Tuesday, 23 Oct 2018

Written Answers Nos. 668-685

Illness Benefit Applications

Questions (668)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Question:

668. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding an application for illness benefit made by a person (details supplied). [43953/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

My Department recently moved to a new IT system for Illness Benefit (IB). Arising from the changeover, some IB customers have experienced payment difficulties which the Department is working hard to resolve.

The IB claim for the customer concerned was certified up to 18th October 2018. Payments up to that date are due to be paid to the customer on Tuesday 23rd October.

The customer's next medical certificate was due 19th October 2018 and if/when this is submitted, any further payments due will issue.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Property Registration

Questions (669)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

669. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when a land registry issue will be resolved for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43281/18]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Under the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) was established as and from 4 November 2006. The PRA replaces the Registrar of Deeds and Titles as the registering authority in relation to property registration in Ireland and, subject to the above Act, is independent in the performance of its functions.

A service for Oireachtas members was introduced by the PRA in 2006 through which information can be obtained on the current status of applications, such as the case referred to. This provides a speedier, more efficient and more cost effective alternative to submitting Parliamentary Questions.

The Deputy's query has been forwarded to the PRA for attention and direct reply via the above mentioned service.

Housing Assistance Payment Data

Questions (670)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

670. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing assistance payment, HAP, tenancies in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018, by county; the cost for each year expended on HAP by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43943/18]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

At the end of Q2 2018, there were 37,751 active tenancies being supported under the Housing Assistance Payment?(HAP) scheme in 31 local authority areas. A breakdown of the number of households supported by HAP, in each local authority area since the scheme began in 2014 to Q2 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.

The 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.

The expenditure on, and the number of households in receipt of, HAP on an annual basis are set out in the 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
2018	9,083 (to end Q2 )	?

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.

Approved Housing Bodies

Questions (671)

Willie O'Dea

Question:

671. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when funding will be made available to an association (details supplied) in order that it can commence refurbishments to properties and property purchasing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43160/18]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

My Department has no record of any application for funding by the Housing Association concerned for the property in question. Ordinarily, a housing proposal from an approved housing body is directed to the relevant local authority in the first place, rather than to my Department.

Expert Panel on Concrete Blocks

Questions (672, 673)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

672. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if work is being undertaken to finalise before Christmas 2018 the terms and conditions of the redress scheme for mica-affected homeowners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43179/18]

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

673. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of the recent announcement of the mica redress scheme; the date in 2019 from which homes will commence repairs under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43180/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 672 and 673 together.

The 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 have finalised the review of the submissions received and it is expected that the standardised protocol will be published in the coming weeks.

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.

I will be in a position to provide a further update following the publication of the standardised protocol in the coming weeks.

Under Budget 2019, the Government approved in principle the development of a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners in the two counties to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been damaged due to defective concrete blocks.

The putting in place of such a scheme is now a key priority for my Department and work is well underway on the development of such a scheme, with a view to its completion as soon as possible and funding being available in 2019.

Wastewater Treatment

Questions (674, 693)

Seán Haughey

Question:

674. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if Irish Water has been in contact with his Department regarding funding for a regional wastewater treatment plant at Clonshaugh, Dublin 17; if so, the level of funding being sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43192/18]

Darragh O'Brien

Question:

693. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the development of a regional sewage treatment plant at Clonshaugh, County Dublin proposed with regard to the greater Dublin drainage project on behalf of his Department; the stage the development is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43669/18]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 674 and 693 together.

Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level. Irish Water’s primary function is to provide clean safe drinking water to customers and to treat and return wastewater safely to the environment. Irish Water takes a strategic, nationwide approach to asset planning and investment, and meeting customer requirements.

The first ever Water Services Policy Statement, prepared in line with the Water Services Acts, which was launched on 21 May 2018, outlines a clear direction for strategic planning and decision making on water and wastewater services in Ireland, identifying key policy objectives and priorities for the period to 2025. The Statement sets out a series of high-level policy objectives across the three thematic areas of Quality, Conservation and Future Proofing, which must be pursued when planning capital investment and framing current spending plans. It will provide the context within which necessary funding and investment plans by Irish Water will be framed and agreed.

On foot of publication of the Water Services Policy Statement, Irish Water prepared a ‘Strategic Funding Plan’ setting out proposed operational and capital expenditure. Subject to its approval by me as Minister, the Irish Water Strategic Funding Plan 2019-2024 will ultimately feed into annual Exchequer decisions on spending and will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. Based on this Strategic Funding Plan, Irish Water’s next Capital Investment Plan for the five year period from 2020 to 2024 will set out the financial plan for capital investments to support Irish Water’s strategic objectives to deliver improvements to water services.

I, as Minister, in conjunction with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, must provide consent for all commitments for capital expenditure above €20m.

Irish Water is regulated by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) as the independent economic regulator. The CRU is responsible for setting the total level of revenue which Irish Water can receive, through Government subvention and from customers, to cover its efficiently incurred costs. This CRU process involves, inter alia, reviewing submissions from Irish Water, including on its investment plan, and thereafter setting appropriate revenue allowances for operating costs, capital costs and other items for given regulatory periods. Consequently, the actual allowed operational expenditure and capital investment is decided by the CRU.

Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to [e-mail] or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.

Repair and Leasing Scheme

Questions (675)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

675. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of properties which have applied for the repair and leasing scheme; the number of properties accepted into the scheme in County Donegal since its inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43194/18]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) was initially piloted in Carlow and Waterford and the pilot has been rolled out nationally since 23 February 2017. The scheme is one of a suite of measures available to local authorities to bring vacant properties back into use. Since the national roll out, my Department has been working intensively with local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHB's) to develop and implement the scheme. There have been a number of national and local press advertising initiatives, as well as targeted online promotion, in an effort to ensure that property owners who can benefit from the scheme are aware of the benefits.

Data for Donegal County Council for end Q2 2018, is set out in the table. My Department is currently gathering data from local authorities in order to report progress in Quarter 3.

Local Authority	Number of Applications Received end Q2 2018	Number of Lease Agreements Signed end Q2 2018
Donegal County Council	60	0

Feedback from local authorities indicates that in many cases properties requiring extensive repair work and therefore not suitable for the RLS, have been secured under the Buy and Renew Scheme which facilitates local authorities or AHB's to purchase vacant properties for social housing use.

It was clear from end 2017 output, that RLS has not yet delivered the level of new social housing homes envisaged. The operation of the scheme was reviewed, as part of the review of Rebuilding Ireland, and it was concluded that the scheme has significant potential but there are areas where it can be improved to make it more attractive and effective. Accordingly, from 1 February 2018, a number of key changes were being made to the scheme.

These include:

- a reduction in the minimum lease term required from 10 to 5 years;

- increasing the proportion of market rent available to property owners where they take on more responsibilities under the tenancy, meaning that up to 92% of market rent will be available; and

- provision of additional funding for property owners, over and above the current €40,000 limit, where the dwelling is a bedsit type dwelling being brought into compliance with the Standards for Rented Houses Regulations and made available for social housing.

National data for RLS up to end Q2 2018 has shown an increase in the number of applications although given the lead in time of at least 6 months for most applications, it is probable that the true impact of the recent changes to the scheme will not become apparent until towards the end of the year. Over recent months, local authorities have indicated that the changes have been well received by property owners.

Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility

Questions (676)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

676. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the regulations in place in respect of applicants for inclusion on the social housing regulations that are victims of domestic violence; the supports available for those applicants; the timescales they can expect in respect of turnaround of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43225/18]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic abuse rests with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and the delivery of such services is managed through the Child and Family Agency, Tusla. Housing authorities do not provide or oversee services specifically designed for victims of domestic violence.

Victims of domestic violence who seek emergency accommodation from a housing authority are generally placed in temporary accommodation which the council itself arranges or which is operated by a voluntary service provider. It is not necessary for such persons to go on the general housing waiting list to avail of short-term emergency housing. Such support can be provided where victims of domestic violence meet the homeless definition set out in the Housing Act 1988, which is not prescriptive and in practice will generally include victims of domestic violence.

Where victims of domestic violence require continued State support to meet their housing needs, housing authorities are encouraged to work with all service providers to ensure that a victim’s housing eligibility and need is assessed in a timely manner. This assessment is carried out in accordance with section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, which includes a review of the suitability of the household’s current accommodation having regard to a number of considerations, including whether the accommodation is “an institution, emergency accommodation or a hostel”, as well as “particular household circumstances” or “exceptional medical or compassionate grounds”. This allows a housing authority to consider a victim of domestic violence as having a housing need, and to be placed on a housing list where all other criteria are met.

The allocation of social housing support to qualified households is a matter for individual housing authorities in accordance with their allocation schemes made under section 22 of the 2009 Act. Each housing authority is required to make an allocation scheme specifying, among other things, the manner of, and the order of priority for, the allocation of dwellings to households and classes of households on the waiting list. Households defined as homeless are generally afforded priority in allocation schemes. Allocation schemes may also contain provisions for exceptional or emergency cases, allowing immediate housing outside of normal waiting list priorities, should circumstances warrant it.

In line with commitments in Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness(Action 1.8) and the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence 2016-2021 (Action 2.30), my Department has issued guidance to all housing authorities in relation to assisting victims of domestic violence with emergency and long-term accommodation needs. The guidance can be accessed using the following link to my Department’s website:

https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/guidance_for_housing_authorities_in_relation_to_assisting_victims_of_domestic_violence.pdf.

The purpose of this guidance is to ensure an effective and consistent housing response for victims of domestic violence. The guidance covers a range of scenarios that may arise for victims of domestic violence in seeking social housing supports, including provisions around the use of the Housing Assistance Payment scheme, or the Rental Accommodation Scheme, where a victim has a joint interest in the family home, or ownership of alternative accommodation, but would otherwise qualify for social housing support.

Housing Assistance Payment

Questions (677)

Clare Daly

Question:

677. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that local authorities are enticing estate agents into making properties available for homeless persons by offering cash payments on top of the rental income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43251/18]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

I understand that the question refers to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).

HAP provides fast, flexible housing support to households in an area of their choice. Individuals with a housing need, who in the past were reluctant to avail of full time work as they would lose their Rent Supplement support, can now move to HAP and avail of full-time work and retain their housing support, with an adjustment in their differential rent. At the end of Quarter 2 2018, over 37,750 tenancies were being supported by the HAP scheme, including over 9,000 additional households in 2018.

The Homeless HAP Place Finder Service is a targeted support for homeless households who are finding it difficult to secure HAP tenancies. The Place Finder Service has been successfully utilised by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) across the Dublin local authorities since February 2015, with more than 3,000 households being supported by the Homeless HAP scheme at end Q2 2018.

The Place Finder Service will assist households in emergency accommodation primarily by providing access to deposits and advance rental payments. These elements are the core financial supports now being made available nationally. Local authorities have the option to enhance this service, if required, through their homeless services by assigning dedicated staff to provide assistance in:

- seeking out potential properties suitable for households currently identified as homeless;

- liaising with specific households to establish their specific needs;

- establishing relationships with local property agents and landlords; and,

- supporting those homeless households to exit emergency accommodation and secure a tenancy.

Local authorities, including the DRHE, are promoting the scheme locally, and engaging with letting agents and landlords who might be interested in entering into a HAP tenancy.

Where a local authority decides to enhance the Homeless HAP service beyond the financial assistance provided by my Department, the arrangement, management and oversight of the Homeless HAP Place Finder Service, including any contractual matters that may arise with relevant third parties, is a matter for each individual local authority.

The DRHE, in conjunction with my Department, has put in place an incentive for estate agents whereby, should they make suitable properties exclusively available to homeless families through the Place Finders team within the DRHE, and not advertise them on letting websites or elsewhere or hold reserved viewings for homeless families in emergency accommodation, then, after five properties have been secured in this manner, a payment of €500 per property plus VAT will be made to the agent, following the submission of the appropriate paperwork. A further €500 per property can be made for the sixth and any subsequent properties secured in this manner, provided the agent formally invoices the DRHE for each payment.

The DRHE, and local authorities more generally, do not make payments in cash.

Planning Issues

Questions (678)

James Browne

Question:

678. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the position regarding extensions of duration of planning approval in view of the commencement of section 28(1) of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016, with particular regard to the non-functioning of the commenced section 57 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43267/18]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Section 57 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2018, which came into force on enactment, amends section 28(1) of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016, which remains to be commenced.

In the near future, I expect to make the commencement order required to bring into operation the latter provision, which amended section 42 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 relating to the extension of the duration of a planning permission.

Student Accommodation

Questions (679)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

679. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has considered specific build student accommodation to alleviate the lack of student accommodation and to free up rental properties for families in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43327/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government

Research undertaken by the Higher Education Authority into student accommodation provision estimates that there is significant unmet demand nationally and, with the student population forecast to increase to nearly 193,000 by 2024, significant investment is needed in provision of accommodation nationally.

In July 2016, the Government’s Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness identified the under-supply of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) in Ireland and the significant related adverse impact that this deficit was having on the wider private rental sector. The increased provision of PBSA was established as a key priority in addressing the current wider housing crisis.

My Department continues to work closely with the Department of Education and Skills through the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Student Accommodation in examining the issue of student housing and potential policy measures to increase accommodation supply. This Group, which includes stakeholders from the Higher Education Institutes, Union of Students in Ireland and other Government Departments, highlighted important issues in developing new student accommodation projects, including the planning and development finance aspects in assembling new development projects.

The work of this Group contributed directly to the initiation of reforms in the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 which provided for the fast-tracking of planning applications for student housing construction projects of greater than 200 bed-spaces to An Bord Pleanála (which commenced on 3 July 2017). In addition, the legislation provides for the availability of low-cost financing from the Housing Finance Agency to the Higher Education Institutes specifically to support the delivery of new student accommodation projects.

My Department also fed into the preparation of the National Student Accommodation Strategy which was launched by the Department of Education and Skills in July 2017 – a specific action committed to under Rebuilding Ireland. This policy document was developed with input from the key stakeholders in the sector and includes eight key targets and 27 actions to support the delivery of an increased supply of PBSA.

These and other measures by my Department have assisted in delivering a significant increase in the level of PBSA projects coming forward nationally.

Recent analysis from the Higher Education Authority has indicated that, by September 2018, over 5,500 bed-spaces had been delivered since the publication of Rebuilding Ireland and some 4,800 further bed-spaces are currently under construction nationally.

In addition, over 7,900 bed-spaces have received planning permission but are yet to commence construction. The scale of this level of additional student accommodation should exert a downward pressure on the cost of such accommodation, through availability of supply and competition.

Social and Affordable Housing Funding

Questions (680)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

680. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of funding released for the construction of social housing under the Rebuilding Ireland programme; if he will provide a schedule of funding issued on a local authority basis; the projects for which funding was released; the amount awarded by project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43329/18]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Social housing construction is funded under a range of different initiatives such as local authority construction, turnkey developments, rapid delivery and regeneration programmes and through construction and turnkey developments by approved housing bodies. Rebuilding Ireland is a six year programme covering the period 2016 to 2021. In the period to end September 2018, €715 million has been invested in social housing construction projects.

In addition, funding of almost €68 million has been provided to local authorities under my Department's Voids Programme. This funding is provided to support local authorities in remediating those social housing homes that may require a greater level of investment than the normal level of pre-letting repairs that local authorities would ordinarily carry out, as part of their on-going repair and maintenance of local authority housing.

The breakdown of the expenditure over the period in question at individual local authority and project levels is not readily available. However, if the Deputy is concerned about a specific local authority or local authorities, I will have the matter explored further on receipt of the relevant information.

However, insofar as the social housing construction programme is concerned, my Department now publishes, on a quarterly basis, a comprehensive status report of all social housing construction schemes for all local authority areas showing details such as their locations, a range of information relating to their advancement, including those delivered and those progressing through planning, design and construction. The most recent of these reports covers the period up to the end of Quarter 2 2018 and lists 1,067 approved social housing construction schemes, delivering over 16,300 homes. The report can be accessed at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-latest-social-housing-construction-report/. Further project approvals are being added to the construction programme as projects are developed by local authorities and approved housing bodies.

More broadly, a total of €1.4 billion was expended in 2017 on the implementation of the full range of housing programmes, which resulted in the delivery of social housing solutions for almost 26,000 households. In 2018, investment of €1.9 billion is being provided for housing and this was increased further in Budget 2019 with almost €2.4 billion being provided for housing programmes next year.

Local Authority Funding

Questions (681)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

681. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount allocated to local authorities (details supplied) under capital housing funding in each of the years from 2010 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43337/18]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

The information requested in respect of capital funding for housing programmes for Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council for the period 2010 to end September 2018 is set out in the table.

Local Authority	2010 €m	2011 €m	2012 €m	2013 €m	2014 €m	2015 €m	2016 €m	2017 €m	2018 (to 30/9) €m	Total
Cavan	8.29	3.31	3.70	3.66	4.15	4.40	5.18	6.07	5.06	43.82
Monaghan	10.64	6.32	5.24	3.79	5.18	3.97	7.46	15.68	7.03	65.31

Water Abstraction Regulation

Questions (682)

Darragh O'Brien

Question:

682. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the impact repeal of the Water Supplies Act 1942, as proposed in the water environment (abstractions) Bill, will have on the property rights of persons generally; if he is satisfied that the full entitlements to compensation set out in section 14 of the 1942 Act will be carried forward into the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43344/18]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

The Heads of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill were approved by Government in July 2018. It is intended that the Bill will give effect to the obligation under the Water Framework Directive to establish a system of registration and control over the abstraction of water and proposals in this regard were laid out in Ireland's River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021, which I published in April of this year.

The draft Heads propose to repeal the Water Supplies Act 1942 and part of the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act 1964 and replace them with a modern, fit-for-purpose control regime over the abstraction of water. Recognising the relatively low abstraction pressures in Ireland, the regime will focus on the most significant abstraction volumes and pressures and will be risk-based in order to effectively manage abstraction risks and pressures without imposing an unnecessary legislative burden.

I launched a public consultation on the draft Heads in August, which closed on 12 October 2018. All submissions received, as well as existing legal provisions governing the area of abstractions, including compensation, will be examined closely in the continuing development of the legislation.

Constitutional Amendments

Questions (683)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

683. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans in respect of holding constitutional referenda over the next 12 months. [42204/18]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

The Government announced on 26 September 2017 that it had agreed an indicative timetable for the holding of a number of referendums on proposals for amendments to the Constitution arising from the work of the Citizens’ Assembly and the Convention on the Constitution.

In this context, my Department will be responsible for bringing forward appropriate Constitution Amendment Bills on reducing the voting age to 16 and on extending the franchise at Presidential elections to Irish citizens resident outside the State. These referendums will address two of the recommendations of the Convention on the Constitution. Work is being progressed in my Department to inform the development of the appropriate Constitution Amendment Bills.

Subject to the passage of the Constitution Amendment Bills by the Houses of the Oireachtas, it is proposed that these referendums will be held on the same day as the local and European elections which will take place in late May 2019.

Social and Affordable Housing Funding

Questions (684)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

684. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the cost and funding stream being used for the 20 units of social housing in an area (details supplied); the funding used for refurbishment, capital purchase or long-term lease; if the properties are being funded via the social housing current expenditure programme; if they will remain in private ownership; and if they will be acquired by the State via lease to purchase. [43379/18]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

My Department has committed capital funding for Donegal County Council to acquire the 20 housing units in question in an unfinished condition. Subject to contract with the vendor, the Council will complete the housing in question and thereafter, they would be part of their permanent social housing stock at an expected overall cost of €2.36 million.

Help-To-Buy Scheme

Questions (685)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

685. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the grants available for first-time buyers who do not qualify for the help-to-buy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43380/18]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

The main support that has been put in place by the Government to assist first-time buyers is the Help to Buy Initiative, which is operated by the Revenue Commissioners on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Finance. As one of the policy aims of this scheme was to incentivise the construction of additional housing units, it is aimed solely at new-build and self-build properties.

While there are no grants available from my Department for this purpose, first-time buyers who are having difficulty in accessing finance through a commercial lender may be able to qualify for mortgage finance under the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan. This scheme was launched on 1 February 2018 following a review of the two existing local authority home loan schemes, the House Purchase Loan and the Home Choice Loan.

The loan enables credit-worthy first-time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties in a suitable price range. The low rate of fixed interest associated with the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan provides first-time buyers with access to mortgage finance that they may not otherwise have been able to afford at a higher interest rate.

The 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.

Full details of the loan’s eligibility criteria and other information are available from the dedicated Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan website http://rebuildingirelandhomeloan.ie/.

In addition to this, work is on-going towards increasing the availability of affordable housing in the areas of the country most affected by a lack of affordable housing supply. The Government has committed €310 million to support this programme of work, under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF), as part of Budget 2019. In 2019 funding of €100 million will be available under the Fund with a further €142 million in 2020 and €68 million in 2021. The funding is available for key facilitating infrastructure, on local authority sites, to support the provision of affordable homes to purchase or rent.

Once the funding is awarded and the infrastructure is provided I expect delivery of affordable homes from 2019 onwards. Separately, all local authorities will now carry out an economic assessment of the requirement for affordable housing in their area, and the authorities’ capacity to deliver housing at affordable prices from their sites. Based on this analysis further local authorities may be considered for funding under the SSF.

I envisage a maximum amount of SSF funding of €50,000 per affordable home and on this basis some 6,200 affordable homes could be facilitated. In terms of the type of affordable housing that will be delivered on local authority sites it may be affordable housing for purchase, under the recently commenced provisions of Part 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, or cost rental, which is being advanced on a number of pilot sites before being rolled out more generally. Under the 2009 Act, the maximum discount is 40% of the market value of the home and the local authority takes a charge, equivalent to the discount, against the property, which the household must recoup at re-sale or during the charge period. The funding repaid by the purchaser is paid into a new Affordable Dwellings Fund which can then be used to fund more affordable housing. The scheme applies to new homes, and is targeted at single applicants earning up to €50,000 per annum or €75,000 for dual applicants.