Written Answers Nos. 1365-1384
1365. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress that has been made in the establishment of the planning regulator, the recruitment of staff and securing of office space; the timeline for the opening and commencement of operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36213/18]
View answerThe Planning & Development (Amendment) Act 2018 was signed into law by the President on 19 July 2018. One of the key elements of the Act is the legal base it provides for the establishment of the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR).
My Department is advancing the work necessary to allow me to establish the Office as soon as possible. An Advance OPR Establishment team has been created within my Department to drive the necessary work for the corporate establishment of the OPR and the appointment of the Regulator. In that regard, the team have been progressing the recruitment competition and I expect the Public Appointments Service to advertise the position of the Planning Regulator later this month. In addition, interim premises have been secured for the OPR on Sir John Rogerson's Quay in Dublin, pending the making of long-term leasing arrangements.
It is intended to add additional staffing supports to the advance team over the coming months to facilitate the smooth transition of work from my Department to the OPR and to finalise the work of corporate establishment. Once the Regulator is recruited and in place, I will then be in a position to formally establish the Office and to second a small team of staff to the Office to ensure that the core functions can be fulfilled from its inception. I expect that the Regulator will then begin recruiting the rest of the staff required to fulfil its statutory mandate.
I look forward to the appointment of the Planning Regulator and the full establishment of the Office as an important measure to help promote and safeguard the quality and integrity of the planning process.
1366. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if community childcare facilities are exempt from rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36235/18]
View answer1367. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to exempt all childcare facilities from liability for rates in view of their role in the provision of preschool education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36236/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1366 and 1367 together.
The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions under the Valuation Acts and the making of valuations for rating purposes is solely his responsibility. As Minister, I have no function in relation to decisions in this regard.
The Valuation Act 2001, as amended by the Valuation (Amendment) Act 2015, provides that all buildings used or developed for any purpose, including constructions affixed thereto, are rateable unless expressly exempted under Schedule 4 of the Act. In general, the Act maintains the long-standing position that all commercial properties - including all private childcare facilities such as play schools, pre-schools, crèches and Montessori schools - are liable for rates.
Schedule 4 of the Valuation Act 2001 lists properties that are exempt from rating purposes. Schedule 4 was amended by the Valuation (Amendment) Act 2015 by inserting an exemption from rates for properties occupied by parties that provide early childhood care and education on a not-for-profit basis. This extension of the childcare and education exemption removed an anomaly that previously existed where parties that provided childcare and education on a charitable basis were exempt but those that did so on a not-for-profit basis were not.
In addition to the exemption of parties that provide childcare and early education on a not-for-profit basis, paragraph 10 of Schedule 4 to the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 also exempts from rates childcare facilities that exclusively provide the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme.
The Acts are quite specific about the range of exemptions that can be allowed by the Commissioner, who has no discretionary latitude to grant exemptions not covered by Schedule 4. As a matter of course, the Valuation Office examines all claimant cases on their individual merits by reference to the relevant statutory provisions governing the operation of the Valuation Acts as they relate to pre-school childcare facilities and all other categories of properties.
1368. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of mortgage applications by local authority for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan; the number of loans issued; the average mortgage amount; the amount drawn down to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36253/18]
View answerAs with the previous local authority home loan offerings, loan applications under the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan are made directly to the local authority in whose area the property proposed for purchase is situated. My Department does not directly collect information on the number of loan applications received by each local authority.
However, as is currently the case, my Department will continue to publish information on the overall number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns. Information up to Q4 2017 is available on the Department's website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-prices-loans-and-profile-borrowers/local-authority-loan-activity, and this information will be updated on a quarterly basis as additional data is compiled.
In addition, the Housing Agency provides a central support service which assesses loan applications that are made to the local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities as to whether loans should be offered to applicants. I have asked the Agency to centrally compile figures on the numbers of applications that it has assessed and the most recent figures, as at the end of August, indicate that the Agency had received a total of 2,628 applications for assessment from local authorities. The table below provides information on the geographical distribution of applications received centrally by them for assessment since the scheme began:
|
Region |
Feb-Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Total |
|
Cork, Galway, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow |
359 |
182 |
193 |
131 |
126 |
991 |
|
Dublin |
407 |
214 |
161 |
115 |
91 |
988 |
|
Other |
230 |
107 |
110 |
111 |
91 |
649 |
|
Total |
996 |
503 |
464 |
357 |
308 |
2,628 |
Of the 2,628 applications received, 2,074 were deemed to be valid. Of these valid applications, 1,989 had been assessed and 1,024 of these (51%) had been recommended for approval. A breakdown by local authority of the 1,024 applications recommended for approval is set out in the table below.
|
Local Authority |
Approved Applications |
|
Dublin City Council |
149 |
|
Fingal County Council |
138 |
|
Meath County Council |
91 |
|
Cork County Council |
89 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
79 |
|
Kildare County Council |
60 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
41 |
|
Cork City Council |
35 |
|
Wexford County Council |
30 |
|
Galway County Council |
30 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
28 |
|
Laois County Council |
26 |
|
Kerry County Council |
25 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
24 |
|
Galway City Council |
22 |
|
Louth County Council |
19 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
16 |
|
Sligo County Council |
15 |
|
Carlow County Council |
13 |
|
Clare County Council |
13 |
|
Longford County Council |
12 |
|
Donegal County Council |
12 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
11 |
|
Mayo County Council |
10 |
|
Westmeath County |
10 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
9 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
8 |
|
Offaly County Council |
6 |
|
Cavan County Council |
1 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
1 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
1 |
|
Total |
1024 |
The average loan amount across the 1,989 applications underwritten was €160,038.
Each local authority must have in place a credit committee and it is a matter for the committee to make the decision on applications for loans, in accordance with the regulations, having regard to the recommendations made by the Housing Agency.
1369. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of social housing units built or acquired in Rush, County Dublin, in each of the years 2015 to 2017, inclusive, and to date in 2018. [36254/18]
View answerRebuilding Ireland is focused on accelerating the delivery of housing, with an investment of more than €6 billion to deliver 50,000 social housing units through build, refurbishment, acquisition and leasing, over the period to 2021.
A high level of progress is already being made in meeting Rebuilding Ireland’s targets. Over 19,000 households had their social housing need met in 2016 through all delivery streams, while for 2017, the output has increased to almost 26,000. At the end of Q1 2018, some 6,100 additional housing solutions had been provided across all local authorities in addition to 930 construction schemes in place delivering over 14,000 homes. Details of the 930 schemes, including those in the Fingal County Council area, are contained in the Construction Status Report for Q1 2018, which is available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link:
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-social-housing-construction-status-report-q1-2018/.
This Report for Q1 2018 shows a significant level of activity being undertaken by Fingal County Council, in conjunction with Approved Housing Bodies, with 34 projects at various stages of progress, which will deliver in the region of 760 homes by 2020. My Department and the Council continue to engage actively and meet regularly to oversee progress on the implementation and delivery of projects.
As a housing authority, Fingal County Council is responsible for the identification of the social housing need in their area and for the development of appropriate responses to meet this need. The Council also acquires properties to address specific needs and, accordingly, has acquired 16 units in Rush since 2015. It is open to the Council to submit further proposals for housing in this area.
Detailed data in relation to social housing delivery by each local authority, for the years 2015 to end Q1 2018, is available on my Department's website at:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
1370. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36278/18]
View answerSection 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.
Appeals for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan are not dealt with by my Department. A decision on loan approval is a matter for each local authority and its credit committee to decide 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. Under the policy, each local authority must establish an appeal mechanism for cases where applicants are not satisfied with the decision regarding their application. All appeals must be sent into the local authority that applicants applied to. Details of the appeals process can be obtained from the relevant local authority. The person concerned should therefore contact the local authority to which the loan application was made for an update in relation to the appeal.
1371. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the length of time applications for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan are taking to be processed by each county council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36280/18]
View answer1372. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the way in which decisions are made in respect of the Rebuilding Ireland home loan. [36281/18]
View answer1373. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the appeal process in respect of decisions from the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36285/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1371 to 1373, inclusive, together.
The new Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is designed to enable credit-worthy first-time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties in a suitable price range. The scheme is targeted at first-time buyers who 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.
The Housing Agency assesses applications for loans on behalf of the local authorities. However, the final decision on loan approval is a matter for each local authority and its Credit Committee on a case-by-case basis. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the statutory credit policy issued under the Regulations and have regard to the recommendations of the Housing Agency 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.
I requested the Housing Agency to compile monthly statistical reports on the numbers of applications that it receives centrally from local authorities. These include the average length of time taken by the Agency to assess applications before returning them to the relevant local authority, which as of the end of August stands at 10 calendar days. Each local authority must undertake additional administration and processing of each application, including meeting with the applicant and allowing the Credit Committee to make their final decision, and the time taken for this additional work can vary across each local authority.
1374. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of work with the credit unions and the approved housing bodies on the establishment of a special purpose vehicle to facilitate the delivery of social housing. [36299/18]
View answer1422. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the special purpose vehicle research project for the investment of credit union funds in social housing will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36881/18]
View answer1428. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress being made in establishing a financial vehicle for credit unions to invest in social housing, as promised under Rebuilding Ireland; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that credit unions will only be permitted to invest in such a financial vehicle that is regulated by the Central Bank; if his officials have consulted with the Central Bank on this; if the funding vehicle will be regulated by the Central Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36959/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1374, 1422 and 1428 together.
Work has been ongoing between the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH), a number of larger Tier 3 AHBs and their financial advisers on the development of a vehicle for delivering private financing for AHBs providing social housing in line with commitments under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. This project involved a number of phases, including engagement with a range of financial institutions. Part of this also involved the AHBs examining models that will facilitate private financing with regard to the recent reclassification of Tier 3 AHBs. It is anticipated this work will be completed shortly.
Following engagement with the credit union sector on proposals for credit unions to provide funding for the provision of social housing, the Central Bank undertook a review of the investment framework for credit unions in 2017. On foot of this review, revised Regulations commenced on 1 March 2018. The revised Regulations included the addition of investment in “regulated investment vehicles where the underlying investments of the regulated investment vehicle are investments in Tier 3 Approved Housing Bodies” as a permitted investment class for credit unions. As such, since March 2018, credit unions are permitted to provide funding, through a regulated investment vehicle, to Tier 3 AHBs for the provision of social housing. In respect of the development of specific SPVs by the credit unions to enable them to make investments in the sector, it is a matter for the credit unions themselves to make the necessary arrangements.
1375. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the reclassification of approved housing bodies; and the work being undertaken to remove approved housing bodies from the balance sheet. [36301/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, last April, the Minister for Finance published the Draft Stability Programme Update for 2018. This included an analysis of the financial impact of the Eurostat decision to reclassify the majority of Tier 3 Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) as part of the local government sector. This was an important first step in the Government's assessment as to the impact of the Eurostat decision. The Department of Finance is now undertaking an analysis of the implications for General Government Expenditure and General Government Debt up to 2021. My Department continues to engage with the Department of Finance in relation to this work.
Following the completion of the initial analysis, which has defined the scope of the financial implications of this decision for the Exchequer, my Department also held discussions with the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform to ensure that AHBs can continue to fulfil their full potential in the delivery of the targets set out in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
My Department is also engaging with the AHB sector and has had constructive discussions with representative bodies from the sector on the issue. The sector itself has engaged its own research on the matter and my Department is evaluating that research, as part of its ongoing consideration of the issue. I understand that the AHB representative bodies have indicated that they intend to submit further proposals to my Department concerning possible suggested ways forward. All proposals by the AHB sector and other relevant bodies will be evaluated and considered as part of this process as soon as they are submitted.
I remain fully committed to continuing to work with the AHB sector to assess the options available to create the necessary conditions to allow this classification decision to be revisited in the future.
As previously noted, the Government continues to see a central role for the voluntary housing sector in contributing to delivery of social housing under Rebuilding Ireland. It is committed to using all mechanisms and schemes, including through the AHB sector, to ensure that we maintain the momentum towards meeting the ambitious 50,000 social housing target under the Action Plan.
1376. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the actions he has taken on foot of the review of delivery costs and viability for affordable residential developments. [36314/18]
View answerUnder the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan, my Department committed to undertaking a detailed analysis, in conjunction with the construction sector, of housing delivery input costs in Ireland.
To advance this work, a working group, chaired by my Department, was established to review the delivery costs and viability for affordable residential developments in the domestic market. The group analysed each of the main input costs (land, construction, professional fees, development levies, finance & development margins and VAT). In parallel, the Housing Agency carried out a separate comparative analysis of international construction costs.
The initial findings of the Department's review identified the viability of urban apartment schemes at affordable price levels was extremely challenging. To resolve the current housing shortage, as well as to plan more effectively for our future under Project Ireland 2040, under which more compact growth such as apartments are urgently needed in our urban centres, I established a working group to undertake a focused review of the 2015 Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments – Guidelines for Planning Authorities to explore how to improve the viability of apartment development in our cities and towns, with a cost analysis also carried out. The revised guidelines were published in March 2018 and are available at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/guidelines/apartments/design-standards-new-apartments-guidelines-planning-authorities-march.
To further support the delivery of apartments, I published draft Urban Development and Building Heights Guidelines for Planning Authorities last month for public consultation. These guidelines set out new and updated national planning policy on building heights in relation to urban areas, elaborating on the strategic policy framework set out in Project Ireland 2040 and the National Planning Framework, and are part of a suite of integrated measures and policy shifts to break the current patterns and development trends for our cities and towns and create more compact and integrated communities. The closing date for submissions is Monday, 24 September 2018.
In summary, my Department published three separate cost reports:
- Review of Delivery Costs and Viability for Affordable Residential Developments;
- Cost analysis of the updated "Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments, Guidelines for Planning Authorities"; and
- Comparison of Residential Construction Costs in Ireland to other European Countries,
on 12 April 2018, which are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/rebuilding-ireland/construction/minister-eoghan-murphy-publishes-analyses-cost-delivering.
Each of these reports is important in terms of analysing key elements of delivery in our housing sector as well as providing robust responses. Viability in affordable home building is essential as the sector recovers and the Government continues to implement solutions in this area.
As Minister, I have been clear that we need to address housing affordability, recognising the pressures that exist for low- to middle-income households, particularly in Dublin and certain other of our main urban centres. The delivery of targeted affordable housing, for purchase and rent, was a priority topic at the third Housing Summit which I held with Local Authority Chief Executives in July. It also featured prominently at the post-Housing Summit meeting with Local Authority Housing Directors of Service.
Affordability measures to support the provision of more affordable homes include the commencement of a new statutory scheme for affordable purchase which will be complementary to other Government Schemes which help first-time buyers to buy homes, such as the Help to Buy Scheme and the new Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan. Furthermore, a number of cost rental pilot projects are being developed by local authorities in Dublin, in co-operation with the Housing Agency, Approved Housing Bodies and the European Investment Bank, to provide homes to rent at below market rates, with the intention to roll out the concept across other suitable sites in urban areas. In addition, Exchequer funding of €75 million is being provided under the Serviced Sites Fund to help 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 call for proposals has recently closed and I expect to award an initial tranche of funding next month.
Finally, the imminent establishment of the new Land Development Agency to assist in ensuring a more effective approach to strategic land management, particularly in terms of publicly owned land with a particular emphasis on complex regeneration projects and the provision of affordable housing, and the creation by my colleague the Minister for Finance of the new Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI) initiative, which will provide finance at commercially competitive rates to developers with sites ready-to-go but who are experiencing difficulty in obtaining funding, will also contribute to the increased supply of new homes including homes at more affordable price levels to buy and rent.
1377. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the financial or other incentives that exist for the construction and delivery of commercial development. [36316/18]
View answerThe construction and delivery of commercial development is a matter for normal market functioning within the broad legislative, regulatory and policy context set down by Government and local authorities in the areas of planning, building regulations and related areas. I am not aware of any incentives that exist for the construction and delivery of commercial development. The issue of financial incentives, such as tax incentives, are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Finance.
1378. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the policy of not allowing carer's allowance to be taken into account as earned income for the purposes of the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme will be reviewed on the grounds that carers are effectively working full-time caring for their family members. [36330/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is not, as a general rule, available to those in receipt of unemployment or other social welfare benefits. However, where there is a primary income of a waged or salaried nature, long-term State benefit payments may be considered. State benefit payments allowable are:
- State Pension (Contributory);
- State pension (Non-Contributory);
- Widow’s/Widower’s Pension;
- Blind Pension;
- Invalidity Pension; and
- Disability Allowance.
The long-term nature of the payment must be confirmed by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. All applications are dealt with on a case-by-case basis and are referred to the relevant local authority's Credit Committee for a final decision.
As Carer's Allowance does not fall within this category of long-term payment, I have no plans to alter the conditions of the scheme in the manner outlined by the Deputy.
1379. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the acquisition of vacant homes by the Housing Agency using its €70 million fund and other resources available to it; the number of properties offered to the State for purchase from 2016 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the number of offers made by the agency for vacant homes; the number of bids accepted; the number of contracts signed; the number of properties sold on to approved housing bodies; the average cost of these homes; the number of properties that previously had their loans secured by NAMA; and the number of these properties that were previously offered for purchase to local authorities or other State agencies. [36333/18]
View answerSince the publication of Rebuilding Ireland in mid-2016 to the end of August 2018, the Housing Agency has been offered a total of 3,967 properties from banks, private investment funds and other sources for acquisition, using both the €70 million rotating acquisitions fund and other funds made available to the Agency through Local Authorities. 2,101 of these were offered in 2016 and 2017 and 1,866 have been offered to date in 2018.
In assessing these properties proposed by vendors, the Agency liaised closely with the relevant local authorities to confirm demand and suitability for social housing use. Local authorities confirmed interest in 2,742 of the proposed properties. Following confirmation of interest, vendors withdrew some of the identified properties, due to sales to other parties or for other reasons, leaving a total of 2,163 properties.
The total number of bids submitted by the Agency on available properties was 1,492 and the total number of bids accepted by vendors was 939, with acceptance of a further 97 bids awaiting vendors' decision. 194 properties were withdrawn by vendors after the Agency submitted bids. The bidding process is still ongoing on a number of active portfolios and bids on approximately 60 properties are currently being prepared by the Agency.
The total number of properties for which contracts have been signed at the end of August was 552, with the total number of properties acquired at 529. 181 properties had been sold to Approved Housing Bodies and a further 222 properties were under caretaker lease arrangements with Approved Housing Bodies which allows upgrade works and tenanting to proceed. 17 properties were in the process of being placed under Caretaker Leases. In addition, 109 properties have been transferred directly to local authorities.
The average price of the 529 properties which have been acquired is €184,464 and the average price of the 181 properties sold to Approved Housing Bodies is €216,710. The price of properties sold to Approved Housing Bodies includes the cost of upgrade works required for those properties.
A total of 21 properties have been acquired which had their loans secured by NAMA either at the time of purchase or at a prior time. 19 of these properties were acquired through NAMA and two were acquired separately from an investment fund who had acquired loans from NAMA.
The Agency has bids accepted on a further 21 properties with the investment fund who acquired the associated loans from NAMA. Of the two properties acquired and the 21 properties with bids accepted from the private investment fund which had loans previously secured by NAMA, four were previously offered for social housing by NAMA, but were not considered suitable for social housing at the time of the NAMA loan sale.
1380. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the knowledge his Department has on the profile of the concentration of ownership of land here; the location in which such information is published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36358/18]
View answerThe Property Registration Authority records the names and addresses of every registered land owner and details in respect of each county can be accessed at www.landdirect.ie. My Department does not collate or hold specific data regarding profiles on the concentration of ownership of residential, commercial or other categories of land holdings across the entire country.
Given the importance that all State residential land is brought forward for the development of social and affordable housing, the State residential landbank, incorporating lands in the ownership of the Housing Agency and local authorities, has been detailed and mapped and is available at http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/rebuilding-ireland-land-map/.
Project Ireland 2040 signals a significant policy shift towards securing more compact and sustainable urban and rural development, which requires significantly more effective active land management. Against that background, it is proposed to establish a new Land Development Agency to assist in ensuring a more effective approach to strategic land management, particularly in terms of publicly owned land.
Detailed arrangements in relation to the establishment of the Agency are currently being developed by my Department, in conjunction with the Department of An Taoiseach and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, with a view to their early finalisation later this month.
1381. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the action he is taking to deal with construction delays associated with Part V approvals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36361/18]
View answerI am not aware of delays to construction associated with Part V approvals. My Department keeps the January 2017 Guidelines on Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 under review, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the Irish Homebuilders Association.
My Department will consult further as to whether any process improvements are required in relation to Part V, so that construction can continue as speedily as possible and any possible delays be avoided.
1382. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of individuals or families that pay rent to a private landlord each month excluding those that benefit from State supports in paying rent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36363/18]
View answer1383. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of households that pay rent to a private landlord each month excluding those that benefit from State supports in paying rent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36364/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1382 and 1383 together.
My Department does not hold or collate the data referred to by the Deputy in relation to rents paid to private residential landlords.
The Clerk of the Dáil requested that arrangements be put in place to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies to members of the Oireachtas. Following the issue of Circular LG (P)05/16 on 20 September 2016 from my Department, the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) set up a dedicated email address for this purpose. The RTB may be contacted at OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie to establish the extent to which it may hold the information sought.
1384. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when a review of income limit guidelines for social housing provision will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36383/18]
View answer1387. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the review of the income limits for social housing support will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36411/18]
View answer1402. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the income thresholds will be increased for housing applicants to allow greater access to public housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36641/18]
View answer1411. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he plans to increase the income eligibility limits for social housing in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36857/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1384, 1387, 1402 and 1411 together.
The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.
The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs, plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. It is important to note that the limits introduced at that time also reflected a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced prior to the new system coming into operation, in order to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn, both promoting sustainable communities and also providing a degree of future-proofing.
As part of the broader social housing reform agenda, a review of income eligibility for social housing supports is underway. The Housing Agency is carrying out the detailed statistical work which will underpin this review on behalf of my Department. That work is now almost complete. The review will obviously have regard to current initiatives being brought forward in terms of affordability and cost rental and will be completed when the impacts of these parallel initiatives have been considered.
