Written Answers Nos. 363-387
364. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will commission an independent investigation into the cancellation of the tender for communications from the Arts Council after four months following differing and conflicting explanations for the reason of the tender cancelled. [35437/20]
View answer365. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to a dispute between a union (details supplied) and the Arts Council over its breaching of agreements; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that a work to rule may impact the distribution of resources to artists which the Council is established to serve; her views on the Arts Council’s handling of its internal and external communications with trade unions, artists, tenderers and its staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35438/20]
View answer366. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the reasons the Arts Council cancelled a tender after four months of processing same have been investigated; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Arts Council has changed its reasons for cancellation; and her views on the inconsistency of the claim by the council that one tender was cancelled due to costs while it advertises another tender for HR services (details supplied). [35439/20]
View answer367. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will request that the Arts Council also does a survey on its communications with artists in addition to the survey being carried of its board and staff in relation to its communications in order that a fuller picture may be gained; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35440/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 364 to 367, inclusive, together.
The Arts Council is a statutory body under the Arts Act 2003. This legislation specifically provides for the council’s independence in its funding decisions. With reference to the Deputy's questions these are administrative matters and are a matter for the council.
As a courtesy to the Deputy, my Department did contact the council on the matter and I understand that this information was the subject of a letter dated 21 October 2020 that was sent to the Deputy.
368. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans on providing farmers an exemption in view of the current restrictions and the difficulty farmers have selling and slaughtering stock which will exceed the 170kg per hectare of organic nitrogen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34528/20]
View answerThe Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters Regulations, SI 605 of 2017, as amended, provide for controls on the application to land of nutrients from agricultural sources to ensure the protection of water quality in any adjacent surface water or groundwater bodies.
The Regulations do not provide for discretionary exemptions from these controls. The recent announcement of the move to Level 5 of the Government’s Plan for Living with COVID-19 have provided challenges for every sector of society. I understand that under the current level of restrictions, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has established suitable adaptive arrangements for the sale and slaughter of cattle that do not compromise health protection measures. These arrangements are similar to those in place during the previous high level restrictions, imposed earlier in the year.
If insurmountable difficulties arise in the sale or slaughter of livestock, individual farmers can achieve compliance with the requirements of the regulations through other means, including the export of slurry from the farm holding for use elsewhere.
For further guidance on compliance with these regulations, farmers should contact their farm advisory service in the first instance.
369. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the housing projects which will make up the promised 9,500 direct build housing identified in Budget 2021 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34865/20]
View answerIn Budget 2021, the total funding being made available for the delivery of housing programmes is €3.3bn. This includes funding to deliver 12,750 social homes through build, acquisition and leasing. A major focus of this investment is the delivery of new build, with an overall target of 9,500 new homes. The build target includes the delivery of 5,250 new homes by local authorities, 2,950 by Approved Housing Bodies and 1,300 new homes through Part V. My Department is working with the Housing Delivery Coordination Office to develop updated local authority targets for 2021 reflecting this priority and the significant funding secured.
There is a significant number of housing projects currently in the pipeline for 2021 delivery, with additional projects added regularly. The Q2 2020 Construction Status Report is available at the link below and provides project level information for each local authority. https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-obrien-publishes-social-housing-construction-status-report-for-q2-2020/
370. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will put on the record of Dáil Éireann the report compiled by officials in his Department in relation to co-living as reported by a newspaper (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34866/20]
View answer374. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Departmental review into co-living has concluded; if a report has been presented to him; and when he plans to publish the outcome of the review. [35578/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 370 and 374 together.
Section 5.0 of Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities, published by my Department in 2018, provide guidance and policy in respect of ‘Shared Accommodation Developments’, also known as ‘Co-living’.
I have been clear in my intention to review the provisions on Co-living set out in the Sustainable Urban Housing guidelines. It is also the case that the final paragraph (5.24) of the relevant section of the guidance commits my Department to monitor the emerging shared accommodation sector, with a view to issuing further technical updates of the Sustainable Urban Housing guidelines document, given the relatively new nature of this form of accommodation.
Accordingly, I have instructed officials in my Department to review Paragraphs 5.13 to 5.24 of the Sustainable Urban Housing document. This includes analysis of development proposals for co-living that have come forward since publication of the guidelines and in particular, how such proposals compare to apartment development standards generally. My officials have now prepared a report which I am currently considering. I intend to publish the report once I have considered it.
371. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of direct build social housing completed in 2018, 2019 and 2020, in tabular form to include the cost of each development; the cost per unit of each and the turnaround time from planning to build; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34867/20]
View answerMy Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on all social housing delivery activity under Rebuilding Ireland. This is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision
In addition to the statistical overview of activity in each local authority, a detailed Social Housing Construction Status Report is published each quarter which provides scheme level detail on new build activity under Rebuilding Ireland.
The most recent publication covers the period up to the end of Q2 2020 and is available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link:https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-obrien-publishes-social-housing-construction-status-report-for-q2-2020/. This information is also available in other accessible formats at the following link: https://data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q2-2020
Further scheme level, granular data, should be available from the relevant local authorities.
372. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the powers the CEOs of city and county councils have to determine whether to raise the amount of rent charged to local authority tenants; his views on whether it is a matter for councillors to decide by way of approving the budgets of the local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35280/20]
View answerThe right of local authorities to set and collect rents on their dwellings is laid down in section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of a rent scheme is an executive function. The process can be subject to the influence of elected members through the local authorities annual estimates process.
The Programme for Government commits to bringing forward a package of social housing reforms, which includes standardising the differential rents regime across the country to ensure fairness. Work on the review of the current rent schemes has been ongoing and I have asked my Department to prepare recommendations regarding the potential for a standardised local authority rents system, which I will consider in due course as part of a package of social housing reforms.
373. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is a winter plan in place for 2020 in regard to flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35342/20]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) is the lead organisation for flood risk management in Ireland. The OPW has set out in Flood Plans how that flood risk is to be managed through investment in flood relief schemes and other policy measures. The Flood Plans detail the flood risk and proposed feasible flood risk management measures for 300 areas of significant flood risk throughout the country.
My Department undertakes the Lead Government Department role, as set out in the Strategic Emergency Management (SEM) Framework (2017), in relation to coordination of national level response to flooding emergencies, where warranted. This includes preparation of review reports into the response to flooding emergencies where national level coordination is activated, including the Review Report on Severe Weather Events 2017-2018, which is available on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/severe_weather_review_report_-_final.pdf
This report was considered by the Government Task Force for Emergency Management and published by my Department in December 2019. This Department has implemented the recommendations relating to the Local Government sector, and inter-agency recommendations are progressed via the Government Task Force.
Local authorities are designated as lead agencies for coordinating the local response to flooding emergencies as per the Government decision relating to the “Framework for Major Emergency Management” (2006).
The arrangements for emergency management are seen as having worked extremely well, in particular the responses led by local authorities to flooding and other severe weather emergencies. Through the changes in working practices brought about as a result of Covid-19, my Department have made improvements such as providing a direct link between Met Éireann's forecasting and flood forecasting division and the local authorities in advance of any predicted severe weather event.
All local authorities have an established Severe Weather Assessment Team in place, monitoring Met Éireann weather warnings and OPW EFAS advisory warnings and High Tide Advisories. Local authorities also have Severe Weather/ Flood Plans in place to support the response to weather emergencies. A focus group, organised by Met Éireann, took place in September 2020, where Met Éireann shared updates regarding the development of flood forecasting and warning and updates in relation to the naming convention for storms and general weather warnings. The event was attended by National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management and Local Authority Severe Weather Assessment Teams.
In addition to this, the Be Winter Ready 2020-2021 information campaign was launched on Wednesday 4 November, following a meeting of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, which dealt with winter-preparedness issues, with representatives from Government Departments and Agencies briefing on their areas of responsibility.
375. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to reintroduce the tenant purchase scheme for persons on social welfare payments (details supplied). [34553/20]
View answerThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme 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.
The minimum reckonable income for eligibility under the scheme is determined by the relevant local authority in accordance with the detailed provisions of the Ministerial Direction issued under Sections 24(3) and (4) of the 2014 Act. In the determination of the minimum reckonable income, local authorities can include income from a number of different sources and classes, such as from employment, private pensions, maintenance payments and certain social welfare payments, including pensions, where the social welfare payment is secondary to employment income.
In determining reckonable income, the income of all tenants of the house, including adult children that are joint tenants, is included, as is the income of the spouse, civil partner or other partner/co-habitant of a tenant who lives in the house with them, thus ensuring the appropriate level of discount is applied to the purchase price.
The minimum income criterion was introduced in order to ensuring the sustainability of the scheme. Applicants must demonstrate that they have an income that is long-term and sustainable in nature. This ensures that the tenant purchasing the house is in a financial position, as the owner, to maintain and insure the property for the duration of the charged period, in compliance with the conditions of the order transferring the ownership of, and responsibility for, the house from the local authority to the tenant.
The financing of any house sold under the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is a separate matter from the eligibility criteria for the scheme. If the tenant is deemed eligible under the scheme, he or she may fund the purchase of a house from one, or a combination, of his / her own resources or a mortgage provided by a financial institution or a local authority house purchase loan.
A review of the first 12 months of the Scheme’s operation has been undertaken. In addition, the Programme for Government commits to maintaining the right of social housing tenants to purchase their own home with some changes to eligibility. The review and the commitments in the Programme for Government are being examined as part of the work on the broader social housing reform agenda. I expect to be in a position to finalise changes to the Scheme once the work on these reform measures is complete.
376. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason persons in counties Donegal and Mayo are not entitled to 100% of costs regarding remedial work and temporary accommodation in dealing with mica in view of the fact persons with pyrite in counties Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Wicklow, Limerick and Clare are receiving 100% costs and up to €7,000 towards accommodation, removal, storage and return of furniture and so on to the dwelling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34581/20]
View answerThe Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme is underpinned by regulations made under Sections 2 and 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1979, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, 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 the use of defective concrete blocks. The Regulations, which provide the legal framework for the grant scheme, came into operation on 31 January 2020. The scheme is targeted at assisting a group of homeowners that have no other practicable options to access redress for their home.
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 are significant and 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. This is in line with similar Government grant schemes where an applicant contribution to the costs is a requirement.
Temporary removal and storage of furniture and contents is an allowable cost under the scheme. However, the recoupment of costs relating to temporary accommodation, service connections or utilities are not allowable.
Separately, the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board (PRB), and for the making of a Pyrite Remediation Scheme, to be implemented by the PRB with support from the Housing Agency. The provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material and not to damage arising in any other circumstance, e.g. such as pyrite or mica in concrete blocks. It is not a grant scheme. The average cost of remediation of a dwelling under the Pyrite Remediation Scheme is €70,000.
377. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has given consideration to a matter (details supplied). [34614/20]
View answerThe Government has spelt out specific areas where certain activities could continue during the current COVID-19 Level 5 Phase. While it was noted that horse racing and greyhound racing were given a special dispensation by Government to continue behind closed doors, it was not clear to my Department that the body in question had an exemption to continue its activities. However, that body was asked to indicate where it believed such an exemption might exist and pending further consideration a temporary hold was placed on the license in question. At the same time the body in question decided to cease its activities on the basis of the COVID 19 Level 5 Restrictions introduced by Government.
The body in question was formally asked on 20 October to release hares which its affiliated clubs were holding in captivity at that time. The body in question has since agreed to the release of all such hares. The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department did not carry out specific health and safety assessments of the type referred to in the question.
378. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the efforts that will be made and the resourcing provided to support taking rough sleepers off the streets this winter. [34712/20]
View answerMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and associated services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities.
The cold weather arrangements involve the introduction of additional bed capacity to ensure that there is shelter available for individuals experiencing homelessness who may be at risk of rough sleeping. Depending on the particular local requirements, local authorities may also introduce additional measures such as extended opening hours of homeless facilities and extended outreach services.
The cold weather arrangements are typically introduced in November and additional funding is provided by my Department to meet additional costs associated with these measures. Since my appointment, I have been working closely with the local authorities, including the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE), on a range of homeless issues including the arrangements for the winter period and at this point, the DRHE has activated it's cold weather strategy.
Services operate throughout the year to support persons who are rough sleeping. However, there is an increased emphasis on the level of service provision during the cold period in order to mitigate against the health risks that people can be exposed to, through rough sleeping in cold weather conditions. Critically, the cold weather period provides opportunities for engagement with long-term rough sleepers and hard-to-reach groups, where increased supports need to be made available.
The overriding objective is to provide long-term homes for all individuals experiencing homelessness. Individuals accessing homeless services are supported by local authorities and their NGO service delivery partners to secure a home, utilising the various social housing supports.
Finally, the HSE has also launched it's Winter Plan which includes measures targeted at homeless households and taking account of the challenges and threats posed by the Covid pandemic.
379. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a person relinquishes all interest in a family home can they be allocated a social house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34747/20]
View answerApplications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.
Under Section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and Regulation 22(1) of the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, a household shall be ineligible for social housing support if it has alternative accommodation that the household could reasonably be expected to use to meet its housing need, either by occupying it or by selling the accommodation and using the proceeds to secure suitable accommodation suitable for the household’s adequate housing.
However, Regulation 22(2) of the 2011 Regulations provides that this ineligibility does not apply where an applicant for social housing support owns accommodation that is occupied by his or her spouse, from whom he or she is formally separated or divorced. Under the enactment, a deed of separation is sufficient to set aside this ineligibility ground and it is not necessary to await judicial separation or divorce to get a decision on social housing support in these cases. The rationale for this exception is that the terms of a formal separation or divorce will provide for the future ownership and occupation of the family home and it will be clear whether the household that has left the family home can return to live there.
In order to provide more flexibility to local authorities to deal with cases where the ownership of the family home had not yet been finalised, the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 amended section 20 of the 2009 Act and local authorities may now provide such households with social housing support under the Rental Accommodation Scheme or the Housing Assistance Payment scheme until ownership of the family home is resolved in a formal separation or divorce settlement.
The 2014 Act amendment provides that support in these circumstances will be reviewed by the local authority at prescribed intervals and the household will not be able to transfer to other forms of social housing support while ownership of the family home remains to be determined. However, where the household ultimately qualifies for the full range of social housing supports, the length of time the household was supported under RAS or HAP will be reckonable for the purposes of determining the household’s relative priority for a transfer.
380. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing schemes completed under the enhanced leasing scheme by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34777/20]
View answerDelivery under the Enhanced Leasing Scheme by Local Authority, to date, is as follows:
|
Local Authority |
Units Delivered |
|
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown |
78 |
|
Galway County |
35 |
|
Total |
113 |
Interest in the Social Housing Leasing Programme has increased significantly and there are a number of Enhanced Leasing proposals currently being processed through the assessment, legal due diligence, pre-lease agreement and construction stages, with a resultant increase in output expected in the coming years.
The Enhanced Lease Scheme and related technical documents have been developed to ensure that they are viewed and treated, in respect of the State’s General Government Balance Sheet, as being off balance sheet and to harness the potential of private investment in a way that does not affect the capacity to deliver under other programmes. The Scheme is targeted at new build or new to the market properties, with corresponding delivery timescales, and will complement the existing long-term leasing arrangements, which will continue to be available.
381. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions he will take to ensure that those that are in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment will not continue to be excluded from the social housing list given the temporary nature of the payment. [34781/20]
View answerApplications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Regulations and are applied by all local authorities in assessing individual households for support.
The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The 2011 Regulations do not provide local authorities with any discretion to exceed the limits that apply to their administrative areas.
Under the Household Means Policy, which applies in all local authorities, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Pension-Related Deductions within the meaning of Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities also have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature.
My Department is not aware of any exclusion from social housing lists related to the pandemic unemployment payment but it is aware of queries received from local authorities in relation to the treatment of Covid-19 payments in the assessment of income for the purposes of social housing support and is in the process of finalising guidance to the sector on same.
382. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of requests received from Kildare County Council for the purchase of additional fire appliances in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020; and the number that were approved, pending or refused, respectively in each year. [34844/20]
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, 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. Over €60 million will be spent under that Programme.
The prioritisation and effective management of proposals is, in the first instance, a matter for each of the fire authorities based on their assessment of local needs and requirements. My Department works closely with fire services around the country to progress priority projects.
My Department did not receive a request for a fire appliance from Kildare County Council in the period 2018 – 2020 (to date). However, the Council has received over €500,000 in capital funding in this time for a new Class B Fire Appliance, as part of the 2017 Fire Appliance Procurement Programme, as well as three 4x4 vehicles, an electric van, and a Rostered Senior Fire Officer vehicle.
I will shortly be announcing a new Capital Services Programme covering the period 2021-2025. This Programme will continue to signifcantly fund the acquisition of new Fire Appliances so as to ensure that the national fleet remains in optimum condition.
383. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the percentage of the €50,000 fund for the hen harrier local action fund in 2020 which has been allocated; the number of groups or farmers that benefited; the breakdown of funding allocated by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34920/20]
View answerI understand that the question may relate to the Hen Harrier project operated as an EIP by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and that Department will make arrangements to provide the information requested directly to the Deputy.
384. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for updating the 2005 Planning Guidelines on Sustainable Rural Housing issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000; the timeline for the amendment of county development plans by local authorities to deal with the European Court of Justice ruling in the Flemish Decree case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35013/20]
View answerUnder the Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Rural Housing 2005, planning authorities are required to frame the planning policies in their development plans in a balanced and measured way that ensures the housing needs of rural communities are met, while avoiding excessive urban-generated housing.
The National Planning Framework (NPF) provides an important strategic basis for interpreting the 2005 Guidelines. National Policy Objective 15 of the NPF fully supports the concept of the sustainable development of rural areas by encouraging growth and arresting decline in areas that have experienced low population growth or decline in recent decades, while simultaneously indicating the need to manage certain areas around cities and towns.
The 2005 Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines are framed in the context of the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) 2002. Given the superseding of the NSS by the NPF in 2018, together with the need to address the potential implications of the 2013 European Court of Justice ruling in the "Flemish Decree" case, there is now merit in updating the Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines in a broader rural development and settlement context. My Department has commenced scoping this work and I expect a draft by the end of this year.
In addition, my Department is currently updating the Development Plan Guidelines for Planning Authorities and it is my aim to have draft Guidelines published for public consultation, also by the end of the year.
In the interim, the NPF objectives together with the 2005 Guidelines, enable planning authorities to continue to draft and adopt county development plan policies for one-off housing in rural areas.
385. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when payments under the turf cutting compensation scheme will be made for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35018/20]
View answerThe cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme was established in 2011 for active turf cutters arising from the cessation of turf cutting on 53 raised bog special areas of conservation. This scheme is comprised of a payment of €1,500 per annum, index-linked, for 15 years, or relocation, where feasible, to a non-designated bog, together with a once-off legal agreement payment of €500. In 2014, the scheme was extended to active turf cutters from 36 raised bog natural heritage areas.
Payments under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme for 2020 began in the second quarter of the year and are ongoing. To date, 2,458 annual payments for 2020 have been issued under the scheme. It is anticipated that the remainder of these payments will be made in the coming weeks.
386. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the annual funding drawn down by Kildare County Council for regeneration projects in each of the years 2014 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35209/20]
View answerMy Department provides funding to local authorities to support a broad range of housing programmes, including the delivery of new social homes through build, acquisition and leasing and programmes which support maintenance, upgrades and improvement works to existing social housing stock.
No social housing areas in Kildare are part of the current social housing regeneration programme, however my Department continues to support the local authority in the rejuvenation and restoration of their social housing stock. My Department is currently supporting a major refurbishment and new build social housing scheme at St. Patricks Park, Rathangan. Also, this year I have approved ca. €2 million under the Voids programme to assist Kildare County Council in returning over 120 social homes to productive use as quickly as possible.
Overall, my Department has supported Kildare County Council in delivering an ambitious social housing capital programme over the past 6 years, with the following funding totals for both new delivery and stock improvement:
- 2014 - €9.13m
- 2015 - €17.87m
- 2016 - €28.25m
- 2017 - €44.80m
- 2018 - €74.56m
- 2019 - €127.33m
- 2020 (to end Oct) - €49.87m.
387. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities can engage in leasing arrangements for the provision of houses in respect of part 5 of the Planning and Development Act 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35238/20]
View answerSection 96(3) of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) sets out 6 types of Part V agreement that may be made with respect to lands that are subject to a residential development pursuant to a relevant planning permission, which include:
1. Transfer of up to 10% of the land that is the subject of the application;
2. Build and transfer of up to 10% of the proposed housing units;
3. Transfer of housing units on any other land in the functional area of the planning authority;
4. Lease of housing units either on the site subject to the application or in any other area within the functional area of the planning authority;
5. A combination of a transfer of a lesser part of the land that is the subject of the application and one or more of the other options; and
6. A combination of options not involving a transfer of the ownership of land.
The Part V Guidelines issued in January 2017 under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 by the then Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government set out that, in overall terms, the priority option which should normally be pursued by Local Authorities is the acquisition of social housing on the development site, by means of transfer of ownership to the Local Authority or to an Approved Housing Body and this remains the case. Circular PL 11/2016 and Circular Housing 04/2020 sought to clarify in what instances it may be appropriate to enter into a leasing arrangement for Part V units, including for build to rent developments. These Circulars clearly state that the priority remains the acquisition of completed units. It should be noted, however, that the decision is one for the local authority, as per the provisions of Section 96(3)(c) and (h) of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended).
