Written Answers Nos. 1345-1364
1345. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of an application for a mortgage through the Rebuilding Ireland programme by persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35821/18]
View answerApplications for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan are not processed by my Department.
All applications are decided on by the local authority that applicants apply to. The Housing Agency provides a central assessment service for local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities in respect of each application. However, the final decision on loan approval is a matter for each local authority and its credit committee to make on a case-by-case basis.
Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the statutory credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure consistency of treatment for all applicants. Loan applicants who are dissatisfied with a loan application decision of a local authority credit committee may appeal that decision to the local authority. Details of the appeals process can be obtained from the relevant local authority.
Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions. Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 specifically provides that the Minister's power to issue policy directions and guidelines to housing authorities in relation to their housing functions should not be construed as enabling the Minister to exercise any power or control in relation to any individual case with which a housing authority is or may be concerned. Therefore, I am precluded from intervening in relation to individual cases.
1346. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the target date for the commencement of an affordable housing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35830/18]
View answerI commenced the relevant provisions of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, to place the new scheme for affordable purchase on a statutory footing, on 18 June 2018. This Scheme will be delivered by local authorities developing their sites in key locations. The Scheme complements other Government Schemes which help first-time buyers to buy a home, such as the Help to Buy Scheme and the new Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan.
In addition, it is important that cost rental homes become a major part of our rental landscape in the future to fill a gap between social housing and the rental market, making a sustainable impact on housing affordability, national competitiveness, and the attractiveness of our main urban centres as places to live and work. A number of pilot cost rental schemes are being advanced at Enniskerry Road, in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown and at St. Michael’s Estate in Inchicore, Dublin 8. Once these have progressed satisfactorily, I plan to roll out cost rental across other suitable sites.
Furthermore, in order to support local authorities to get their sites ready for affordable housing, I am providing substantial Exchequer funding of €75 million for enabling infrastructure via the Serviced Sites Fund. When local authority co-funding is included, an overall minimum investment of €100 million will be provided to those sites that require infrastructural investment in order for them to be brought into use for affordable housing. The call for proposals under the Serviced Site Fund issued in June, with a closing date of 31st August. The bids received from local authorities under this first call are now being assessed and I expect to make initial funding awards early next month.
From engagements with the local authorities in Dublin, the wider Greater Dublin Area, as well as Cork and Galway cities, their initial estimates suggest that they have lands with the potential to deliver some 4,000 new affordable homes. My Department is continuing to work with the key local authorities and the Housing Agency to identify sites which would see the level of ambition increase to at least 10,000 new affordable homes from local authority-owned land.
1347. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the spend on the rental accommodation scheme; the number of persons in receipt of the scheme, by county, in each of the years from 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35887/18]
View answer1349. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons moved from local authority housing waiting lists onto the rental accommodation scheme, by county, in each of the years from 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35890/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1347 and 1349 together.
The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) introduced in 2005 placed responsibility on local authorities to meet the accommodation needs of people in receipt of Rent Supplement for 18 months or longer, and who are assessed as having a long-term housing need. RAS has provided a more structured, accommodation-based approach to the use of the private rented sector to meet long-term housing need, thereby eliminating dependence on temporary income support payments, i.e. rent supplement. Section 19 of the Housing Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2009 defines RAS as a social housing support.
The assessment of applications for social housing support, and management of the lists of qualified households, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated regulations. In the context of the assessment of individual applicants for social housing support, it is a matter for the local authority to determine the housing solution that best meets the needs of the applicant, while taking into account the resources and type of housing available to the authority. Once a household has been deemed eligible for social housing support, it is a matter for the local authority to examine the suite of social housing supports available, including the RAS scheme, to determine the most appropriate form of support for that household.
In the period since RAS commenced in 2005 to the end of March 2018, local authorities had transferred a total of 60,821 households from Rent Supplement to RAS and other social housing options. Of this number, 34,652 were housed directly under RAS. Based on the 2017 Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA), the Department has set a figure of an additional 600 households nationally to transfer from Rent Supplement to RAS supported tenancies during 2018.
Data on transfers from Rent Supplement to RAS for 2015, broken down by individual local authority, is set out in the following table. Data for 2016, 2017 and Q1 2018, broken down by individual local authority, is available on my Department’s website at the following link: https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
Data for the years 2015 to 2017 on the number and cost of tenancies funded under the RAS scheme, broken down by local authority, is also available at this link. As of 31 March 2018, there are 19,522 tenancies supported under RAS, details of which, broken down by local authority, are set out in the attached table. Expenditure on these tenancies during the period January to March 2018 was €13.78m. I have provided €134.3 million in Budget 2018 to support the cost of RAS and this funding will go towards supporting 600 additional RAS tenancies in 2018 and the ongoing cost of supporting continuing RAS contracts in place at the end of 2017.
RAS remains a significant part of the suite of social housing options available to local authorities and to those who are assessed as being in need of housing support. With the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) to all local authority areas, the availability of Rent Supplement has changed and is generally no longer available to households with a long-term housing need. This change reduces significantly the numbers of households entering rent supplement support. Equally, as the transfers of existing rent supplement recipients with a housing need to HAP accelerates, the numbers of long term rent supplement recipients eligible for RAS will decline as will RAS transfers.
Tabular Statements
|
Local Authority |
2018 Q1 |
|
|
Outturn |
Tenancies |
|
|
Carlow Co. Cl. |
€1,005,441.07 |
529 |
|
Cavan Co. Cl. |
€23,750.00 |
559 |
|
Clare Co. Cl. |
€20,966.22 |
376 |
|
Cork City Cl. |
€71,656.14 |
835 |
|
Cork County Cl. |
€1,463,372.43 |
897 |
|
Donegal Co. Cl. |
€283,732.32 |
543 |
|
Dublin City Cl. |
€80,900.00 |
1,904 |
|
Dublin South Co. Cl. |
€329,152.64 |
530 |
|
Dun/Rathdown Co.Cl. |
€611,141.00 |
692 |
|
Fingal Co. Cl. |
€238,271.07 |
440 |
|
Galway City Cl. |
€372,480.13 |
343 |
|
Galway Co. Cl. |
€1,506,178.10 |
921 |
|
Kerry Co. Cl. |
€744,735.40 |
659 |
|
Kildare Co. Cl. |
€49,337.34 |
913 |
|
Kilkenny Co. Cl. |
€69,161.20 |
228 |
|
Laois Co. Cl. |
€64,007.22 |
111 |
|
Leitrim Co. Cl. |
€959,626.25 |
1,098 |
|
Limerick City and Co. Cl. |
€0.00 |
208 |
|
Longford Co. Cl. |
€0.00 |
123 |
|
Louth Co. Cl. |
€289,745.03 |
851 |
|
Mayo Co. Cl. |
€946,281.42 |
437 |
|
Meath Co. Cl. |
€368,271.89 |
213 |
|
Monaghan Co. Cl. |
€101,416.77 |
135 |
|
Offaly Co. Cl. |
€32,271.00 |
420 |
|
Roscommon Co.Cl. |
€372,073.22 |
558 |
|
Sligo Co. Cl. |
€48,550.00 |
1,393 |
|
Tipperary Co. Cl. |
€1,580,987.52 |
1,152 |
|
Waterford City and Co. Cl. |
€429,693.24 |
711 |
|
Westmeath Co. Cl. |
€603,829.83 |
613 |
|
Wexford Co. Cl. |
€37,027.51 |
684 |
|
Wicklow Co. Cl. |
€1,073,297.69 |
446 |
|
Totals |
€13,777,353.65 |
19,522 |
|
Transfers from Rent Supplement to RAS in 2015 |
|||||
|
Local Authority |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
Total RAS (to end of 2015) |
|
Carlow County Council |
14 |
9 |
6 |
14 |
43 |
|
Cavan County Council |
19 |
7 |
24 |
17 |
67 |
|
Clare County Council |
13 |
6 |
11 |
12 |
42 |
|
Cork City Council |
8 |
19 |
34 |
46 |
107 |
|
Cork County Council |
11 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
22 |
|
DLR County Council |
11 |
13 |
11 |
4 |
39 |
|
Donegal County Council |
9 |
35 |
22 |
52 |
118 |
|
Dublin City Council |
84 |
28 |
23 |
36 |
171 |
|
Fingal County Council |
4 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
17 |
|
Galway City Council |
14 |
18 |
21 |
30 |
83 |
|
Galway County Council |
2 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
15 |
|
Kerry County Council |
20 |
21 |
17 |
22 |
80 |
|
Kildare County Council |
28 |
36 |
34 |
47 |
145 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
18 |
22 |
48 |
32 |
120 |
|
Laois County Council |
21 |
28 |
20 |
29 |
98 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
Limerick City and County Co |
0 |
2 |
6 |
19 |
27 |
|
Longford County Council |
2 |
3 |
6 |
19 |
30 |
|
Louth County Council |
5 |
41 |
4 |
13 |
63 |
|
Mayo County Council |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
Meath County Council |
12 |
8 |
7 |
10 |
37 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
7 |
12 |
15 |
13 |
47 |
|
Offaly County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
Sligo County Council |
22 |
16 |
14 |
14 |
66 |
|
Sth Dublin County Council |
7 |
11 |
19 |
22 |
59 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
27 |
19 |
28 |
21 |
95 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
0 |
0 |
3 |
14 |
17 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
21 |
44 |
35 |
30 |
130 |
|
Wexford County Council |
4 |
8 |
9 |
13 |
34 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
13 |
23 |
6 |
10 |
52 |
|
TOTALS |
400 |
440 |
442 |
554 |
1,836 |
1348. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the spend on the housing assistance payment scheme; the number of persons in receipt of the scheme, by county, in each of the years from 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35889/18]
View answerThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is funded through a combination of Exchequer monies and tenant differential rents collected in respect of HAP tenancies. Budget 2018 has increased the Exchequer funding for the HAP scheme to €301 million. This will allow for the continued support of existing HAP households and also enable the additional 17,000 households targeted under Rebuilding Ireland to be supported by HAP in 2018.
In relation to the Deputy's query regarding the amount spent on, and the number of households in receipt of, the Housing Assistance Payment on an annual basis, the relevant details are set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Additional Households supported at end of year |
Expenditure €M |
|
2015 |
5,680 |
15.64 |
|
2016 |
12,075 |
57.69 |
|
2017 |
17,916 |
152.69 |
At the end of Q2 2018, there were 37,751 active tenancies being supported by the HAP scheme in the 31 local authority areas. A breakdown of the number of households supported by HAP, in each local authority area from when the scheme began in 2014 to Q1 2018, is available on my Department’s website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
Limerick City and County Council provides a 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.
I am satisfied with how the HAP scheme is currently operating and I consider it to be a key vehicle for meeting housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programme under Rebuilding Ireland. My Department will, of course, continue to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review.
1350. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he or his departmental officials have met with a company (details supplied); the number of times he has met with it; the dates of those meetings; the persons from his Department who were present at those meetings; the issues discussed at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35905/18]
View answerI met with representatives of this Company on one occasion, on 13 July 2017, to have a general discussion regarding accelerating the provision of housing, particularly mixed tenure/affordable housing, including rental housing. One of my Special Advisers also attended the meeting.
My Department's records are being checked in relation to any meetings that may have taken place at official level and a reply in this regard will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
1351. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he or his departmental officials have met with a company (details supplied); the number of times he has met with the company; the dates of those meetings; the person from his Department present at those meetings; the issues discussed at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35906/18]
View answerThere is no record of any meetings held between this Company and either myself or my Department officials.
1352. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will consider proposals to place an obligation on landlords to pre-register a property with the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, prior to conducting viewings in order to make it more difficult for landlords to evade RTB registration once a tenancy has commenced. [35910/18]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2016 set out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants in both the private rental sector and the Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) sector. The Acts provide that landlords in the sector must apply to register a tenancy of a dwelling with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) within one month of the commencement of the tenancy.
The RTB was established as an independent statutory body under the Acts to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants.
The statutory obligation to register a tenancy applies irrespective of the existence of a family relationship between the parties to the tenancy agreement. The RTB actively pursues landlords for non-registration. Failure of a landlord to register a tenancy with the RTB can result in criminal conviction. If convicted, a landlord faces fines of up to €4,000 and/or six months' imprisonment, along with a daily fine of €250 for a continuing offence. In addition, if the tenancy is not registered, the landlord cannot avail of the dispute resolution services of the RTB should an issue arise with the tenancy.
To pursue non-compliant landlords, the RTB receives information on residential rented dwellings from several sources. Where non-compliance is identified, notice and warning letters are sent to the landlord. If the landlord still fails to register, enforcement action is taken through the courts.
The RTB is planning to move towards annual registration of tenancies, which will permit the building of a national rent dataset. This enhanced data will be key to understanding trends and behaviour in the rental market as well as informing future policy decisions. While the RTB is continuously seeking to strengthen its registration function, there are no plans at this time to oblige landlords to register properties before the start of a tenancy.
1353. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the definition of a first-time buyer for a separated person in relation to the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme further to clarification requested by Laois County Council (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35932/18]
View answerThe Regulations, under which the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is established, provide that the loan is available to first-time buyers only. The Regulations define a first-time buyer as having the same meaning as a first-time buyer in Section 92B of the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999, which defines a first-time buyer as a person who has not individually or jointly with another person previously purchased a house or an apartment.
With regard to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy, my Department has responded to the Local Authority concerned in order to clarify the matter. The issue in question concerned the treatment of applicants for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan who have been divorced or separated. Prior to the launch of the scheme, my Department issued a detailed circular, a statutory credit policy, and frequently asked questions documentation to local authorities. The documentation includes details regarding the treatment of separated or divorced persons for the purposes of the scheme.
The scheme provides for, under limited circumstances, the means whereby applicants who are separated or divorced may be treated as first-time buyers, in accordance with the regulations. They must meet certain conditions as set out in Section 92B of the 1999 Act, including that:
- they are legally separated or divorced under a court order or by a separation agreement or have been granted an annulment by a court;
- the property being purchased is the first property since leaving the family home;
- they have left the family home and retain no interest in it;
- they have made no financial gain from the transfer of the ownership of the family home; and
- the other party has remained in the family home.
The loans under this scheme are provided by the local authorities and the applications are assessed by the Housing Agency on their behalf. Each local authority must have in place a credit committee which makes the final decision on applications for loans, in accordance with the regulations and having regard to the recommendations made by the Housing Agency.
1354. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to introduce legislation to extend gender quotas to local elections in time for the 2019 elections; if work is being undertaken on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35989/18]
View answerA provision of the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act 2012 links the State funding of political parties in the Electoral Acts to the achievement of a gender balance in candidate selection for Dáil general elections. To receive full State funding under the Electoral Acts, a qualified political party had to have at least 30% women candidates and at least 30% men candidates at the election. This will rise to 40% in 2023. The provision came into effect for the February 2016 general election.
State funding under the Electoral Acts is not provided to qualified political parties on the basis of local electoral performance. However, it is envisaged that the gender balance provisions of the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act 2012 at national level will have important knock-on effects at local level resulting in greater gender balance among candidates for the local elections in 2019.
In line with a commitment in the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020 to investigate potential supports to promote the participation of women in the 2019 local government elections, my Department, having consulted with key stakeholders, will in the coming weeks submit a report setting out a range of possible practical initiatives which could be taken to meet the commitment of the National Strategy for the 2019 local elections and beyond.
1355. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to increase gender quota percentages for general elections; if work is being undertaken on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35990/18]
View answerPart 6 of the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act 2012 (which amends Part III of the Electoral Act 1997) provides that, in order to receive full State funding under the Electoral Acts, a qualified political party must have at least 30% women candidates and at least 30% men candidates at a general election. This came into effect for the first time at the general election of February 2016.
The 2012 Act also provides that the general election held next after the expiration of seven years from that 2016 general election will see the 30% gender provisions rise to 40% i.e. the 40% gender provisions will apply at any general election taking place from 2023 onwards.
1356. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the work being undertaken to professionalise the provision of housing services in local authorities through specialist university level training in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35991/18]
View answerAs Minister, I am primarily responsible for the formulation and implementation of policy and for the preparation of legislation in relation to housing nationally.
Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions. The day-to-day operation of the social housing system including the issue of ensuring that all staff have the necessary skills and expertise required to perform their roles to the highest professional level possible is in the first instance, a matter for the relevant local authority concerned.
However, mindful of the need to have the best trained staff possible working in the housing area, my Department supports the development of appropriate third level training. To this end, my Department has actively engaged with the Institute of Public Administration (IPA), who have a strong and valued reputation in providing quality third level education particularly to staff in the public sector, to ensure that the right mix of courses are available for local authority and other staff who work in the housing area. The Institute already runs a number of such courses every year, including a year-long Certificate in Housing Studies programme, which I understand is very well availed of by local authority staff across the country.
1357. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to introduce a grant to renovate old one-off housing in rural Ireland (details supplied) to assist with the housing shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36028/18]
View answerPillar 5 of the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is specifically focused on utilising existing housing stock, with a key objective of ensuring that houses throughout the country and across all forms of tenure, in both the public and private sectors, is used to the optimum degree possible. An overarching action within that Pillar is a commitment to develop a National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy. This Strategy, published in July 2018, strives to provide a targeted, effective and co-ordinated approach to identifying and tackling vacancy across Ireland and contains a range of objectives and key actions which will be pursued in partnership with stakeholders and agencies across the housing sector to address vacancy in our housing stock.
Capital funding is provided to local authorities to acquire a range of properties for social housing use. The properties involved can range from those in good condition to those that need remediation and may have been vacant. To ensure a local-led response to such work, responsibility for property acquisitions is delegated to local authorities. To further assist local authorities pursuing vacant properties, funding is available through the Buy & Renew Scheme to facilitate local authorities in acquiring and remediating vacant properties that may be suitable for social housing. As with standard acquisitions, local authorities have delegated responsibility to utilise the Buy and Renew Scheme, as part of the blend of property acquisitions, as appropriate to their area, given housing need and the availability of properties of different types.
The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) has been developed under Pillar 5 to assist private property owners and local authorities or Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to harness the accommodation potential that exists in certain vacant properties across Ireland. The scheme is targeted at owners of vacant properties who cannot afford or access the funding needed to bring their properties up to the required standard for rental property. Subject to the suitability of the property for social housing, and the agreement of the property owner, the cost of the necessary repairs will be met upfront by the relevant local authority or an Approved Housing Body (AHB). As part of the agreement, the property owner then leases the dwelling to the local authority for use as social housing for a length that is linked to the value of the repairs but subject to a minimum of 5 years. The value of the repairs is offset incrementally against the agreed rental payment over a defined period within the lease. The RLS is available in all local authorities, in both rural and urban areas. However, it is a condition of the scheme that the property is an area with a social housing need and fulfils social housing demand.
Property owners may also qualify for schemes such as the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) and the Better Energy Homes Scheme. The HRI enables owners to claim tax relief on repairs, renovations or improvement works that are carried out on their main home or rental property. Information on this scheme is available from the Revenue Commissioners or at www.revenue.ie. The Better Energy Homes Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) to help homeowners and landlords reduce their energy costs and emissions by providing grants towards insulation, heating control and solar thermal improvements on homes occupied and built before 2006. Further details on grant payments and qualifying works are available from the SEAI website at www.seai.ie.
1358. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to reopen the tenant purchase scheme. [36066/18]
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 the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, a review of the first 12 months of the Tenant Purchase 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 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.
1359. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if persons are considered to satisfy the eligibility criteria relating to employment for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan in circumstances in which the primary applicant is in continuous employment for more than two years and the secondary applicant is in continuous employment for more than one year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36076/18]
View answerThe Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is targeted at first-time buyers who wish to own their own home, have access to an adequate deposit and have the capacity to repay a mortgage, but who are unable to access a mortgage sufficient for them to purchase their first home. As with the previous local authority loan offerings, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is available to first-time buyers only. This is to ensure the effective targeting of limited resources.
As part of the eligibility requirements, the primary earner on the application must have at least two years' continuous employment (this can be self-employment) and the second applicant must have continuous employment for at least one year.
Full details of the loan’s eligibility criteria and other information is available from the dedicated Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan website - http://rebuildingirelandhomeloan.ie/.
1360. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps taken by his Department in response to the European Committee of Social Rights finding in 2017 that Ireland was in violation of Article 16 of the Revised Social Charter in respect of social housing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36083/18]
View answerIn January 2018, the Government acknowledged the findings of the European Committee on Social Rights in respect of social housing conditions under Article 16 of the Revised Social Charter on Social Rights and my Department is committed to improving social housing conditions through a range of measures, including returning vacant units to productive use and energy efficiency programmes.
It should be noted that the management and maintenance of local authority housing stock and carrying out of responsive repairs and pre-letting repairs is a matter for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. However, Rebuilding Ireland committed all local authorities to adopt a preventative maintenance approach to housing stock management, including consistent standards and the adoption of a common national re-letting performance standard. To further this aim, the City and County Management Association (CCMA) has re-established a committee to look at the planned maintenance issue and there is on-going dialogue between the CCMA and my Department in order to advance reform in the area.
The first phase of the regeneration of Dolphin House, Dublin 8, a local authority estate cited in the findings, is nearing completion. This phase consists of the deep retrofitting of three of the existing housing blocks to provide 63 refurbished apartments and 37 new build units comprised of 28 apartments and 9 houses to give an overall total of 100 new and refurbished units. The retrofitting includes externally insulating the walls of the existing blocks to improve their thermal efficiency and the provision of lifts to make all units accessible. Outdoor spaces will be landscaped and play areas provided within the courtyard areas. Work on site is nearing completion and it is expected that residents will begin to move into the finished units shortly. Work is already underway designing Phase 2 of the regeneration project. Once the full regeneration is complete, the Dolphin House community will be rehoused in comfortable, retrofitted or new build accommodation and additional units will have been created for new residents.
The regeneration of St Teresa’s Gardens, Donore Avenue, Dublin 8 – another local authority estate cited in the findings – is also underway. Enabling works, demolitions and de-canting has been completed and has paved the way for Phase 1 of the project, which will result in the provision of 54 new homes, comprising 16 apartments and 38 terraced houses. Two of the existing blocks have been retained in the medium term to provide temporary accommodation pending completion of the new build units. These have been consolidated and refurbished to provide some 57 units of temporary accommodation, and will ultimately be demolished following completion of the new build units.
1361. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if an allocation under phase 11 of the energy efficiency programme will be made to Longford County Council in order to carry out necessary works to local authority dwellings. [36116/18]
View answerThe Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme, which commenced in 2013 to improve the energy efficiency and comfort levels in local authority homes, is being implemented in a number of phases. Funding of some €115.7 million has been provided from 2013 to the end of 2017 to improve almost 64,000 local authority homes, benefitting those at risk of fuel poverty and making a significant contribution to Ireland’s carbon emissions reduction targets and energy reduction targets for 2020.
Phase 1 of the Programme focused on providing attic/roof insulation and the less intrusive cavity wall insulation and is expected to be completed this year. Phase 2 will focus on the external fabric upgrade of those social housing units with solid/hollow block wall construction and has been successfully piloted by Westmeath and Fingal County Councils.
Phase 2 of the Programme attracts co-funding at a rate of 50% under the European Regional Development Fund 2014 – 2020 and therefore must be implemented in accordance with all relevant EU regulations in addition to the management and control procedures as required by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Requests for Phase 2 funding, including that from Longford County Council, will be considered once the technical aspects of the scheme are finalised. Local authorities will be notified accordingly at that stage.
1362. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the rate of subsidy paid to group water schemes will be increased in view of the fact that the subsidies paid to group water schemes do not cover the full maintenance costs of the schemes and in some cases there is a shortfall of between 25% and 35% annually; if the cost of the shortfall could be met at the end of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36182/18]
View answerIn late 2017, my Department conducted a review of Group Water Scheme subsidies. The review involved discussions with the National Federation of Group Water Schemes, the representative body of the Group Water Sector. Discussions concluded in December 2017, when I approved increased subsidy levels. The new subsidy arrangements, endorsed by a special delegate conference of the Federation on 13 December 2017, came into effect on 1 January 2018. Local authorities were advised of the increased subsidy levels on 19 December 2017.
The changes implement the recommendation contained in the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services (JOCFFDWS), endorsed by both Houses of the Oireachtas in April 2017, that there should be equity of treatment and equivalent financial support between households using public water services and those availing of private water services.
Additionally the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme provides capital funding opportunities for Group Water Schemes to, if suitably located, interconnect to and be taken in charge by Irish Water (Measure 4 of the multi-annual programme), or amalgamate with nearby Group Water Schemes forming a new larger entity that is more effective, including in their day-to-day running costs, through economies of scale (Measure 1 of the multi-annual programme).
Measure 3 of the multi-annual programme provides capital funding for schemes to undertake water conservation works to reduce their wastage of water, through carrying out where necessary, replacement of defective water mains thus enabling schemes to reduce their day-to-day running costs.
Separate to the initial review of Group Water Scheme subsidy levels and also in fulfilment of the JOCFFDWS recommendations, in April 2018, I established a Working Group to conduct a wider review of investment needs and rural water services. There will be a two-strand approach to the considerations of the Working Group. Strand 1 will consider the composition and distribution of funding for the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme from 2019 up to 2021, while Strand 2 will consider the more complex longer-focus issues surrounding the long-term future resourcing of the Rural Water Sector.
In order to put the review process on the best footing, I have established a significantly increased funding base for the Rural Water Programme. This increase is reflected in the National Development Plan where investment in the Programme is set to rise by €5m or 25% in 2019, and this enhanced level of investment will be maintained for the three year cycle up to 2021.
1363. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the preparation and finalisation of a national protocol with regard to the taking in charge of estates served by developer-provided infrastructure, such as waste water tank and shores, will be finalised in order that local authorities can proceed to take these estates in charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36202/18]
View answer1410. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he plans to invite proposals for the forthcoming national taking in charge scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36799/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1363 and 1410 together.
My Department launched the National Taking-in-Charge Initiative (NTICI) in April 2016 to trial new approaches and working methods in supporting and accelerating overall national and local action on the taking-in-charge process of housing estates, including estates with developer-provided water services infrastructure (DPI). Under the terms of the NTICI, which was underpinned by €10 million in funding, developments subject to valid taking-in-charge applications were eligible for inclusion in the associated call for funding proposals. Ultimately, €7.7 million of the allocated funding was paid to local authorities in respect of 330 developments, containing some 13,400 homes.
Findings and recommendations from the NTICI process will be included in a report on the initiative that I intend to publish shortly. The publication of the NTICI report will be of value to local authorities and other stakeholders in applying the lessons from the pilot authorities, in a more general roll-out of a streamlined approach to taking-in-charge. I expect that the initiative will contribute to further streamlining of the taking-in-charge process, through, for example, securing coordination with capital works by Irish Water.
In addition, the National Development Plan includes provision of €31 million for the period 2018-2021 for DPI. This is clear evidence of the Government's commitment to transition from the pilot phase under NTICI to a programme phase, commencing with an estimates provision of €3 million in 2018.
1364. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the amendments to the mica report following from consultation submissions will be adopted; when the NSAI report will be ratified and made public; when a clear methodology will be available on the way in which affected homes can be repaired or replaced; if a redress scheme as part of budget 2019 will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36211/18]
View answerThe Expert Panel on concrete blocks was established by my Department in 2016, to investigate problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in Counties Donegal and Mayo.
The Panel had the following terms of reference:
(i) To identify, insofar as it is possible, the numbers of private dwellings which appear to be affected by defects in the blockwork in the Counties of Donegal and Mayo;
(ii) To carry out a desktop study, which would include a consultation process with affected homeowners, public representatives, local authorities, product manufacturers, building professionals, testing laboratories, industry stakeholders and other relevant parties, to establish the nature of the problem in the affected dwellings;
(iii) To outline a range of technical options for remediation and the means by which those technical options could be applied; and
(iv) To submit a report within six months.
On 13 June 2017, the report of the Expert Panel was published and included eight recommendations which my Department is actively progressing with the relevant stakeholders, prioritising the implementation of Recommendations 1 and 2.
With regard to Recommendation 1, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) Technical Committee, established to scope and fast track the development of a standardised protocol, held its inaugural meeting on 11 September 2017 and has held several further meetings since. The standardised protocol will inform the course of action in relation to remedial works for all affected householders. The draft standard was published on 6 June 2018 for public consultation and ran for a period of six weeks to 18 July 2018. The Technical Committee are currently in the process of considering the submissions received with a view to publishing the standardised protocol shortly.
The draft standard, I.S. 465 - Assessment, testing and categorisation of damaged buildings incorporating concrete blocks containing certain deleterious materials, outlines a protocol which will be used to assess and categorise the damage in properties where the concrete blocks are suspected to contain the minerals mica or pyrite. Previously, there was no common way for engineers or homeowners to assess the damage caused by defective concrete blocks to help decide what, if any, remedial work could be carried out.
This standard:
establishes a protocol for assessing and determining whether a building has been damaged by concrete blocks containing certain excessive amounts of deleterious materials (free or unbound muscovite mica, or aggregate with potentially deleterious quantities of pyrite);
describes methods for establishing the extent of the problem;
describes the scope of any testing required; and
categorises buildings, in accordance with this Standard, providing competent persons with guidance on the appropriate measures to be taken.
With regard to Recommendation 2, my Department has been in contact with Engineers Ireland in relation to the establishment of a register of competent engineers for homeowners/affected parties’ reference. Engineers Ireland has provided assurance that they will collaborate with the Department, the NSAI and others on measures to establish such a register once the standardised protocol is in place.
Last year, I visited Donegal and Mayo and met with key stakeholders, including affected homeowners, elected members and officials of the local authorities and other interested parties. On 18 December 2017, I again visited Donegal and met with key stakeholders to provide an update on the progress to date. I made a similar visit to Mayo on 26 January 2018 and again to Donegal on 13 July 2018.
Once the standardised protocol is in place, I will be in a position to provide a further update on progress at that time.
In addition, I am currently considering what further actions may be required to assist the parties directly involved in reaching a satisfactory resolution to the problems that have emerged in the two counties.
