Written Answers Nos. 312-336
312. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the local authorities which have parks and biodiversity officers or departments; the local authorities that do not have such officers of departments in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44765/20]
View answerUnder section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible.
My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis. However, granular data, in terms of the detailed breakdown of the local authorities which either have or dont have Parks or Biodiversity Officers or Departments is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information would be available from individual local authorities.
313. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration will be given to providing water fountains in public places in order that the demand for plastic bottled water can be reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44869/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes a comitment that the Government will develop a scheme between local authorities and Irish Water to provide drinking water fountains nationwide to reduce plastic bottle litter.
In addition, EU Directive 2020/2184 (the Drinking Water Recast Directive) as adopted on 16 December 2020 updates the obligations on Member States in relation to the quality of water intended for human consumption. The objective of this Directive is to protect human health from the adverse effects of any contamination of water intended for human consumption by ensuring that it is wholesome and clean, and to improve access to water intended human consumption. In order to promote the use of tap water intended for human consumption, article 16 of the Directive requires that Member States shall ensure that outdoor and indoor equipment is set up in public spaces, where technically feasible, in a manner that is proportionate to the need for such measures and taking into account specific local conditions, such as climate and geography. Member States may also take the following measures to promote the use of tap water intended for human consumption:
(a) raising awareness of the nearest outdoor or indoor equipment;
(b) launching campaigns to inform citizens about the quality of such water;
(c) encouraging the provision of such water in public administrations and public buildings;
(d) encouraging the provision of such water, for free or for a low service fee, for customers in restaurants, canteens and catering services.
Member States must transpose article 16 of the Directive by 12 January 2023.
My Department will implement the commitment in the Programme for Government as part of the transposition and implementation of article 16 of Directive 2020/2184, as described above.
314. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the level of housing assistance payment in Dublin will be reviewed to ensure families on social welfare have sufficient funds left for other essentials after rent top ups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45165/20]
View answerUnder the HAP scheme, tenants source their own accommodation in the private rented market. The accommodation sourced by tenants should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits, which are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned.
Each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 20% above the prescribed maximum rent limit to secure appropriate accommodation for a household that requires it, or up to 50% in the case of homeless households in the Dublin region. It is a matter for the local authority to determine, on a case by case basis, whether, and to what extent, the application of the flexibility is warranted.
While there is no legislative provision precluding HAP supported households contributing towards the monthly rent required by the landlord, local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that tenancies are sustainable and that households in HAP are in a position to meet the rental costs involved.
The Programme for Government commits to ensuring that HAP levels are adequate to support vulnerable households, while we increase the supply of social housing. My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review and it is a key mechanism in meeting housing need across the Country.
315. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if wastewater analysis is taking place in Ireland to detect levels of Covid-19 as is done in other countries; if so, the regularity with which wastewater is being sampled; the results of those samples; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45178/20]
View answerUniversity College Dublin, in common with many other research groups across Europe, is conducting research to detect fragments of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater and to use this information as an indicator of the approximate infection rates in a population. Irish Water is facilitating waste water sample collection from three waste water treatment plants for this project. The Government is funding the project through the Science Foundation Ireland COVID-19 Rapid Response Funding award. The project team is providing reports to NPHET, the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, to Irish Water and to the Department of Health.
A Phase II Science Foundation Ireland COVID-19 Rapid Response Funding award based on this work was recently awarded representing a collaboration between University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin and Queens University Belfast, to extend the project to Northern Ireland.
316. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the grant allocation to local authorities under the built heritage investment scheme to ensure that the allocations to each local authority are fair and equitable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1071/21]
View answerThe Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) is one of two capital funding schemes for built heritage run by my Department. It is administered by the local authorities and funds hundreds of small-scale, labour-intensive works at protected structures across the country, carried out by skilled heritage craftspeople, every year. The allocation for the BHIS in 2021 is €3 million.
The annual funding allocated to each City and County Council under the BHIS is based on the number of protected structures in the geographical area of that local authority, having regard to the population of that area on a ratio of 80/20 pro-rata. Where a local authority underspends in a particular year, that money can be reallocated to another local authority, ensuring that funding is directed to where it is most needed.
The method of allocating funds has been in place since the start of the scheme and with its predecessor, the Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme. The operation of the scheme is kept under review and the method of allocating funds will be among the matters to be considered in the next review, which is due to take place this summer.
317. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement he has had with his Northern Irish counterpart in relation to the Ulster Canal connection from Clones, County Monaghan to Upper Lough Erne upgrade in the context of the new shared island fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1507/21]
View answerNichola Mallon, MLA, Minister for Infrastructure, shares with Minister Darragh O'Brien and myself a commitment to North South Cooperation in a tangible way.
Officials from both my Department and the Department for Infrastructure, continue to co-operate effectively and communicate on a frequent basis on all matters concerning Waterways Ireland.
On November 11 2020, I attended the twenty-fifth North South Ministerial Council Inland Waterways sectoral meeting , Chaired by Minister O'Brien, along with the Minister for Infrastructure, and various other Ministers.
The progress achieved in the restoration of the Ulster Canal, including the completion of Phase 1 of the restoration from Upper Lough Erne to Castle Saunderson, the ongoing work and future plans for the restoration from Clones to Clonfad and the development of the Ulster Canal Greenway was discussed and noted by Ministers. The next inland Waterways sectoral meeting is now scheduled for May 2021.
Both my Department and the Department for Infrastructure were represented at North South Ministerial Council Plenary meetings held 31 July 2020 and 18 December 2020, at which it was noted by Ministers that both Administrations continue to work together to progress the Ulster Canal projects.
Following the December Plenary meeting, Government announced approval of over €6m in funding from the Shared Island Fund to enable the continued restoration of the Ulster Canal and further development of the Ulster Canal Greenway, demonstrating our Government's commitment to North South cooperation and the concept of a Shared Island. Both are significant North South projects, aligned to the recent commitments of the New Decade, New Approach, and the Programme for Government.
318. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of a representation (details supplied) being considered; if agreed, when payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1555/21]
View answerIn relation to the subject matter of the representation, which was replied to in November 2020, both my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, and I have conditionally approved the consent request. This was communicated to Ervia on 6 January 2021. The timing of any associated payment is a matter solely for Ervia.
319. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is satisfied that the proposed affordable housing scheme and specific shared equity plan represents good value for money; his views on the reported assessment (details supplied) that the property industry want an equity scheme because it will increase prices; his further views on the assessment from another official who reportedly stated that it will push up prices in a supply-constrained environment, most likely at a time when prices are starting to rise anyway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1876/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government, ‘Our Shared Future’, commits to putting affordability at the heart of the housing system and to progress a state-backed affordable home purchase scheme to promote home ownership. To begin delivering on these commitments, budget 2021 allocated €75 million for an affordable housing shared equity scheme.
Broadly, the objectives of an Affordable Purchase Shared Equity scheme are to:
- improve access and affordability of new homes for First Time Buyers
- stimulate an increase in supply by improving confidence as to the viability of future housing developments to meet increased realisable demand
- support economic recovery from COVID-19 by encouraging employment in the construction and related sectors
It is intended that the scheme will be targeted at first-time buyers who are seeking to buy a new home, but who cannot quite secure the full mortgage amount to do so at the present time. It will help them secure their own home by bridging the gap between the mortgage available to them and the price of the home that is suitable to meet their needs.
In progressing any policy proposal, as a matter of course, the initial stages of consultation would involve a broad consideration of any potential strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the type of measure under consideration. Schemes are then developed informed by these considerations. Based on our initial engagements, I am confident that the detailed design of the proposed scheme, which is ongoing, can mitigate any risks which have been identified and importantly, support people and families to buy a new home in the immediate term.
It is my intention to launch later this year and, once operational, it will target Exchequer resources to simultaneously address the key challenges of affordability and supply.
The Cabinet approved the priority drafting of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 which will provide a legislative basis for the scheme in December last. Once enacted, the Bill will deliver on key commitments in the Programme for Government.
320. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount and breakdown of funding allocated by his Department to housing bodies (details supplied) in each of the years 2015 to 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44649/20]
View answerThere are a range of funding and delivery mechanisms available to local authorities to deliver social housing supports in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). The funding is provided my Department directly to local authorities, who in turn, advance the funding to AHBs, as appropriate.
The four organisations detailed by the Deputy are Approved Housing Bodies and each organisation receives funding from local authorities, as an approved AHB, for the delivery of social housing supports, under the various capital and current housing programmes.
In respect of homelessness expenditure, financial reports from each of the regional fora, setting out total expenditure on homeless services, including those services provided through the non-government sector, are published on my Department’s website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data
In addition to the funding provided for homeless services, my Department also provides funding for programmes such as the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme, the Capital Advance Leasing Facility, the Capital Assistance Scheme, the Repair and Leasing Scheme and the provision of emergency accommodation. In this regard the funding provided over the last five years to the specified AHBs for these programmes is set out in the table below.
|
Approved Housing Body |
2015 €m |
2016 €m |
2017 €m |
2018 €m |
2019 €m |
|
Fr. Peter McVerry Trust |
1.1 |
1.08 |
4.5 |
6.76 |
8.48 |
|
Focus Ireland |
6.15 |
3.99 |
4.22 |
10.9 |
12.60 |
|
De Paul Ireland |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Dublin Simon |
0 |
5.73 |
9.49 |
5.40 |
1.48 |
321. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the social welfare incomes that are considered temporary when a local authority is assessing a persons' application for social housing. [44654/20]
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.
The 2011 Regulations 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 which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/fb1f2-social-housing-support-household-means-policy/
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. Certain specific payments, as outlined in the Policy, are disregarded for the purposes of income assessment. Other than those payments listed, all income from social insurance and social assistance payments, allowances and benefits, is generally assessable. However, local authorities have discretion to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature.
322. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of families in counties Longford and Westmeath on notice to quit who have less than three months before they have to vacate the property. [44655/20]
View answerThe information requested is not available in my Department.
The Residential Tenancies Act 2020 was enacted and came into operation on 24 October 2020 to help mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on tenants and to support the efforts of Government in restricting the movement of people in order to suppress the spread of Covid- 19. The Act modifies the operation of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2020 to prevent any notices of termination served by landlords, in all but limited cases such as anti-social behaviour, from taking effect in geographical locations and during periods specified by the Minister for Health in Regulations made by him under section 31A of the Health Act 1947 in respect of which a restriction applies on the movement of people outside a 5 km radius of their place of residence. The tenancy protections also apply during the 10 days directly following the period specified by the Minister for Health in the aforementioned Regulations.
A moratorium on evictions taking place is in operation throughout the country from 31 December 2020 to 10 February 2021, with limited exceptions. The provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act 2020 have re-activated on foot of the 5km restriction on people’s movements under the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 10) Regulations 2020 - Statutory Instrument (S.I.) No. 701 of 2020.
Separately, the provisions of Part 3 (Residential Tenancies) of the Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Act 2020 came into effect on 11 January 2021 to provide for temporary modifications to the operation of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to provide, subject to certain conditions, that during the period from 11 January to 12 April 2021 a 90 day (rather than the usual 28 days) termination notice period applies, where a tenant is in rent arrears due to Covid-19 and is at risk of losing their tenancy. The earliest termination date allowed in such circumstances is 13 April 2021. Rent increases are prohibited for relevant tenancies until 13 April 2021, with no back-dating allowed. These new protections are designed to better balance the legal rights of landlords and tenants.
My Department has published a guidance document, Part 3 (Residential Tenancies) of the Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Act 2020 - Guidance for Landlords and Tenants, which sets out exactly what is expected as the rental protections under the Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act 2020 expire, and provides details on the new protections for tenants in rent arrears and the income and other supports available to tenants and landlords. The guidance document clearly explains the new rent arrears procedure for both landlords and tenants facing rent arrears and is available on the RTB's website - www.rtb.ie.
323. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding for fire stations in 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, by county. [44656/20]
View answerThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire 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 equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
In February 2016, my Department announced a five-year Fire Services Capital Programme with an allocation of €40 million, based on an annual €8 million allocation, to be used for the purchase of fire appliances and specialist equipment, building or upgrading of prioritised Fire Stations, an upgrade of the Communications and Mobilisation system and improvements to Training Centres.
The five-year programme proposed the construction/refurbishment of twenty six fire stations. This included sixteen new builds and ten upgrade/refurbishment projects. A total of €10.44m has been spent for new and upgraded fire stations from 2018 to date under the 2016 – 2020 programme, as detailed in the table below. Fire station projects completed under this Programme include Ballinamore, Carraroe, Drumshanbo, Ferbane, Graiguenmanagh, Templemore, Tuam and Virginia; with refurbishments at Ennis, Ennistymon, Kilrush and Longford; as well as upgrades of Clonmel, Dundalk and Hacketstown Training Centres.
I recently announced a new Fire Services Capital Programme for the period 2021 - 2025, with a funding allocation of €61 million. Following extensive engagement with fire authorities, a number of proposals for station works etc. were received. The proposals were evaluated and prioritised on the basis of the:
- area Risk Categorisation of the fire station (population, fire risks, etc.);
- established Health and Safety needs;
- state of development of the project (is site acquired, etc.); and
- value for money offered by the proposal.
This new Programme will see six new fire stations built, continued support for the construction of a further 12 new fire stations, nine fire station refurbishments as well as the allocation of 35 new fire engines. In order to maximise the available funding, my Department re-assesses the status of projects in the Programme on an annual basis, and some flexibility is normally available to advance projects that are ready and that offer best value-for-money taking account of the state of readiness of projects more generally.
The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the table below.
Table: Fire Services Capital Programme Fire Station Expenditure 2018 – 2021
|
Fire Authority |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Carlow Coco |
€115,612 |
€- |
€96,217 |
€- |
|
Cavan Coco |
€- |
€1,448,141 |
€191,086 |
€- |
|
Clare Coco |
€150,974 |
€503,219 |
€254,982 |
€- |
|
Cork Coco |
€- |
€241,566 |
€549,243 |
€- |
|
Galway Coco |
€1,711,760 |
€- |
€53,531 |
€- |
|
Leitrim Coco |
€- |
€- |
€603,923 |
€- |
|
Longford Coco |
€270,030 |
€- |
€- |
€- |
|
Louth Coco |
€- |
€84,475 |
€- |
€- |
|
Meath Coco |
€- |
€- |
€151,215 |
€- |
|
Monaghan Coco |
€39,558 |
€193,313 |
€1,034,221 |
€- |
|
Offaly Coco |
€222,385 |
€- |
€123,733 |
€- |
|
Tipperary Coco |
€190,508 |
€85,000 |
€1,629,098 |
€- |
|
Wicklow Coco |
€- |
€142,390 |
€- |
€- |
324. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of full-time and part-time firefighters per county. [44657/20]
View answerThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire 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 equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
Fire services are provided in Ireland by local authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. Under this legislation, there are 31 fire authorities which provide fire prevention and fire protection services for communities through 27 service delivery structures. Local authority fire services are delivered by approximately 3,300 local authority staff engaged at 218 fire stations nationwide, with 16 of these stations being full-time stations, a further 4 are mixed full-time and retained, and 198 retained stations.
My Department does not routinely collect the data in the format requested by the Deputy. However, a breakdown based on data supplied by local authorities of the number of firefighters in each fire service as at December 2020 is set out in the table below.
|
Fire service |
Total no. of operational staff in stations |
|
|
|
|
Carlow |
45 |
|
Cavan |
92 |
|
Clare |
75 |
|
Cork City |
152 |
|
Cork County |
204 |
|
Donegal |
154 |
|
Dublin |
963 |
|
Galway |
138 |
|
Kerry |
104 |
|
Kildare |
61 |
|
Kilkenny |
68 |
|
Laois |
68 |
|
Leitrim |
41 |
|
Limerick City & County |
140 |
|
Longford |
46 |
|
Louth |
100 |
|
Mayo |
116 |
|
Meath |
72 |
|
Monaghan |
51 |
|
Offaly |
53 |
|
Roscommon |
45 |
|
Sligo |
43 |
|
Tipperary |
127 |
|
Waterford |
124 |
|
Westmeath |
47 |
|
Wexford |
64 |
|
Wicklow |
87 |
|
TOTAL |
3280 |
325. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding provided to a local authority (details supplied) to purchase private houses for social housing applicants in each of the years 2017 to 2020 inclusive in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44678/20]
View answer326. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of private houses a local authority (details supplied) purchased for social housing applicants in each of the years 2017 to 2020 inclusive in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44679/20]
View answer327. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a local authority (details supplied) has applied for funding to purchase further private houses for social housing applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44680/20]
View answer328. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a local authority (details supplied) has used the allocation of funding provided to it to purchase private houses for social housing applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44682/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 325 to 328, inclusive, together.
In respect of the local authority identified by the Deputy, the funding provided for the acquisition of 2nd hand properties for social housing purposes in each of the years 2017 to 2020 inclusive is as follows -:
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
€3,556,182 |
€1,161,227 |
€3,836,393 |
€1,204,876 |
Statistics on the delivery of social housing by each local authority, including by 2nd hand acquisitions, are available on my Department’s website at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#local-authority-acquisition . These statistics are updated on a quarterly basis and data for Q4 of 2020 is now being validated and will be published as soon as possible. There is not always a direct relationship between the funding provided for the acquisition of 2nd hand properties in any year and the number of new social homes delivered where, for example, a property might be acquired in one year but upgrade works and the allocation of the property, may follow in the subsequent year. Acquisitions of 2nd hand properties are also carried out under my Department's Traveller Accomodation Programme and by Approved Housing Bodies with funding support from my Department; these are not included in the above data.
My Department does not provide a funding allocation to any local authority for the acquisition of 2nd hand houses for social housing purposes; rather each local authority has an annual target for the delivery of social housing and funding is drawn down by each local authority in line with their delivery.
In line with the Programme for Government 2020 – Our Shared Future, our objective is to increase the social housing stock by over 50,000 over the next five-years through a focus on new build. It is important therefore, that all local authorities prioritise the delivery of new social homes by construction over acquisitions.
329. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the sites in Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown, County Dublin that have availed of the serviced sites fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44724/20]
View answerTo date, 37 projects have received approval in principle under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF). Of these sites, three were submitted by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLRCC). Details of these projects are set down in the table below:
|
Project Location |
SSF Funding |
Affordable Homes |
|
Project Location |
SSF Funding |
Affordable Homes |
|
Enniskerry Road, Dublin 18 |
€4,537,576 |
50 |
|
Ballyogan Court, Dublin 18 |
€2,342,745 |
52 |
|
St. Laurence’s Park, Stillorgan, South County Dublin |
€1,960,698 |
40 |
In addition to these projects, my Department is currently progressing a funding application from DLRCC in respect of a project at Shanganagh Castle Lands, which is being developed in conjunction with the Land Development Agency. This application request is for funding to provide enabling infrastructure to facilitate the delivery of 91 Affordable Purchase and 306 Cost Rental homes.
330. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress to date in the establishment of a working group to examine building defects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44739/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area of building defects and provides for an examination of defective housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing report, "Safe as Houses".
In this regard, my Department is actively engaging with key stakeholders and I have had several meetings with stakeholder representative groups on this matter over recent months. My Department is currently working to establish the structures to examine the issue of defective housing, this will include apartment buildings, in line with the commitment in the programme for government.
I recently appointed Mr Seamus Neely, former chief executive of Donegal County Council, to the position of Chair to the independent working group to oversee the effective implementation of the group’s terms of reference which are currently being finalised.
While I acknowledge the very stressful circumstances which the owners and residents of buildings face when defects occur in their homes, however, in general, building defects are matters for resolution between the contracting parties involved, the homeowner, the builder, the developer and/or their respective insurers, structural guarantee or warranty scheme.
Under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2020 primary responsibility for compliance of works with the requirements of the Building Regulations, rests with the owners, designers and builders of buildings.
Enforcement of the Building Regulations is a matter for the 31 local building control authorities which have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement under statute.
Separately, the ongoing building control reform agenda, with its many initiatives, already provides a comprehensive roadmap for embedding a culture of real compliance within the construction industry. The reform agenda includes:
- Amendments made to the Building Control Regulations;
- Establishment of the National Building Control Office; and
- The ongoing development of new legislation through the Building Control (Construction Industry Register Ireland) Bill.
331. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department or State agencies under the aegis of his Department have awarded contracts to a company (details supplied); if so, the value of such contracts; if the contracts were tendered for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44789/20]
View answerMy Department has not awarded any contracts to the company in question during the last five years.
My Department does not maintain the requested information in respect of the State bodies under its aegis. These State bodies may be contacted directly by e-mail by members of the Oireachtas, as set out in the table below.
|
State Body |
Contact E-mail Address |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie |
|
An Fóram Uisce (the Water Forum) |
info@nationalwaterforum.ie |
|
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum |
infodocklands@dublincity.ie |
|
Ervia |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Gas Networks Ireland |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Heritage Council |
oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
publicreps@housingagency.ie |
|
Irish Water |
oireachtasmembers@water.ie |
|
Land Development Agency |
oireachtas@lda.ie |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
corporate@lgma.ie |
|
National Oversight and Audit Commission |
info@noac.ie |
|
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee |
ntacc@housing.gov.ie |
|
Office of the Planning Regulator |
oireachtas@opr.ie |
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland |
Oireachtas@osi.ie |
|
Property Registration Authority |
reps@prai.ie |
|
Pyrite Resolution Board |
oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie |
|
Valuation Office |
oireachtas.enquiries@VALOFF.ie |
|
Valuation Tribunal |
info@valuationtribunal.ie |
|
Water Advisory Body |
info@wab.gov.ie |
|
Waterways Ireland |
ceoffice@waterwaysireland.org |
332. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress to date in expanding the role of vacant home officers in local authorities to bring vacant stock into productive use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44801/20]
View answerSince 2018, and the publication of the National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy, my Department has secured funding of €50,000 per annum for each local authority to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office, including a Vacant Homes Officer for each local authority. This Strategy strives to provide a targeted, effective and co-ordinated approach to identifying and tackling vacancy across Ireland.
The activities of the Vacant Homes Officers are already comprehensive, any potential expansion of their current role will be carefully reviewed and targeted and will reflect the Government’s commitment to bringing vacant properties back into use across the country.
The role of Vacant Homes Officer is wide ranging and includes (but is not limited to);
- tasks that support, implement and further develop, update, monitor and review the progress of local authorities’ Vacant Homes Action Plans and actions to address vacant private housing,
- establishing a co-ordinated approach towards the implementation of the Action Plans within each local authority,
- undertaking initial vacancy assessment exercise (drilling into available CSO / GeoDirectory data),
- carrying out or co-ordinating visual inspections / assessment of residential properties in their administrative area, with a view to identifying possible vacant recoverable homes,
- identification of the registered owners of the properties deemed to be vacant from inspection, and contacting the owners on the options available to assist in bringing their properties back into use for private or social housing purposes,
- serving as a contact point for dissemination to members of the public (including landlords), assistance and information on residential vacancy and the schemes available to re-introduce their homes into the usable housing stock,
- serving as a contact point for dissemination to interested parties of the ‘Guidance on the Reuse of Existing Buildings for Residential purposes’ (published in December 2018); and
- the collation and provision of vacant homes data to my Department’s Vacant Homes Unit on an agreed timely basis.
The Vacant Homes Officers have a number of supporting schemes to assist property owners to bring their vacant properties back into use for social housing – the Repair & Lease Scheme, the Buy and Renew Scheme or Long Term Leasing. The maximum loan for property repair available under the Repair and Leases scheme has recently been increased by my Department from €40,000 to €60,000. This funding increase will mean that property owners who cannot afford or access funding to bring their vacant stock up to standard and back into use will be able to do so to provide social housing. It has an added benefit of increasing investment and employment into the local construction and retail sectors while also providing for the regeneration of local communities.
The Vacant Homes Unit in my Department recently ran an advertising campaign in national newspapers directed at owners of vacant properties. The advertisement alerted owners to the vacant homes schemes available to them. On foot of this, we received a very strong response from the public, and as a result many Vacant Homes Officers are in the process of engaging with owners of potentially suitable properties to be brought back into use.
333. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of capital project contracts final accounts that have exceeded the tender value by more than 20% in each of the years 2010 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44816/20]
View answerMy Department does not directly engage in any major capital projects. Local authorities and bodies under the aegis of my Department enter into capital contracts in the course of their work, some of which is funded through the Department's Vote.
Details in relation to specific projects (which are being advanced primarily by local authorities and Irish Water) under my Department's range of capital programmes as part of Project Ireland 2040: National Development Plan 2018-2027 are set out in the Investments Projects and Programmes Tracker published in by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on their website at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/6db7c4-investment-projects-and-programmes-tracker/
In addition, MyProjectIreland, a new citizen-focused interactive map developed as part of Project Ireland 2040 in partnership with Ordnance Survey Ireland, provides details of projects around the country. This is available to be viewed at the following weblink: https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/09022006-project-ireland-2040/?referrer=/2040.
Further detailed information on projects of this nature is a matter for the organisations concerned.
With respect to water services projects, Irish Water has established a team to deal with queries from Oireachtas members on issues arising in relation to its activities. The team may be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 578 578. Alternatively, Irish Water provides full details of their projects and plans to improve water and wastewater services on their website. The details can be accessed at the following link: https://www.water.ie/projects-plans/.
334. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 138 of 9 September 2020, when funding for a development (details supplied) will be approved; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44852/20]
View answerOn 6 August 2020, my Department received an application for funding under the Capital Assistance Scheme from Dublin City Council (DCC) for the scheme referred to by the Deputy.
In order to assess the application further, on 27 August 2020 my Department requested additional information including a capital appraisal, cost plans and a detailed design from DCC in relation to the design of the scheme. This information was received on 20 November 2020.
On 7 January last my Department issued a combined Stage 1 and Stage 2 approval to DCC for this project to proceed. As planning permission has already been granted, the Approved Housing Body concerned can now proceed with preparing tender documentation in compliance with the Capital Works Management Framework process.
335. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a decision has been made with regard to the application by Meath County Council for URDF funding for a public realm and library for Bettystown and Laytown, County Meath taking into the account the 15,000 plus residents in east County Meath that are awaiting news on a much needed state of the art public library; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44861/20]
View answerUnder Call 2 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), seventy six proposals were received, with every local authority submitting at least one application for URDF support, and all of which require detailed assessment. Meath County Council submitted seven proposals under Call 2 including the proposal in question.
The assessment process is nearing completion, and I intend to soon announce a new tranche of URDF supprted proposals, which will augment the existing pipeline of projects from Call 1 and contribute to the achievement of Programme for Government commitments and the objectives of the National Planning Framework and Project Ireland 2040.
336. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to engage with local authorities throughout the country on introducing new designated biodiversity locations to replace existing paved and asphalted spaces in which such existing spaces are underutilised; if a funding stream will be secured for such works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44899/20]
View answerThe Local Authority Biodiversity Grant Scheme operated by my Department provides funding to assist local authority biodiversity officers, or heritage officers in local authorities without a biodiversity officer, with the implementation of projects that promote actions contained in the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021. The current National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP), Ireland’s 3rd, captures the objectives, targets and actions for biodiversity to be undertaken by a wide range of government, civil society and private sectors to achieve Ireland’s vision for biodiversity. Funding was awarded in 2020 to all 31 Local Authorities who applied in 2020 and supported a range of projects including those tackling invasive alien species, surveying of breeding birds and raising awareness of biodiversity.
The NBAP funding is available to Local Authorities for biodiversity issues. I do not have a role in the decisions of local authorities with respect to use of their own land.
