Written Answers Nos. 1220-1243
1220. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the top ten websites visited by officials and political staff annually in each of the years 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020 via hardware provided to them by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4026/20]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
1221. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to upgrade Cappamore fire station, County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4033/20]
View answerThe provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects.
In February 2016, my Department announced a five-year Fire Services Capital Programme with an allocation of €40 million, based on an annual €8 million allocation, to be used for the purchase of fire appliances and specialist equipment, building or upgrading of prioritised Fire Stations, an upgrade of the Communications and Mobilisation system and improvements to Training Centres.
The Cappamore Station Project is included under the 2016 – 2020 Capital Programme. In order to maximise the Capital Programme funding available, my Department re-assesses the status of projects in the capital programme on an annual basis and priority may be adjusted to bring forward more advanced projects offering best value-for-money taking account of the state of readiness of projects in the programme more generally.
In 2017, my Department approved a new drill tower at Cappamore fire station for which Limerick City and County Council was reimbursed just under €52,000. My Department has received a design and outline cost proposal from the Council for redevelopment of the fire station at Cappamore. Detailed specifications and drawings have been requested, and on receipt of these my Department will continue working with the Council to progress this project.
1222. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the schedule of the funding allocated to local authorities that was to be used specifically for Traveller accommodation in each of the years 2017 to 2019; the amount that was unused and returned to his Department in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4035/20]
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 the TAPs. Local authorities adopted the fifth and current round of TAPs in September 2019, with the five-year rolling programmes running from 2019 to 2024. 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.
Housing authorities submit funding proposals for individual Traveller-specific projects and developments on an annual basis. These projects are assessed on a case-by-case basis by my Department in advance of allocations being made. In addition, further funding may be considered by my Department throughout the year in the light of progress across the programme generally. There is regular contact between my Department and housing authorities in order to try to ensure maximum progress and drawdown.
The allocations and drawdowns for each of the years 2017 – 2019 are set out in the following table.
|
County Council |
Allocation2017€ |
Drawdown2017€ |
Allocation2018€ |
Drawdown2018€ |
Allocation2019€ |
Drawdown2019€ |
|
Carlow |
207,905 |
71,450 |
167,740 |
- |
70,000 |
381,898 |
|
Cavan |
13,729 |
13,729 |
30,000 |
- |
95,458 |
94,500 |
|
Clare |
169,194 |
42,444 |
853,250 |
13,250 |
635,000 |
669,389 |
|
Cork City |
1,108,344 |
97,000 |
310,000 |
180,250 |
275,799 |
42,319 |
|
Cork County |
110,000 |
93,156 |
251,197 |
- |
258,390 |
184,745 |
|
Donegal |
147,613 |
15,100 |
121,800 |
52,775 |
161,816 |
- |
|
Dublin City |
414,829 |
734,209 |
1,321,558 |
744,400 |
1,628,695 |
895,197 |
|
Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown |
1,500,000 |
1,857,313 |
673,686 |
1,099,940 |
- |
32,834 |
|
Fingal |
26,847 |
17,420 |
851,189 |
886,957 |
- |
848,957 |
|
Galway City |
209,000 |
95,102 |
176,996 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Galway County |
625,000 |
- |
1,080,100 |
267,032 |
1,412,596 |
670,440 |
|
Kerry |
28,566 |
28,566 |
15,350 |
62,538 |
77,200 |
75,131 |
|
Kildare |
80,000 |
- |
80,000 |
29,510 |
1,000,000 |
360,231 |
|
Kilkenny |
582,162 |
563,040 |
201,682 |
60,067 |
21,682 |
408,856 |
|
Laois |
- |
- |
30,000 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Leitrim |
98,875 |
59,933 |
159,614 |
54,306 |
178,390 |
- |
|
Limerick City and County |
69,576 |
219,918 |
858,739 |
470,997 |
1,015,179 |
1,424,782 |
|
Longford |
2,922 |
- |
2,922 |
- |
2,922 |
- |
|
Louth |
237,087 |
220,048 |
17,039 |
3,810 |
132,531 |
341,863 |
|
Mayo |
- |
- |
30,000 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Meath |
129,000 |
5,750 |
65,000 |
- |
75,000 |
91,790 |
|
Monaghan |
- |
- |
400,000 |
54,745 |
100,000 |
- |
|
Offaly |
847,917 |
101,616 |
49,379 |
10,999 |
815,117 |
692,329 |
|
Roscommon |
52,617 |
123,191 |
230,000 |
102,274 |
253,084 |
73,843 |
|
Sligo |
161,249 |
9,931 |
1,046,095 |
282,883 |
1,435,913 |
1,131,397 |
|
South Dublin |
1,024,289 |
- |
869,643 |
1,284,101 |
130,557 |
106,719 |
|
Tipperary |
327,492 |
399,337 |
25,655 |
42,003 |
25,655 |
- |
|
Waterford City and County |
545,000 |
22,610 |
317,280 |
472,726 |
170,000 |
77,562 |
|
Westmeath |
- |
- |
150,000 |
- |
100,000 |
- |
|
Wexford |
6,880 |
- |
498,801 |
- |
335,000 |
52,870 |
|
Wicklow |
52,648 |
43,773 |
209,620 |
88,783 |
104,533 |
- |
|
Reserve |
221,258 |
905,665 |
2,489,484 |
|||
|
Total allocations |
8,778,742 |
11,094,335 |
10,510,516 |
|||
|
TOTAL |
9,000,000 |
4,834,636 |
12,000,000 |
6,264,345 |
13,000,000 |
8,657,652 |
1223. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing units purchased by local authorities in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, by county in Leinster; the average price per unit purchased by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4036/20]
View answerMy Department publishes statistics on the delivery of social housing on a quarterly basis, including the total number of acquisitions provided for social housing. This data is provided by the 31 local authorities as the lead delivery agents and then validated by my Department and tracked against overall targets.
Acquisitions may be delivered through a variety of mechanisms:
- Local authorities directly purchasing homes;
- Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) purchasing homes for allocation to households on local authority waiting lists through either the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) or the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS); and
- The Housing Agency purchasing homes through the €70m revolving fund which are then routed via AHBs for allocation to households on local authority waiting lists'
The latest statistics published cover the period up to Quarter 3 2019 and are available on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision .
Data in relation to quarter 4 social housing delivery is currently being validated by my Department and will be published shortly. The data is broken down by local authority, published in excel format and it is accordingly possible to isolate activity in specific local authority areas.
In relation to the average price per unit, this is dependent on a range of factors, including unit location, unit type, unit size and also the type of funding mechanism used. Under the Spending Review process, which aims to improve how public expenditure is allocated across all areas of Government, a detailed analysis of acquisition unit costs was undertaken in 2019 by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is available at the following weblink: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/5915ad-spending-review/ . The findings of the review showed that the average purchase price for units acquired by local authorities in 2018 was just under €190,000. A comparable figure for 2019 is not yet available.
1224. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the expenditure in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020 in relation to HAP, emergency accommodation and payments to NGOs which operate homeless services and family hubs. [4037/20]
View answerThe expenditure details in respect of the specific programmes requested for 2018, 2019 and to end April 2020 are set out in the following table.
|
Programme |
2018 Expenditure |
2019 Expenditure |
2020 Expenditure (end April) |
|
HAP |
€276.6m |
€382.4 |
€140.43m |
|
Homeless Accommodation & Related Services |
€139m |
€165m |
€124.98m |
|
Homeless (capital) |
€48.5m |
€9.3m |
€0.21m |
The expenditure in relation to HAP in each year allows for the continued support of existing HAP households at the beginning of the year and additional households availing of the scheme during the year concerned. HAP expenditure also supports the Homeless HAP Place Finder Support Service across the country, which is a targeted support for homeless households who are finding it difficult to secure HAP tenancies.
The expenditure in respect of homeless accommodation and related services relates to the total exchequer funding recouped to housing authorities towards costs incurred in the provision of homeless services. Capital expenditure relates to the cost of the delivery of homeless facilities, including family hubs.
1225. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a rent freeze will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4048/20]
View answerWith effect from 27 March 2020, new emergency legislative measures were introduced to protect tenants during the COVID-19 emergency period. In particular, section 6 of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 prohibits any increases to rent for the duration of the period concerned. Initially, these emergency provisions will last for a period of 3 months, but they may be extended if the Government considers it necessary.
My Department recently published a Guidance Document on Covid-19 supports for landlords and tenants which sets out the emergency rental measures and income and other supports available to tenants and landlords during the emergency period. The Guidance document is available at:
https://onestopshop.rtb.ie/images/uploads/general/COVID_Update_Guidance_Document_final.pdf
and a list of Frequently Asked Questions has been developed and is available at:
https://onestopshop.rtb.ie/images/uploads/Comms%20and%20Research/FAQs_on_Emergency_Legislation_Final.pdf.
1226. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the introduction of the affordable housing schemes will be prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4049/20]
View answerIn line with the commitments in Rebuilding Ireland to support the delivery of discounted homes to buy or rent, the Government has allocated €310 million under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) over the period 2019 to 2021. This funding will provide for infrastructure to support the delivery of some 6,200 more affordable homes on local authority lands. SSF has been made available to local authorities who have demonstrated a requirement for more affordable housing and a viability to deliver such housing on their sites.
Land utilisation and activation is, in the first instance, a matter for the local authority and its elected members. This includes the development of its land for the delivery of more affordable private housing. In order to target SSF funding interventions, local authorities were invited to undertake an economic assessment of their sites to assess whether the provision of affordable homes was necessary and economically viable. As part of that assessment local authorities were also asked to consider the broader housing affordability within their area. 19 local authorities returned economic assessments to my Department.
To date, I have allocated SSF funding of €127 million, in support of 35 projects in 14 local authority areas, for infrastructure works that will facilitate the delivery of almost 3,200 more affordable homes. I anticipate that a further Call for Proposals under the SSF will issue to local authorities later this year. Details of the projects approved under the 1st and 2nd SSF calls are available at the following links:
https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-approves-10-local-authority-sites-affordable-housing-serviced-sites-fund/
https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-approves-funding-of-e84m-to-support-delivery-of-1770-affordable-homes-under-the-ssf/
Homes delivered under the SSF are subject to the provisions of Part 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, which was commenced in June 2018. This legislation now provides the statutory basis for the delivery of affordable housing for purchase in the State. Regulations in respect of the making of Schemes of Priority were signed on 12 March 2019, and these were issued to local authorities on 22 March 2019. The purpose of a Scheme of Priority is to set out the affordable purchase arrangements at local authority level. This includes the methodology that will be applied by local authorities to determine the order of priority to be accorded to eligible households where the demand for such affordable dwellings exceeds the number available.
In line with the legal requirements of the Affordable Dwelling Purchase Arrangements, further regulations will be put in place over the coming months regarding eligibility and other matters. When the operational procedures for the scheme are finalised, and before dwellings are made available for purchase under the scheme, a programme of communication will be undertaken by my Department and local authorities.
In order to be eligible for affordable dwelling purchase arrangements, a household’s income must be such that it is inadequate to meet the repayments on a mortgage for the purchase of a dwelling to meet the accommodation needs of the household, because the payments calculated over the course of a year would exceed 35% per cent of the annual income of the household (net of income tax and pay related social insurance). Eligibility is also generally limited to first time buyers. The maximum discount on market value that may be given to an eligible purchaser is 40%.
When a dwelling is made available to a purchaser under an affordable dwelling purchase arrangement a charging order is made by the housing authority. This places a charge on the dwelling with an amount equal to the difference between the purchase money and the market value of the dwelling. Payments may be made by the purchaser to reduce this amount during the charged period. The amount outstanding on the charge must be repaid in full at the end of the charged period.
The selling price of discounted dwellings made available for purchase by a housing authority under the affordable dwelling purchase arrangements will be influenced by a number of factors, particularly the overall development costs of the homes (taking into account subvention inputs such as the local authority land value and Serviced Sites Fund), which can vary significantly from one site to another, the tenure mix involved and the local housing market.
In addition to the SSF, funding of €200m has also been made available under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF), which is designed to activate housing supply by putting in place the enabling public infrastructure necessary to ensure that large scale development could take place on key sites in urban areas of high housing demand. 30 projects received final approval, at a total cost of €195.71 million, of which €146.69 million will be funded by the Exchequer, with local authorities funding the balance. These projects will stimulate development of up to 20,000 homes across 14 local authorities and local authorities have indicated that approximately 40% of the homes delivered will be offered at a discount on open market prices.
Details of the projects approved under LIHAF are available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link:
https://rebuildingireland.ie/lihaf/
The Land Development Agency also has a role in the delivery of more affordable housing and a minimum of 30% of housing on LDA sites must be affordable, with the balance contributing to additional new supply to meet the high levels of demand in the wider housing sector. This is consistent with a Government Decision in September 2018 that any State lands, in Ministerial ownership and deemed suitable for housing, being sold on the open market must deliver affordable housing on at least 30% of the site.
The provision of a discount on market values will mean that homes will be available to very many individuals and families on more moderate incomes who would otherwise not be in a position to own their home.
These schemes will complement other key Government affordability initiatives, such as the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, and the Help to Buy Scheme, which latest figures indicate have supported over 20,000 households nationally.
1227. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the fact that permanent secondary school teachers are unable to afford housing rents or mortgages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4084/20]
View answerThe Government has recognised the need to increase the supply of housing and to take measures to address the affordability of housing supply. It is also recognised that the challenge of housing affordability is not one that manifests across the entire country and the targeting of affordability measures and resources to priority areas is therefore important.
The assessment of an individual's capacity to borrow from commercial lenders is governed by the macro-prudential rules set by the Central Bank of Ireland. While every application for a mortgage would be assessed on its own merits, banks and other lending institutions do have the freedom to make a limited amount of exceptions to lending limits. For those who find themselves unable to secure a commercial mortgage, local authorities nationwide operate the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan Scheme (RIHL), which enables credit-worthy first-time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties in a suitable price range.
In addition to the RIHL, the Help to Buy (HTB) incentive was first introduced in February 2015 and is designed to help first-time buyers of newly built homes to assemble the required deposit. The HTB scheme provides for a refund of income tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) paid over the previous 4 tax years, up to a maximum of €20,000. 17,200 first time buyers households have been supported to buy or build homes since the inception of the HTB Scheme and, in Budget 2020, the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform extended the initiative in its current form until 31 December 2021.
Other supply side measures are also in place to address the issue of affordability. In line with the commitments in Rebuilding Ireland to support the delivery of discounted homes to buy or rent, the Government has allocated €310 million under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) over the period 2019 to 2021. This funding will provide for infrastructure to support the delivery of some 6,200 more affordable homes on local authority lands. the SSF has been made available to local authorities who have demonstrated a requirement for more affordable housing and a viability to deliver such housing on their sites.
To date, I have allocated SSF funding of €127 million, in support of 35 projects in 14 local authority areas, for infrastructure works that will facilitate the delivery of almost 3,200 more affordable homes. I anticipate that a further Call for Proposals under the SSF will issue to local authorities in 2020. Details of the projects approved under the 1st and 2nd SSF calls are available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following links:
https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-approves-10-local-authority-sites-affordable-housing-serviced-sites-fund/
https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-approves-funding-of-e84m-to-support-delivery-of-1770-affordable-homes-under-the-ssf/
Taking, as an example, the first of these developments in Boherboy Road, Cork City, which will see delivery of SSF supported homes this year, I can confirm that an individual or couples on salary levels equivalent to that of a secondary school teacher(s) would be in a position to buy the 2 and 3 bed homes at the prices ranging from €195,000 to €225,000. I can also confirm that SSF grant funding to date includes a project in Ramsfort Park, Gorey, Co. Wexford, which will support the delivery of 23 affordable homes.
The timing of delivery for SSF projects is contingent upon the completion of planning and procurement in the first instance, and local authorities are working to achieve delivery as quickly as possible. It is intended to issue a 3rd call for proposals under the SSF to local authorities later this year.
In tandem with the SSF, funding of €200m has also been made available under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF), which is also designed to activate housing supply by putting in place the enabling public infrastructure necessary to ensure that large scale development could take place on key sites in urban areas of high housing demand. 30 projects received final approval, at a total cost of €195.71 million, of which €146.69 million will be funded by the Exchequer with local authorities funding the balance. These projects will stimulate development of up to 20,000 homes across 14 local authority areas and the local authorities involved have indicated that approximately 40% of the homes delivered will be offered at a discount on open market prices. Details of the projects approved under LIHAF are available at the following link:
https://rebuildingireland.ie/lihaf/
In addition to the provision of affordable homes for purchase, and acknowledging that renters are facing significant housing access and affordability challenges, the Government is committed to the introduction of a Cost Rental sector in Ireland. Cost Rental is housing where the rents are set at a level to cover the cost of delivering, managing, and maintaining the homes only. This is different to private sector rentals where rents are set by the market, which may lead to high rents in high demand areas. A core objective of Cost Rental is to offer moderate income households the choice of a more affordable and stable form of rental tenure. Over the longer term, as homes are delivered at scale, it is envisaged that Cost Rental will have a stabilising effect on the broader private rental market. Together with delivering more affordable and predictable rents, Cost Rental can make a sustainable impact on the attractiveness of our main urban centres as places to live and work. SSF funding is also available to local authorites to support the delivery of Cost Rental projects.
The Land Development Agency (LDA) also has a role in the delivery of more affordable housing and a minimum of 30% of housing on LDA sites must be affordable, with the balance contributing to additional new supply to meet the high levels of demand in the wider housing sector. This is consistent with a Government Decision in September 2018 that any State lands, in Ministerial ownership and deemed suitable for housing, being sold on the open market must deliver affordable housing on at least 30% of the site.
The suite of measures outlined above will mean that homes will be available to very many individuals and families on more moderate incomes who would otherwise not be in a position to own their own home.
1228. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason the revised valuations have been changed by county; if the approach will be reviewed in order to benefit revalued small businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4103/20]
View answer1229. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on whether it is unjust to revalue different local authorities at different times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4110/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1228 and 1229 together.
The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions. Decisions with regard to the optimum work programme of the Valuation Office, including the selection, sequencing and grouping of rating authority areas for revaluation, are a matter for the independent Commissioner, taking into account the extensive valuation work required in each case and in terms of engaging with ratepayers and other stakeholders.
In this regard, the Valuation Office is currently engaged in a national revaluation programme. The objective of the programme is to ensure that the first revaluation of all rating authority areas in over 160 years is completed, as soon as possible, on a phased basis.
Revaluation is a process whereby all rateable properties in a local authority area, rather than in a particular business sector, are valued periodically by reference to a single valuation date. The statutory provisions in the Valuation Acts provide for the revaluation of all rateable property within a rating authority area so as to reflect changes in value due to economic factors, differential movements in property values or other external factors such as changes in the business environment or infrastructural changes in the vicinity of a property. Each local authority area is a legal entity in its own right for the purposes of carrying out a revaluation. This requires the application of a separate valuation order and the publication of a new valuation list for each local authority area.
The Local Government Act 2001, as amended by the Local Government Reform Act 2014, provides the legislative basis for the local authority budget process. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the total amount of rates to be levied by it in a particular year having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. The size or aggregate value of rateable properties on a valuation list does not determine the total amount of rates to be collected by a local authority and the sequencing of revaluations does not affect this process.
Having a modern valuation base is very important for the levying of commercial rates on a fair and equitable basis across all economic sectors. The revaluation reflects changes in value due to economic factors such as business turnover, differential movements in property values or other external factors and changes in the local business environment. The revaluation programme is not designed to benefit any particular business categories.
Once the first revaluation of all areas is completed, the exercise must be repeated on a recurring basis, with revaluations required no sooner than five years and no later than ten years after the previous revaluation. Where frequent revaluations occur on a rolling basis, this ensures equity and uniformity of the entire valuation system which underpins commercial rates.
The Programme has already been completed in respect of the rating authority areas of Carlow, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, South Dublin and Westmeath County Councils and Dublin City Council, Waterford City and County Council and Limerick City and County Council. In keeping with the recurring nature of the Programme, a second revaluation of the South Dublin County Council rating authority area was also completed in 2017.
The next phase of the programme, known as “Reval 2019”, commenced in late 2017 and concluded last year, with the revaluation of commercial and industrial properties in Cavan, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Tipperary, Wexford and Wicklow County Councils. Fingal County Council also underwent a second revaluation having initially been the subject of a Revaluation in 2009.
The latest phase, known as “Reval 2021”, commenced in late 2019 and will conclude in 2021 with the revaluation of commercial and industrial properties in Clare, Donegal, Galway, Kerry and Mayo County Councils and Galway City Council.
The second revaluation of all rateable property in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown rating authority area was due to be finalised this year. However, as it is not possible to complete this exercise under current COVID-19 restrictions, it has recently been agreed with the Commissioner of Valuation that this revaluation will be deferred until next year, in line with the Reval 2021 timeline. An appropriate legislative amendment to underpin this decision will be brought forward at the earliest opportunity.
1230. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the lighting on Inis Oírr pier, Aran Islands, County Galway has not been working for several weeks; if a request has been received from Galway County Council for funding in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4121/20]
View answerMy Department does not allocate specific funding towards the management and maintenance of public lighting as this is a matter for each individual local authority. Galway County Council, being the Harbour Authority for Inis Oírr Harbour, is responsible for the maintenance of the lighting at the pier. I, as Minister, have no function in this regard.
1231. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the application process for the Mica redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4146/20]
View answer1238. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the necessary guidelines will be issued to allow Donegal County Council to proceed with the Mica redress scheme. [4323/20]
View answer1241. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the Mica redress scheme will be amended to provide for funding to local authorities to make the homes in their housing stock safe. [4388/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1231, 1238 and 1241 together.
Regulations have been made under sections 2 and 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1979 to provide for a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been damaged due to defective concrete blocks. Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020.
The regulations came into operation on 31 January 2020, and my Department is currently in the process of finalising guidelines, which will be available in the coming weeks, to promote and support a consistent approach to the operation and administration of the defective concrete blocks grant scheme by Donegal and Mayo County Councils. The aim now is to commence the receipt of applications without delay.
The defective concrete blocks grant scheme is primarily a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been damaged due to defective concrete blocks. The scheme outlines five remedial options ranging from rebuilding on existing foundations to replacing of external walls. The maximum approved costs per dwelling under the scheme range from €55,000 to €275,000, depending on the remedial option. A grant of 90% of the approved costs associated with the necessary remediation works, subject to a maximum for each remedial option, or 90% of the actual cost of the remedial works, whichever is the lesser, is available under the scheme.
The scheme is targeted at assisting a specific group of homeowners who have no other practicable options to access redress. It is not a compensation scheme and the regulations apply only in respect of qualifying works that have not commenced prior to confirmation of grant approval being issued in respect of a dwelling by the relevant local authority. Homeowners cannot seek the recoupment of costs associated with the remediation of a dwelling undertaken either prior to the commencement, or outside, of the scheme. This is in line with how similar Government schemes operate or have operated in the past, where prior approval is a key eligibility requirement.
Budget 2020 provides funding of €40 million to fund the operation of the pyrite remediation scheme and the defective concrete blocks grant scheme this year. Funding for future years will be agreed on an annual basis as part of the normal Estimates process. Mindful that the scheme is being funded from the Exchequer, the scope of the scheme cannot be open ended. The funding available must be used prudently to achieve the most efficient and cost effective outcomes.
The defective concrete blocks grant scheme only applies to private dwellings in Donegal and Mayo that have been damaged due to defective concrete blocks. In respect of local authority housing stock, section 58 of the Housing Act 1966 provides that the management and maintenance of local authority housing stock is a matter for each individual local authority. This includes maintenance programmes and carrying out of responsive repairs and pre-letting repairs. However, my Department is committed to supporting local authorities in terms of various targeted stock upgrade programmes, including issues arising in the context of defective concrete blocks, large-scale urban regeneration programmes, support for the return of vacant units to productive use, the Energy Retrofitting Programme and adaptations and extensions for people with disability in social housing.
1232. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the drawdown by each local authority from the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund in 2018 and 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4159/20]
View answerAs the first tranche of Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) supported projects was only announced on 26 November 2018, there was no URDF funding drawn down by local authority applicants in 2018. €16,781,314 was drawn down by local authorities from the URDF in 2019, details of which are set out out in the following table.
|
Local Authority |
URDF Drawdown 2019 |
|
Carlow County Council |
€135,481.14 |
|
Cavan County Council |
€60,000.00 |
|
Clare County Council |
€309,910.59 |
|
Cork City Council |
€249,023.63 |
|
Cork County Council |
€280,196.62 |
|
Donegal County Council |
€76,974.00 |
|
Dublin City Council |
€1,728,943.55 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
€175,706.00 |
|
Fingal County Council |
€125,198.00 |
|
Galway City Council |
€60,000.00 |
|
Kerry County Council |
€94,270.87 |
|
Kildare County Council |
€268,570.00 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
€681,170.29 |
|
Laois County Council |
€672,708.64 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
€545,602.72 |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
€221,301.00 |
|
Longford County Council |
€350,398.00 |
|
Louth County Council |
€60,000.00 |
|
Mayo County Council |
€195,567.22 |
|
Meath County Council |
€148,377.85 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
€94,805.93 |
|
Offaly County Council |
€165,925.00 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
€154,125.00 |
|
Sligo County Council |
€344,010.00 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
€158,456.87 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
€813,312.97 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
€4,176,444.14 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
€2,127,013.00 |
|
Wexford County Council |
€1,494,840.00 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
€812,981.00 |
|
Total |
€16,781,314.03 |
1233. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the criteria for repayment of proceeds following the sale of an affordable home by a person that had originally purchased the home from a local authority; if the same repayment rules apply for each local authority; if solicitors and auctioneers fees can be deducted before the repayment amount is calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4163/20]
View answerAffordable housing arrangements under the 1999 Affordable Housing Scheme and Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provided for the payment of a "clawback" to the local authority in the event that the affordable dwelling was sold by the purchaser within 20 years, such "clawback" being a percentage of the proceeds of the sale. The relevant provisions were set out in section 9 of the Housing Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2002 and section 99 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, respectively.
The interpretation of these provisions is a matter for local authorities in the first instance and would be ultimately be a matter for the Courts. However, it is my Department's view that these provisions do not mean that solicitors and auctioneers fees incurred by the purchasers in selling the dwelling can be deducted from the proceeds of the sale before calculating the clawback amount.
1234. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 1975 of 6 September 2019, if a full report (details supplied) will be published regarding alleged serious planning irregularities in County Donegal; the reason for the delay in publishing same; if a full unredacted copy of the submission composed by his officials for his consideration will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4208/20]
View answerI received the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., on 11 June 2017.
Following initial analysis and assessment of the report's findings and recommendations, including interaction with my Department's own legal advisors and the Attorney General's Office, a comprehensive set of queries and a request for advice in relation to certain matters was submitted to the Attorney General. This included a request for advice regarding potential publication and dissemination of the report.
Taking account of the Attorney General's advice, my Department considered the matter further and prepared a submission for my consideration, including an assessment of the options available to me in terms publication or dissemination. It would not be appropriate for me to provide the Deputy with a copy of the submission, before the deliberative process is completed.
Developments adjacent to this subsequently raised fresh queries. I consulted my own legal advisers and the Attorney General's Office on these matters. I met with Senior Counsel in December 2018, and on 17th December 2018 further correspondence from Senior Counsel was received.
I signed the Order to commence the operation of the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) in April 2019. The creation of the OPR was a major recommendation of the Planning Tribunal. The OPR has an important role in reviewing local authorities' administration of their planning functions.
My Department and other stakeholder bodies are currently working closely with the OPR in the development of their review functions, which they plan to operationalise in the coming months subject to the Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business. These significant ongoing developments in the planning area are providing a wider context for my considerations.
I am considering the report and the extensive legal advices received. Once I have concluded my deliberations, I will be in a position to make a further statement.
1235. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the mortgage to rent scheme will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4253/20]
View answerThe Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme introduced in 2012 is targeted at those households in mortgage arrears who have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process. In order for a borrower to qualify for the MTR scheme, the mortgage, property and household must meet detailed eligibility criteria. In addition, the MTR process has to be carefully implemented with so many parties involved, including the homeowner, the lender, the relevant local authority and the Approved Housing Body or Private Company willing to acquire the property to enable the borrower to remain in their home as a social housing tenant.
I am not in a position to comment on any particular case nor would it be appropriate for me to do so. I would, however, emphasise that as part of the normal administration of the scheme, the Housing Agency, who administer the scheme on my Department's behalf, would need to ensure that all the criteria underpinning the scheme are complied with in each case. The reasons why a case may not progress are varied and can depend on the lender, the property or the circumstances of the particular household.
Should it transpire that MTR is not an option in a particular case, it will be a matter for the borrower to discuss with their lender if there are other options available to resolve their mortgage arrears situation.
My focus, and that of the Government, is to ensure that as many households as possible remain in their homes and I would encourage borrowers to engage with the Abhaile Service, the national mortgage arrears resolution service, which is available free of charge to the borrower. The unique element of Abhaile is that it brings together, for the first time, the full range of supports and services required by borrowers in home mortgage arrears. A dedicated adviser will work with the borrower and their lender to find the best solution for their particular situation. MABS acts as the gateway for the service and can be contacted by telephoning (076)1072000 or by accessing their website at: www.mabs.ie/abhaile .
For those borrowers in danger of losing their home who are ineligible for the MTR scheme but qualify for social housing support, it is recommended that they engage as early as possible with their local authority regarding their long-term housing needs.
1236. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the revision of rates will be suspended (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4257/20]
View answerThe Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the exercise of his functions under the Valuation Act 2001, as amended, and the making of valuations for rating purposes is his sole responsibility. As Minister, I have no function in relation to decisions in this regard.
Under the Valuation Act 2001, as amended, the Commissioner is responsible for the provision and maintenance of a valuation list for each local authority area which is used by the local authority to determine the total amount of rates to be levied by it in a particular year. The provision and maintenance of valuation lists is accomplished using two statutory valuation processes known as “revaluation” and “revision”.
Having a modern valuation base is very important for the levying of commercial rates on a fair and equitable basis across all economic sectors. The Valuation Acts provide for the revaluation of all rateable property within a rating authority area so as to reflect changes in the relative value of properties over time.
The purpose of revaluation is to bring more equity, fairness and transparency into the local authority rating system and to distribute the commercial rates liability across businesses more equitably. In essence, the exercise aims to ensure that each ratepayer bears a fair share of the business rates burden levied by their local authority, relative to the rental value of the property that they occupy.
Revaluation is a process whereby all rateable properties in a local authority area are valued periodically by reference to a single valuation date. Revision, on the other hand, is intended to reflect structural changes to individual properties or the addition to the valuation lists of new properties between revaluations. This can reflect improvements to individual properties, subdivisions and amalgamations of properties, exemptions under Schedule 4 of the Valuation Act 2001, as amended, and the removal of properties from the list when they are no longer capable of beneficial occupation.
The restrictions on the operation of many businesses, the physical inaccessibility to business properties and the social distancing associated with controlling the COVID-19 pandemic have had an impact on the revision programme. Accordingly, it is not possible to process revision applications at present; however, this will be kept under review in the context of the implementation of the Government's Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business.
Insofar as revaluation matters are concerned, the Valuation Office is currently engaged in a national revaluation programme, the immediate objective of which is to ensure that the first revaluation of all rating authority areas in over 160 years is conducted across the country, as soon as possible, and on a phased basis. This is a welcome and positive development which is long overdue and on which considerable progress has been made in recent years.
The current phase of the programme, known as Reval 2021, covers the rating authority areas of Clare, Donegal, Galway, Kerry and Mayo County Councils and Galway City Council. The new valuations for these local authority areas will be published in September 2021 and will come into effect for rating purposes from 2022 onwards. Ratepayers in these local authority areas are currently paying rates based on valuations which reflect economic conditions in 1988.
For the majority of ratepayers, the outcome of a revaluation is very welcome. For example, across the 8 local authorities most recently revalued (Cavan, Fingal, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Tipperary, Wexford and Wicklow County Councils), over 65% of ratepayers saw a reduction in their rates liability after revaluation. This is in line with the outcome of other revaluations conducted to date under the National Revaluation Programme.
The second revaluation of all rateable property in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown rating authority area was due to be finalised this year. However, as it is not possible to complete this exercise under current COVID-19 restrictions, it has recently been agreed with the Commissioner of Valuation that this revaluation will be deferred until next year, in line with the Reval 2021 timeline. An appropriate legislative amendment to underpin this decision will be brought forward at the earliest opportunity.
1237. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of votes cast in the general election on 8 February 2020 that were deemed invalid due to the fact that ballot papers were not franked; the numbers of such invalid, unfranked papers per constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4278/20]
View answerElectoral law provides that a ballot paper at an election is invalid for a number of reasons: if it does not bear the official mark; does not clearly indicate a first preference for some candidate; indicates a first preference for more than one candidate; or has anything written or marked on it, which in the opinion of the returning officer, is calculated to identify the elector.
The results of the general election held on 8 February 2020 are available on the Oireachtas website at:
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/publications/?q=&date=&term=%2Fie%2Foireachtas%2Fhouse%2Fdail%2F33&fromDate=01%2F05%2F2020&toDate=01%2F05%2F2020&topic%5B%5D=elections
Table 4 of the results book includes, by constituency, an analysis of the number of invalid ballot papers, including those that did not bear the official mark.
1240. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if essential funding will be awarded for works to a group water scheme (details supplied). [4373/20]
View answerOn 8 February 2019, I announced details of the measures being funded through my Department under the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2019-2021. In parallel to the announcement, local authorities were invited to submit their bids for the funding schemes or projects in their functional areas, with the deadline for receipt of proposals set as 14 March 2019.
The new multi-annual programme includes Measure 3 – Enhancement of existing schemes including water conservation. This measure supports projects to make existing group water schemes more efficient in their operation (e.g. water conservation and network upgrades, including storage) and contributing to good water quality on a consistent, sustainable long-term basis.
Westmeath County Council made a number of bids under this measure. These included the scheme referred to and I included the scheme under Measure 3 in the approvals and allocations I announced in October 2019. It is now a matter for the Council to advance the project in partnership with the applicants.
1242. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to plans by Sligo County Council to downgrade the Sligo fire service to a retained only service; his views on the decision to downgrade the service; if Sligo County Council will be contacted in order to address financial issues that may have influenced the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4409/20]
View answerThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service Acts 1981 and 2003. My Department supports fire authorities through general policy setting and preparing legislation, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects.
I am not aware of any planned changes by Sligo County Council in respect of their Fire Services function. However, I understand that there are matters within that Fire Service that are currently the subject of ongoing discussions with the staff representative body in the Workplace Relations Commission. In this regard, it should be noted that under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, staffing and organisational arrangements within a local authority are a matter for the authority's Chief Executive.
With regard to financial issues, the running cost requirements of the service are met on an annual basis by Sligo County Council, through the annual budgetary process decided by the elected members, as a reserved function.
1243. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when legislation will be in place to enable local communities such as Enniscrone, County Sligo to hold local plebiscites to change the spelling of its place name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4415/20]
View answerFollowing the enactment of the Local Government Act 2019, provisions under Part 18 of the amended Local Government Act 2001, relating to the changing of names of areas, have been commenced and previous provisions, relating to place-name changes, under the Local Government Acts 1946 and 1953, have been repealed.
The commencement of the provisions in the Local Government Act 2001, as amended, now allows for new regulations to be made to provide for the holding of local plebiscites for the purpose of changing place-names. However, it is important to ensure that the provisions of the 2001 Act and provisions relating to place-names under Part 5 of the Official Languages Act 2003, which is under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, operate effectively together. Accordingly, my Department is engaging with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on this matter and seeking legal advice, on foot of which the matter will be considered further.
