL |
655 |
325 |
330 |
*These numbers include Professional and Technical staff at the equivalent grade.
