Catherine Murphy
Question:337. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of full-time and part-time staff employed by each local authority. [44903/20]
View answerLocal Authority Staff
Questions (337)
Written answers
Under 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 all full time and part time positions, is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information would be available from individual local authorities.
Staffing numbers for the local authority sector are available on the Public Service Numbers databank which is hosted and maintained by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is available at the following link:
http://databank.per.gov.ie/Public_Service_Numbers.aspx?rep=LA
Disability Services Funding
Questions (338)
Seán Sherlock
Question:338. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding drawn down for the disabled persons housing grant in County Cork, by municipal district; the amount awarded in each municipal district; and the number of applications received and approved, in tabular form. [44926/20]
View answerWritten answers
My Department provides funding on an annual basis under the Disabled Persons Grants (DPG) scheme to local authorities for adaptations and extensions to their existing social housing stock to meet the needs of local authority tenants. The scheme applies to works that are necessary to address the needs of older people or people with a disability. Under the scheme, my Department provides 90% funding towards the costs of eligible works per property with the remaining 10% being provided by the local authorities.
Details of allocations and funding drawdown by local authority, including Cork County Council, between 2011 and 2020 are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c472d-disabled-persons-grant-and-improved-works-in-lieu-schemes-allocation-and-drawdown-2011-2020/
In addition, details of the number of properties supported under this programme by local authority, between 2017 and 2020 are available at the following link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/0d9e5-disabled-persons-grant-and-improved-works-in-lieu-schemes-units-funded-by-the-department-2017-2020/
My Department also provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People, which are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. Local authorities receive an overall allocation, with the responsibility for the apportionment between the three schemes being a matter for each authority.
Information for the years 2008 - 2019, showing the number of grants funded and the amount provided to all local authorities, including Cork County Council, is available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/social-and-affordble/other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics .
For 2020, Exchequer funding of €3,042,329 was drawn down by Cork County Council, with a further 20% contribution from the local authority facilitating the payment of 491 grants.
For both of these grant programmes, the relevant local authoritity is responsible for the detailed administration of the scheme which includes the assessment, approval and prioritisation of applications accross their administrative area. My Department does not collate information on individual applications or by municipal district. This information may be available directly from Cork County Council.
Disability Support Services
Questions (339)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:339. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to provide additional supports to allow persons living with a disability to remain in their own homes. [44973/20]
View answerWritten answers
My Department provides funding annually for the Disabled Persons Grant (DPG) scheme and the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme. While both schemes are administered directly by the local authorities they operate independently with separate funding streams, the main differences being the type of properties eligible for funding and the level of local authority contribution.
DPG funding is provided for adaptations and extensions to existing social housing stock to meet specific needs of the local authority tenants with a 10% contribution required from the local authority, while the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants address specific needs of older people and people with a disability in privately owned homes with a 20% contribution required from the local authority.
An overall funding package of €93 million will be available in 2021 for the carrying out of home adaptation works for both private and social homes, thereby facilitating people with disabilities and older people to continue to live in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. The adequacy of supports made available by my Department which facilitate disabled persons remaining in their own homes will be kept under review.
Housing Estates
Questions (340)
Niall Collins
Question:340. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 305 of 1 December 2020, if a stage 1 submission on a housing project has been received from Limerick City and County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45118/20]
View answerWritten answers
A Stage 1 approval for this project to proceed to the design stage has issued to Limerick City and County Council.
Homelessness Strategy
Questions (341, 345)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:341. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress made on the programme for Government commitment to publish a youth homelessness strategy; his plans to engage with stakeholders in youth and homeless services in developing the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45157/20]
View answerCian O'Callaghan
Question:345. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Dublin Region Housing Executive or DRHE has responsibility for youth homelessness in the Dublin region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45163/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 341 and 345 together.
Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, commits to reducing and preventing homelessness. It sets out details on how the Government will approach this challenge, and includes a commitment to develop a National Youth Homelessness Strategy. Preparing this strategy will involve co-operation and co-ordination between myself and my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Key operational elements in the provision of supports to young people experiencing homelessness, or at risk of homelessness, fall within the responsibility of a range of agencies and stakeholder bodies, and it will be important that their views can form part of the process in developing the Strategy. My Department is currently engaged in preliminary scoping work in respect of the National Youth Homelessness Strategy and I expect that work on the Strategy will develop through 2021.
Upon my appointment as Minister, I established a High Level Homelessness Taskforce, to provide a forum for engagement with key organisations working to address homelessness. The Taskforce will also input on the implementation of the commitments on homelessness in the Programme for Government. The membership of the taskforce consists of the Chief Executives of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, Crosscare, Depaul, Focus Ireland, the Peter McVerry Trust, Dublin Simon Community and Threshold. Youth homelessness is one of the areas of interest in the work of the Task Force.
I am aware that the matter of youth homelessness is one of the issues addressed in recommendations made by the Dublin City Council Lord Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness in a report prepared in December 2020. I met with the Lord Mayor's Task Force on 11 December 2020 and note that the report recommends that a youth homelessness prevention and intervention strategy should be developed involving Dublin City Council and other agencies and stakeholders. I welcome this report and am currently considering its wider contents and recommendations, as they relate to my own role as Minister and that of my Department.
Homeless Persons Data
Questions (342)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:342. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons who presented as homeless in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45158/20]
View answerWritten answers
My Department publishes a detailed monthly report on homelessness, based on data provided by housing authorities. The Report outlines details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. The Reports are available on my Department's website at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/
The most recent data is in respect of November 2020 and was published by my Department on 23 December 2020. The total number of homeless individuals, including dependants, was recorded as 8,484. This represents a reduction of 1,787 from the 10,271 individuals recorded as homeless in January 2020.
Data for December 2020 is due to be published at the end of January 2021, and this will represent the final monthly report in respect of 2020.
Homelessness Strategy
Questions (343)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:343. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when is the current target to end homelessness in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45159/20]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, commits to reducing and preventing homelessness and provides detail on how the Government is approaching this work as a priority. The number of individuals in emergency accommodation has been reducing since late 2019.
Homelessness is complex and causal factors and family circumstances vary considerably as do the responses needed. Homelessness is also inter-related with the other areas of the housing system and with broader social and healthcare policy and service delivery. Therefore, a whole of Government approach is required in dealing with this challenge.
The Programme for Government recognises that many households experiencing homelessness have additional support needs and includes specific measures to address these needs. These include measures to help rough sleepers into sustainable accommodation, the continued expansion of Housing First, with a focus on the construction and acquisition of one-bed homes, and, importantly, ensuring that there is dedicated funding and resources to deliver the necessary health and mental health supports required to assist homeless people with complex needs.
Increasing the supply of housing, particularly new build social and affordable homes, is a priority for me and for this Government. The Programme for Government commits to increasing the social housing stock by more than 50,000, with an emphasis on new builds. In Budget 2021, we backed this objective with funding of €3.3 billion for the delivery of housing. The available funding will deliver 12,750 new 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 increased targets will see increased local authority build on local authority land.
Social and Affordable Housing
Questions (344)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:344. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the contractual obligations for delivery of Part V units through leasing; the number of units provided via this method in 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45162/20]
View answerWritten answers
Part V Guidelines issued in January 2017 under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 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).
Circulars Housing 17/2018 and 39/2018, set out the details in respect of the individual leasing schemes that may be used for Part V leasing, that is standard Long Term Leasing and the Enhanced Long Term Social Housing Leasing Scheme. The appropriate leasing scheme will be decided on a case by case basis by the Local Authority. Both schemes provide for lease terms of up to 25 years and Local Authorities should seek to use the maximum term available where possible.
To end Q3 2020, 1 Part V unit was delivered through leasing arrangements. In 2019 a total of 14 Part V units were delivered through leasing, with a total of 9 delivered through leasing in 2018.
Question No. 345 answered with Question No. 341.
Housing Data
Questions (346)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:346. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new houses built in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45170/20]
View answerWritten answers
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on all social housing delivery activity. This is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.
Data on the total number of houses built is produced by the Central Statistics Office and can be found at the following link: www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/ndc/newdwellingcompletionsq32020/.
Both sets of data are complete to the end of Q3 2020. Data for Quarter 4 2020 is currently being complied and will be published when available.
Homelessness Strategy
Questions (347)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:347. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of action 13.2 of the national LGBTI+ inclusion strategy, for which his Department is responsible, to ensure that the rights and diversity of LGBTI+ service users are respected and promoted as part of the national quality standards framework for homeless services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45171/20]
View answerWritten answers
The National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) for homeless services is in place nationally for local authority and NGO delivered services.
The Framework has been developed to ensure a consistent approach in how local authorities and service providers respond to the needs of those experiencing homelessness and to improve the quality of services provided. In general, the operation of these emergency accommodation facilities is contracted out by local authorities, under service level agreements, to NGOs involved in the delivery of homeless services.
Standard 1.1 of the Framework aims to ensure that the rights and diversity of each service user are respected and promoted. A key feature of this includes ensuring that service users are treated with dignity and respect, their equality is promoted and the service respects their age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, family status, civil status, race, religious beliefs or as a member of the Travelling Community.
An official from my Department who has responsibility for homelessness is a member of the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy Committee which reviews implementation of the Strategy.
Census of Population
Questions (348, 349)
Richard Bruton
Question:348. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the anticipated timelines for the establishment and reporting of the Dáil Constituency Commission, the European Elections Constituency Commission and Local Elections Constituency Commission given that with the Statistics (Census of Population) Order 2020 the next census will take place in April 2022. [1035/21]
View answerRichard Bruton
Question:349. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the next constituency commissions for the next Dáil Éireann, European and local elections will take place under the existing legislative provisions; and if not, if this function will be taken over the by the electoral commission. [1036/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 349 together.
Reviews of Dáil and European Parliament constituencies are linked to the publication of Census of Population data. In effect, the publication of preliminary census results triggers the establishment of a Constituency Commission under section 5(1) of the Electoral Act 1997 with the Commission required to present its report on Dáil and European Parliament constituencies to the chairman of the Dáil within three months of publication of final census results. The next review of Dáil and European Parliament constituencies will commence following the publication of preliminary census results following the Census of Population proposed for April 2022.
Census data also informs the preparation of terms of reference for any review of local electoral areas to be undertaken and provides a basis for the work of any Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee(s) which may be established by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage from time to time. Section 23 of the Local Government Act 2001 empowers the Minister to divide a local authority area into local electoral areas and to amend those areas. However, in advance of deciding to make an order under section 23 of the Act, the Minister must, in accordance with section 32(2) of the Local Government Act 1991, request a boundary committee to make a report having regard to such matters as may be specified by the Minister. The Minister must publish the report of the boundary committee and must have regard to the report of that committee when deciding to make an order in relation to the revision of local electoral area boundaries.
On 15 December 2020, the Government approved the drafting of an Electoral Reform Bill and the circulation of the Bill's general scheme to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage for pre-legislative consideration. The general scheme addresses a number of commitments in the Programme for Government - Our Shared Future relating to the establishment of a statutory Electoral Commission, the modernisation of the electoral registration process and the regulation of online political advertising during election periods. It also includes proposals aimed at assisting with the holding of electoral events where Covid-19 restrictions are in place. The general scheme was circulated to the Joint Oireachtas Committee last week and has been published on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/34cf6-general-scheme-of-the-electoral-reform-bill-2020/.
The Electoral Commission will be independent of Government and will report directly to the Oireachtas. Following its establishment, which is envisaged by the end of this year, it will take on several existing statutory electoral functions from the outset, including the work currently undertaken by Constituency Commissions and Local Electoral Area Boundary Committees.
Electoral Commission
Questions (350)
Richard Bruton
Question:350. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expected timeline for the establishment of the electoral commission. [1037/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future - commits to having an Electoral Commission in place by the end of 2021. On 15 December 2020 the Government approved the General Scheme of an Electoral Reform Bill which, inter alia, provides for the establishment of a statutory, independent Electoral Commission.
The General Scheme has been published and sent to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage for pre-legislative scrutiny. The General Scheme is available at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/34cf6-general-scheme-of-the-electoral-reform-bill-2020/.
My Department is working towards the establishment of the Electoral Commission in 2021, in line with the Programme for Government commitment and is progressing the legislative and administrative elements of its establishment.
Repair and Leasing Scheme
Questions (351)
Colm Burke
Question:351. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the funding drawn down under the repair and leasing scheme in 2019 and 2020, by local authority in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1066/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) was developed to assist private property owners and local authorities or approved housing bodies to harness the accommodation potential that exists in vacant dwellings. At end Q3 2020, a total of 198 dwellings had been brought back into use under the RLS scheme. Up-to-date data in relation to dwellings delivered by each local authority under RLS is available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
Total capital funding drawn down under RLS in 2019 and 2020, broken down by local authority, is set out in the following table.
Table: Repair and Lease Capital Spend 2019 - 2020
|
LA |
Spend - 2019 |
Spend - 2020 |
|
Carlow |
€68,267 |
€1,433 |
|
Cavan |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Clare |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Cork City |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Cork County |
€40,000 |
€80,000 |
|
DLR |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Donegal |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Dublin City |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Fingal |
€40,000 |
€146,315 |
|
Galway City |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Galway County |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Kerry |
€0 |
€120,000 |
|
Kildare |
€36,008 |
€0 |
|
Kilkenny |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Laois |
€0 |
€7,753 |
|
Leitrim |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Limerick |
€80,000 |
€221,800 |
|
Longford |
€28,768 |
€0 |
|
Louth |
€0 |
€40,000 |
|
Mayo |
€62,076 |
€280,000 |
|
Meath |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Monaghan |
€20,000 |
€54,414 |
|
Offaly |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Roscommon |
€0 |
€40,000 |
|
Sligo |
€0 |
€0 |
|
South Dublin |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Tipperary |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Waterford |
€1,183,054 |
€1,199,054 |
|
Westmeath |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Wexford |
€278,948 |
€234,513 |
|
Wicklow |
€0 |
€0 |
|
|
€1,837,121 |
€2,425,282 |
House Purchase Schemes
Questions (352)
Matt Carthy
Question:352. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to provide specific supports for first-time buyers to allow families to purchase second-hand properties in areas in which the level of new home construction is very low; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1096/21]
View answerWritten answers
From a broad policy perspective and in a supply constrained environment, the provision of purchaser supports is prioritised towards new build homes and to encourage the wider increase in the available housing stock. However, in purchasing new build, self-build or second hand homes, eligible first time buyers can avail of support which currently exists in the form of the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan (RIHL).
The RIHL is a Government backed mortgage for first time buyers. It has been available nationwide from all local authorities since 1 February 2018. It is targeted at first time buyers who wish to own their own home, have access to an adequate deposit and have the capacity to repay a mortgage, but who are unable to access a mortgage sufficient for them to purchase their first home. The loan is a normal capital and interest-bearing mortgage which is repaid by direct debit on a monthly basis.
A person can borrow up to 90% of the market value of the property and the maximum market values of the property that can be purchased or self-built are:
- €320,000 in the counties of Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow, and
€250,000 in the rest of the country.
To be eligible for a Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan you must: be a first-time buyer; be aged between 18 and 70 years; be in continuous employment for a minimum of two years, as the primary earner or be in continuous employment for a minimum of one year, as a secondary earner; have an annual gross income of not more than €50,000 as a single applicant or not more than €75,000 combined as joint applicants; submit two years certified accounts if self-employed; provide evidence of insufficient offers of finance from two banks or building societies; not be a current or previous owner of residential property in or outside the Republic of Ireland; occupy the property as your normal place of residence; purchase or self-build a property situated in the Republic of Ireland of no more than of 175 square metres (gross internal floor area); purchase or self-build a property which does not exceed the maximum market value applicable for the county in which it is located; and consent to an Irish Credit Bureau check.
Eligibility is subject to submission of a complete Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan application form and confirmation by your local authority.
The final decision on loan approval is a matter for the relevant local authority and its credit committee on a case-by-case basis. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches in the best interests of both borrowers and the lending local authorities.
Further information on the scheme is available on the dedicated website www.rebuildingirelandhomeloan.ie.
Housing Issues
Questions (353)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:353. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when section 26 of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 will come into force. [1209/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2020 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the rented residential sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Act to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants.
The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 made provision to enhance the rental data to be provided to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), including provision for the annual registration of tenancies. The aim is to gather more accurate and detailed tenancy and rental data on an annual basis to improve the information available to assist with policy formulation in the residential rental sector.
The amendments to sections 137 and 137A of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, contained in sections 25 and 26 of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019, update the RTB tenancy registration fee in the context of the move to annual registration - providing a €40 fee per tenancy registration by private providers and €20 per tenancy registration by an Approved Housing Body (AHB). Under the new annual registration requirements, a fee can only be charged in respect of the same dwelling once per year and a discounted single registration fee (€170 for a private landlord, €85 for an AHB landlord) can be applied where the same landlord registers up to 10 tenancies of dwellings comprised in the same property.
The legal provisions requiring the annual registration of tenancies and setting associated registration fees have not yet come into operation. Preparations are underway in the RTB to roll out a simple online registration system during the second half of 2021 to cater for the commencement of annual registration.
Energy Efficiency
Questions (354)
Denis Naughten
Question:354. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses retrofitted under the midlands energy efficiency retrofitting programme in 2020; the location of each in each county; the number to be retrofitted in each location in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1218/21]
View answerWritten answers
In 2020 funding of €20 million was made available as part of the Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan for an energy efficiency retrofitting programme to fund upgrades to local authority houses in the midlands, under the 'Just Transition' programme. This Midland Retrofit Programme was established as a pilot programme to provide economic stimulus to the counties most affected by the cessation of peat harvesting for electricity generation, and it centres on upgrading larger batches of homes in distinct, compact geographical areas.
Significant preparatory work has been completed to date, including a framework for the retrofit works and the identification by the local authorities of their selected areas of housing to be retrofitted. Covid-19 has had a negative impact on the work of the local authorities on this programme. As a result no dwellings were retrofitted in 2020, however 488 houses were at tender stage.
The Midlands Retrofit Programme has been targeted with the completion of 750 properties. The table attached sets out the full list of properties, by location, being surveyed by local authorities for potential inclusion under the programme.
|
Local Authority |
Breakdown of Estates/No’s of properties |
Total Number of Dwellings per location |
|
Galway |
Eyrecourt |
16 |
|
Ballinasloe |
19 |
|
|
Portumna |
22 |
|
|
Killimore |
9 |
|
|
Tynagh |
6 |
|
|
Kildare |
Rathangan |
15 |
|
Derrinturn |
20 |
|
|
Kildare Town |
20 |
|
|
Monasterevin |
20 |
|
|
Laois |
Portlaoise |
45 |
|
Rathdowney |
20 |
|
|
Arles |
18 |
|
|
Portarlington |
26 |
|
|
Mountmellick |
51 |
|
|
Longford |
Ballinalee |
49 |
|
Ballymahon |
47 |
|
|
Longford Town |
42 |
|
|
Offaly |
Shinrone |
6 |
|
Moneygall |
2 |
|
|
Kilcormac |
2 |
|
|
Ferbane |
14 |
|
|
Crinkle |
3 |
|
|
Cloghan |
5 |
|
|
Banagher |
10 |
|
|
Birr Town |
38 |
|
|
Tullamore |
45 |
|
|
Edenderry |
14 |
|
|
Portarlington |
4 |
|
|
Daingean |
3 |
|
|
Shannonbridge |
9 |
|
|
Roscommon |
Monksland |
8 |
|
Ballyforan |
8 |
|
|
Lisnamult |
6 |
|
|
Abbey St. |
5 |
|
|
Boyle |
4 |
|
|
Castlerea |
5 |
|
|
Castleplunket |
4 |
|
|
Ballyleague |
10 |
|
|
Tipperary |
Gortnahoe |
21 |
|
Rathcabbin |
2 |
|
|
Templemore |
22 |
|
|
Templetouhy |
10 |
|
|
Thurles |
5 |
|
|
Westmeath |
Mullingar |
60 |
|
Athlone |
84 |
|
|
Total Properties (Including Headroom) |
854 |
Wildlife Control
Questions (355)
Jackie Cahill
Question:355. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to reintroduce a ban on pigeon shooting on farms considering that tillage farmers and cereal growers currently enjoy a derogation from same in order to protect their crops from pigeon damage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1265/21]
View answerWritten answers
The current declarations allowing for the control of certain wild bird species are due to expire on 30 April 2021.
The effects of the declarations are to allow the control of certain wild bird species by landowners or their agents where these species are causing serious damage to crops, livestock, fauna or where they represent a threat to public health, throughout the State. A separate declaration is made to allow the control of certain wild bird species by airport authorities or their agents throughout the State where these species represent a threat to air-safety. A link to the current Declarations is below.
www.npws.ie/legislation/irish-law/eu-birds-directive-derogations.
No decisions have been taken at this time in relation to a declaration for period 1 May 2021 to 30 April 2022. A review of the declarations is currently underway and my Department will welcome any views on the operation of the current declaration or proposals in respect of the 2021/22 declaration. A notice in respect of this review can be seen at the following link; www.npws.ie/news/control-certain-wild-bird-species.
Observations should be submitted to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage via e-mail (WildBirdDeclarations@chg.gov.ie) by 5 pm on Wednesday 20 January 2021.
Special Protection Areas
Questions (356)
Joe O'Brien
Question:356. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details on monitoring of the Malahide Estuary special protection area 004025 that has taken place in the past five years to ensure compliance with S.I. No. 285 of 2011 since it was enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1267/21]
View answerWritten answers
I refer the Minister of State to earlier replies on this matter.
Regulation 5 of the European Communities (Conservation of Wild Birds (Malahide Estuary Special Protection Area 004025)) Regulations 2011 provides that certain operations or activities may not take place within or affecting the Malahide Estuary Special Protection Area without the prior written consent of the Minister or of another public authority, where applicable. These operations and activities are those which have the potential to cause disturbance or damage to the bird species and their habitats specified in the regulations. It is an offence to undertake the operation or activity without prior consent, if such consent is required. Any person who commits such an offence is liable on conviction to a fine or a term of imprisonment or both.
Landowners or occupiers should apply to the local National Parks and Wildlife Service office of the Department in order to obtain consent for an operation or activity that requires Ministerial consent.
National Parks and Wildlife Service officials monitor designated sites utilising the available staff resources and, in conjunction, with other public authorities, as appropriate, investigate incidents within these sites in accordance with the provisions of the Wildlife Acts, the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 and site specific regulations.
Commercial Rates
Questions (357)
Joe O'Brien
Question:357. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to extend the current commercial rates waiver into 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1274/21]
View answerWritten answers
In order to continue supporting businesses and other ratepayers, and in recognition of the impacts of the ongoing trajectory of COVID 19 and the associated public health restrictions, the Government recently announced that a commercial rates waiver will be applied in the first quarter of 2021 to businesses most seriously affected by ongoing restrictions. €160 million has been allocated to meet the cost of this waiver. The details are currently being finalised in line with Government decisions on level five restrictions and my Department will issue details to local authorities in the coming days.
Pyrite Remediation Programme
Questions (358)
Cathal Crowe
Question:358. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has received an application from Clare County Council for a pyrite and mica defective block remediation scheme in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1314/21]
View answerWritten answers
My Department received correspondence from Clare County Council in October 2020, requesting the extension of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant to County Clare. A comprehensive reply was subsequently issued to the Council in November 2020.
My Department informed the Council that before any extension of the scheme can be considered the same rigorous analysis as that put in place prior to the rollout of the scheme to the counties of Donegal and Mayo would have to be undertaken. Therefore, my Department has asked Clare County Council to demonstrate that any issues are in fact due to the presence of excessive amounts of deleterious materials (mica or pyrite) in the aggregate used to manufacture the concrete blocks, as set out in the relevant statutory protocol, and secondly quantify the likely extent of the problem in the county. Such analysis will provide the evidential basis necessary for the consideration of any extension of the scheme. Pending the receipt of such analysis it would be premature to consider an extension of the scheme.
Planning Issues
Questions (359)
Jackie Cahill
Question:359. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the long-promised planning permission exemptions will be introduced in order that schools and community buildings can be exempt from having to apply for planning permission to install rooftop solar panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1316/21]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Section 4 of the Act and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations), set out various exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission. Any such exemptions are subject to compliance with any general restrictions on exemptions set out in the Act or the Regulations and to the specific conditions set out in each class of exempted development in Schedule 2 of the Regulations.
With regard to exemptions for solar panels, Class 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Regulations provides an exemption for the installation or erection of a solar panel on, or within the curtilage of a house or any buildings within the curtilage of a house, subject to certain siting and size conditions.
Class 56 of Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Regulations provides an exemption for the installation or erection on a business premises or industrial/light industrial building, or any ancillary buildings within the curtilage of such premises or building, of solar panels (thermal collector or photo-voltaic), subject to certain siting and size conditions.
Furthermore, Class 18 of Part 3 of Schedule 2 of the Regulations provides an exemption for the installation or erection on an agricultural structure, or within the curtilage of an agricultural holding, of solar panels (thermal collector or photo-voltaic), again subject to a number of conditions.
As part of the Climate Action Plan 2019, my Department is currently undertaking a review of the solar panel exemptions, and is actively engaging with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications as well as other key stakeholders, with a view to finalising a proposal for draft amending Regulations - to reflect, inter alia, technical developments in the sector. One of the key considerations of the review is to ensure that solar panels can be erected - subject to certain siting and size conditions - without the need to obtain planning permission, to facilitate more widespread generation of energy for self-consumption. Also included in this review, which continues to be shaped by recommendations of the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, are solar panel exemptions for educational and community buildings.
The main outstanding issue that remains to be addressed in the current review is the potential for "glint and glare" impacts for aircraft from solar panels erected in proximity to airports and aerodromes and the need to ensure that they do not result in any real or potential threat to aviation safety. Accordingly, my Department is presently engaging with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications as well as the Irish Aviation Authority, in order to find a safe and workable solution in relation to this particular aspect of the review. The Department has begun the tendering process for this project, which will involve the development of aviation safeguarding maps for each airport/aerodrome in the country, and has received feedback from potential tenderers estimating a timeline of up to 9 months for its completion. As such, these maps, which are a fundamental aspect of any amendments to the exemptions, are expected to be finalised in Q3 2021.
As required under planning legislation, any such proposed exempted development regulations must be laid in draft form before the Houses of the Oireachtas and receive a positive resolution from both Houses before they can be made. The draft regulations will also be subject to environmental assessment reporting considerations before being finalised and signed into force. The overall process for revising the solar panel planning exemptions is now expected to be completed by Q4 2021.
Fire Safety
Questions (360)
Cathal Crowe
Question:360. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way his Department can assist the residents of a complex (details supplied) in meeting the cost of fire safety remediation in their apartment complex; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1373/21]
View answerWritten answers
Firstly, I wish to acknowledge the very stressful circumstances which the owners and residents of buildings face when defects occur in their homes.
The 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.
When a building is constructed and occupied, statutory responsibility for fire safety is assigned by section 18(2) of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 & 2003, to the ‘person having control’ of the building. In multi-unit developments, the "person having control" is generally the owner management company.
Under the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011, which is under the remit of the Minister for Justice, the owner management company must establish a scheme for annual service charges and a sinking fund for spending on refurbishment, improvement or maintenance of a non-recurring nature of the multi-unit development.
In the interest of supporting owners and residents living in developments where concerns regarding non-compliance with fire safety requirements have arisen, the Framework for Enhancing Fire Safety in Dwellings was published in 2017. It is intended to be used as a guide for the owners and occupants of dwellings (houses and apartments) where fire safety deficiencies have been identified, or are a cause for concern, to develop strategies to improve fire safety and to develop strategies to enable continued occupation in advance of undertaking the necessary works to ensure compliance with the relevant Building Regulations. The Framework is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/?referrer=http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/framework_for_enhancing_fire_safety_in_dwellings.pdf.
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.
Local Authority Housing
Questions (361)
Catherine Murphy
Question:361. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount that will be granted to each local authority under the Rebuilding Ireland Programme on an annual basis to year end 2023, in tabular form and in order; the projected number of houses and apartments to be delivered in each of those years, by local authority; and the number of urban regeneration projects that will commence, by local authority, over this period. [1403/21]
View answerWritten answers
Increasing the supply of housing is a priority for my Department. The Programme for Government commits to increasing the social housing stock by more than 50,000, with an emphasis on new build homes.
Budget 2021 provided €3.3 billion for the delivery of housing. The available funding will deliver 12,750 new 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, in addition to 800 acquisitions and 2,450 homes to be delivered through leasing programmes. The Government will be publishing a new housing strategy this year, which will set out details of social housing delivery for 2021-2025, including social housing targets for 2022 onwards.
With regards to urban regeneration projects, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund is a flagship element of Project Ireland 2040. Under the stewardship of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Fund was established to support more compact and sustainable development, through the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s five cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and National Development Plan. This is to enable a greater proportion of residential and mixed-use development to be delivered within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and towns and to ensure that more parts of our urban areas can become attractive and vibrant places in which people choose to live and work, as well as to invest and to visit.