Written Answers Nos. 381-406
383. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will carry out an urgent review of the financial assistance offered by the State under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme, based on the applications received to date by Donegal County Council, and address the serious concerns of affected families across the county. [12800/21]
View answerThe Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 came in to operation on 31 January 2020 and the resulting Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme has been open for applications since the end of June 2020. The scheme was informed by the work of an Expert Panel and the current maximum grant amounts payable under the scheme were finalised in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. This process also took account of the comprehensive engagement that took place between my Department and both Donegal and Mayo County Councils, who operate and administer the scheme.
As the application process only opened in June 2020 it would be premature to consider or make any changes to the scheme at this time. I am keeping progress on the scheme under review and engaging with both local authorities and local action groups on the matter.
384. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he and the Minister for Finance will convene a forum meeting with the banks and financial institutions to request that they immediately play a partnership role with the State and affected families in the financial challenge of making homes safe across counties Donegal and Mayo under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme. [12801/21]
View answerI met recently with members of the Donegal Mica Action Group and one of the issues raised was that of finance and the potential role which banks could play in assisting affected homeowners. As oversight of the financial institutions is outside the scope and remit of my Department, I undertook to and have written to the Minister for Finance, on the matter.
385. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if financial allocations from his Department to Donegal County Council to enable it to make homes within its housing stock affected by MICA defective concrete blocks safe will be additional to the planned financial allocations to Donegal County Council to facilitate the construction and purchase of new public housing across the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12816/21]
View answerSection 58 of the Housing Act 1966 provides that management and maintenance is a matter for each individual local authority. This includes maintenance programmes and carrying out responsive, planned and pre-letting repairs.
Notwithstanding this, my Department also provides financial support to local authorities under various targeted: social housing stock upgrade programmes; large-scale urban regeneration programmes; support for the return of vacant units to productive use; the Energy Retrofitting Programme; and, adaptations and extensions for people with disability in social housing.
My Department also provides separate capital funding in respect of the Social Housing Investment Programme, to all local authorities, including Donegal County Council, for the delivery of new social homes via their social housing construction programme, through turnkey arrangements and through acquisitions.
In respect of local authority housing stock in Donegal impacted by defective concrete blocks, further evaluation of the issue is being undertaken by Donegal County Council. The outcome of this evalutaion will be the subject of a submission by Donegal County Council to my Department. Once this is received my Department will, in consulation with Donegal County Council, consider the matter.
387. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme is open to applicants who work less than 20 hours per week or are lone parents and in receipt of the one parent family payment. [12885/21]
View answer388. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a person can apply for both the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme and the enhanced help-to-buy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12886/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 387 and 388 together.
Those who are currently in receipt of the One Parent Family Payment are not precluded from applying for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan however they must meet all other eligibility criteria for the scheme.
There are no set minimum income limits; however, applicants do need to have sufficient borrowing and repayment capacity and must be capable of repaying the mortgage in accordance with the statutory credit policy underpinning the loan. Applicants must also be of good credit standing; and have a satisfactory credit record.
The Housing Agency provides a central credit assessment service to local authorities and credit checks are undertaken as part of the credit assessment process. 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 statutory 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.
For prospective purchasers of newly-built properties, the availability, through the Revenue Commissioners, of the Help to Buy Initiative for first-time buyers may provide additional assistance to prospective applicants for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan.
389. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of successful applicants who have applied in each year of the operation of the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme. [12887/21]
View answerThe Help to Buy (HTB) incentive was introduced in 2017. The measure is scheduled to expire on 31 December 2021.
Revenue provide monthly and annual statistics on the scheme (available at: https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/tax-expenditures/index.aspx).
The table following summarises approved claims for each year since the inception of the scheme until end 2020 (the latest date for which data are available).
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
4812* |
4957 |
6713 |
6227 |
* The 2017 figure includes approved retrospective claims made in 2017 in respect of the period 19 July 2016 to end 2016, as provided for in the relevant legislation.
391. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of students who undertook work experience or internships with State and semi-State agencies under his aegis in 2019; the cost in terms of wages and allowances; and the estimated numerical capacity of State and semi-State agencies to provide work experience and internships on an annual basis. [12958/21]
View answerThe requested information is not available in my Department. It may be requested directly from the State bodies under the aegis of my Department upon application to the e-mail addresses set out in tabular form below.
|
State Body |
E-mail Address |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie |
|
An Fóram Uisce (the Water Forum) |
info@nationalwaterforum.ie |
|
Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority |
info@ahbregulator.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 |
392. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 210 of 20 January 2021, if additional construction sites have been given approval to remain open during the current level 5 restrictions over and above those indicated; if so, the number of sites by local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13016/21]
View answerI refer to my reply to Parliamentary Questions No. 70 and 71 of 4 March 2021. The position is unchanged.
393. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing units completed during the level 5 lockdown by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13017/21]
View answerThe Government announced that additional public health restrictions would apply under Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19 on 6 January 2021. The additional restrictions required all construction activity to cease from 6pm on Friday 8 January, with a number of exceptions. These measures are set out in The Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 10) Regulations 2020 (as amended). Under the Regulations, certain social housing projects which meet the criteria set out in the Regulations may continue. The Housing Agency is maintaining a register of social housing projects which have been designated as essential.
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: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/6d316-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/. Details of social housing units completed as designated essential projects will be published in the reports for Quarter 1 2021 and Quarter 2 2021 in due course.
394. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reviews that have taken place since 2011 on the performance of the shared ownership scheme; the person or body that conducted the reviews; if he will provide links to the reports commissioned by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13018/21]
View answerA review of the shared ownership scheme was undertaken by the Housing Agency in 2013 and is available at the following address:
https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debates/questions/supportingDocumentation/2021-03-10_pq394-10-03-21_en.pdf.
395. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the persons or grades of persons in the civil and public service and other employments who are prohibited from standing for election to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13034/21]
View answerSection 13 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides for disqualifications from local authority membership. This includes, under Section 13(1)(g), a member of An Garda Síochána or a wholetime member of the Defence Forces.
Section 13(1)(h) provides that a civil servant who is not by terms of employment expressly permitted to be a member of a local authority shall be disqualified from local authority membership. The Department of Finance circular 09/2009 Civil Servant and Political Activity (ref E109/33/09) clarifies that civil servants in the craft, state industrial and manual grades and grades below clerical grades or civil servants in the clerical grades and non-industrial grades with salary maxima equal to or below the Clerical Officer maximum may stand for election to local authorities. https://circulars.gov.ie/pdf/circular/finance/2009/09.pdf
Section 13(1)(h)(i) of the 2001 Act provides that a person employed by a local authority, the HSE or the Child and Family Agency and is not the holder of a class, description or grade of employment designated by the Minister by order under section 161(1)(b) of the 2001 Act shall also be disqualified from membership of a local authority.
In 2004, the then Minister for Environment, Local Government and Heritage, under Section 161 of the 2001 Act, signed the Local Government Act 2001 (Section 161) Order 2004 which provided that the disqualification set out in Section 13 would not apply in respect of “every class, description or grade of employment the maximum remuneration for which on the last date for receipt of nominations at a local election does not exceed the maximum remuneration for the grade of Clerical Officer” . (Section 161 of the 2001 Act refers to restrictions on local authority employment and membership of a local authority). A circular issued to local authority employees in this regard in May 2009 (ref LG(P) 06/09).
Section 13(1)(h)(ii) of the 2001 Act provides that a person employed by the Health Service Executive and at a grade or of a description of employment designated by order of the Minister for Health and Children shall be disqualified from local authority membership. The making of such an order is a matter for the Minister for Health.
396. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the oversight arrangements he has put in place with local authorities regarding compliance with level 5 restrictions; the instructions he has issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13035/21]
View answerLocal authorities are entirely independent corporate entities having full responsibility under law for the performance of their functions and the discharge of their governance and other responsibilities. As Minister, I have responsibility for policy, legislation, Oireachtas accountability and, at a broad level, oversight, in respect of the local government system and in relation to some but not all functions and services of local authorities.
Adherence to the current public health restrictions by and within local authorities is a matter for each Chief Executive. However, the County and City Management Association (CCMA) has worked very closely with a range of Government Departments over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic and, supported by a range of Standard Operating Guidances, it has coordinated the ongoing safe operation of most local authority functions and services even during the current restrictions. A local authority services framework sets out how local authorities will deliver their services under the different restriction levels set out under the Plan for Living with COVID-19 and this document can be found online at https://www.lgma.ie/en/publications/local-authority-sector-reports/local-authority-services-framework-for-future-covid-19-response.pdf
My Department liaises with the CCMA on a range of key functions that continue to be delivered by safely by local authorities during the current restrictions. Indeed, our local authorities have expanded services and increased activity in crucial areas such as community support, enterprise and economic development, and planning and public realm activities since the outset of the pandemic and I wish to compliment them for their unstinting work over the past year.
397. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding provided to Dublin City Council for retrofitting council properties in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13069/21]
View answerMy Department has provided funding support to local authorities for energy efficiency retrofitting works under the Social Housing Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme since 2013 and under the Voids Programme over the period 2014 – 2019. The provision of funding for energy efficiency uprgades in the local authority housing stock will continue under the Governments National Retrofitting Plan.
Budget 2021 provided funding support of €65 million for a newly revised Energy Efficiency Programme, which has been designed around the Programme for Government commitment, with a significant increase in funding support. This programme will see a significant upscaling on what has been completed by local authorities in previous years and will target 2,400 social homes to be upgraded to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2 or cost optimal level in 2021.
Over the period 2015-2020 the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme has seen €103 million in funding being provided to local authorities for the upgrade and retrofit of social housing stock, of which Dublin City Council has received just over €20 million. Under the Voids programme Dublin City Council has received over €13.5 million towards energy efficiency works. These figures do not include homes which were returned to productive use by Dublin City Council using funding from its own resources.
Requests for funding for 2021 are currently awaited from local authorities by my Department. The table attached sets out the funding provided to Dublin city Council as requested.
398. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider extending the current waiver on local authority commercial rates for tourism and hospitality businesses until the end of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13127/21]
View answerIn order to continue supporting businesses and ratepayers, and in recognition of the ongoing impacts of COVID 19 and the associated public health restrictions, the Government put in place a commercial rates waiver for the first three months of 2021and recently extended it for a further three months. The waiver applies to businesses most seriously affected by ongoing restrictions, with automatic eligibility extending to retail, hospitality, including hotels, pubs and restaurants, leisure and entertainment, personal services such as hairdressers and barbers, health services and various other categories. As with all public health measures and associated supports, the waiver of commercial rates will be kept under review.
As has been the case since the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, my Department will continue to engage with the local government sector and with individual local authorities on the financial impacts of the pandemic.
399. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address the delays in registrations with the Property Registration Authority, PRA, which are now causing sales to fall through. [13180/21]
View answerOn foot of the restrictions introduced by the Government on 30 December 2020, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) implemented its Business Continuity Plan Level 5 response for the continued provision of essential services. The PRA is operating a high level of service, with all services remaining available, excluding public counter access. In February 2021, 17,388 Land Registry transactions were registered.
Applications for registration are dealt with in order of priority. However, I am informed that urgent applications will continue to be processed expeditiously upon request, on a case-by-case basis.
400. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the local authority commercial rates waiver until the end of December 2021; his views on the hotel sector statement that the average local authority rate is €1,500 per bedroom and is therefore a sizeable contribution to overhead costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13240/21]
View answerIn order to continue supporting businesses and ratepayers, and in recognition of the ongoing impacts of COVID 19 and the associated public health restrictions, the Government has put in place a commercial rates waiver for the first half of 2021. It applies to businesses most seriously affected by ongoing restrictions. Automatic eligibility is extended to retail, hospitality, including hotels, pubs and restaurants, leisure and entertainment, personal services such as hairdressers and barbers, health services and various other categories.
Local authorities are required by law to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes, in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015. The rates liability of a property is determined by multiplying the valuation of that property, which is set by the Valuation Office, by the Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV). The ARV is decided by the elected members of each local authority as part of the annual budget and its determination is a reserved function.
As has been the case since the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Department will continue to engage with the local government sector and with individual local authorities on the financial impacts of the pandemic. As with all public health measures and associated supports, the waiver of commercial rates will be kept under review.
401. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the tenure breakdown for each of the nine sites the Land Development Agency, LDA, is currently working on; and the percentage of proposed homes to be social rental, affordable cost rental, affordable purchase and open market sale in tabular form. [13313/21]
View answerThe Land Development Agency (LDA) was established on an interim basis in September 2018, by way of an Establishment Order made under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971, pending the enactment of the Land Development Agency Bill.
On establishment, the LDA had access to an initial tranche of 8 sites that have near term delivery potential for approximately 3,400 new homes. As these 8 sites are currently at the pre-planning stage, the exact delivery potential for each site will only be finalised as final plans are put in place and planning permission is sought. The LDA will have regard to Government policy, and all appropriate legislation, on the appropriate tenure mix for developments on public land as well as the criteria for the operation of cost rental and affordable housing schemes.
In partnership with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, the LDA has been granted planning permission for the development of 597 homes on a further site in Shanganagh. Approximately 34% of the units will be for social housing, 51% will be cost rental and 15% will be for affordable purchase.
402. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown by local authority of long term leasing and long term leased Part V approvals for 2018, 2019 and 2020; the annual cost of each lease; the lease review period in each case; the length of each lease; and if the property remains in private ownership at the end of the lease term or ownership transfers to the local authority or AHB, in tabular form. [13314/21]
View answerData in relation to leased dwellings, and dwellings delivered under Part V, in each of the years 2018 - 2020, broken down by local authority, is published on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
My Department does not publish details of individual homes; however, the average annual cost of leased dwellings delivered by each local authority for 2018 - 2020 is set out in Table 1 below. The average cost is calculated based on claims for operational new units submitted by local authorities and recorded on my Department’s Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme financial management system at year-end 2020 and does not necessarily represent the amount claimed or paid in respect of that period. The average duration of leases delivered by local authorities 2018 - 2020 is set out in Table 2.
Table 1: Leasing - Average Annual Cost of Dwellings Delivered 2018 - 2020
|
Local Authority |
Average Annual Cost of Dwellings Delivered in 2018 |
Average Annual Cost of Dwellings Delivered in 2019 |
Average Annual Cost of Dwellings Delivered in 2020 |
|
Carlow |
€6152 |
€7455 |
€9565 |
|
Cavan |
€5995 |
€7030 |
€7450 |
|
Clare |
€7686 |
€8864 |
€9194 |
|
Cork City |
€12638 |
€13565 |
€13960 |
|
Cork County |
€12144 |
€7300 |
€10050 |
|
DLR |
€18870 |
€26595 |
€18698 |
|
Donegal |
€6459 |
€5659 |
€6250 |
|
Dublin City |
€14744 |
€16081 |
€18605 |
|
Fingal |
€15108 |
€15002 |
€17840 |
|
Galway City |
€13002 |
€10470 |
€N/A |
|
Galway County |
€9936 |
€9543 |
€8692 |
|
Kerry |
€8470 |
€9008 |
€10223 |
|
Kildare |
€10241 |
€11864 |
€12052 |
|
Kilkenny |
€8603 |
€9694 |
€10322 |
|
Laois |
€8438 |
€9264 |
€9981 |
|
Leitrim |
€N/A |
€7200 |
€6255 |
|
Limerick |
€8636 |
€9998 |
€10916 |
|
Longford |
€6242 |
€7346 |
€7932 |
|
Louth |
€12207 |
€10166 |
€12396 |
|
Mayo |
€7547 |
€8189 |
€8333 |
|
Meath |
€10643 |
€12119 |
€13267 |
|
Monaghan |
€6255 |
€6375 |
€6373 |
|
Offaly |
€7916 |
€8143 |
€9272 |
|
Roscommon |
€5342 |
€8190 |
€8120 |
|
Sligo |
€6306 |
€8480 |
€6520 |
|
South Dublin |
€15340 |
€16575 |
€17751 |
|
Tipperary |
€7186 |
€7374 |
€8208 |
|
Waterford |
€6839 |
€7379 |
€8343 |
|
Westmeath |
€8614 |
€9486 |
€10299 |
|
Wexford |
€7049 |
€8299 |
€7864 |
|
Wicklow |
€10539 |
€13368 |
€14298 |
Table 2: Average Length of Leases Delivered 2018 - 2020
|
2018 |
16 years |
|
2019 |
18 years |
|
2020 |
20 years |
The number of Part V leases delivered by local authorities from 2018 - 2020 is set out in Table 3. The average annual cost of Part V leases delivered by each local authority from 2018 - 2020 is set out in Table 4. The average annual cost is calculated based on claims for operational new units submitted by local authorities and recorded on my Department’s Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme financial management system at year-end 2020 and does not necessarily represent the amount claimed or paid in respect of that period. The average duration of Part V Leases delivered by local authorities from 2018 - 2020 is set out in Table 5.
Table 3: Number of Part V Leases Delivered 2018 - 2020
|
Local Authority |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
Dublin City |
6 |
4 |
12 |
|
Kilkenny |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Tipperary |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
DLR |
0 |
9 |
0 |
|
Westmeath |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Kerry |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
South Dublin |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
Total |
9 |
14 |
16 |
Table 4: Average Annual Cost of Part V Leases Delivered 2018 - 2020
|
Local Authority |
Average Annual Cost of Dwellings delivered in 2018 |
Average Annual Cost of Dwellings delivered in 2019 |
Average Annual Cost of Dwellings delivered in 2020 |
|
Dublin City |
€16320 |
€16320 |
€17155 |
|
Kilkenny |
€11520 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Tipperary |
€8400 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
DLR |
N/A |
€28310 |
N/A |
|
Westmeath |
N/A |
€5270 |
N/A |
|
Kerry |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
South Dublin |
N/A |
N/A |
€18530 |
Table 5: Average Length of Part V Leases Delivered 2018 - 2020
|
2018 |
13 years |
|
2019 |
20 years |
|
2020 |
24 years |
With the exception of dwellings delivered under the Approved Housing Body Mortgage to Rent Scheme and National Asset Residential Property Services programme, ownership of all leased dwellings will revert to the private owner at the end of the lease term. The relevant local authority may seek to renew the lease or acquire the property at the end of the lease term. In general, rent reviews take place 3 years from the commencement date of the lease and every 3 years thereafter, with reference to the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices.
The average annual cost of Part V leases set out in Table 4 is based on the average full year cost of the Part V lease agreements entered into by the relevant local authority in that year and does not necessarily represent the amount claimed or paid in respect of that period. In a Part V leased unit, the lease payment can vary depending on how the equivalent net monetary value has been reflected in the agreement. This is usually achieved by either a rent free period up front or a discount on the lease payment over the term of the lease (or part thereof). Where a rent free period is negotiated in respect of Part V units, no amount will be claimed or paid in respect of the units for that period.
403. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the total expenditure of €4.48 million for the conservation, protection and restoration of the national monument buildings at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street; the amount spent on project management, architectural and engineering supervision, security, quantity surveying services and so on in tabular form; and the reason the stated objective to have the 1916 commemorative centre at least partially open to the public in time for the centenary of the Rising was not realised. [13326/21]
View answerI refer the Deputy to the reply to Parliamentary Question No 120 of 18 February 2021. I am advised that it would not be appropriate at this stage to provide additional disaggregation of these costs on the grounds that they are commercially sensitive and that any such disclosure now would not be conducive to securing an optimal economic outcome to future procurement arrangements for the completion of the project.
As the Deputy will be aware, the works on the conservation and restoration of the national monument buildings were disrupted in early 2016, for some period of time. Arising from legal proceedings in the High Court the Department then ceased the contract apart from completing essential stabilisation and preservation measures approved by the Court itself. These works were not sufficient to allow the buildings to be opened to the public. The High Court judgments were later overturned in all respects by the Court of Appeal in February 2018.
Both Minister O’Brien and I are working closely with all key stakeholders and are keen that the necessary works be completed and that the national monument buildings are open to the public as soon as possible.
404. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the financing model for the cost rental scheme currently being piloted by his Department includes 60% loan finance from the Housing Finance Agency or private banks, 30% equity contributed by the State through the cost rental equity loan scheme and 10% contribution from the approved housing body provider; and if this 10% contribution from the provider or approved housing body will take the form of cash or equity. [13338/21]
View answer405. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which the 30% cost rental equity loan will be calculated in future years when the approved housing body reaches the point of having to repay the equity; if it will be passed on the open market value of the property or some other calculation; if there will be an interest charge on the equity loan; if so, the interest; and if it will change over time. [13339/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 404 and 405 together.
On 8 February 2021 I announced that approval in principle had been given for the financing of 390 new homes for Cost Rental under the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) scheme. Allocated €35m in Budget 2021, the CREL scheme will see the Government issue 40-year loans to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to cover up to 30% of the capital cost of new homes for Cost Rental. These loans have 1% simple interest, fixed for the lifetime of the loan, and no repayment is required until the end of the loan term, at which point both the principal and the accrued interest will fall due.
Whilst AHBs may invest their own equity, it is anticipated the majority of remaining capital costs will be primarily sourced from long-term commercial debt funding. To this end, the Housing Finance Agency has made available €100m in 40-year loans for CREL-approved projects in 2021, competitively priced at 1.25% interest fixed for the first 30 years.
Following a Call for Proposals and a rigorous assessment process, approval in principle was granted to Clúid, Respond, and Tuath AHBs for CREL funding of 390 new Cost Rental homes in 2021. Precise details of the funded projects, including locations, housing typologies, and cost-covering rents, will be released when the AHBs have completed the financial and commercial arrangements.
406. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps open to a seaweed harvester who wishes to register seaweed harvesting rights on their folio which abuts the shoreline from which they harvest seaweed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13342/21]
View answerLegal registration of seaweed harvesting rights, such as those held by traditional seaweed harvesters is a matter for the Property Registration Authority of Ireland (PRAI), accordingly, my Department has no role in that process.
Those wishing to register related rights should engage directly with the PRAI who can be contacted at: www.prai.ie .
