Brendan Griffin
Question:335. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the wind energy directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18362/20]
View answerEU Directives
Questions (335)
Written answers
My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines in line with the “preferred draft approach” which was announced in June 2017 by the then Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, in conjunction with the then Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. The review is addressing a number of key aspects including sound or noise, visual amenity setback distances, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections.
As part of the overall review process, a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is being undertaken on the revised Guidelines before they come into effect, in accordance with the requirements of European Union Directive 2001/24/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment, otherwise known as the SEA Directive. SEA is a process by which environmental considerations are required to be fully integrated into the preparation of plans and programmes which act as frameworks for development consent, prior to their final adoption, with public consultation as part of that process.
As part of the SEA process, the previous Minister launched a ten-week public consultation on the draft revised Wind Energy Development Guidelines on 12 December 2019. The documents prepared for consultation are available on my Department's website at the following link: https://www.housing.gov.ie/guidelines/wind-energy/public-consultation-revised-wind-energy-development-guidelines.
The consultation closed on 19 February 2020. Almost 500 submissions were received as part of the public consultation, many of which are extremely detailed and technical in nature. My Department, in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, is currently analysing the submissions received.
Finalised Guidelines will be prepared following detailed analysis and consideration of the submissions received during the consultation phase, and the conclusion of the SEA process. When finalised, the revised Guidelines will be issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Planning authorities and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála, must have regard to guidelines issued under section 28 in the performance of their functions generally under the Planning Acts. In the meantime, the current 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines remain in force.
Social and Affordable Housing
Questions (336)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:336. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the call for housing 2020 was established; the person heading up the initiative; the number of staff who will be working on the phone lines; and the estimated cost of establishing the initiative. [18379/20]
View answerWritten answers
The “Call for Housing 2020” was launched on 21 July 2020 as a short-term intervention, to stimulate interest in social housing delivery, primarily through acquisitions and leasing from opportunities arising in the property market. In particular, 1 bedroom units required to support single homeless households, larger family homes and homes suited for older persons or those with disabilities are targeted.
The campaign is being run by the Housing Agency utilising existing staff resources. The Housing Agency has established a dedicated website, phone and email contact lines to provide further information to prospective vendors and lessors. These contact lines are staffed by Housing Agency staff on a rota basis. The estimated cost of running the campaign, in terms of advertising and other costs, will be in the region of €20,000.
Home Loan Scheme
Questions (337)
Gerald Nash
Question:337. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will provide the circular issued to local authorities in the past two weeks on the operation of the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme as it relates to applicants on the temporary wage subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18395/20]
View answerWritten answers
The Covid-19 situation has had an unprecedented economic impact and unfortunately some applicants for the RIHL have been affected. In order to address this issue, my Department has issued guidance to local authorities on the process for dealing with applicants already in the application/approval process whose economic circumstances have changed for the worse. These options could include reducing, suspending or withdrawing the amount that can be borrowed. However, there is no one size fits all approach, it depends on the individual circumstances.
On 6 July my Department issued a Circular including additional guidance on the treatment of persons whose employers avail of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Circulars in relation to lending issues, in particular, those that relate to certain provisions of the Credit Policy for the RIHL, are not considered appropriate to release.
Nonetheless, I can confirm that in general, persons currently on the TWSS can continue to apply for a RIHL mortgage based on their pre-TWSS Income. This will provide clarity to applicants regarding their eligibility for the loan and will enable them to commence the property search. Where such applicants are approved for a RIHL loan, draw down would not commence until the applicants' unsupported income post TWSS has returned to the level specified in the original application for a period of time, usually up to three months. Local authorities can, however, use their judgement and knowledge of local employers to advance loans to applicants before the end of this three-month period, where appropriate. There is no blanket ban.
In the case of a joint application where only one party is on TWSS, the application can also proceed to drawdown if repayment capacity can be assured based on the other person’s income. For applicants whose post-TWSS income is lower (e.g. due to reduced hours) than stated on their application, their application can be re-assessed to determine the most appropriate borrowing amount for them.
This approach is in line with the need to lend on a prudent basis, as a mortgage is a long-term commitment and it would not be appropriate to lend when there is a risk that the person’s income and ability to pay might not return to the level required to support the borrowing requested. This is both for the protection of the lender and the borrower, in particular to seek to ensure that borrowers are not left with unsustainable debt burdens.
Social and Affordable Housing
Questions (338, 339)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:338. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the circumstances in which a developer can receive an exemption to Part V requirements; his plans to review the availability of these exemptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18413/20]
View answer
Catherine Murphy
Question:339. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the grounds on which planners can grant the certificate of exemption in relation to the exemptions to Part V requirements and section 97 of the Planning and Development Act 2000; if this is automatic; if there is discretion afforded to planning authorities; and if guidance has been issued to planning authorities on same. [18416/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 338 and 339 together.
The Part V requirement arises where a development plan objective requires that a specified percentage of any land zoned for residential use be made available for social and affordable housing.
Paragraph 2.1 of the 'Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 Guidelines' issued in January 2017 outlines the circumstances whereby the Part V requirement will not apply to an application for planning permission. In accordance with section 96(13) of the Act of 2000, these are:
(a) provision of houses by an approved housing body for social housing and/or affordable housing;
(b) conversion of an existing building or the reconstruction of a building to create one or more dwellings provided that at least 50% of the external fabric is retained;
(c) carrying out works to an existing house;
(d) development of houses pursuant to an agreement under section 96 of the 2000 Act.
As provided for in section 97 of the 2000 Act, the Part V requirement also does not apply to developments consisting of 9 or fewer houses or a development of houses on land of less than 0.1 hectare where, prior to the application for planning permission, the developer applies for and is granted a certificate to that effect by the planning authority. Guidance on the provisions of section 97 of the Act is at ‘Section 12 – Anti-Avoidance Provisions of Part V (Section 97)’ of the December 2000 ‘Part V of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 Housing Supply Guidelines for Planning Authorities’.
The Programme for Government contains commitments in relation to the delivery of affordable homes through Part V and I have confirmed that the current 10% requirement for social homes will be protected and that I would like to see the requirement increased to 20% for social and affordable homes. My officials are examining the related implications for the Part V provisions, including the section 97 exemptions.
Vacant Properties
Questions (340)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:340. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the addresses approved in 2018 and 2019 in County Clare for void funding; and the reason local authorities are reluctant to divulge information to elected representatives. [18436/20]
View answerWritten answers
Under the voids programme, my Department supported Clare County Council in their efforts to return 43 units to productive use in 2018 and 62 units in 2019. This figure does not include homes which were returned to productive use by local authorities using funding from their own resources. In relation to data requests for individual addresses, that information should be available within each local authority and its release is a matter for each authority taking account of statutory requirements.
Social and Affordable Housing
Questions (341)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:341. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if elected representatives will be granted access to the choice-based letting system in order that they can be aware of the properties being offered each week. [18437/20]
View answerWritten answers
The day-to-day operation of social housing allocations to eligible applicants, including applications under the Choice Based Letting system (CBL), is a matter entirely for the relevant local authority.
Choice Based Letting (CBL) is a method whereby available social housing stock is let by being openly advertised by local authorities to persons on the social housing waiting list. This allows qualified applicants to 'register an interest' in available homes.
Applicants can act on their own initiative to respond to adverts and express an interest in dwellings that they would like to live in, rather than waiting for an authority to offer them a dwelling. This approach offers more choice and involvement for applicant households in selecting a new home, thereby reducing the likelihood of a refusal, and helping to build sustainable tenancies and stable communities.
The Social Housing Allocation (Amendment) Regulations 2016 required all local authorities, if they had not already done so, to provide for CBL as a method of allocation for social housing in their allocation schemes by the end of 2016. The way in which CBL is implemented, including decisions on who has access to the system and which properties are to be offered through it, is a matter for the individual authority concerned. However, it must be done in accordance with the relevant regulations and their own scheme of priority.
Commercial Rates
Questions (342, 343)
Chris Andrews
Question:342. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of claims for the commercial rates waiver scheme received from businesses in Dublin 4, 6 and 8, respectively; the number of claims that have been granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18511/20]
View answerChris Andrews
Question:343. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of claims for the commercial rates waiver scheme received from businesses across the four local authorities in Dublin; the number of claims that have been granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18512/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 343 together.
The levying and collection of rates are legally matters for each individual local authority. Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes.
An initial three-month waiver of rates for businesses forced to close business due to COVID-19 was announced in early May.
In order to enhance the supports available for enterprise, and in recognition of the fact that not only have many ratepayers been forced to close business due to the public health requirements, but many others who remained open have suffered significant reductions in turnover, this waiver has now been extended for a duration of six months to the end of September and the categories of enterprise who will be eligible to avail of it has been expanded.
The implementation of this waiver is a matter for local authorities and accordingly, the information sought in the question is not available in my Department.
A 100% waiver will be applied to all businesses, for a six-month period to the end of September, with the exclusion of a small number of categories. The rationale for the exclusion of certain categories of ratepayers is that their operations were not as severely impacted by the pandemic, coupled with the need to direct resources appropriately.
To support both the local government sector and the ratepayers impacted, €600m has been allocated by Government to fund the cost of a waiver of commercial rates for six months for eligible businesses impacted by the COVID 19 pandemic. This will take the form of a credit in lieu of rates.
The Credit in Lieu of Commercial Rates shall be administered by Local Authorities.
Credits in lieu of commercial rates applied to ratepayer accounts under this scheme shall be applied as a credit on the rate bill for 2020. Local authorities should automatically apply a 100% credit in lieu of commercial rates, for a six-month period, to classes and categories of occupied rateable property where the occupying business is not in an excluded category.
Domestic Violence Refuges Provision
Questions (344, 345, 346, 349, 350)
Catherine Murphy
Question:344. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures and assessment tools in place to assess whether housing authorities are meeting the objectives and goals set by guidelines (details supplied); the person or body that is measuring and assessing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18572/20]
View answerCatherine Murphy
Question:345. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if housing authorities are meeting set objectives (details supplied); if local domestic abuse services are being adequately resourced to meet the needs of domestic violence survivors with housing needs; his plans to increase resourcing in the area in view of an increase in demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18573/20]
View answerCatherine Murphy
Question:346. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if it is possible for all housing authorities to meet objectives that would require linking with local services as best practice in view of the fact that local services and refuge spaces are not available in each county and local authority; the guidelines that have been issued in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18574/20]
View answerCatherine Murphy
Question:349. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the Rebuilding Ireland: Policy and Procedural Guidance for Housing Authorities in Relation to Assisting Victims of Domestic Violence with Emergency and Long-term Accommodation Needs; (Circular 2/17) has considered the fact that it was reported in 2019 that the Child and Family Agency is applying a standard of one shelter space per 10,000 of the female population in view of the fact the Council of Europe has set the standard at one place per 7,500 of the population and one family place per 10,000 of the population; if there has been a review, assessment, monitoring or evaluation of Action No 1.8 of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan, page 90; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18577/20]
View answerCatherine Murphy
Question:350. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the findings of the Tusla review or the Rebuilding Ireland action plan objective 1.8 found that Ireland does not have an adequate number of domestic violence refuge spaces as per the figures set by the Council of Europe; the way in which he plans to respond to this to ensure increased funding and capacity within the refuge system to ensure access across all counties for victims requiring urgent accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18578/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 344, 345, 346, 349 and 350 together.
Responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic violence rests with my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and I understand that the delivery of these services is managed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. As such, the matters raised by the Deputy in relation to the resources provided to support victims of domestic violence and capacity in refuges is a matter for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
In terms of housing services and in line with Action 1.8 of Rebuilding Ireland, in 2017, my Department issued policy and procedural guidance to housing authorities relating to the role they can play to assist victims of domestic violence. The guidance was introduced with the objective of supporting a partnership approach by statutory agencies in respect of the delivery of domestic violence services, particularly in relation to helping to prevent and reduce the occurrence of related homelessness and facilitating the provision of long term accommodation for victims of domestic violence.
Domestic Violence Services
Questions (347)
Catherine Murphy
Question:347. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the proportion of allocations from approved housing bodies, AHBs, here that are provided for housing for domestic violence survivors, that is, the specific allocation (details supplied); and the number of families by county in the past four years in tabular form. [18575/20]
View answerWritten answers
The allocation of housing to households on social housing waiting lists by either Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) or local authorities is a matter for individual local authorities in line with their allocation scheme. My Department does not hold information on the allocations of the specific type requested by the Deputy.
Section 22 of the 2009 Act requires all local authorities, as a reserved function, to make an allocation scheme determining the order of priority to be accorded in the allocation of dwellings to households qualified for social housing support and to households approved for a transfer, the allocation of which would, in the opinion of the authority, meet the accommodation needs and requirements of the households.
In line with commitments made under Rebuilding Ireland, my Department issued guidance in January 2017 to all local authorities in relation to assisting victims of domestic violence with emergency and long-term accommodation needs. The guidance is also a useful reference for service providers working in the domestic violence services sector, highlighting where they can be of greatest assistance to their clients, covering a range of scenarios that may arise for victims of domestic violence in seeking social housing supports. These include provisions around the use of the Housing Assistance Payment scheme, or the Rental Accommodation Scheme, where a victim has a joint interest in the family home, or ownership of alternative accommodation, but would otherwise qualify for social housing support.
Domestic Violence Services
Questions (348)
Catherine Murphy
Question:348. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the support that has been given to approved housing bodies, AHBs, in relation to providing housing to domestic abuse survivors under the capital assistance scheme by county in the past four years in tabular form. [18576/20]
View answerWritten answers
The table below provides details of ongoing and completed projects funded under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) for victims of domestic violence. As well as CAS-funded schemes, the housing needs of victims of domestic violence can also be addressed by the provision of accommodation by local authorities from their own stock of housing.
CAS funding remains available to support Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) providing accommodation for victims of domestic violence. CAS is permanently open for new proposals to be submitted to local authorities by AHBs in respect of any of the eligible categories of housing need, including victims of domestic violence and proposals for the latter are progressed in agreement with Tusla as regards prioritisation and operational arrangements.
|
Local Authority |
AHB/Service provider |
Project status |
Date delivered |
|
Galway City |
COPE |
Delivered |
Q4 2019 |
|
Louth |
Drogheda Women's and Children's Refuge Centre |
Delivered |
Q3 2018 |
|
South Dublin |
Saoirse Women's Refuge |
Delivered |
Q2 2019 |
|
Wexford |
Wexford Women's Refuge |
Early stage proposal |
- |
Questions Nos. 349 and 350 answered with Question No. 344.
Vacant Properties
Questions (351)
Emer Higgins
Question:351. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to force owners of private houses that are left vacant to sell them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18617/20]
View answerWritten answers
Local authorities already have a range of legislative powers available to them to deal with under-utilised and derelict properties in their functional areas, including through the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers under Derelict Sites and Housing legislation. A number of local authorities have already been particularly proactive in utilising their CPO powers and all local authorities are being encouraged to use their CPO powers in appropriate circumstances.
In addition to using the legislative powers already available to local authorities, Pillar 5 of Rebuilding Ireland sets out a range of measures to assist in meeting Ireland’s housing needs by ensuring that our existing housing stock is used to the greatest extent possible including –
- a National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy, which was published by my Department in July 2018. The Strategy provides a targeted, effective and co-ordinated approach to identifying and tackling vacancy across the country and draws together all of the strands of ongoing work into one document; and
- targeted incentives and schemes to assist in reactivating vacant dwellings into the liveable housing stock including the Buy and Renew and the Repair and Lease Schemes.
Tackling vacancy will continue to be the focus of targeted attention by my Department through the ongoing implementation of measures set out in the National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy. In that context I recently launched a national publicity campaign “Call for Housing 2020” to stimulate private market interest in delivering social housing through Acquisitions and the Social Housing Leasing schemes. The aim is to secure these units long-term and provide homes that can be occupied immediately and to allow individuals and families to be moved from emergency accommodation to own-door housing.
Question No. 352 answered with Question No. 329.
Housing Policy
Questions (353)
Cathal Crowe
Question:353. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the working group comprising senior representatives from his Department and planning authorities which was established in May 2017 following the Flemish decree of the European Court of Justice in 2013 to review the new rural housing guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18707/20]
View answerWritten answers
The 2005 Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines are framed in the context of the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) 2002. Given the changes in planning policy since then, including the publication of the National Planning Framework in 2018 and other factors such as, inter alia, the work of the Working Group on foot of the “Flemish Decree” case, there is merit in reviewing aspects of the 2005 Ministerial Guidelines on Sustainable Rural Housing, which I am considering in the context of broader rural development and settlement.
Local Authority Housing
Questions (354)
Johnny Guirke
Question:354. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the maximum, minimum and average applicant wait time on the local authority housing waiting lists in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020 in counties Meath and Westmeath, respectively and by housing type, that is, 1 bed, 2 bed and so on, in tabular form. [18780/20]
View answerWritten answers
Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority area is provided in the statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The SSHA has been conducted on an annual basis since 2016, prior to which it was carried out once every three years, with the last Summary under this approach having taken place in 2013.
The most recent summary, conducted in June 2019, shows that 68,693 households were assessed as qualified for 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. Since 2016, the numbers have decreased from 91,600 to 68,693, a reduction of 25%.
Below is the link to the summary report for 2019 which includes breakdowns by each local authority, across a range of categories. Details on the length of time spent on the record of qualified households (waiting lists) can be found at tables 2.8 and A1.8 of the report. In relation to the questions posed by the Deputy regarding the maximum, minimum and average time spent on the housing list by by housing type, information of this specific type is not held by my Department. It should be noted that the SSHA is a point in time snapshot of the demand for social housing support in each local authority area and does not necessarily reflect the dynamic nature of entry to and exit from the housing waiting lists.
Tables 2.4 and A1.4 provide details on household size. It should be noted that the category “Household Composition” in the previous reports, is replaced in the 2019 report by the “Household Size” profile category which provides more granular level of detail regarding the number of persons in each household type.
Detailed information in relation to each local authority waiting list, including Meath and Westmeath, can be found in the Appendices to the SSHA.
Report 2019
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/sha_summary_2019_dec_2019_web_1.pdf.
Numbers for those local authorities for 2016, 2017 and 2018 are provided in the corresponding tables of the respective reports for those years, the links for which are provided below.
Report 2016
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/summary_of_social_housing_assessments_2016.pdf.
Report 2017
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/sha_summary_2017.pdf.
Report 2018
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/summary_of_social_housing_assessments_2018_-_key_findings.pdf.
As there was no SSHA carried out in 2015, my Department does not have data for that year.
With regards to the SSHA process for 2020, given the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on local authorities and nature of the work involved in conducting the SSHA, it has been decided to defer the commencement of the SSHA process to allow local authorities to continue to focus their resources on immediate priorities. However, recognising that the SSHA is a very important part of the evidence base for housing policy at both local authority and national level, the deferment will be reviewed periodically and it is intended that it will be commenced as soon as is practicable.