Tuesday, 23 Jul 2019

Written Answers Nos. 2892-2916

Rental Accommodation Scheme Data

Questions (2892)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

2892. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of RAS tenancies active on 1 June 2019 or the nearest possible date by local authority area. [32849/19]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

The latest data in respect of the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) reflects the position at end Quarter 1 2019, when there were a total of 18,697 tenancies supported under the scheme, details of which are set out in the table below.

Local Authority	Total - All RAS Tenancies
Carlow	499
Cavan	562
Clare	373
Cork City	824
Cork	857
Donegal	547
Dublin City	1,765
Dublin South	1,292
Dun-Rathdown	528
Fingal	647
Galway City	421
Galway	324
Kerry	891
Kildare	578
Kilkenny	911
Laois	218
Leitrim	114
Limerick City	1,145
Longford	207
Louth	120
Mayo	808
Meath	407
Monaghan	215
Offaly	130
Roscommon	404
Sligo	541
Tipperary	1,089
Waterford City	675
Westmeath	584
Wexford	600
Wicklow	421
Total:	18,697

Question No. 2893 answered with Question No. 2845.

Home Loan Scheme

Questions (2894)

Niall Collins

Question:

2894. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will address the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32882/19]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions. Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 specifically provides that the Minister's power to issue policy directions and guidelines to housing authorities in relation to their housing functions shall 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. I am, therefore, precluded from intervening in relation to individual cases.

In administering the local authority home loan scheme, local authorities strongly advise prospective borrowers to obtain independent professional advice as to the structural stability and suitability of the dwelling house for habitation.

Certificates of compliance with planning and building regulations are required for all properties mortgaged prior to drawdown, and must be provided by suitably qualified architects, engineers or building surveyors.

The local authority in issuing a home loan does not accept any statutory or common law duty or care to ensure the dwelling house is properly constructed or free of defects.

Homeless Persons Data

Questions (2895, 2896)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

2895. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of families with children experiencing homelessness and being held in hotel rooms, bed and breakfasts and guesthouses by county; the number in this type of emergency accommodation for periods (details supplied), respectively in tabular form; the number of such families that have family support workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32928/19]

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

2896. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of families with children experiencing homelessness in hubs by county; the number in this type of emergency accommodation for periods (details supplied), respectively in tabular form; the number of such families that have family support workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32929/19]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2895 and 2896 together.

My 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 emergency accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities.

It is recognised that hotel accommodation is inappropriate for accommodating homeless families for anything other than a short period of time. Accordingly, the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness includes the objective that hotels will only be used in limited circumstances as emergency accommodation for families. To meet this objective, housing authorities are pursuing the delivery of a range of additional and enhanced family focused facilities, or family hubs, which offer a greater level of stability than is possible in hotels, while move-on options to long-term independent living are identified and secured.

There are now 28 hubs operational nationally, offering almost 660 units of family accommodation in urban areas. 22 of these are in Dublin, with one each in Clare, Cork, Galway, Kildare, Limerick and Louth. Further facilities will become operational during the course of 2019, details of which will become available as projects are finalised.

Hubs by County	Number of Family Units
Clare	13
Cork	19
Dublin	588
Galway	12
Kildare	10
Limerick	10
Louth	7
Total	659

My Department does not collate information regarding the number of hotels, bed and breakfasts and guesthouses that are used as emergency accommodation.

Quarterly performance reports prepared by the local authorities on a regional basis provide information on the duration of time spent by persons in emergency accommodation. The most recently published report is for Quarter 1 2019 and shows that 35% of the adults recorded were in emergency accommodation for less than 6 months, and 65% for more than 6 months. The regional breakdown at the end of Quarter 1 2019 is shown in the table below.

Q1 Duration in Emergency Accommodation - Regional Breakdown

-	< 6 months		> 6 Months		Regional Total
	Amount	%	Amount	%
Dublin	1,305	32%	2,791	68%	4,096
Mid-East	158	38%	256	62%	414
Midland	67	57%	51	43%	118
Mid-West	210	43%	273	57%	483
North East	79	26%	223	74%	302
North West	34	52%	31	48%	65
South East	160	36%	289	64%	449
South West	295	55%	241	45%	536
West	171	29%	426	71%	597
Totals	2,479	35%	4,581	65%	7,060

Decisions on the range of emergency accommodation services required are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the statutory Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum. A Management Group is in place for each homeless region, comprised of representatives from the relevant housing authorities and the Health Service Executive. The Management Group is responsible for considering the need for homeless services and the planning, implementation, funding and co-ordination of such services.

The provision and funding of health and care services to those experiencing homelessness is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Health.

Departmental Reports

Questions (2897)

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

2897. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of feasibility studies conducted by his Department in County Galway in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; the names of each project being studied; the amount allocated and drawn down for each study; the person or body that sought each study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32945/19]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

My Department has approved funding for one feasibility study in County Galway from 2016 to date, details of which are set out in the table below.

Year	Project Name	Amount Allocated	Drawdown	Person/Body who sought study	Note
2019	Sandy Road, Liosban. (Funding is to support the preparation of a Feasibility Study for the regeneration of local authority depots)	€187,500	€0	Galway City Council under the Urban Regeneration & Development Fund.	This study is not due to be completed until 2020

Question No. 2898 answered with Question No. 2846.

Social and Affordable Housing Data

Questions (2899)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

2899. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the estimated budget he plans to spend on house construction from 2020 to 2024; the estimated number of units expected to be delivered by the type of housing units; and the estimated amount that will be spent in that time on each category of unit in tabular form. [32958/19]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

The National Development Plan 2018-2027 provides for the delivery of 112,000 new social homes over the next decade, supported by capital funding of €11.6 billion. These 112,000 new social homes will be delivered through a range of mechanisms, including build, acquisitions and long term leasing.

It should be noted that the delivery of the 112,000 new social housing homes over the next decade does not include housing supports that will be provided to households under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme or the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). HAP and RAS will continue to offer additional flexible housing solutions across the period to 2021 ensuring that, over the lifetime of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan, over 138,000 households will have their housing need met.

The specific capital allocations underpinning the various social housing delivery programmes, including the build programmes, for each year out to 2027 will be determined in the context of the annual estimates process. The allocated funding will reflect the blend of delivery methods and approaches required in order to deliver on the targets set out in the National Development Plan.

In respect of the Rebuilding Ireland programme, the targets set for each local authority are available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/social-housing-targets-2019/.

My Department also publishes details of social housing delivery on a local authority basis. The Social Housing Construction Status Report details all homes completed and in progress under the Rebuilding Ireland programme and is published quarterly on the Rebuilding Ireland website. The most recently published report (Q1 2019) is available at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-social-housing-construction-status-report-for-q1-2019/.

Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Questions (2900)

Mary Butler

Question:

2900. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason funding for adaptation grants for council-owned housing stock for Waterford City and County Council has been cut from €300,000 to €200,000; his views on whether this reduction will exasperate an already extensive waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32981/19]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

I recently announced the 2019 funding allocations to local authorities for the Disabled Persons Grants (DPG) Scheme for adaptations and extensions to existing social homes to meet the needs of local authority tenants. The scheme applies to works that are necessary to address the needs of older people or people with a disability. This may involve minor adaptations such as stair-lifts, grabs -rails, showers, wet-rooms, ramps etc. It also provides funding for more major adaptations such as extensions, for example in the case of overcrowding, the installation of a downstairs bedroom or bathroom.

Some €15 million is being made available under the scheme in 2019, an increase of over €1 million on 2018 levels. On top of this exchequer funding, the local authority makes a further 10% contribution in respect of these grants. It is a matter for local authorities to prioritise the works to be funded under the scheme in their area, in the context of available funding and in line with the terms of the DPG scheme.

The available funding for 2019 was apportioned across local authorities having regard to individual funding requests. My Department will review the 2019 allocations and funding drawdown later this year with a view to considering the allocation of additional funding should it become available. It will be open to local authorities to seek additional funding in 2019, once their allocation is fully expended and the relevant funding recouped from the Department.

Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Questions (2901, 2902, 2903, 2904, 2905, 2906)

Mary Butler

Question:

2901. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to Waterford City and County Council for the mobility aids housing grant scheme in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32982/19]

Mary Butler

Question:

2902. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to Waterford City and County Council for the housing adaptation grant for people with a disability in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32983/19]

Mary Butler

Question:

2903. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to Waterford City and County Council for the housing aid for older people grant in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32984/19]

Mary Butler

Question:

2904. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to each of the 31 local authorities for the mobility aids grant scheme in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33064/19]

Mary Butler

Question:

2905. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to each of the 31 local authorities for the housing adaptation grant for people with a disability in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33065/19]

Mary Butler

Question:

2906. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to each of the 31 local authorities for the housing aid for older people grant in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33066/19]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2901 to 2906, inclusive, together.

My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, in respect of private houses. There are three separate grant schemes available, being the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability. Funding of €71.25 million was allocated for the three schemes in 2019, with responsibility for the apportionment between them being a matter for each local authority.

Information on these grant schemes for the years 2016 - 2018, showing the numbers of grants funded per annum and the funding provided to each local authority, including Waterford City & County Council, is available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/social-and-affordble/other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics.

The following table contains details of the 2019 exchequer funding drawn down by all local authorities, including Waterford City & County Council, in respect of these grants up to the end of June this year. These amounts do not necessarily represent what each local authority has spent, as funding may have been spent but not yet claimed from my Department. Also, the amounts shown for exchequer draw down, are topped up by each local authority's own 20% contribution.

Local Authority	Exchequer draw down up to 30 June 2019
Carlow	€424,557
Cavan	€146,827
Clare	€312,686
Cork County	€1,469,782
Cork City	€311,419
Donegal	€314,034
Dublin City	€3,267,142
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown	€445,345
Fingal	€786,707
Galway County	€459,992
Galway City	€357,675
Kerry	€709,926
Kildare	€483,383
Kilkenny	€629,414
Laois	€25,228
Leitrim	€35,133
Limerick	€908,949
Longford	€130,630
Louth	€0
Mayo	€574,887
Meath	€661,350
Monaghan	€697,138
Offaly	€31,906
Roscommon	€312,214
Sligo	€418,069
South Dublin	€982,092
Tipperary	€1,094,658
Waterford	€516,223
Westmeath	€197,881
Wexford	€898,562
Wicklow	€70,937

Over the course of each year, my Department works closely with all local authorities, to monitor spend and to achieve a full drawdown of the available funding. As the year progresses, any underspend is redistributed to those local authorities with high levels of grant activity who sought additional funding.

Commercial Rates Exemptions

Questions (2907, 2908)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

2907. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the active commercial rates exemptions; the cost of each exemption in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33099/19]

Pearse Doherty

Question:

2908. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the flexibilities that may exist in respect of commercial rates, including creating exemptions, introducing rebates and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33100/19]

Written answers

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2907 and 2908 together.

The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the exercise of his functions and has responsibility for valuation matters, including determination of relevant property, under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015, for the purposes of rates. Local authorities have a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered on the valuation lists prepared by the Commissioner. As Minister, I have no function 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.

A review is underway of the underlying policy rationale relating to Schedule 4. The review will assess the likely effects, costs and benefits of any proposed changes in categorisation. The Review Group is made up of key stakeholders from the Valuation Office; the Joint Rateable Valuation Forum; the local government sector; the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and from my Department. It is also proposed that public consultation would take place and formal submissions would be sought from relevant Government Departments and other key stakeholders.

The first meeting of the review group was held on 21 February 2019 to agree the terms of reference. The Group plans to conclude its consideration and make its report in the autumn.

There is a distinct separation of function between the valuation of rateable property and the setting and collection of commercial rates. The amount of rates payable in any calendar year is a product of the valuation set by the Commissioner of Valuation, multiplied by the Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV) decided annually by the elected members of each local authority. Therefore, in the case of exempted properties, details in relation to the potential rates on such properties are not available in my Department.

Rent Pressure Zones

Questions (2909)

John Brassil

Question:

2909. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the areas of Tralee, Killarney and Listowel, County Kerry will be designated as rent pressure zones in view of the emerging upward trends relating to rents in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33101/19]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Section 24A of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, as amended, sets out the procedure for the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to prescribe, by order, an area as a Rent Pressure Zone. It provides that the Housing Agency, in consultation with the relevant housing authority, may make a written proposal to the Minister that an identified area be prescribed as an RPZ. Within 1 week of receipt of such a proposal, the Minister shall request the Director of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to furnish him, within 2 weeks, with a Rent Zone Report on whether the proposed area satisfies the criteria specified in subsection 24A(4) for designation as an RPZ.

For the purpose of the Act, ‘area’ is defined as either the administrative area of a housing authority or a local electoral area (LEA) within the meaning of section 2 of the Local Government Act 2001. There is no provision for any other type of area to be designated as an RPZ.

The criteria to be satisfied by an area under section 24A(4) of the Residential Tenancies Act for designation as an RPZ are as follows:

(a) the information relating to the area, as determined by reference to the information used to compile each RTB Rent Index quarterly report, shows that the annual rate of increase in the average amount of rent for that area is more than 7% in each of at least 4 of the 6 quarters preceding the period immediately prior to the date of the Housing Agency's proposal, and

(b) the average rent for the area in the last quarter, as determined by reference to the information used to compile each RTB Rent Index quarterly report , is -

- in the case of counties Kildare, Meath and Wicklow or an LEA in any one of those counties, above the average rent in the State, excluding rents in the 4 Dublin Local Authority areas, or

- in the case of any LEA outside of the Greater Dublin Area (i.e. Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow), above the average rent in the State, excluding rents in the Greater Dublin Area.

Each RTB quarterly Rent Index Report includes a summary in Table 9 of the data used to establish whether each Local Electoral Area fulfils the criteria for designation as a Rent Pressure Zone. This ensures transparency in relation to the position of individual areas in terms of average rent levels and increases.

Further information on Rent Pressure Zones and designations is available on my Department's website at https://www.housing.gov.ie/PUBLICATIONS, by searching 'rent pressure zones - information'.

The standardised average rent for outside the Greater Dublin Area stood at €841.00 in Q1 2019. The data from the Rent Index Report for Q1 2019 relating to the local electoral areas of Tralee , Killarney and Listowel County Kerry is detailed in the table below:

Local Electoral Area	Quarters > 7%	Average 2019 Q1
Tralee	3	€788.55
Killarney	3	€899.02
Listowel	0	€606.82

In Tralee, while the 3 of the last 6 quarters have seen rent inflation of 7% or greater, the average monthly rent of €788.55 is below the Non Greater Dublin Area (GDA) standardised average rent of €841 per month. Therefore, the Local Electoral Area of Tralee does not meet the criteria for designation at this time.

In Killarney, while the average monthly rent of €899.02 is above the Non Greater Dublin Area (GDA) standardised average rent of €841 per month, only 3 of the last 6 quarters have seen rent inflation of 7% or greater. Therefore, the Local Electoral Area of Killarney does not meet the criteria for designation at this time.

Listowel does not meet the criteria for designation under either criteria, as none of the past 6 quarters have seen rent inflation greater than 7% and the average rent of €606.82 is below the Non Greater Dublin Area (GDA) standardised average rent of €841 per month.

The Housing Agency continues to monitor the rental market and may recommend further areas for designation. Where, following the new criteria as set out in the 2019 Act, it is found at a future date that additional areas meet the criteria, they will be designated as Rent Pressure Zones.

Rent Pressure Zones

Questions (2910)

Carol Nolan

Question:

2910. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if Edenderry and Tullamore, County Offaly, will be designated as rent pressure zones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33130/19]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Section 24A of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, as amended, sets out the procedure for the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to prescribe, by order, an area as a Rent Pressure Zone. It provides that the Housing Agency, in consultation with the relevant housing authority, may make a written proposal to the Minister that an identified area be prescribed as an RPZ. Within 1 week of receipt of such a proposal, the Minister shall request the Director of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to furnish him, within 2 weeks, with a Rent Zone Report on whether the proposed area satisfies the criteria specified in subsection 24A(4) for designation as an RPZ.

For the purpose of the Act, ‘area’ is defined as either the administrative area of a housing authority or a local electoral area (LEA) within the meaning of section 2 of the Local Government Act 2001. There is no provision for any other type of area to be designated as an RPZ.

The criteria to be satisfied by an area under section 24A(4) of the Residential Tenancies Act for designation as an RPZ are as follows:

(a) the information relating to the area, as determined by reference to the information used to compile each RTB Rent Index quarterly report, shows that the annual rate of increase in the average amount of rent for that area is more than 7% in each of at least 4 of the 6 quarters preceding the period immediately prior to the date of the Housing Agency's proposal, and

(b) the average rent for the area in the last quarter, as determined by reference to the information used to compile each RTB Rent Index quarterly report, is -

- in the case of counties Kildare, Meath and Wicklow or an LEA in any one of those counties, above the average rent in the State, excluding rents in the 4 Dublin Local Authority areas, or

- in the case of any LEA outside of the Greater Dublin Area (i.e. Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow), above the average rent in the State, excluding rents in the Greater Dublin Area.

Each RTB quarterly Rent Index Report includes a summary in Table 9 of the data used to establish whether each Local Electoral Area fulfils the criteria for designation as a Rent Pressure Zone. This ensures transparency in relation to the position of individual areas in terms of average rent levels and increases.

Further information on Rent Pressure Zones and designations is available on my Department's website at https://www.housing.gov.ie/PUBLICATIONS, by searching 'rent pressure zones - information'.

The data from the Rent Index Report for Q1 2019 relating to the local electoral areas Edenderry and Tullamore, County Offaly is detailed in the table below.

Local Electoral Area	Quarters > 7%	Average 2019 Q1
Edenderry	5	€719.84
Tullamore	4	€758.30

In Edenderry, 5 of the last 6 quarters have seen rent inflation of 7% or greater. However, the average monthly rent of €719.84 is below the Non Greater Dublin Area (GDA) standardised average rent of €841 per month. Therefore, the Local Electoral Area of Edenderry does not meet the criteria for designation at this time.

In Tullamore, 4 of the last 6 quarters have seen rent inflation of 7% or greater. However, the average monthly rent of €758.30 is below the Non Greater Dublin Area (GDA) standardised average rent of €841 per month. Therefore, the Local Electoral Area of Tullamore does not meet the criteria for designation at this time.

The Housing Agency continues to monitor the rental market and may recommend further areas for designation. Where, following the new criteria as set out in the 2019 Act, it is found at a future date that additional areas meet the criteria, they will be designated as Rent Pressure Zones.

Housing Data

Questions (2911)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

2911. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of new houses built in each of the years 2014 to 2018 and to date 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33206/19]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Data relating to the number of new dwellings provided in the years 2014 to 2018 and in the first quarter of 2019 are published by the Central Statistics Office and are set out in the table below.

Year - New builds
2014	5,518
2015	7,219
2016	9,909
2017	14,399
2018	18,023
Q1 2019	4,275

Further information in relation to these statistics may be accessed at the following link :

https://www.cso.ie/en/statistics/construction/newdwellingcompletions/

There were 4,275 new dwelling completions in Q1 2019, compared with 3,470 completions in Q1 2018, an increase of 23.2%.

In addition to the new build numbers, it should be noted that in 2018 more than 2,500 homes were brought out of long term vacancy, and almost 800 dwellings in unfinished housing developments were completed, meaning that the number of new homes available for use increased by almost 21,500 last year. There were also an additional 6,362 bed spaces completed in the student accommodation sector between Q2 2016 and Q1 2019.

Social and Affordable Housing Data

Questions (2912)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

2912. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of sites available for social housing in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33207/19]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

While, in the first instance, the development of residential land in local authority ownership is a matter for the individual authority concerned, including its elected members, I am determined to ensure that new social and affordable homes are delivered from the public land bank without undue delay. This entails a particular emphasis on prioritising those sites with the greatest potential to deliver housing at scale, in the short to medium term.

Local Authorities update their residential land bank on a quarterly basis on the Rebuilding Ireland land map, which is available at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/rebuilding-ireland-land-map/.

The map includes details of over 700 local authority and Housing Agency sites amounting to some 1,700 hectares, approximately 111 hectares of which is in the ownership of Cork County Council. The map also includes some 30 sites (comprising c. 200 hectares) in the ownership of State or semi-State bodies. The map does not include other lands that may be owned by local authorities and earmarked for non-residential purposes.

In relation to the development of Cork County Council’s residential land bank, my Department is in regular contact with the local authority regarding the accelerated delivery of social and affordable homes. A detailed breakdown of the Cork County Council social housing construction programme is set out in the Social Housing Construction Status Report which is published on a quarterly basis. The report covering the period up to end Quarter 1 of 2019 is available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-social-housing-construction-status-report-for-q1-2019/ . The Quarter 2 2019 report will be published shortly. Further projects will continue to be added to the programme on an ongoing basis.

Moreover, to support the delivery of affordable homes, the Government has provided €310 million, under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) in Budget 2019, for enabling infrastructure on local authority and Housing Agency lands to facilitate affordable housing delivery. The second call for bids under the Fund issued to local authorities, including Cork County Council, in April 2019. Thirty-one responses were received from fifteen local authorities under this call which included six bids from Cork County Council. Following the completion of the assessments of bids submitted, I intend to issue approvals in the coming weeks.

Planning Issues

Questions (2913, 2914, 2915, 2916)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

2913. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of applications for planning permission for one-off houses refused on the basis of house design in County Cork in each the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33208/19]

Michael Moynihan

Question:

2914. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of applications for planning permission for one-off houses refused on the basis of house design in County Kerry in each the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33209/19]

Michael Moynihan

Question:

2915. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of applications for planning permission for one-off houses refused on the basis of house design in County Limerick in each the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33210/19]

Michael Moynihan

Question:

2916. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of applications for planning permission for one-off houses refused on the basis of house design in County Clare in each the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33212/19]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2913 to 2916, inclusive, together.

Planning statistics are compiled by each planning authority on an annual basis for collation and publication on my Department’s website, at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/statistics/planning-statistics-1.

The statistics collected relate to the total numbers of:

- Invalid planning applications received,

- Applications received for outline permission and full permission,

- Decisions to grant/refuse permission,

- Decisions issued within the statutory eight-week period,

- Decisions deferred, and

- Percentages for grants/refusals, decisions made within eight weeks and decisions deferred.

The statistics collected relate to the total number of applications and decisions for all developments that require planning permission, broken down by year and planning authority, but are not broken down by development type.

The specific information requested in relation to refusals of planning permission on the basis of house design is not collated or available within my Department's statistics. Individual planning authorities may, however, compile information in this regard.