Written Answers Nos. 1192-1218
1192. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the breakdown of the 11,498 site finish social housing units referenced in appendix 2 of the social housing construction projects status report Q4 2019 by funding programme (details supplied). [8783/20]
View answerEach quarter, my Department publishes a vast array of data relating to the various schemes that make up the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan across a range of platforms and in numerous formats. These include scheme specific data relating to various funding streams which have delivered more than 10,000 homes in 2019 through Build, Acquisitions and Leasing. A breakdown of these units by delivery stream and local authority area can be accessed at the following link:
https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/details-of-social-housing-delivery-on-a-local-authority-basis-for-2019/
In addition to the Social Housing Construction Status Report 2019 referred to by the Deputy, a comprehensive range of subsets of data are also available on website of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government at the following link.
https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision
Furthermore, data is also published in a range of configurable and searchable formats on the Open Data Ireland website (www.data.gov.ie) including a detailed breakdown of 2019 delivery and pipeline. This can be accessed at the following link:
https://data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q4-2019.
These data sets will enable the Deputy to access detailed information in the manner sought and in any other format which the Deputy requires.
1193. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the retirement age for retained firefighters will be extended from 58 to 60 years of age following the recommendation of the Workplace Relations Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8812/20]
View answerI have no objection, in principle, to the recommendation of the Workplace Relations Commission to increase the retirement age of retained firefighters from 58 to 60 years of age. However, such an increase brings with it a number of statutory and non-statutory issues which must first be examined, in association with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. My Department is currently pursuing these issues with a view to advancing matters as soon as possible.
1194. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a landlord agreed a rent increase on the housing assistance payment scheme with both the tenant and the local authority prior to the three-month freeze, can the local authority deny the increase due to the freeze. [8813/20]
View answerUnder the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), a tenant sources his or her own accommodation in the private rented market. The tenancy agreement is between the tenant and the landlord and is governed by the Residential Tenancies Acts. HAP supported tenancies are afforded the same protections available to all private rented tenancies.
Under the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020, the Government introduced additional supports and protections for renters, beyond the income supports already agreed with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. The Act provides for amendments to the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2019, which will operate for a period of 3 months from 27 March 2020. Provision has been made for the Government to extend this period, if necessary.
All notices of rent increase which were served before the emergency period and were due to take effect during this period are paused. While tenants are obliged to pay rent during the COVID–19 emergency period, landlords are not permitted to increase the amount of rent payable during this period.
The HAP Shared Services Centre (SSC) manages all HAP-related rental transactions for the tenant, local authority and landlord. The HAP SSC have proceeded to action any rent increases that were notified and due to take effect prior to 27 March 2020. However, any rent increases that were due to take effect after 27 March 2020 are paused in line with Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020.
While rent increases are prohibited during the period, rent decreases can be implemented. Outside of the usual rent review cycle, temporary reductions in rent can be implemented on an informal basis by agreement between the landlord and tenant. If they decide to do so, parties should clearly agree the conditions in writing and whether this is intended as a rent reduction for the emergency period or a more permanent arrangement.
1195. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the temporary ban on evictions will be extended if deemed necessary; his plans to review a putative expansion to take account of individual situations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8846/20]
View answerWith effect from 27 March 2020, new emergency measures were introduced into law to protect tenants during the COVID-19 emergency period. Rent increases are prohibited and tenants cannot be forced to leave their rental accommodation, other than in exceptional circumstances, during the COVID-19 emergency period. Initially, these emergency laws will last for a period of 3 months, but they may be extended if the Government considers it is necessary.
Under the legislation, the process for any extension of the 3 month period involves the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government requesting the Government to make an Order, having consulted with the Minister for Health and with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Government must consider it appropriate and be satisfied that it is in the public interest to extend the emergency period having regard to:
- the threat to public health;
- the highly contagious nature of COVID-19; and
- the need to restrict the movement of persons to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The consideration of whether to request the Government to make an Order to extend the emergency period is ongoing and any request to Government will be made at the appropriate time and in accordance with the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020.
It is not possible to amend the provisions of the Act at this time.
1196. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures he has put in place to ensure a full collection of the vacant site levy (details supplied). [8867/20]
View answer1210. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of local authorities which have active vacant site registers; the amount collected by the vacant site levy in 2019; the estimated amount that could have been collected if all vacant sites were included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8969/20]
View answer1211. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the way in which the compliance rate for the vacant site levy compares to the local property tax; the reason for the difference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8970/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1196, 1210 and 1211 together.
Under the vacant site levy provisions in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, planning authorities were empowered to apply a vacant site levy of 3% of the market valuation of relevant properties which were listed on local authority vacant site registers in 2018, which relevant owners were liable to pay in January 2019. The rate of the levy increased to 7% for sites listed on local authority vacant sites register from 2019 onwards which site owners became liable to pay in January 2020.
The primary objective of the levy is to act as a mechanism to incentivise the development of vacant and underutilised sites in urban areas for both the provision of housing and the development and renewal of land, thereby facilitating the most efficient use of such land and sites and enabling them to be brought into beneficial use rather than allowing them to remain dormant and undeveloped. The levy is not intended to be a revenue generating measure with the proceeds accruing to the relevant local authority rather than the Exchequer.
The levy proceeds generated are specifically intended to be used by local authorities for the provision of housing and regeneration development in the local area in which vacant sites are located. No more than 10% of the levy monies received by planning authorities may be used on their administration costs.
My Department proactively engages with local authorities with a view to ensuring that the vacant site levy achieves its full potential in terms of bringing concerned sites into productive use. In this regard, my Department issued Circular PL 09/2019 on 13 November 2019 requesting a progress report on the implementation of the levy by each local authority.
The returns from the local authorities indicated that, as of 31 October 2019, there were 359 sites listed on local authority registers. These sites had a market valuation of €144.5m and were liable to the levy at a rate of 3% in 2019, indicating estimated levy proceeds due of €4.335m.
All levies due on an individual site will remain a charge on the land concerned until all outstanding levies due are paid. Accordingly, under the vacant site levy provisions, there will be a cumulative effect associated with not activating a site for development purposes for each year that a site remains vacant or idle. Local authorities are currently in the process of initiating debt recovery procedures to recoup levy arrears which remain outstanding.
Information on the collection rates for Local Property Tax is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Finance and is a matter for which I have no function.
1197. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures he has put in place to replace lost revenue due to Covid-19 in view of the fact Tipperary County Council estimates the loss due to Covid-19 is €20 million. [8868/20]
View answer1243. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures in place or planned measures to aid Clare County Council in view of its loss of €19.7 million in commercial rates owing to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9394/20]
View answer1259. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if funding will be increased for Kildare County Council in view of the collapse in income due to Covid-19; if so, the amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9575/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1197, 1243 and 1259 together.
Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, my Department has taken a number of measures to assist local authorities with the financial difficulties they are experiencing.
At the outset and to minimise cash flow challenges, my Department arranged for the early payment of Local Property Tax (LPT) to all local authorities. As a short term measure, my Department made €136m available to local authorities as cash flow support in early April, in order to ensure that the vital services that local authorities deliver can be maintained. This support was comprised of the early payment of the Local Property Tax allocation ordinarily paid from the Local Government Fund in May and July.
On 2 May 2020, the Government announced that a waiver of commercial rates will apply to all businesses that have been forced to close due to public health requirements, from 27 March 2020, for a three-month period. The estimated cost of €260m will be met by the Exchequer. My Department is currently preparing further guidance for local authorities on this initiative.
In order to support the local government sector generally, my Department will continue to keep local authority income, expenditure and cash flow generally under review and will continue to work with all local authorities, both collectively and individually.
1198. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when an application for a boundary change lodged with the Property Registration Authority submitted by persons (details supplied) in County Galway will be finalised; the reason for the delay in finalising the application in view of the fact the application has been lodged since 2019 and has been with the mapping team for some considerable time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8910/20]
View answerThis is a matter for the Property Registration Authority. In relation to any specific cases, arrangements have been put in place by all State bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. Further information in relation to the specific case referred to may be obtained by contacting the dedicated e-mail address in respect of the Property Registration Authority at reps@prai.ie.
1199. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if there will be an extension to the current rent and eviction freeze; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8915/20]
View answerWith effect from 27 March 2020, new emergency measures were introduced into law to protect tenants during the COVID-19 emergency period. Rent increases are prohibited and tenants cannot be forced to leave their rental accommodation, other than in exceptional circumstances, during the COVID-19 emergency period. Initially, these emergency laws will last for a period of 3 months, but they may be extended if the Government considers it is necessary.
Under the legislation, the process for any extension of the 3 month period involves the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government requesting the Government to make an Order, having consulted with the Minister for Health and with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Government must consider it appropriate and be satisfied that it is in the public interest to extend the emergency period having regard to:
- the threat to public health;
- the highly contagious nature of COVID-19; and
- the need to restrict the movement of persons to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The consideration of whether to request the Government to make an Order to extend the emergency period is ongoing and any subsequent request to Government will be made at the appropriate time and in accordance with the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020.
1200. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when a final decision will be made on a protected disclosure (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8946/20]
View answerThere is an important obligation under section 16 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 to protect the identity of individuals who make disclosures of information with reference to the Act.
In this instance, I can however confirm that my Department, following consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, is finalising its analysis of the submission in question, as well as the response of the local authority concerned, with a view to submitting the matter for final decision and communicating this outcome.
This process must comply with the general principles of natural justice and fair procedures as appropriate, including for third parties who have been named. While this process may have taken longer than anticipated by the discloser concerned, I am satisfied that the matter is being advanced to conclusion.
1201. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the cost guidelines issued to each local authority for the acquisition of houses and apartments for use as social housing units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8955/20]
View answerThe current cost guidelines for the acquisition of houses and apartments for use as social housing were issued to local authorities in April 2019, under Circular 15/2019. These will be provided to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
1202. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of social houses recorded under the heading of new build in the 2019 social housing update that are leased by local authority area; if they are included under approved housing body or local authority units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8956/20]
View answer1204. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the criteria for including a leased unit as a new build in the social housing update; the number of leased social housing units that will end up in the ownership of the State at the expiry of the lease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8958/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1202 and 1204 together.
Of the 50,000 social housing homes to be delivered under Rebuilding Ireland, over 10,000 homes are targeted to be leased by local authorities and approved housing bodies (AHBs) under leasing arrangements from a range of different sources including direct leasing by local authorities and approved housing bodies; rental availability agreements; the Repair and Leasing Scheme; the Mortgage to Rent Scheme; and Enhanced Leasing.
Leasing is funded under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP), which funds the ongoing current costs of homes delivered using a variety of different delivery mechanisms under the Rebuilding Ireland categories of Build, Acquisition and Leasing. These include:
- Build - Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) Build, CALF Part V, Part V Lease;
- Acquisition - CALF Acquisition, Housing Agency Acquisitions (HAA);
- Leasing - Direct and Enhanced Leasing, AHB and Private Mortgage to Rent (MTR), the Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS).
A total of 4,365 homes were delivered under schemes funded by SHCEP in 2019, across Build, Acquisition and Leasing. Of this number, 14 homes were delivered under Part V Lease arrangements. These 14 Part V Lease dwellings are counted under the Build programme outputs as local authority units. A breakdown of the 1,326 dwellings delivered in 2019 under Part V is set out below.
Table 1: Breakdown of Part V Delivery 2019
|
LA Part V |
CAS Part V |
CALF Part V |
Part V Lease |
Total |
|
589 |
4 |
719 |
14 |
1,326 |
The only circumstance where a leased unit is counted under the Build programme outputs is where the unit has been delivered under Part V arrangements; all Part V dwellings are counted under Build. A breakdown of the Part V Lease dwellings delivered in 2019, by local authority, is set out in the following table.
Table 2: Breakdown of Part V Lease Delivery 2019
|
Local Authority |
Number of Part V Leases |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
9 |
|
Dublin City Council |
4 |
|
Westmeath |
1 |
|
Total |
14 |
Properties sourced by local authorities and AHBs under lease arrangements, including Part V leases, are likely to be owned by the property owner at the end of the lease term. Properties acquired by AHBs are likely to remain in the ownership of AHBs. The ownership of leased properties sourced through the National Asset Residential Property Services D.A.C. (NARPS) will remain with NARPS at the expiration of the lease term. Following a direction by the Minister for Finance in 2019, NARPS will be retained in long term State ownership and will transfer to the State at the direction of the Minister for Finance.
Data in relation to dwellings delivered under Leasing from 2017 - 2019, and in relation to all operational dwellings funded under SHCEP, is published on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision
1203. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the funding stream from which the 2019 Part V units were paid from by local authority; the spend by local authority per unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8957/20]
View answerA total of 1,326 Part V homes were delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for social housing in 2019. A detailed breakdown of these homes across all local authority areas in the period up to end Q4 2019 is available at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision
Of the 1,326 Part V homes provided for social housing in 2019, 589 homes were delivered by LAs. 578 of these fall under the Social Housing Capital Investment Programme (SHCIP) funding mechanism and the remaining 11 were delivered by the local authority at no cost to the Department- these may have been funded by the local authority through own resources, or from a historic Part V agreement.
Part V homes are also funded under Approved Housing Body (AHB) funding programmes, including the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) which supported 719 Part V homes in 2019 and the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) which supported the delivery of 4 Part V homes in 2019. Finally, in the event that the Part V agreement is for a lease, the units will be funded under the SHCEP leasing programme, there were 14 such homes provided in 2019.
While statistics have been collated in relation to Part V delivery, given the various delivery models outlined above, a unit cost analysis of these homes by local authority level is not available. It must also be noted that expenditure and cost are not analogous as recoupment to the LA for a unit delivered in a particular year may arise in the following year, depending on the timing of the claim submission.
1205. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons on the housing waiting list by local authority area; the number of persons in receipt of HAP in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8959/20]
View answerDetails on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority area are set out in the statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recently conducted SSHA details the number of households on all local authority waiting lists as at 24 June 2019 (the count date).
The full report, including breakdowns by each local authority across a range of categories, is available on my Department’s website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/sha_summary_2019_dec_2019_web_1.pdf.
It should be noted that the SSHA is a point in time exercise and does not reflect the dynamic nature of entries to and exists from the lists.
In summary the 2019 SSHA shows that 68,693 households were assessed as qualified and being in need of social housing support. This represents a decrease of 3,165 households or 4.4% on the last assessment in June 2018. Indeed, since the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan was launched in 2016, the numbers have decreased from 91,600 to 68,693, a reduction of 25%.
In relation to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), the scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Quarter 4 2019, over 71,000 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were more than 52,500 households actively in receipt of HAP support and over 30,000 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the scheme. The following table sets out the active HAP tenancies in each Local Authority and the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, at 31 December 2019.
|
Local Authority |
Active tenancies as at 31/12/2019 |
|
Carlow County Council |
730 |
|
Cavan County Council |
342 |
|
Clare County Council |
1,369 |
|
Cork City Council |
2,749 |
|
Cork County Council |
3,431 |
|
Donegal County Council |
1,805 |
|
Dublin City Council |
3,602 |
|
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
562 |
|
Fingal County Council |
1,898 |
|
Galway City Council |
1,723 |
|
Galway County Council |
1,229 |
|
Kerry County Council |
1,236 |
|
Kildare County Council |
2,195 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
867 |
|
Laois County Council |
888 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
254 |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
2,308 |
|
Longford County Council |
330 |
|
Louth County Council |
3,046 |
|
Mayo County Council |
1,280 |
|
Meath County Council |
2,089 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
586 |
|
Offaly County Council |
883 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
421 |
|
Sligo County Council |
758 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
2,726 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
1,778 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
1,952 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
901 |
|
Wexford County Council |
1,377 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
1,448 |
|
Dublin Region Homeless Executive* |
5,766 |
|
Total active HAP tenancies |
52,529 |
1206. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of public private partnership units included in the latest Rebuilding Ireland social housing update; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8960/20]
View answerI assume the Deputy is referring to the Social Housing Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme, which is being progressed by my Department in conjunction with the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), in its role as procuring authority and financial advisor, as well as Dublin City Council and Cork County Council, as lead local authority and Sponsoring Agency for Bundles 1 and 2 respectively. I can confirm that to end Q4 2019, there were a total of 999 homes under construction at sites across 10 local authorities under this programme included in the Rebuilding Ireland Social Housing Update.
PPPs represent just one strand of the overall plan to accelerate the supply of social housing, which is the second pillar of Rebuilding Ireland: An Action Plan for Housing & Homelessness. The 999 homes referred to are being delivered using an availability based PPP model, in which a private sector company designs, builds, finances and maintains the social housing developments in return for a monthly unitary payment from the State. The terms of the agreement provide for a cessation of the unitary payment and that the homes be returned to the full ownership of the State after a period of 25 years.
The Department is currently in the initial stages of working with the NDFA and participating local autorities to progress Bundle 3 of the PPP programme. In total, it is intended to deliver up to 1,500 social housing units across the three bundles, and through investment with a capital value of €300 million.
1207. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of Traveller halting sites considered by his Department to be overcrowded; the number of Travellers living in overcrowded conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8961/20]
View answerIn accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers 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.
My Department provides funding to local authorities under their five-year Traveller Accommodation Programmes to support the accommodation needs of Traveller families in a range of circumstances identified by the local authorities, including to address circumstances of overcrowding. The management of the programmes locally, and the selection, prioritisation and submission of projects, is a matter for each local authority.
1208. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount spent on Traveller accommodation in 2019; the estimated amount to be spent in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8962/20]
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.
In 2019 my Department provided a total of €8.7m in capital funding to local authorities for Traveller accommodation projects. In 2020, there is a capital budget of €14.5m available to local authorities. It is open to all local authorities to apply for and drawdown funds from this budget at any time throughout the year. In 2020 to date, a total of €3.1m has been drawn down.
1209. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the effectiveness of communications campaign commissioned by the RTB to make landlords and tenants aware of their new obligations and responsibilities as set out in the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8963/20]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants. With effect from 27 March 2020, new emergency measures were introduced into law to protect tenants during the COVID-19 emergency period. Tenants cannot be forced to leave their rental accommodation, other than in exceptional circumstances, during this period. Initially, these emergency laws will apply for a period of 3 months, but they may be extended if the Government considers it necessary.
My Department, in collaboration with the RTB, recently published a Guidance Document on Covid-19 supports for landlords and tenants that 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 on the RTB's website 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 also available on the RTB's website at:
https://onestopshop.rtb.ie/images/uploads/Comms%20and%20Research/FAQs_on_Emergency_Legislation_Final.pdf.
The RTB has a communications plan in operation to inform stakeholders and the general public of the emergency legislative measures for the rental sector during the COVID-19 emergency period and to provide up-to-date and accurate information on its services. The communications plan involves the delivery of a multi-media, integrated communications campaign which utilises social media, digital and radio advertising, the RTB website (including its webchat service) and stakeholder engagement to leverage the support of other organisations in disseminating the necessary public information as widely as possible in a short time period.
In the four weeks from the commencement of the emergency period, there was a 40% increase in activity on the RTB's website as well as significantly increased usage of its webchat service.
COVID-19 related content was the most frequently visited page on the RTB's website - www.rtb.ie - during April and May. Calls to the RTB customer service centre during this time are primarily driven by the public seeking information on the emergency legislation. The RTB is in regular contact with over 300 stakeholders with news and updates on the emergency legislation announcement, which included distributing the Government Guidance document on the emergency legislation, the associated Frequently Asked Questions document, as well as updates on the RTB’s customer contact support and dispute resolution services during Covid-19 emergency. The RTB continues to help stakeholders by addressing any queries that they have on the emergency legislation. The RTB is currently in the process of finalising a plan to roll out webinar information sessions and virtual Stakeholder Forums to help further those living and working in the rental sector during this time.
I am satisfied that the RTB communications campaign continues to be effective in helping landlords and tenants to stay up-to-date on the impact of the emergency measures for the rental sector.
1212. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of sites that were removed from the vacant site registers in 2019; the number of sites that were inspected to ensure compliance with the vacant site levy rules and regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8971/20]
View answerWhile my Department does not maintain a central register of vacant sites, as each local authority administers the vacant site register in respect of their own functional area, the Department does engage proactively with local authorities with a view to ensuring that the vacant site levy achieves its full potential in terms of bringing concerned sites into productive use. In this regard, the Department issued Circular PL 09/2019 on 13 November 2019 requesting a progress report on implementation of the Vacant Site Levy to be completed by the Director of Planning in each Local Authority.
Progress report returns were received from all of the 31 local authorities which indicated that, as of 31 October 2019, there were 359 sites listed on local authority registers. Since the introduction of the levy, over 200 sites have been removed from registers due to, for instance, development commencing on sites, sites being sold and purchased with the intention of development or appeals, with additional sites being added over the same period.
In this connection, the progress reports indicated the following:
- 50 sites have been removed from registers due to development commencing.
- 47 other sites have changed ownership (the new owner will likely have bought the site with the intention of development).
- 71 planning applications have been submitted in respect of sites included on vacant site registers which has resulted in 47 planning permissions to date. When these permissions are activated, these sites can be removed from the registers.
My Department does not have information on the total number of sites inspected by local authorities for the purpose of implementing the vacant site levy provisions.
1213. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the criteria used to measure housing need in areas with respect to non-operation of a vacant site register by some local authorities due to lack of housing need as per PBO Publication 29 of 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8972/20]
View answerUnder the vacant site levy provisions in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, planning authorities were empowered to apply a vacant site levy of 3% of the market valuation of relevant properties which were listed on local authority vacant site registers in 2018, which relevant owners were liable to pay in January 2019. The rate of the levy increased to 7% for sites listed on local authority vacant sites register from 2019 onwards which site owners became liable to pay in January 2020.
Local Authorities can only apply the levy if the criteria set out in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 (the Act) are satisfied i.e.
- the site is situated in an area where there is a need for housing,
- the site is suitable for the provision of housing, and
- the site, or a majority of the site, is vacant or idle.
The specific criteria in relation to determining whether or not there is a need for housing in an area within a planning authority's functional area are set out in section 6(4) of the Act. Such determination is required to be assessed by reference to -
- the housing strategy and the core strategy of the planning authority,
- house prices and the cost of renting in the area,
- the number of households qualified for social housing support in accordance with section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 that have specified the area as an area of choice for the receipt of such support and any changes to that number since the adoption of the planning authority's development plan, and
- whether the number of habitable houses available for purchase of rent was less than 5% of the total number of houses in the area.
The primary purpose of the levy is to incentivise the activation of development of vacant sites in urban areas for housing and regeneration purposes, thereby bringing the sites into productive use. In certain local authority areas, particularly in more rural/ low population counties, housing need may not be as acute as in larger urban areas. Consequently, where the levy criteria are not satisfied in certain areas, there is justification for non-application of the levy in those areas. Currently 8 local authorities have not included sites on their registers.
1214. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress made on the proposals to modernise the electoral register as per his statement of 27 December 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8976/20]
View answerIn December 2019, following a public consultation on reforms to the electoral register, the Government approved a number of detailed proposals to modernise the electoral registration process to make it more streamlined, secure and accessible.
The proposals approved included reforms such as the introduction of a rolling register; optional online registration; identity verification using PPSN; as well as pre-registration for young people, effective data sharing between local authorities; and enabling individual registration.
A number of the measures approved by Government in December 2019 are contingent on primary legislation and a draft General Scheme of a Bill to underpin the proposals was developed and approved by Government on 14 January 2020.
In relation to optional online registration, a procurement exercise has just been finalised in respect of a technical evaluation of the Voter.ie platform being used by the Dublin Local Authorities. Voter.ie provides the option for electors and potential electors in the Dublin area to apply to register or amend their details online by means of MyGovID. The evaluation will focus on the security, stability and scalability of the platform. The work will commence shortly and is expected to be complete by the Autumn. The outcome will inform a recommendation to Government regarding the suitability of voter.ie for roll out as a national electoral registration platform.
In addition, work is ongoing on developing a new streamlined registration application form to replace the current suite of forms and consultation with Local Authorities as well as the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) and the National Disability Authority (NDA) is planned to ensure the form is simple, effective and accessible to all citizens.
1215. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of capital assistance scheme and capital loan and subsidy scheme funded social housing units which have exited their original 20 or 30 mortgages; and his plans with respect to the future use of the units by approved housing bodies. [8989/20]
View answerAs mortgages under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) and the Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) are between local authorities and the relevant AHBs, information on the position of the mortgages is not held by my Department. However, my Department is currently working with the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) regarding the longer-term treatment of properties that are exiting their mortgage term so that the properties are maintained for long-term for social use. There is a shared position between my Department and the ICSH to maintain such properties for long-term public housing.
1216. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the rent pressure zone cap of 4% applies to a property which is being transferred from a social rental tenancy with differential rent to a private rental tenancy for the first time within 12 months of the social housing tenancy ending. [8990/20]
View answer1217. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the rent pressure zone cap of 4% applies to a property which is being transferred from a RAS tenancy to a private rental tenancy for the first time within 12 months of the RAS tenancy ending. [8991/20]
View answer1218. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the rent pressure zone cap of 4% applies to a property which is being transferred from a HAP tenancy to a private rental tenancy for the first time within 12 months of the HAP tenancy ending. [8992/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1216 to 1218, inclusive, together.
Section 3 of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 - 2019 provides that those Acts apply to every dwelling the subject of a tenancy, apart for the limited exceptions set out in subsection (2) of that section. Section 19 of those Acts provides for the annual rent increase restriction in Rent Pressure Zone (RPZs), subject to subsection (5) which disapplies the restriction in limited circumstances.
A tenancy in the private rental market funded by housing authorities through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) or the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) falls within the remit of the Residential Tenancies Acts and section 19 applies in respect of such tenancies in same manner as for all private tenancies.
The rent set upon the commencement of a private tenancy within the remit of the Residential Tenancies Acts is governed by section 19 of those Acts.
Under the Tenant Purchase Scheme, a tenant who buys their house must continue to live in the house for as long as they own it. The scheme does also provide that a tenant may sell, let or sub-let the house however this provision is subject to acquiring permission from the Local Authority to do so.
