Written Answers Nos. 703-721
703. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if grants are available for the provision of a sensory room in a private dwelling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18729/21]
View answerMy Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to support the Housing Adaptation Grants for People with a Disability in private houses. These grants are available to assist in the carrying out of works which are reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation of a person with a disability who has an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual impairment.
The detailed administration of the grants, including the assessment, approval and payment of individual grants to applicants, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority. The types of works allowable under the scheme include the provision or adaptation of rooms, for example downstairs toilet facilities or a sensory space, and the provision of stair-lifts, access ramps, accessible showers, adaptations to facilitate wheelchair access or other works which are reasonably necessary.
704. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures in place for reviewing the employment practices of State-related providers, for example, the ESB. [18733/21]
View answerAs the State bodies and other service providers, such as the local authorities, under the aegis of my Department are employing organisations in their own right, responsibility for their employment practices rests, in the first instance, with themselves, in accordance with employment law. This is supplemented by the State's industrial relations machinery, including the Workplace Relations Commission, which delivers a workplace relations service and employment rights framework for employers and employees.
In view of the foregoing, my Department does not routinely review employment practices in the employing organisations under its aegis.
705. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of developer provided infrastructure projects nationwide that fall outside the scope of circular PL5/14 of November 2014 and the agreed memoranda of understanding in terms of the transfer of water services infrastructure assets within the estates to Irish Water by local authority area in tabular form. [18777/21]
View answerI assume that the Deputy is referring to housing estates which are not taken-in-charge by local authorities and do not have their water services connected to the public (Irish Water) network but rely instead on infrastructure, often temporary in nature, which was provided by developers.
These estates fall outside the scope of the memoranda of understanding between local authorities and Irish Water entitled, ''Memorandum of Understanding in connection with the development of a process for the taking in charge of residential estates connected to the Irish Water owned or controlled water and wastewater network and excluding Developer Provided Infrastructure'', that the Deputy refers to.
The table under provides a summary of returns from a survey of these estates in each local authority area. The survey was conducted jointly by my Department and Irish Water at the end of 2019.
As part of my Department's initiative to address the needs of these developments in September 2020 I approved funding allocations under the Multiannual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme 2019-2021. Details of the Expert Panel report, which gives more details of these estates nationally is available on my Department's website at the link under:
https://www.gov.ie/en/circular/7ec47-circular-ldpi01-2020-approval-of-projects-residential-estates-under-the-developer-provided-water-services-infrastructure-under-the-multi-annual-developer-provided-water-services-infrastructure-resolution-programme-2019-2021/
It is important to note that the information in the table is point in time data which is continuously adjusting and requiring update as local authorities refine their information on these estates.
|
Local authority |
Number of Developer Provided Infrastructure housing estates in Q4 2019 |
|
Carlow |
5 |
|
Cavan |
7 |
|
Clare |
20 |
|
Cork |
43 |
|
Donegal |
197 |
|
Galway |
62 |
|
Kerry |
42 |
|
Kildare |
22 |
|
Kilkenny |
15 |
|
Laois |
2 |
|
Longford |
3 |
|
Monaghan |
4 |
|
Roscommon |
1 |
|
Sligo |
4 |
|
Tipperary |
28 |
|
Waterford |
8 |
|
Westmeath |
1 |
|
Wexford |
94 |
|
Wicklow |
8 |
|
Totals |
566 |
706. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount that has been allocated to date under the first round of Multi-annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme by local authority area in tabular form. [18778/21]
View answer707. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount that has been drawn down to date under the first round of Multi-annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme by local authority area in tabular form. [18779/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 706 and 707 together.
On 21 September 2020, I announced allocations under the new multiannual capital investment programme - the Multiannual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme 2019-2021 - for the progressive resolution of housing estates with developer provided water services infrastructure, to enable the taking in charge of these estates. Details of the allocations are available on my Department's website at the link under:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-services/circular-ldpi01-2020-approval-projects-residential-estates-under-developer
One local authority has had expenditure recouped to date under the Programme as set out below.
|
Local Authority |
Amount recouped (16 April 2021) |
|
Laois |
€30,564 |
708. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ascertain through the Property Registration Authority of Ireland the ownership of the granite outcrop to the rear of a location (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18798/21]
View answerIn relation to any specific cases with the Property Registration Authority (PRA), arrangements have been put in place to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. Further information in relation to the specific case referred to may be obtained by contacting the dedicated e-mail address in respect of the PRA at reps@prai.ie.
709. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if taking photography in a range of locations near a development site to facilitate the preparation of photomontages for visual impact assessment while preparing a file for planning submission or in response to a request for further information issued by a planning authority under the Planning and Development Acts that is in relation to a planning application which has already been made is an essential service under the restrictions now in place under level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18800/21]
View answerThe question is seeking an interpretation of the provisions of the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 10) Regulations 2020, specifically article 4(2)(a)(ii) of these Regulations.
In this regard, article 4(1) of the Regulations provides that an applicable person shall not leave his or her place of residence without reasonable excuse. Article 4(2) provides that such reasonable excuse includes an applicable person leaving his or her place of residence in order to "work, comply with a contract of employment or contract for services, or otherwise engage in work or employment where ... in all the circumstances, it is not practicable to so work, comply or engage in the person’s place of residence".
Interpretation of legislation is not one in which I, in my role as Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, have any statutory function and is one which is a matter for the Courts.
711. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the housing supply targets for all local authorities; the context of the current review of the county development plans and the National Planning Framework in tabular form. [18939/21]
View answerFurther to work commissioned by the Housing and Planning Divisions of my Department, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) published a report into structural housing demand in Ireland to 2040, on 14 December 2020. The ESRI research “Regional Demographics and Structural Housing Demand at County Level” provides an annual new household demand figure for each county from 2016 to 2040, for a number of difference development scenarios, including the NPF scenario, as an alternative spatial distribution to a’ business-as-usual’ approach.
Subsequently, a Ministerial Circular and the ‘Housing Supply Target Methodology for Development Planning, Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ were issued to all local authorities under Section 28 of the Planning & Development Act, 2000 (as amended). The Guidelines introduced a standardised national approach to be employed by each planning authority in projecting housing supply targets for each specific six-year period, when reviewing city or county development plans.
In addition to the ESRI work, the housing supply target methodology enables unmet housing demand, including homeless households to be taken into account, based on the latest available information for each local authority area and nationally. As each six-year development plan period will differ, new household projection data for each County to 2031 was also made available to each local authority.
All relevant data is available on my Department’s website at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/6d48f-ministerial-letter-to-local-authorities-structural-housing-demand-in-ireland-and-housing-supply-targets/
The housing supply target methodology also provides for a convergence period towards the NPF scenario to 2026, recognising that existing spatial patterns will need a period to align with the NPF strategy. Increased housing may be planned for within this period as set out in Section 4 of the Guidelines, where supported by a justification within the criteria specified. The Office of the Planning Regulator will examine such justifications as part of their statutory assessment of development plans function.
Each local authority must therefore apply the methodology to the particular timelines and projections for their County or City Development Plan as part of their development plan process. As these are individual development plans, none of which has been completed to date, there is no single table of local authority housing supply targets for each development plan at this time.
712. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the necessary funding will be made available to Irish Water, approximately €2 million, in order to progress the Ballina wastewater treatment plant in County Tipperary through detailed design and awarding of the contract in parallel to the planning process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18943/21]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels.
Irish Water is currently funded through a combination of government revenue subvention and capital contributions in respect of domestic water services, non-domestic revenue including new connection revenue and non-domestic borrowings.
As part of Budget 2021, I secured funding of over €1.4 billion to support water services. This includes €1.3 billion in respect of domestic water services provision by Irish Water. This overall investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and wastewater services, support improved water supplies right across Ireland, including rural Ireland, and support a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine area.
The prioritisation and progression of individual projects, including the one referred to in the question, is a matter for determination by Irish Water within this overall funding regime.
It may be helpful to note that Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email at Oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
713. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant social housing for 2020, by local authority and month. [18946/21]
View answerLocal authorities will always have a level of vacancy in their housing stock. This will fluctuate over time, as tenancy surrender and re-letting of stock is an ongoing process. Therefore, ongoing data in relation to the location and date of vacancy of local authority units are not collated by my Department.
However, statistics in relation to social housing stock, at a point in time, are published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) in their Annual Reports on Performance Indicators in Local Authorities. These reports provide a range of information in relation to social housing stock, including the number of vacant local authority owned properties. The most recent report, relating to 2019, is available on the NOAC website at the following link:
https://noac.ie/noac_publications/noac-performance-indicators-report-2019/
714. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the further solutions he is proposing to address the issue of voids on local authorities such as Cork City Council. [18947/21]
View answer715. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to increase the funding directed towards local authorities to address voids under the new programme; and the breakdown as to the targets and limits for this funding for local authorities. [18953/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 714 and 715 together.
The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.
Since 2014, Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. This funding was introduced originally to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted to support authority's to ensure minimal turnaround and re-let times for vacant stock.
In relation to Cork City Council, the local authority has received some €23 million of funding from 2014 to 2020, supporting 1,320 homes being returned to use.
My Department will continue to support local authorities in their work remediating vacant social housing properties in 2021. In preparation for this year’s programme correspondence issued to all local authorities requesting data on the total number of vacant units within their social housing stock as at January 2021. This process will help inform funding requirements and allocations for this year’s programme. A further communication in respect of the 2021 voids programme will issue to all local authorities shortly.
It is important to note that my Department and local authorities are working to transition from a largely response and voids based approach for housing stock management and maintenance to a more planned maintenance approach. This will require the completion of stock condition surveys by all local authorities and the subsequent development of strategic and informed work programmes in response. My Department will support these work programmes by ensuring that the funding available under the various stock improvement programmes are aligned with this approach.
716. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications for funding under the vacant properties voids programme for 2020 that have been received from Limerick City and County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18961/21]
View answer717. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications for funding under the vacant properties voids programme for 2020 received from Limerick City and County Council that have been approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18962/21]
View answer718. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are 152 vacant properties voids owned by Limerick City and County Council in Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18963/21]
View answer719. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are 152 vacant properties voids across the Limerick City and County Council authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18964/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 716 to 719, inclusive, together.
The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.
Since 2014, Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. This funding was introduced originally to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted to support authority's to ensure minimal turnaround and re-let times for vacant stock.
In relation to Limerick City and County Council, the local authority has received some €6.5 million of funding from 2014 to 2020, resulting in 393 units being returned to use.
My Department will continue to support local authorities in their work remediating vacant social housing properties in 2021. In preparation for this year’s programme correspondence issued to all Local Authorities requesting they provide figures on the total number of vacant units within their social housing stock as at January 2021. This process will help inform funding requirements and allocations for this year’s programme. A further communication in respect of the 2021 voids programme will issue to all local authorities shortly.
It is important to note that my Department and local authorities are working to transition from a largely response and voids based approach to housing stock management and maintenance to a planned maintenance approach. This will require the completion of stock condition surveys by all local authorities and the subsequent development of strategic and informed work programmes in response.
720. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the hen harrier threat response plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18968/21]
View answerMy Department is scheduling the Inter-departmental meeting for a final review of the Hen Harrier threat response plan in the coming days. A publication date for the Plan will be announced pending the outcome of this final review meeting.
721. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria for the recent URDF; the reason an application (details supplied) failed to meet this criteria; the person or body that adjudicated on the applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18977/21]
View answerThe primary focus of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is on supporting projects that will contribute to compact growth and that will improve the liveability of our cities and towns. All applications for URDF support are assessed in terms of their alignment with the intended purpose of the URDF and also their viability before being considered for approval.
The second call for proposals was launched in January 2020 and a copy of the circular setting out the objectives of the Fund and application conditions together with the application form and assessment criteria have been available on my Departments website since then at the below link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/bcc0ae-eligibility-for-the-urban-regeneration-and-development-fund/
To assist local authorities with the application process, my Department also hosted a number of workshops to provide information on the purpose of the URDF programme and the types of proposals that would be considered for support. In all 76 proposals were received, with every local authority submitting at least one application, and involving competing demands with a total combined value exceeding €2 billion. All applications were assessed in terms of their alignment with the intended purpose of the URDF programme and also their viability before being considered for approval.
Dublin City Council submitted four applications under Call 2 of the URDF, of which two were successful. €174,300,554 has been provisionally approved for Dublin City Council’s successful Call 2 projects - North Inner City Concept Area 1 (€121,285,388) and South Inner City Concept Area 1 (€53,015,166). This is in addition to €15,781,960 already approved for 8 projects under Call 1 bringing total URDF support for projects in the Dublin City area to €190,082,514 over both URDF calls.
Ultimately, Dublin City Council’s application in respect of proposals related to the implementation of the Park-West Cherry Orchard Local Area Plan 2019 was deemed unsuccessful following the comprehensive assessment process, which involved four distinct parts:
- An initial assessment of all proposals carried out by my Department was provided to a Project Advisory Board (PAB) comprised of civil servants, specialists in the various relevant sectoral areas and representatives from other interested Government Departments/Agencies.
- The PAB considered each proposal in terms of the set URDF assessment criteria and made recommendations on suitability for consideration for URDF support.
- The PAB recommendations were reviewed by a sub-group of the Department's Management Board.
- Final recommendations were submitted for my consideration.
A copy of the detailed assessment of this proposal will soon be provided to the applicant, Dublin City Council, following which my officials will be available to provide any further feedback and information required by City Council officials on the assessment.
