Written Answers Nos. 646-665
646. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans for the reorganisation of the management and organisation of the fire service at national, regional and local level; the timeline for the introduction of changes; the way in which his planned structures will differ from those in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47774/18]
View answerAs Minister with policy and legislative responsibility for fire safety and the provision of fire services by local authorities, my primary concern, as set out in the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003, is that local authority provided fire services are meeting their statutory obligations in respect of provision of fire services and fire safety.
Fire services are provided in Ireland by local authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. At the moment there are 31 fire authorities which provide fire prevention and fire protection services for communities through 27 service delivery structures. Local authority fire services are delivered by approximately 3,300 local authority staff engaged at 218 fire stations nationwide, with local authorities expending approximately €280m per annum on their fire services.
The most recent review of fire services in Ireland resulted in the publication of “Keeping Communities Safe - A Framework for Fire Safety in Ireland” (KCS) in 2013. This was the report on the outcome of a wide-ranging review of fire services in Ireland which was undertaken in 2011/2012, and was endorsed as national policy in early 2013. It concluded that local authorities were best positioned to continue to provide fire services in Ireland.
At national level, a National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management was created within my Department in 2009 to give central direction and leadership for the fire and emergency management services. The 2009 arrangements put in place a management structure at central government level with a clear mandate and visibility to develop national policy and to drive consistent achievement of quality fire services by local authorities, while not interfering with existing local political accountability for front-line service delivery. Under the system, responsibility for the day-to-day operation of fire services remains with the local authorities. However, the National Directorate’s mandate includes developing national policies and national standards, and supporting and overseeing their implementation at local level.
The KCS policy document sets out the overall approach, the methods and the techniques to achieve the objective of keeping communities safe from fire and, for the first time, set out national norms, standards and targets against which local authorities can benchmark their fire services.
Over the course of 2014/2015, the National Directorate’s Management Board's External Validation Group (EVG) visited every fire service in the country as part of a new external validation process arising from implementation of KCS. In April 2016, the Management Board published the first EVG Report titled “Local Delivery - National Consistency”. The report concluded, inter alia, that:
- Fire Services are applying and refining internationally-recognised risk management approaches to reduce the fire risk and the annual toll of life and property loss caused by fire.
- Local authorities are matching the assessed fire risk in their individual fire station areas with services based on both full-time and retained fire service models, with a comprehensive support infrastructure, and applying a range of appropriate fire prevention and fire protection approaches.
- Local authorities have prioritised and maintained the financial and personnel resources in their fire services at times when they were implementing significant reductions in all other areas.
- Local authorities have benchmarked their fire services against national standards and national norms, and a strong degree of consistency, linked to area risk categorisation, now exists in fire service provision; all local authorities are using, or are working towards, national norms as minimum standards.
A copy of this report is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/local-government/fire-and-emergency-management/fire-services-ireland-local-delivery-national.
It is widely recognised that the National Directorate structure has been very effective in leading the development of emergency management in Ireland as well as fire services. The National Directorate was central to the work which underpinned the successful response to severe weather emergencies including Ex-Hurricane Ophelia in October 2017 and Storm Emma earlier this year.
Following the publication of the “Fire Safety Task Force” Report in May 2018, which was convened at my request by the National Directorate, I have asked the Management Board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of Task Force Report.
I have no additional plans for the reorganisation of the fire service at national, regional and local level at this time, as the evidence suggests that current arrangements, as outlined, are working effectively to meet the challenges involved in trying to protect communities from fire and other emergencies.
647. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the impact of the implementation of the European working time directive on the operations of the fire service nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47775/18]
View answerCouncil Directive 93/104/EC of 23 November 1993, concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time (the Working Time Directive), lays down minimum safety and health requirements for the organisation of working time, in respect of periods of daily rest, breaks, weekly rest, maximum weekly working time, annual leave and aspects of night work, shift work and patterns of work. Implementation of this Directive is transposed through the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, which comes under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
I understand that the concepts of ‘working time’ and ‘rest periods’ as provided for in the Directive were the subject of a recent judgment by the Court of Justice of the European Union.
The judgment of the Court was noted at my Department’s National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management Board meeting of 13 September 2018. The Management Board requested that preliminary legal advice be sought regarding the potential impact of the judgment and I understand that this should be available by the end of the year. Subject to the advice received, the National Directorate may forward the matter to the Office of the Attorney General for its consideration.
648. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the Residential Tenancies Board will ensure that an application by a person (details supplied) in County Wexford for a tribunal will be made under section 189 of the relevant Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47776/18]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants.
Due to the quasi-judicial role of the RTB, it would be inappropriate for me as Minister or my Department to comment on, or to interfere in, the specifics of any case.
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 in relation to the case referred to.
649. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the contingency plans in place to deal with the impact of Brexit on the housing crisis; the number of meetings held by his officials in the past 12 months to prepare for this issue; and the number of meetings between staff of his Department, other Departments, State agencies and other organisations during the past 12 months to prepare for this issue. [47788/18]
View answerPlanning for the U.K.'s exit from the European Union was initiated over two years ago and preparedness for different types of Brexit is well underway across Government.
To this end, co-ordination of the whole-of-Government response to Brexit is being taken forward through the cross-Departmental coordination structures chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In July of this year, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade presented a Memorandum to the Government on Brexit Preparedness and Contingency Planning. On the basis of this Memorandum, Departments were tasked with developing detailed action plans to prepare for Brexit.
My Department is contributing to this process and contingency planning is underway. The priorities include assessing potential impacts on housing and our other areas of responsibility. This is necessarily an iterative and ongoing process and my Department continues to work closely in this regard with other Departments through the established structures. This includes regular attendance at a wide variety of inter-Departmental meetings that take place on a weekly and fortnightly basis, as well as internal discussions through a range of fora, including a specific cross-Divisional co-ordination group and at the Department's Management Board.
It is difficult to predict with confidence the impact of Brexit on housing as this will be determined in large part by the outcome of the process around the draft withdrawal agreement but also by the nature of the future relationship between the UK and the EU. Nonetheless, the Brexit planning arrangements in place, taking account also of established approach to longer term planning, including in relation to the National Planning Framework, provide an effective vehicle for ensuring that the potential impact of developments within the evolving Brexit process can be assessed.
650. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47791/18]
View answerI established two independent Local Electoral Area Boundary Committees on 13 December 2017 to review and make recommendations on local electoral areas having regard to, among other things, the results of Census 2016 as well as the commitment to consider reducing the size of territorially large local electoral areas as set out in A Programme for Partnership Government (May 2016). The two Committees reported to me on 12 June 2018 and now stand dissolved.
On foot of the two reports, orders are currently being prepared within my Department under section 23 of the Local Government Act 2001 to give effect to the Committees' recommendations in relation to local electoral areas. It is anticipated that these orders will be signed later this year. Once the orders have been made, it will be a matter for each local authority to prepare maps setting out the new local electoral areas and to make these available to elected members, to prospective candidates who may wish to stand at the local elections scheduled for late May 2019 and to such other persons who may be interested in receiving copies of such maps.
651. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of Rebuilding Ireland home loan applications by local authority; the number of such loans approved by each local authority; and the number of loans drawn down by each local authority by quarter in 2018, in tabular form. [47800/18]
View answerMy Department publishes information on the overall number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns. Information up to Q2 2018, including in relation to number and value of mortgage drawdowns, is available on the Department's website at the following link: 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 recommended for approval, the most recent figures, as at the end of October, indicate that the Agency had recommended a total of 1,317 applications for approval since the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme launched, as set out in the following table.
|
Local Authority |
Applications Assessed |
Recommended to Approve |
|
Carlow County Council |
43 |
15 |
|
Cavan County Council |
11 |
2 |
|
Clare County Council |
47 |
18 |
|
Cork City Council |
87 |
43 |
|
Cork County Council |
196 |
104 |
|
Donegal County Council |
28 |
17 |
|
Dublin City Council |
305 |
189 |
|
Dún Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council |
67 |
38 |
|
Fingal County Council |
365 |
185 |
|
Galway City Council |
56 |
26 |
|
Galway County Council |
94 |
36 |
|
Kerry County Council |
74 |
35 |
|
Kildare County Council |
166 |
85 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
24 |
13 |
|
Laois County Council |
62 |
32 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
9 |
2 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
64 |
38 |
|
Longford County Council |
26 |
14 |
|
Louth County Council |
58 |
22 |
|
Mayo County Council |
37 |
15 |
|
Meath County Council |
169 |
109 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
13 |
3 |
|
Offaly County Council |
32 |
12 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
26 |
12 |
|
Sligo County Council |
30 |
17 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
188 |
92 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
71 |
25 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
26 |
11 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
19 |
12 |
|
Wexford County Council |
76 |
39 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
114 |
56 |
|
Total |
2,583 |
1,317 |
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.
652. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason his Department made no comment on the Northern Ireland Warrenpoint Harbour Authority EIA screening consultation for new in-lough disposal of dredged material from the harbour in Carlingford Lough rather than the current location 22 miles out at sea (details supplied). [47865/18]
View answerMy Department responded to the Marine and Fisheries Division in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (NI) advising that the main issues arising are potential impacts on aquaculture activities on the southern shore, which is a matter for consideration by my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine. In responding, my Department noted that observations were already sought from that Department.
653. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the practice of developer and-or owners of housing developments requiring that new buyers sign an agreement not to object to applications for changes to planning permissions to the developments; his views on whether this is good planning practice; and if his attention has been further drawn to the prevalence of the practice. [47925/18]
View answerMy Department has not been informed of any instances of the practice described by the Deputy.
Public participation is a crucial element of all substantive decision-making processes under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, having regard to the requirements of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters and the EU Environmental Impact Assessment Directive. Thus, any member of the public is entitled to make observations or a submission on a planning application, and, where he or she does so, is entitled to
- have his or her observations or submission considered by the planning authority,
- be notified of the authority’s decision on the application,
- appeal the authority’s decision on the application to An Bord Pleanála or make observations or a submission to the Board in relation to an appeal of that decision, and
- withdraw in writing an appeal that he or she has made at any time before the appeal is determined by the Board, without any requirement to state the reason for the withdrawal.
In considering planning applications or appeals, a planning authority or the Board is required to consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area concerned and the prospective effects on the environment of the proposed development, having regard to a range of matters specified in legislation, including observations or submissions made by members of the public.
Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.
654. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the procedure in place for county council water workers if Irish Water takes over all current duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47981/18]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Irish Water has entered into service level agreements (SLAs) with each local authority for the provision of water services. Staff members working under these arrangements remain local authority employees while continuing to perform key water services functions with local authorities acting as agents of Irish Water. Staffing arrangements are an operational matter for Irish Water and local authorities within the context of the SLA arrangements currently in place.
On 19 September 2018, I received a report from the Director General of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in respect of a process of engagement that was undertaken at my request with the parties involved in the transformation programme for Irish Water, those being Irish Water, ICTU and relevant affiliated unions, Local Government management and my Department. The context here lies in Irish Water’s proposal to fully integrate its operations and end the current operational arrangements for the delivery of water services through the service level agreements with local authorities. The discussions with the parties have advanced on the basis that the current SLAs remain in place until such time as an alternative is agreed.
In considering the WRC report in consultation with my Government colleagues, I have been particularly mindful of the WRC’s comments that uncertainty about the next phase of transformation appears to be causing staffing difficulties at Local Government level and that further delay in providing the necessary clarity could exacerbate this situation and increase risks to the safe and effective delivery of water and wastewater services. Therefore, in the interests of clarity, I am asking the parties to now engage in a process to work towards the development of a stable structural and operational framework for the future. I am grateful for the commitment of the WRC to facilitate this process. My Department has been in communication with the parties in this regard.
657. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 303 of 10 May 2018, when the preparation and finalisation of a national protocol with regard to taking estates served by developer provided infrastructure in charge will be finalised in order that local authorities can proceed to take these estates in charge and in particular in which there was developer provided infrastructure such as waste water treatment tanks, shores and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48022/18]
View answerMy 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 process for taking-in-charge 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, €7.5 million of the allocated funding was paid to local authorities in respect of 330 developments, containing some 14,930 homes.
Findings and recommendations from the NTICI process will be included in a report on the initiative that it is intended 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 programme in a more general roll-out of a streamlined approach to taking-in-charge, including through coordination with capital works by Irish Water.
In addition, the National Development Plan includes a provision of €31 million for DPI in the period 2018-2021, demonstrating the Government's commitment to transition from the pilot phase under NTICI to a programme phase.
My Department intends to write to local authorities to advise them of the future funding arrangements for DPI-type housing estates that are not taken in charge, following the publication, shortly, of the review report on the 2016 NTICI.
658. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to lower the required deposit level for local authority house loans in view of the difficulties for potential applicants in achieving the required deposit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48036/18]
View answerThe Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is designed to enable credit worthy first-time buyers, who are unable to access a mortgage from a commercial lender to obtain sustainable mortgage lending to purchase a new or second-hand property. 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.
To support prudential lending and consistency of treatment for borrowers, a Loan to Value ratio of 90% applies to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan as per the Central Bank's prudential lending guidelines. Therefore, in order to avail of the loan, applicants must have a deposit equivalent to 10% of the market value of the property.
Applicants must provide bank or similar statements (such as post office, credit union, etc.) for a 12-month period immediately prior to making an application, clearly showing a credible and consistent track record of savings. The cash savings should be no less than 3% of the market value of the property. Gifts are permissible up to 7% of the market value of the property, where their source is verified.
Given the need to administer the loan in a financially prudent manner, in order to protect the financial position of both the borrower and the State, I have no plans to reduce this deposit requirement.
659. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount allocated to Fingal County Council in 2018 to improve accommodation specifically for Travellers; if none of this funding has been spent by Fingal County Council to date; the design plans for the accommodation of Travellers submitted to his Department for approval; the length of time it takes to sanction such plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48056/18]
View answerIn accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
The allocations and recoupment profiles for capital Traveller accommodation projects can vary across local authorities given the local priorities, circumstances and project timelines as set out in their programmes. These programmes provide a road map for local authority investment priorities over the period. They also form the basis for the allocation of funding from my Department for Traveller accommodation. All applications for funding are dealt with on receipt. The timeline for assessment of Traveller-specific accommodation can vary considerably depending on the type of accommodation being developed or refurbished.
Fingal County Council's allocation for spend on Traveller Accommodation in 2018 was €851,189. To date, Fingal County Council has drawn down this allocation in full with additional funding of €23,018 also provided by my Department. This funding provided for the refurbishment of a 10 bay Halting site at Moyne Park, Baldoyle.
660. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when section 49 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2018 will be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48069/18]
View answerSection 49 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2018 amends the Planning and Development Act 2000 to classify communications and data infrastructure above a certain size threshold as strategic infrastructure developments. This will mean that, when the provision has been commenced, applications for planning permission for communications and data infrastructure that meet the prescribed scale requirements will be made directly to An Bord Pleanála similar to other pre-existing types of strategic infrastructure development. The new arrangements will be commenced after the necessary preparations by the Board, and other necessary supporting requirements, have been completed. My Department is working towards the completion of this process as soon as possible.
661. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the way in which Irish Water can justify the levying of a fee for a water connection for a person (details supplied) who constructed a dwelling for a family member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48100/18]
View answerThe Water Services Acts 2007-2017 set out the arrangements in place for the delivery of water and wastewater services by Irish Water, and for the scrutiny and oversight provisions that apply in respect of these arrangements. Responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) and the CRU is required to perform its functions in a manner that best serves the interests of customers of Irish Water.
Section 22(5) of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that a water charges plan may provide for charges in respect of the provision of a service connection (within the meaning of the Water Services Act 2007) to, or in respect of, a premises. In line with a direction issued by the CRU, Irish Water currently continues to apply the same connection charges for connecting to the public water and/or wastewater network as were applied by local authorities on 31 December 2013.
Following a comprehensive policy review and public consultation process, the CRU has recently published a proposed decision paper on a new National Connection Charging Policy for Irish Water. The Policy will be aimed at developing a more harmonised methodology for connections to the public water and wastewater network. I understand that the CRU intends to make its final decision on the new National Connection Charging Policy before the end of 2018, with a view to its implementation by Irish Water early in 2019.
As Minister, I must respect the statutory powers and functions which the Oireachtas has conferred on both Irish Water and the CRU in relation to these matters and I cannot involve myself in individual cases.
It should be noted that Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
662. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the way in which the investigation by the local government auditor into payments made by Meath County Council to a company (details supplied) in 2008 and 2009 is progressing; if the investigation has established that payments made to this company should have been paid to another company for work it carried out for the council during the period in question; if it has established if Meath County Council continues to make payments to the company despite the fact that the issue of the previous incorrect payments to the company has not been addressed and may be the subject of a fresh Garda investigation; if Meath County Council was in breach of its legal and statutory obligations to inform the local government auditor when these payment discrepancies were uncovered further to complaints by a person several years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48101/18]
View answerThe function of the Local Government Audit Service is to complete the audits of all local authorities annual financial statements, using a structured audit methodology in accordance with the Code of Audit Practice and related guidelines. Local Government Auditors are independent in the performance of their duties and it is a matter for each auditor to decide what matters to review. Any material matters arising would be referred to in the audit report and all audit reports are published on my Department’s website.
In relation to the matter in question, my Department has been informed that the Local Government Auditor is not undertaking an investigation into payments made by Meath County Council to any company in the years 2008 and 2009.
The Local Government Auditor has however received correspondence from an interested party in relation to payments of approximately €16,000 made to the company in question in 2008 and 2009. A review of the payments was undertaken in 2018, as part of the 2017 audit. The Local Government Auditor considered that the payments were not material in the overall context of the audit and, given the significant time delay since the payments were made, deemed that they were not relevant to the 2017 audit.
663. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans for the regulation of short-term lets by a company (details supplied); if the policy approach will be tailored in order not to impact on rural tourist areas in which there is no a demand for long-term lets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48102/18]
View answer664. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the proposed restrictions to short-term lets by a company (details supplied) will also apply to other short-term holiday letting sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48103/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 663 and 664 together.
Under Action 18 of the Strategy for the Rental Sector, a Working Group was established, involving representatives of all major public stakeholders with a policy interest in short-term lettings, to develop guidance in relation to planning applications, changes of use relating to short-term lettings and to examine the need for new regulatory arrangements, including having regard to regulations in place in other jurisdictions.
The proposals under consideration by the Working Group have been aimed at facilitating short-term letting of accommodation within permanent residences, known as homesharing, while protecting the existing stock of residential property in areas of high demand, safeguarding neighbourhood amenity and consumer protection, and generating revenue to address any negative effects of short term letting.
Having considered the Group's report as well as the recommendations in the Oireachtas Committee's report on short-term lettings, I recently announced plans to introduce a “one host, one home” model in areas where there is high housing demand.
Homesharing will continue to be permissible for a person’s primary residence, and such home-sharers will have to now register with their local authority. An annual cap of 90 days will apply for the renting out, on a short-term basis – i.e. for 14 days or less at a time, of a person’s entire home where it is their primary residence.
Where a person owns a second property and intends to let it as a Short Term Letting (STL), they will require planning permission to do so unless the property is already permitted to be used for tourism / short-term letting purposes. Planning permission for a change of use to STL can be sought and it will be up to each local Planning Authority to consider applications, based on guidance that will issue from my Department, taking account of housing demand pressures and other relevant factors such as cumulative impacts.
These proposed changes will not affect the operation of holiday homes as typically understood, or longer-term flexible lettings which are provided for those coming to Ireland under employment contracts.
It is intended that the new planning changes will come into effect on 1 June 2019, to allow property owners to prepare for and adapt to the new laws. In addition to revised draft exempted development planning regulations, which have been prepared, amendments to primary legislation will also be introduced which will underpin and strengthen the new proposals; drafting of these amendments is currently underway.
Any unauthorised development, including breaches of the proposed exemptions, may be the subject of planning enforcement by the relevant planning authority.
665. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will confirm claims (details supplied) published on his Department's website; and the data on which these claims are based. [48171/18]
View answerMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities.
In September, I wrote to the chief executives of the four Dublin local authorities highlighting the need for increased action to resolve homelessness. The Chief Executive of Dublin City Council, in his response to me on 10 September, informed me that data available to the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive suggested that approximately 33% of family households presenting as homeless and 42% of rough sleepers have no entitlement to avail of housing supports in the State. My Department does not have access to the source data referred to by the DRHE and Chief Executive in his correspondence. However, my Department is currently reviewing homelessness data collection and reporting with a view to obtaining better information from local authorities. This will include examining the collection of data on those households presenting to homeless services who are not entitled to apply for housing supports.
