Written Answers Nos. 1326-1350
1326. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of new social housing units delivered via SHCEP in 2019; the number of units by type of lease involved (details supplied); and the average cost of the lease by lease type in tabular form. [5731/20]
View answerThe Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the leasing of houses and apartments. The SHCEP budget funds the ongoing current costs of homes delivered using a variety of different delivery mechanisms through the Housing Leasing Programmes under Rebuilding Ireland, including:
- Leasing -Direct and Enhanced Leasing, AHB and Private Mortgage to Rent (MTR), the Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS);
- Build - Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) Build, CALF Part V, Part V Lease; and
- Acquisition - CALF Acquisition, Housing Agency Acquisitions (HAA).
Dwellings made available under the programme are used to accommodate households from local authority waiting lists.
A total of 4,365 homes were delivered under schemes funded by SHCEP in 2019. Details of the number of homes delivered in 2019 by scheme, together with the average annual cost of each lease type, are set out in the following Table. The average cost is calculated based on claims for operational new units submitted by local authorities and recorded on the Department’s SHCEP financial management system at end 2019.
Table: SHCEP Delivery and Average Lease Cost 2019
|
Dwellings Delivered |
Average Annual Cost by Lease Type |
|
|
LA lease from private owner (including Enhanced Leasing) |
739 |
€10,696 |
|
AHB Lease from private owner |
129 |
€8,349 |
|
MTR (AHB and Private) |
214 |
€10,144 |
|
AHB NAMA SPV |
3 |
€16,726 |
|
RLS (LA and AHB) |
76 |
€5,666 |
|
CALF Build |
2,032 |
€12,835 |
|
Part V |
733 |
€14,534 |
|
CALF Acquisition |
247 |
€11,745 |
|
HAA |
192 |
€12,484 |
|
Total |
4,365 |
€12,197 |
1327. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the allocation and drawdown by each local authority of their Traveller accommodation budget in tabular form. [5732/20]
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.
Data in relation to the allocations and drawdowns of funding for Traveller-specific accommodation, by local authority, in 2019 are set out in the following table. In 2020, to facilitate ease of access to such funding, my Department is no longer allocating specific budgets to individual local authorities from the €14.5m in funding available overall. Instead, it is open to all local authorities to apply for and drawdown funds at any time through the year and this is actively encouraged by my Department. Details of the drawdowns by individual local authorities to date in 2020 are also set out in the following table.
|
County Council |
Allocation 2019 € |
Drawdown 2019 € |
Drawdown 2020 € |
|
Carlow |
70,000 |
381,898 |
- |
|
Cavan |
95,458 |
94,500 |
- |
|
Clare |
635,000 |
669,389 |
- |
|
Cork City |
275,799 |
42,319 |
1,286,109 |
|
Cork County |
258,390 |
184,745 |
- |
|
Donegal |
161,816 |
- |
8,230 |
|
Dublin City |
1,628,695 |
895,197 |
184,973 |
|
Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown |
- |
32,834 |
- |
|
Fingal |
- |
848,957 |
- |
|
Galway City |
- |
- |
24,000 |
|
Galway County |
1,412,596 |
670,440 |
24,034 |
|
Kerry |
77,200 |
75,131 |
5,928 |
|
Kildare |
1,000,000 |
360,231 |
- |
|
Kilkenny |
21,682 |
408,856 |
640 |
|
Laois |
- |
- |
179,796 |
|
Leitrim |
178,390 |
- |
- |
|
Limerick City |
1,015,179 |
1,424,782 |
430,255 |
|
Longford |
2,922 |
- |
- |
|
Louth |
132,531 |
341,863 |
- |
|
Mayo |
- |
- |
- |
|
Meath |
75,000 |
91,790 |
- |
|
Monaghan |
100,000 |
- |
- |
|
Offaly |
815,117 |
692,329 |
- |
|
Roscommon |
253,084 |
73,843 |
- |
|
Sligo |
1,435,913 |
1,131,397 |
512,676 |
|
South Dublin |
130,557 |
106,719 |
- |
|
Tipperary |
25,655 |
- |
- |
|
Waterford City |
170,000 |
77,562 |
- |
|
Westmeath |
100,000 |
- |
- |
|
Wexford |
335,000 |
52,870 |
- |
|
Wicklow |
104,533 |
- |
- |
|
Reserve |
2,489,484 |
|
|
|
Total allocation |
10,510,516 |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
13,000,000 |
8,657,652.00 |
2,656,641 |
1328. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the increased payment for private domestic wells will be rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5757/20]
View answerIn 2019, I announced details of the new Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2019-2021. This included an improved funding scheme for individual wells and work on the development of this scheme is at an advanced stage.
The changes that I have approved to the individual wells grant scheme are as follows:
- A maximum grant for rehabilitation works of €3,000 (which represents an increase of 47% on the current maximum grant amount), or where the local authority agrees that the most appropriate solution is to provide a new well, a maximum grant of €5,000;
- Recognising the role of the grant in improving quality, the water treatment element (typically filtration and UV filtration) will qualify for 100% funding up to a maximum of €1,000;
- Up to 85% of other costs would be met, subject to the total combined maximum costs of €3,000 for well rehabilitation or €5,000 for a new well.
My Department required legal advice in relation to the drafting of the regulations which are required for the new grant scheme. That process is now almost complete and I hope to be in a position to make an announcement on the commencement of the new scheme shortly.
1329. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the publication of an independent research proposal on property vacancies by the Housing Agency as outlined in the National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy 2018-2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5794/20]
View answerThe National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy, published in July 2018, strives to provide a targeted, effective and co-ordinated approach to identifying and tackling residential vacancy across the country, drawing together all of the strands of ongoing work into one document. The Housing Agency, in addition to providing vital supports to local authorities in identifying and reactivating vacant properties, also supports the development of policy designed to tackle residential vacancy through research and analysis as part of the strategy.
Further to this commitment, the Housing Agency funded Dr. Philip Crowe of Space Engagers to carry out a research report entitled "How Vacancy is created and used: Case studies from Scotland, Denmark, and Philadelphia" on behalf of the Housing Agency, the Heritage Council and Mayo County Council. Dr. Crowe also undertook an associated research project entitled "Incentives for the reuse of vacant buildings in town centres for housing and sustainable communities in Scotland, Denmark and France".
Both research reports were published in March 2019 and are available on the Housing Agency website at the links below.
http://www.housingagency.ie/publications/how-data-vacancy-created-and-used-case-studies-scotland-denmark-and-philadelphia
http://www.housingagency.ie/publications/incentives-re-use-vacant-buildings-town-centres-housing-and-sustainable-communities
1330. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of social houses acquired under the Housing Agency vacant housing fund in each year since the fund was introduced; and the average cost of these acquisitions in each year since the scheme has been in operation. [5847/20]
View answerUnder Rebuilding Ireland, direct capital funding is provided to the Housing Agency to facilitate the acquisition of suitable portfolios of properties for social housing from financial institutions and investors.
An acquisitions fund of €70 million, which is a revolving fund, was established with effect from 1 January 2017 with the objective of acquiring some 1,600 units over the period to 2021 for social housing use. This has enabled the Housing Agency to actively engage with banks and investment companies in relation to the acquisition of properties. The fund is replenished by the Agency through the sale of units primarily to the Approved Housing Body (AHB) sector and the funds received are recycled back into the fund for future acquisitions. AHBs utilise private finance as well as Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) and Payment and Availability (P&A) funding available from my Department to fund these units.
Property acquisition and subsequent sale to AHBs is a process that can take some time, therefore, in order to maximise the potential for use of properties acquired by the Agency in the intervening period, an innovative Caretaker Lease arrangement has been developed. This allows the Agency to assign a property to an AHB who can carry out any necessary repairs and liaise with the Local Authority to tenant the unit, in parallel with the onward acquisition of the unit.
Up to end Q4 2019, a total of 747 properties had been purchased by the Agency using the Fund and placed on caretaker leases with AHBs or sold to local authorities. The onward sale of 445 of these homes to AHBs has been completed in full. In addition, in excess of 120 properties are in the process of proceeding to purchase close, being placed on caretaker leases, or transferred to Local Authorities. Overall, this activity represents close to 50% of the original target of the Fund which is intended to be achieved over the six year period of Rebuilding Ireland.
New homes acquired through the Fund and made available to AHBs under Caretaker Lease are included in my Department's overall quarterly reporting which is available at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision
The year by year breakdown specifically relating to the Fund and included in the overall reporting for Rebuilding Ireland is set out in the following Table.
|
Year |
No. of units |
Average Cost |
|
2017 |
36 |
€198,792 |
|
2018 |
481 |
€188,656 |
|
2019 |
230 |
€178,669 |
1331. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of social houses acquired under the repair and leasing scheme in each year since it was introduced; and the average cost of the leases in each year since the scheme has been in operation. [5848/20]
View answerThe Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) was developed to assist private property owners and local authorities or approved housing bodies (AHBs) to harness the accommodation potential that exists in certain vacant dwellings across Ireland. RLS has both capital and current funding streams. The capital element funds the repairs to the property; the current element funds the lease payment to the property owner with the cost of the repairs being recovered from the property owner by offsetting it against the lease payment.
At the end of 2019, a total of 165 dwellings had been delivered through RLS. Total output under the scheme by year, together with the average annual lease cost, is set out in the following table.
Table: RLS Delivery and Average Annual Cost 2017 to 2019
|
Year |
Dwellings Delivered |
Average Annual Cost |
|
2017 |
9 |
€7,919 |
|
2018 |
80 |
€6,023 |
|
2019 |
76 |
€5,666 |
|
Total |
165 |
€5,970 |
1332. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of social houses acquired under the buy and renew scheme in each year since the fund was introduced; and the average cost of these acquisitions in each year since the scheme has been in operation. [5849/20]
View answerUnder my Department's Social Housing Investment Programme, funding is available to all local authorities to deliver additional social housing stock through the acquisition of new and previously owned houses/apartments for social housing use, including delivery through the Buy and Renew Scheme.
Activity in this regard is largely delegated to local authorities so they can respond flexibly to all opportunities to provide new social housing. Since the Buy & Renew Scheme was introduced in late 2016, local authorities have delivered over 550 new social homes under the scheme to the end of 2019, as follows -
|
Year |
Units |
Average Delivery Cost per Unit |
|
2016/7 |
176 |
€174,000 |
|
2018 |
223 |
€210,000 |
|
2019 |
160 |
€191,000 |
1333. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of social homes brought on-stream under the enhanced leasing scheme in each year since the scheme was introduced; and the average annual cost of these leases in each year. [5850/20]
View answerMy Department introduced the Enhanced Long Term Social Housing Leasing Scheme in order to target newly built or yet to be built houses and apartments for long term leasing, and to target property developers and investors who are in a position to deliver housing at a reasonable scale in order to supplement delivery under Pillar 2 of Rebuilding Ireland. The Enhanced Leasing Scheme places a significant additional obligation on the lessor with respect to the ongoing management and maintenance of the properties under contract, work that would normally be carried out by the Local Authority on its own stock. This includes day to day maintenance, cyclical maintenance and all the associated operational risks, in addition to the initial construction risks carried by the lessor. In exchange, the lessor receives up to 95% of the open market rent.
The first call for proposals for the Enhanced Leasing Scheme was open from January to April 2018 and a total of 33 submissions were received. The second call for proposals closed on 25th October 2018 and a total of 22 submissions were received.
The first Agreement for Lease was signed in Q2 2019 for 23 new social housing homes, with expected delivery in 2020. The first homes delivered under the Enhanced Leasing Scheme were delivered in Q4 2019, bringing the total to 113 homes. No payments were made by my Department for these units in 2019 but the estimated average annual lease cost for 2020 for these 113 units is €22,221. Delivery to date has been concentrated in the Dublin area; as the scheme matures, it is expected that more units will be delivered in other locations and, accordingly, the average cost will be reduced.
1334. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of voids brought back into the housing stock in each of the years 2016 to 2019; and the number of these that were previously vacant for longer than six months in tabular form. [5851/20]
View answerUnder the Voids Programme funded by my Department, 7,333 vacant social housing homes were returned to productive use in the period 2016-2019. This figure does not include homes which were returned to productive use by local authorities using funding from their own resources. See the following table for full breakdown by local authority of the units funded by my Department:
|
|
Units Returned in 2016 |
Units Returned in 2017 |
Units Returned in 2018 |
Units Returned in 2019 |
Units Returned 2016 - 2019 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carlow |
8 |
8 |
38 |
14 |
68 |
|
Cavan |
32 |
31 |
14 |
9 |
86 |
|
Clare |
79 |
47 |
43 |
62 |
231 |
|
Cork City |
263 |
81 |
74 |
69 |
487 |
|
Cork County |
98 |
48 |
205 |
70 |
421 |
|
Donegal |
89 |
168 |
86 |
43 |
386 |
|
Dublin City |
575 |
543 |
495 |
495 |
2,108 |
|
Fingal |
147 |
121 |
48 |
22 |
338 |
|
South Dublin |
81 |
87 |
61 |
89 |
318 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown |
19 |
31 |
50 |
83 |
183 |
|
Galway City |
29 |
11 |
3 |
3 |
46 |
|
Galway County |
37 |
37 |
45 |
39 |
158 |
|
Kerry |
90 |
90 |
98 |
61 |
339 |
|
Kildare |
24 |
8 |
27 |
11 |
70 |
|
Kilkenny |
14 |
16 |
15 |
13 |
58 |
|
Laois |
12 |
4 |
12 |
23 |
51 |
|
Leitrim |
51 |
0 |
30 |
22 |
103 |
|
Limerick |
18 |
13 |
24 |
75 |
130 |
|
Longford |
23 |
0 |
3 |
19 |
45 |
|
Louth |
8 |
7 |
13 |
5 |
33 |
|
Mayo |
25 |
22 |
20 |
5 |
72 |
|
Meath |
76 |
52 |
59 |
22 |
209 |
|
Monaghan |
47 |
38 |
52 |
13 |
150 |
|
Offaly |
53 |
7 |
10 |
18 |
88 |
|
Roscommon |
80 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
87 |
|
Sligo |
68 |
40 |
100 |
40 |
248 |
|
Tipperary |
102 |
107 |
63 |
72 |
344 |
|
Waterford |
90 |
52 |
20 |
55 |
217 |
|
Westmeath |
43 |
40 |
23 |
7 |
113 |
|
Wexford |
17 |
34 |
8 |
29 |
88 |
|
Wicklow |
10 |
11 |
24 |
13 |
58 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,308 |
1,757 |
1,765 |
1,503 |
7,333 |
One of the key objectives of the Voids Programme is to provide local authorities with funding to help minimise the turnaround and re-let time of vacant units. Data in relation to how many of these properties were vacant for longer than six months is not collated. However, statistics in relation to the social housing stock are published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) in their Annual Reports on Performance Indicators in Local Authorities. These reports provide a range of information in relation to social housing stock, including the average time taken to re-tenant a dwelling. The most recent report, relating to 2018, is available on the NOAC website at the following link: http://noac.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/NOAC-Performance-Indicator-Report-2018-1.pdf.
1335. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of applications, approvals and drawdowns and the average amount approved and drawn down from the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme by local authority in each year since the scheme was introduced in tabular form. [5853/20]
View answerMy Department publishes information on the overall number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns. Local authority approval means that an official letter of offer has been sent to a borrower (and therefore relates to a specific property and loan amount).
Information on the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan for 2019, including the number and value of mortgage approvals and drawdowns, as well as average loan amounts, are available on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-prices-loans-and-profile-borrowers/local-authority-loan-activity
This information will be updated on a quarterly basis as additional data is compiled.
Information on the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan for 2018 is also available through this link and can be found under local authority loans approved and local authority loans paid, however these figures are not detailed by loan type.
The Housing Agency provides a central support service which assesses applications for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan on behalf of local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities to approve or refuse applications. Housing Agency recommendations are then considered by the Credit Committee in each local authority, which issues loan approvals.
Each local authority must have in place a Credit Committee and it is a matter for the Committee to make the final decision on applications for loans, in accordance with the regulations, and having regard to the recommendations made by the Housing Agency. The value of pending applications is not tracked by my Department.
I have asked the Agency to compile figures on the numbers of applications that it has assessed and recommended to approve since the scheme began. In 2018, the Housing Agency assessed 3,036 valid applications. Of these, it recommended 1,550 for approval.
|
Local Authority |
Applications Assessed |
Recommended to Approve |
|
Carlow County Council |
46 |
16 |
|
Cavan County Council |
17 |
7 |
|
Clare County Council |
50 |
19 |
|
Cork City Council |
105 |
53 |
|
Cork County Council |
241 |
133 |
|
Donegal County Council |
30 |
18 |
|
Dublin City Council |
351 |
215 |
|
Dún Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council |
82 |
45 |
|
Fingal County Council |
437 |
229 |
|
Galway City Council |
64 |
30 |
|
Galway County Council |
108 |
41 |
|
Kerry County Council |
89 |
40 |
|
Kildare County Council |
173 |
87 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
28 |
15 |
|
Laois County Council |
72 |
36 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
9 |
2 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
81 |
46 |
|
Longford County Council |
30 |
15 |
|
Louth County Council |
73 |
31 |
|
Mayo County Council |
46 |
18 |
|
Meath County Council |
198 |
124 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
21 |
6 |
|
Offaly County Council |
38 |
14 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
28 |
13 |
|
Sligo County Council |
39 |
20 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
214 |
112 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
80 |
29 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
43 |
14 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
26 |
17 |
|
Wexford County Council |
85 |
43 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
132 |
62 |
|
Total |
3,036 |
1,550 |
In 2019, the Housing Agency assessed 2,649 valid applications. Of these, it recommended 1,307 for approval.
|
Local Authority |
Applications Assessed |
Recommended to Approve |
|
Carlow County Council |
35 |
16 |
|
Cavan County Council |
7 |
2 |
|
Clare County Council |
46 |
21 |
|
Cork City Council |
133 |
49 |
|
Cork County Council |
203 |
90 |
|
Donegal County Council |
27 |
5 |
|
Dublin City Council |
309 |
180 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
64 |
34 |
|
Fingal County Council |
363 |
215 |
|
Galway City Council |
52 |
30 |
|
Galway County Council |
92 |
24 |
|
Kerry County Council |
70 |
26 |
|
Kildare County Council |
32 |
22 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
43 |
21 |
|
Laois County Council |
65 |
29 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
12 |
3 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
70 |
43 |
|
Longford County Council |
29 |
13 |
|
Louth County Council |
91 |
38 |
|
Mayo County Council |
43 |
14 |
|
Meath County Council |
141 |
99 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
52 |
18 |
|
Offaly County Council |
26 |
12 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
37 |
14 |
|
Sligo County Council |
35 |
15 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
174 |
91 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
75 |
39 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
86 |
28 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
37 |
18 |
|
Wexford County Council |
89 |
44 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
111 |
54 |
|
Total |
2,649 |
1,307 |
1336. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the delivery of affordable homes to rent and buy in the Poolbeg and Clonburris strategic development zones, SDZs; the details of the financing of the schemes; and if the financing of the schemes will deliver affordable homes to purchase at less than €250,000 and affordable homes to rent at less than €900 per month. [5854/20]
View answerDelivery of more affordable homes to rent or buy is a priority for the Government. My Department has developed a range of measures to assist local authorities to provide homes of this nature, which are being utilised at the two sites referred to by the Deputy.
The regeneration of Poolbeg West is the next logical step in transforming the Docklands area, given its strategic location east of Grand Canal Dock, with close proximity to important bridge connections to Dublin Port and North Lotts. The extent of vacant brownfield land available is significant, at 34 hectares.
The Poolbeg West Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) has the potential to deliver up to 3,500 homes in close proximity to the city centre. To improve access to this strategically important site, €15.75 million of funding under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund has already been allocated, which includes €11.81m from my Department. The SDZ planning scheme requires the delivery of 15% homes for social and affordable housing purposes, which is in addition to the statutory 10% under Part V arrangements.
In relation to the wider activation of these lands, it is understood that NAMA is currently undertaking a process to select a preferred bidder to develop the lands in the SDZ scheme area. My Department remains committed to working with Dublin City Council, any relevant Approved Housing Bodies and either the receiver and/or developers of the SDZ area in order to secure additional social and affordable housing from this site over and above Part V obligations and of the order of magnitude laid out in the adopted planning scheme. This will be subject to agreement on all the normal and relevant terms, including value for money aspects.
In relation to the Clonburris SDZ, which has the capacity to provide up to 11,000 homes, approved funding under LIHAF is being made available for infrastructure to support the delivery of over 1,000 homes in the first phase of activity. While South Dublin County Council has confirmed that a development agreement has not yet been completed regarding this housing provision, by leveraging the value of the LIHAF infrastructure, a significant number of the homes delivered will be available at prices below market value.
In addition, funding under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) has been approved to support the Council's plans to deliver a further 90 social and 133 homes for purchase under the affordable purchase scheme (although it is anticipated that the number of affordable homes may increase as the project develops). These homes will be sold at rates which are below open market values and for which South Dublin County Council has estimated a price range of €253,000 to €263,000. At these prices, using the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, a couple with a joint income in the region of €45,000 would be in a position to buy such a home.
The Council has indicated that a development partnership between the site owners and the Council will see a detailed design for the full site finalised later this year.
1337. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the drafting of the marine planning and development management Bill is complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5862/20]
View answerThe finalised General Scheme of the Marine Planning and Development Management Bill was approved by Government in December 2019.
Further policy work is continuing on the development of certain aspects of the proposed regime and intensive engagements in that regard are ongoing with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, who are leading the development of the provisions specific to Offshore Renewable Energy. In addition to the policy development work, engagement is also continuing with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, other Departments and agencies on the drafting process.
Following confirmation of the Bill's priority within the next Government Legislation Programme, my Department will begin a stakeholder and public consultation on the legislation. It will also be necessary to undergo pre-legislative scrutiny with the relevant Joint Oireachtas Committee, once established. The report prepared by the Committee in due course will be considered by my Department ahead of reverting to Government to seek approval to publish the final legal text of the Bill.
Further enabling measures will be required post-enactment to bring the new regime into operation, including necessary regulations, statutory guidelines and transitional arrangements.
1338. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the public sector benchmark used for the first bundle of social housing public private partnerships, PPPs, will be published; and the status of each of the three bundles of the social housing PPP scheme by numbers of units, locations of units, names and members of the consortia delivering the bundles and the total cost of each bundle. [5863/20]
View answerThe Social Housing Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme is designed to deliver approximately 1,500 social housing homes in total, via three bundles.
The first bundle, which comprises six sites, will provide 534 homes across the Greater Dublin Area, as set out in the following table.
|
Site (Local Authority) |
Number of Homes |
|
Ayrfield, Malahide Road (Dublin City) |
150 |
|
Corkage Grange (South Dublin) |
109 |
|
Scribblestown (Dublin City) |
70 |
|
Dunleer (Louth) |
80 |
|
Convent Lands, Wicklow Town (Wicklow) |
51 |
|
Craddockstown, Naas (Kildare) |
74 |
|
Total |
534 |
The contract with the winning bidder for this Bundle, Comhar Housing, reached Financial Close on 19 March 2019. This consortium comprises Macquarie Corporate Holdings PTY Ltd. as primary equity provider, Sisk as Construction Contractor and equity provider, Choice Housing as Facility Managers and Oaklee Housing (AHB) as tenancy management service provider.
The full value of the Bundle 1 contract, the duration of which includes the construction period plus a 25-year operating period, is estimated in nominal terms at €301 million (exclusive of VAT but including a forecast of inflation). This cost was publically released following financial close of the project and includes all construction costs plus maintenance, operating, lifecycle, tenancy management and financing costs.
Construction under Bundle 1 was well advanced prior to the closure of sites as a result of COVID-19. While the full impact of Covid-19 measures on the programme has still to be determined, the first homes from this bundle are expected to be completed in June 2020. Upon completion, service provision under the contract will include building and asset management, waste management, security, void management, tenant helpdesk services and the provision of community development services. At the end of the service period, the homes will be handed over to the relevant local authority.
Bundle 2 of the programme will provide 465 homes across eight sites, as set out in the following Table.
|
Site (Local Authority) |
Number of Homes |
|
The Walk, Roscommon Town (Roscommon) |
53 |
|
The Miles, Clonakilty (Cork County) |
52 |
|
Slievekeale (Waterford City and County) |
58 |
|
Ballyburke (Galway City) |
74 |
|
Shannon East (Clare) |
51 |
|
Poundhill, Skibbereen (Cork County) |
50 |
|
Oakwood, Macroom (Cork County) |
50 |
|
Butterstream, Clane (Kildare) |
77 |
|
Total |
465 |
The contract with the winning bidder for this Bundle, Torc Housing Partnership, reached Financial Close on 27 November 2019. This consortium is comprised of a joint venture of JJ Rhatigan & Co. and the Spanish firm Obrascon Huarte Lain S.A. as construction contractors. Upon completion of construction, facilities management will be provided by Derwent FM and Tuath Housing Association during the 25-year service period, with Tuath also providing tenancy management. These bodies are also providing equity for the project in conjunction with the primary equity providers Equitix Ltd. and Kajima Partnerships Ltd. The German bank Nord/LB is providing debt funding for the project.
The full value of the Bundle 2 contract, the duration of which includes the construction period plus a 25-year operating period, is estimated in nominal terms at €253 million (exclusive of VAT but including a forecast of inflation). This cost was publically released following financial close of the project, and as per Bundle 1, this includes all construction costs plus maintenance, operating, lifecycle, tenancy management and financing costs.
Construction had commenced on the Bundle 2 sites prior to the onset of COVID-19 and, similar to Bundle 1, the full impact of the Covid-19 measures on the programme remains to be determined. The service provisions attached to the contract are also consistent with Bundle 1 and at the end of the service period the homes involved will be handed back to the relevant local authority.
Preparation work has recently commenced on the third Bundle of sites in the programme. A number of sites were proposed by local authorities on foot of a request seeking nominations of sites for consideration as part of the third bundle. Following examination and evaluation of the sites proposed, initial approval in principle was communicated to the successful local authorities in October 2019, subject to final due diligence that has recently been completed. Three sites were selected in the Dublin City Council local authority area, and one each in Kildare, Sligo, and Wicklow.
The following table sets out the indicative number of homes that will be provided at each of these locations pending the design and planning phases, with the total number of homes across the whole bundle expected to be in the region of 440.
|
Site (Local Authority) |
Indicative Number of Homes (pending design and planning) |
|
Ready Mix Site, East Wall, Dublin 3 (Dublin City) |
65 |
|
Shangan Road, Ballymum, Dublin 9 (Dublin City) |
100 Senior Citizen Units |
|
Collins Avenue, Dublin 9 (Dublin City) |
90 |
|
Ardew, Athy (Kildare) |
60 |
|
Rathellen, Finisklin (Sligo) |
50 |
|
Blessington (Wicklow) |
76 |
|
Total |
c.441 |
The National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), in its role as procuring authority and financial advisor, and Dublin City Council as lead local authority and Sponsoring Agency, have commenced the initial planning for the tender process and engagement with the relevant local authorities. It is planned that tenders will be invited in 2021 and therefore it is not possible to give details on costs at this stage.
The Public Sector Benchmark (PSB) is an essential part of any PPP project. It contains commercially sensitive information in relation to the methodology used for costing public sector projects and for the pricing of risks by public sector bodies. In accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines (Guidelines for the use of Public Private Partnerships), the final PSB, or any elements thereof, is not made public during the tendering process nor where it is intended to procure further similar projects in the near future (e.g. subsequent project bundles as part of an ongoing PPP programme). As Bundle 3 will follow the same structure as Bundles 1 and 2 and given the potential impact on value for money for the State, it is not appropriate to release the PSB for Bundle 1 at this time.
However, and in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines, once an appropriate period of time has elapsed and the commercial sensitivity of the information on the project is no longer an issue (having regard also to any other similar PPP projects which may be in pre-procurement), the PSB should be made public. My Department will follow these guidelines in relation to the social housing PPP programme.
1339. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the final report of the review of the tenant purchase scheme will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5873/20]
View answer1380. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of progress of a new local authority tenant purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6881/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1339 and 1380 together.
The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme, which came into operation on 1 January 2016, is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing support for at least one year.
In line with the commitment given in Rebuilding Ireland, a review of the first 12 months of the Scheme’s operation has been undertaken. The review has incorporated analysis of comprehensive data received from local authorities regarding the operation of the scheme during 2016 and a wide-ranging public consultation process which took place in 2017 and saw submissions received from individuals, elected representatives and organisations.
This issue is part of a significant body of work undertaken in my Department in relation to the broader social housing reform agenda. I expect that the review will be published once all the work on these reform measures is completed.
1340. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the capital expenditure on the LIHAF from 1 January to 31 December 2019 by his Department; the amount by each subhead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5877/20]
View answerAs an initiative of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is primarily designed to fund the provision of public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages and enable housing developments to be built on key sites at scale.
30 projects received final LIHAF approval with an overall budget of €195.7m, of which €146.8m will be Exchequer funded, with the remainder funded via local authorities. Of the 30 projects, Kildare County Council has confirmed that its project on the Naas Inner Relief Road will not now progress, although an element of the housing delivery that was associated with the project has taken place.
Details of the approvals by local authority area, budget allocation, project description and projected housing delivery are available at www.rebuildingireland.ie/LIHAF.
Currently, 3 LIHAF projects have completed infrastructure construction. Of the remaining 26, up to the end of April (and excluding the Naas project), 14 projects have been approved to go to, or are already at, infrastructure construction stage. Of the remaining 12 projects, 3 are expected to have tenders approved and go to construction before the end of Q3 2020. Nine are not yet ready to go to infrastructure tender stage; my Department is reviewing these projects and considering requests from local authorities for extensions to the funding agreements as and when they arise.
In terms of LIHAF funding drawdown, thus far, most infrastructure projects have been at the design, planning and procurement stages, and the bulk of expenditure will arise during the construction phase. This is reflected in the level of expenditure to end Q1 2020, with approximately €37.731 million in Exchequer funds drawn down (matched by a further 25% local authority funding bringing the total expenditure to €50.308m). Drawdown of LIHAF Exchequer grant funding from my Department commenced with €1.604m in 2017, a further €6.815m in 2018, €22.244m in 2019 and approximately €7.068m to end Q1 2020.
The following table details the Exchequer funding (75%) drawn down for each project in 2019.
|
Local Authority |
Project Name |
Drawdown of LIHAF funding Exchequer Contribution (75%) for 2019 (€) |
|
Clare |
Claureen, Ennis |
69,410 |
|
Cork City |
Old Whitechurch Road |
3,306,887 |
|
Cork City |
South Docks |
130,222 |
|
Cork City |
Glanmire |
361,700 |
|
Cork County |
Midleton (Water-rock) |
101,171 |
|
Cork County |
Carrigaline |
396,848 |
|
Dublin City |
Dodder Bridge |
221,277 |
|
Dublin City |
Belmayne and Clongriffin |
314,602 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
Cherrywood |
1,984,303 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
Woodbrook Shanganagh |
0 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
Clay Farm |
0 |
|
Fingal |
Donabate Distributor Road |
6,848,556 |
|
Fingal |
Oldtown Mooretown |
1,752,466 |
|
Fingal |
Baldoyle Stapolin |
0 |
|
Kildare |
Naas |
232,626 |
|
Kildare |
Maynooth |
209,533 |
|
Kildare |
Sallins |
0 |
|
Kilkenny |
Ferrybank |
32,024 |
|
Kilkenny |
Western Environs |
3,036,632 |
|
Limerick |
Mungret |
917,829 |
|
Louth |
Newtown Drogheda |
56,333 |
|
Louth |
Mount Avenue Dundalk |
68,817 |
|
Meath |
Ratoath |
557,540 |
|
Meath |
Farganstown, Navan |
327,039 |
|
South Dublin |
Kilcarbery/Corkagh Grange |
549,859 |
|
South Dublin |
Clonburris SDZ |
12,461 |
|
South Dublin |
Adamstown |
606,355 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
Gracedieu |
60,000 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
Kilbarry |
60,000 |
|
Westmeath |
Brawny Road, Athlone |
30,000 |
1341. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to introduce a latent defects redress scheme in view of the meeting his Department had with a group (details supplied). [5950/20]
View answer1390. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has considered the proposals from organisations (details supplied) regarding the way in which to deal with the serious structural defects of many Celtic Tiger era apartments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6972/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1341 and 1390 together.
I acknowledge the very stressful circumstances which owners and residents face when their homes are affected by construction defects.
My colleague Minister English along with officials from my Department, met with the groups referred to by the Deputies earlier this year in relation to their proposals, which I understand were also circulated by the groups to all Oireachtas members. I am advised at that meeting the current position regarding building defects in private dwellings was outlined, which is that, in general, building defects are matters for resolution between the contracting parties involved, the homeowner, the builder, the developer and/or their respective insurers, structural guarantee or warranty scheme.
While my Department has overall responsibility for establishing and maintaining an effective regulatory framework for building standards and building control, it has no general statutory role in resolving defects in privately owned buildings, including dwellings, nor does it have a budget for such matters.
I believe that the building control reform agenda already well underway provides a comprehensive roadmap for embedding an enhanced culture of compliance and accountability within the construction industry and for strengthening the building control framework in Ireland. The reform agenda includes:
- amendments made to the Building Control Regulations;
- the National Building Control Management Project; and
- the ongoing development of new legislation through the Building Control (Construction Industry Register Ireland) Bill.
Local authorities have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003, the Building Control Acts, the Housing Acts and the Planning and Development Acts. Fire services may inspect buildings in cases of defects or complaints in respect of fire safety. They work with building owners to ensure that immediate risks are addressed and that a plan is put in place, where required, for works to bring buildings into compliance.
My focus will remain firmly on ensuring the full roll out of the building control reform agenda, to ensure that all those that engaged in the construction sector take their responsibilities seriously and are appropriately held to account. As part of the reform agenda, consumer protection will continue to be my core concern and any proposals in that regard will, of course, be considered.
1342. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the RTB should hear cases from tenants who have had their deposits retained by landlords or other disputes, who are not in tenancies covered by the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 but who have faced issues of eviction and non-refunding of deposits (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5963/20]
View answerSection 3 of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 - 2019 provides that those Acts apply to every dwelling the subject of a tenancy, subject to certain exemptions. Section 3(2)(g) provides that those Acts do not apply to a dwelling within which the landlord also resides.
Section 37 of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 extended the application of the Residential Tenancies Acts to certain licences for student-specific accommodation.
The 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 nature of work of the RTB, it would be inappropriate for me, as Minister, or my Department to comment on or intervene in the specifics of any individual case including with regard to the jurisdiction or otherwise of the RTB to deal with a particular dispute.
1343. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of units for emergency accommodation currently being used in hotel settings. [5965/20]
View answerMy Department publishes a monthly report on homelessness. The monthly report is based on data provided by housing authorities and produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). The report captures details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. Official homeless reports are published on my Department's website on a monthly basis and can be accessed using the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.
These reports include information broken down by accommodation type at regional level. Emergency accommodation provided in a hotel is included within the private emergency accommodation (PEA) category along with other commercially provided emergency accommodation arrangements. Details on the numbers of individuals currently accommodated specifically in hotels may be available from the relevant local authorities.
1344. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of the pyrite-MICA scheme for affected residents in County Mayo; if he has reconsidered the scheme in view of feedback he received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5983/20]
View answer1345. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has received correspondence from Mayo County Council in relation to changing the provisions of the pyrite-MICA scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5988/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1344 and 1345 together.
The Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 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.
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 scheme by Donegal and Mayo County Councils, which would allow for the receipt of applications to commence without delay.
I have not received correspondence from Mayo County Council in relation to changing the provisions of the scheme. It is important to note that the full terms and conditions of the scheme, including the making of the regulations referred to above, were finalised in consultation with the Attorney General's Office and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. This process took account of the comprehensive engagement that took place between my Department and both Donegal and Mayo County Councils, who will operate and administer the scheme.
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 restricted 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.
1346. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if funding will be provided for a new fire station at Ballybay, County Monaghan; when he expects this development to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6047/20]
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 Ballybay 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. My Department has requested a detailed cost plan for this Project and once received will continue working with the Council to progress it.
1347. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his Department will consider reintroducing planning permission processes in certain limited circumstances; if he has considered the use of libraries as part of the process due to the fact that libraries are to reopen soon and persons could make an appointment to view ongoing applications in a similar manner to the way in which the public routinely make appointments to view active planning permissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6086/20]
View answerIn the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated public health restrictions introduced by the Government, three Orders have been made to date under Section 251A of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), disapplying the period from 29 March 2020 to 23 May 2020 inclusive (i.e. a period of 8 weeks or 56 days) in the calculation of any appropriate period, specified period or other timeline in the Act or other related planning legislation.
The signing of these Orders is primarily aimed at ensuring that the public participation requirements in the planning processes are not diminished during the period of the COVID-19 public health restrictions. Taking account of national and sectoral return to work protocols, planning is underway to allow for certain decision making processes under the planning system to advance shortly. This will include the inspection of planning application files in the offices of the planning authority in accordance with Article 18(1)(e) of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations).
Provision is already made under Article 27(5) of the Regulations for the making available of the weekly lists of planning applications for inspection for a period of not less than 8 weeks, beginning on the day on which it is made available, in or at the offices of the planning authority, and in each public library and mobile library in its functional area and at any other place or by any other means, including electronic form, that the authority considers appropriate.
In the context of the Government's Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, published on 1 May last, my Department is working with planning authorities on various options to support public participation in these circumstances and facilitate the advancement of certain decision making processes on expiry of the period under the Orders made under Section 251A. This may include, in the context of the phased return to full opening of planning offices, the putting in place of arrangements, by appointment, for the viewing of planning application files either in hard copy or electronically at the public counters of the planning offices or the local public libraries, subject of course to adhering to physical distancing and other public health and health and safety protocols in place to protect both local authority staff and members of the public. This would be in addition to the making available of the weekly lists of planning applications at local libraries as referred to above.
The final detailed arrangements in relation to facilitating public participation in the planning system, including the viewing of planning files by members of the public, will be publicised in advance of the expiry of the period under the Orders made under Section 251A.
1348. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress of the pyrite remediation applications for residents in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6182/20]
View answerThe Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the Pyrite Remediation Scheme. The Pyrite Resolution Board, with the support of the Housing Agency, is responsible for the implementation of the pyrite remediation scheme.
In accordance with the provisions of the Act, the Board is independent in the performance of its functions, and as Minister, I have no role in the operational matters pertaining to the implementation of the scheme. The Board may be contacted by phone at Lo call 1890 252842 or by email to info@pyriteboard.ie or alternatively at oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie.
1350. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if amendments to planning regulations will be introduced to facilitate small businesses that are no longer able to work out of their business premises as a result of the Covid-19 health measures and therefore need to operate from their home. [6197/20]
View answerIt is important to note that wherever a business operates, it will be subject to the same public health measures to protect the health of both employees and the wider public from the COVID-19 pandemic. The re-opening of businesses in the context of the pandemic should be in accordance with the terms of the Government's Roadmap for Re-Opening Society and Business, as published on 1 May 2020, and with relevant public health and health and safety advice and protocols.
With regard to planning, an individual can apply to his/her local planning authority for a determination under section 5 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, as to whether any particular case is or is not development, or is or is not exempted development, within the meaning of the Act. This would inform the small business owner whether or not planning permission is required for him or her to operate from his or her home.
The granting of planning permission or a declaration that development is exempted development does not solely authorise development, including ‘change of use’ of premises, to proceed where other consents are required. The operation of a business may be subject to multiple requirements of which planning is just one. I have no plans to introduce new exempted development planning regulations allowing for the ‘change of use’ of a home to a business premises at this time.
