Written Answers Nos. 722-740
722. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding his Department allocated to An Taisce in each of the years 2012 to 2020; the expected allocation for 2021; the expected allocation for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19006/21]
View answer731. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of State funding provided by his Department to An Taisce every year for the past five years; the categories under which such funding has been provided; the amount of funding provided to An Taisce which has been used by the body for legal challenges against planning applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19286/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 722 and 731 together.
My Department has provided a total of €3.9m to An Taisce between 2012 and 2020. Some €720,000 has been budgeted for 2021.
This funding supports a range of environmental education, awareness raising and citizen activation programmes operated by An Taisce. These programmes include:
- The Blue Flag programme, which aims to improve bathing water quality by encouraging compliance with EU bathing water quality standards, information provision, environmental education, safety and beach management;
- The Green Schools programme, which aims to teach schoolchildren about the complexity, value and importance of the marine environment and looks at the detrimental impact certain human activities can have upon it, as well as teaching them about marine biodiversity and habitats and the impacts of other human activities;
- The Clean Coasts programme, which engages coastal communities in the protection of Ireland’s beaches, seas and marine life. As well as local community groups, it engages local authorities, State Agencies and the business community who work together in an integrated way to implement this programme; and
- The Green Flag programme, which seeks to promote best practice management of green heritage sites, and sustainably enhances heritage tourism to these sites.
It is a condition of funding for these programmes that it is only used for the agreed purpose and approved criteria within An Taisce’s Environmental Education Unit. My Department's grant support for these programmes may not be used to fund any other programmes or the operations of any other unit of An Taisce.
Please see below table for a breakdown of funding to An Taisce by subhead in each of the years 2012-2021:
723. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 138 of 9 September 2020 and 334 of 13 January 2021, when final sanction for a small scale infill social housing development (details supplied) in Dublin 11 will be approved; the reason for the long delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19029/21]
View answerStage 1 and 2 approval was issued by my Department in January 2021 for the construction of 6 three-bedroom dwellings for older persons at Berryfield Drive, Finglas.
In March 2021, Dublin City Council advised my Department that the design of this development has since changed to 10 units, made up of a combination of 1 and 2 bedroom units. The Approved Housing Bodies concerned will be seeking planning permission for the revised design and a revised Stage 2 application is expected from the Council in due course.
Final sanction will be considered by my Department at Stage 4 Post-tender when the final costs are available from the tender report.
724. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the body responsible for co-ordination and enforcement of legislation in relation to magnet fishing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19067/21]
View answerWaterways Ireland manages the Royal Canal, Grand Canal, Barrow Line and Barrow Navigation under the provisions of the Canals Act 1986 (Bye Laws) 1988 (Statutory Instrument No 247 / 1988). The Canals Act 1986 and the Heritage Act 2018 provide primary legislation empowering Waterways Ireland to make Bye Laws regarding the management of these waterways.
Bye Law 38(s) of the Canals Act 1986 (Bye Laws) 1988 (Statutory Instrument No 247 / 1988) states that: “No person shall remove any sand, gravel or other material from the canal property without the permission of the Commissioners”.
Waterways Ireland manages the Shannon Navigation and Shannon Erne Waterway under the provisions of the Shannon Navigation Bye Laws 1992 as amended. The Shannon Navigation Act 1990 provides primary legislation empowering Waterways Ireland to make Bye Laws regarding the management of these waterways.
Bye Law 28 (k) of the Shannon Navigation Bye Laws 1992 states that: “A person shall not remove any sand, gravel or other material from the navigation without the permission of the Commissioners”.
The Bye Laws do not expressly prohibit magnet fishing, however, the Bye Laws do prohibit the removal of any material without the permission of Waterways Ireland. Waterways Ireland is a statutory body that enforces the Bye Laws on its waterways.
It should also be noted that the provisions of the National Monuments Acts also apply here is so far as this is germane to metal detecting.
725. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the location of the first 440 cost rental homes; the criteria that will be used for the allocation of same; and the way persons that are not first-time buyers but have a housing need will be accommodated. [19070/21]
View answerThe first Cost Rental site in Ireland, comprising 50 units at Enniskerry Road in Stepaside, is currently under construction by the Tuath and Respond Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), with the support of low-cost land from the Housing Agency and an infrastructure grants of c.€4m from my Department’s Serviced Sites Fund. The mixed-tenure development also includes 105 social housing units. The cost-covering rent for a two-bedroom apartment is projected to be €1,200 per month, which represents a very significant discount on market prices in the area (c.€2,000). Delivery is scheduled for Q3 2021.
On 8 February 2021 I announced approval in principle for a further 390 Cost Rental homes under the new Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) scheme. This scheme was allocated €35m in funding in Budget 2021, which is being used to make loans on favourable terms to AHBs for up to 30% of the cost of new homes for Cost Rental. Following a Call for Proposals and assessment process, CREL financing has been granted this year for 390 new homes. These are located in Dublin, the surrounding Greater Dublin Area, and Cork, with cost-covering rents projected to be at least 25% below comparable open market prices. Precise details of the funded projects, including specific locations, housing typologies, and cost-covering rents, will be released once the relevant AHBs have fully completed the necessary financial and commercial arrangements.
All Cost Rental homes will be operated and allocated in line with provisions which will be contained in the forthcoming Affordable Housing Bill. The Bill will define Cost Rental in Ireland for the first time and will allow the Minister to regulate tenancies in which the rent covers only clearly defined costs. It is my intention that the Bill will stipulate that the rent may increase on an annual basis only in line with consumer inflation, so that it will remain stable in real terms while continuing to cover rising management and maintenance costs.
Operational conditions for Cost Rental, including specific eligibility criteria and allocations procedures, will be finalised in the legislation. The primary condition on eligibility being considered is the setting by the Minister of a maximum household income for new tenants, which will ensure that Cost Rental benefits the target cohort of moderate-income households. These households would be above the income limits for social housing supports and facing affordability pressures in the private rental market. As Cost Rental is not a means of purchasing a home, there are currently no plans to restrict applications for Cost Rental tenancies to those who are first-time buyers only.
726. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19143/21]
View answer798. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the financial supports he plans to introduce to promote the town centre first policy which aims to see redevelopment and renewal of often vacant or underused town centre buildings for new dwellings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20318/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 726 and 798 together.
While our towns and villages have shown remarkable resilience through recent crises, they require specific policy supports to ensure that they continue to function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live and work, to raise families, to act as the service, cultural and recreational hub for the surrounding areas, and to facilitate social and community interaction.
In this context, the Programme for Government (PFG) committed in outline to the development of a Town Centre First (TCF) policy. With a view to giving effect to this commitment and the actions outlined in the PFG, a TCF Inter-Departmental Group (IDG) was established in November 2020 to consider the regeneration of our towns and villages. The IDG is jointly chaired by my Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development.
In parallel, a Town Centre First Advisory Group was also established to enable the experiences of a broader group of stakeholders to be brought to bear in informing the process of policy development, and will support the work of the IDG.
Following the initial development stages through the forum of the IDG and Advisory Group, four key pillar areas have been agreed for the development of the TCF framework, which are:
- Governance & Enabling Structures;
- Economic & Social Purpose;
- Living Towns Approach;
- Investment & Resources.
Three working groups under the first three pillar areas, were set up in 2021, with nominees from each of the IDG representative organisations. It is intended that the outcome of these three groups will feed into the fourth, cross-cutting pillar regarding investment and resources. Work has progressed well and draft working group papers by are currently being developed for discussion, initially with the IDG, in the coming weeks.
A broad range of issues and themes are emerging from the work to date, many of which are similar in nature and which, significantly, have been identified independently by each of the groups. These include the challenges our towns currently face such as those associated with the provision of adequate employment opportunities, addressing vacant and derelict properties, the impact of online shopping on town-centre retail, and the general move away from town centre living and commercial activity.
There is general consensus among all the groups that there is no one solution or issue that can or should be addressed in isolation but rather that a TCF framework should be holistic and capable of being tailored to address the individual needs, size and characteristics of a town. Until such time as this work is further progressed and measures developed and agreed, it would be premature to address the specific matters raised.
The aim is that the IDG will provide recommendations for consideration by Government in June. It is envisaged that recommendations will cover the short, medium and longer-term out to 2040, to align with PI2040.
727. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of empty or unoccupied domestic dwellings in County Wexford by local electoral area; the action that has been taken to date in relation to these properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19213/21]
View answerMy Department does not hold the data on the amount of empty or unoccupied domestic dwellings in the State, nor does it hold data on the number of vacant properties in local electoral areas.
My Department is focused on ensuring that existing housing stock is utilised to its fullest extent including a targeted, effective and co-ordinated approach to identifying and tackling vacancy across Ireland. In that regard, my Department and local authorities are being proactive in dealing with vacant properties and there are a number of schemes available to incentivise reactivating suitable dwellings into the liveable housing stock.
The National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy was published in July 2018, and provides a targeted, effective and coordinated approach to identifying and tackling vacancy across Ireland. The range of objectives and actions it specifies have been pursued in partnership with stakeholders and agencies across the housing sector to address vacancy in our housing stock.
The key drivers of these actions are: local authorities, the Housing Agency, and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), supported by schemes available within my Department specifically designed to tackle vacancy, such as the Repair and Lease Scheme, the Buy and Renew Scheme and the Long Term Leasing Scheme.
- The Repair and Leasing Scheme is targeted at owners of vacant properties who cannot afford or access the funding needed to bring their properties up to the required standard for rental properties. The scheme provides upfront funding to carry out the works and, in return, the property owner agrees to lease the dwelling to the local authority to be used as social housing for a period up to 25 years. The maximum loan for property repair available under the scheme has been increased by my Department from €40,000 to €60,000. 27 properties have been brought back into use under the Repair and Lease Scheme in County Wexford.
- The Buy and Renew initiative allows local authorities to purchase private vacant properties for use as social housing. 9 properties have been brought back into use under the scheme in County Wexford.
- The Housing Acquisitions Fund is a €70 million revolving that was established in January 2017 with the objective of enabling the Housing Agency to acquire vacant units from banks and investment companies for social housing use. The fund is replenished by the Housing Agency through the sale of units primarily to the AHB sector and the funds received are then recycled back into the fund for future acquisitions. To date 16 properties have been brought back into use through the fund in County Wexford.
728. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of empty or unoccupied council owned properties in County Wexford by local electoral area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19214/21]
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 current location and number of vacant 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 levels of vacancy in 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/
729. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Part V social homes delivered by each local authority in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19224/21]
View answer791. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of units classified as turnkey units in each of the years 2017 to 2020 that were delivered as Part V units by year and local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20186/21]
View answer792. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of turnkey acquisitions by approved housing bodies and local authorities in each of the years 2017 to 2020 that were refurbishments, repairs or conversions of existing buildings and structures by year and local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20187/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 729, 791 and 792 together.
Turnkey social homes are generally new homes built by developers under contract for local authorities or Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). Turnkeys commonly provide a faster delivery of units (in the majority of cases, planning permission is already secured). In many instances, turnkey delivery has provided a means of delivery in locations where there is a social housing need but where a local authority has no suitable sites. Turnkeys purchased by local authorities or AHBs frequently have arisen where the developer has difficulty in financing the development and without the agreement to purchase by the local authority or the AHB, the scheme would not otherwise have been delivered. These homes are directly expanding overall housing supply because they are new homes built for the local authority or AHBs.
My Department published the Quarter 4 2020 Social Housing Construction Status Report, which provides details of all social housing developments, which have been completed or are under construction in each local authority. The report is available at the following link: https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-obrien-publishes-2020-social-housing-statistics/.
A version of this file can be downloaded at the following link and used for various analysis in terms of programme, stage of activity, location, quarter of completion, number of homes, etc. https://data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q4-2020
Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, requires that every planning permission to which the Part applies contains a condition that a Part V agreement be entered into between the developer and the planning authority for the transfer of land or units to the planning authority for the provision of social and affordable housing. When submitting a planning application, developers must specify how they intend to comply with these obligations. The homes delivered under Part V, following the introduction of changes to Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, effected through the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 (the relevant sections of which were commenced with effect from 1 September 2015), the range of options available through which Part V obligations might be satisfied was reduced. In particular, the payment of cash in lieu of homes or the transfer of sites or parts of sites was removed, and instead the remaining options are focused on the delivery of completed homes.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity. This data is available to the end of 2020, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/?referrer=http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
Details of the number of homes delivered through Part V in each local authority are available at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/fd048-affordable-housing-and-part-v-statistics/#part-v-scheme.
My Department does not hold any details in relation to turnkeys delivered through refurbishments or repairs of existing buildings.
730. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he will take to ensure that a protected structure of historical, social and architectural significance is not allowed to fall into further disrepair (details supplied); the role the OPW has to ensure this important building is maintained and preserved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19275/21]
View answerMy role with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the roles of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners.
Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, gives primary responsibility however, to local authorities to identify and protect the architectural heritage by including particular structures on the Record of Protected Structures (RPS). Inclusion on the RPS places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected structures and also gives planning authorities powers to deal with development proposals affecting them and to seek to safeguard their future.
As Minister, I can make recommendations to local authorities for buildings and structures to be included on the RPS. These recommendations arise from the surveys of my Department's National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH). I understand that the structure mentioned is on the RPS of the relevant local authority, along with other associated structures. I also understand that it is currently in the ownership of a financial institution.
My Department provides financial support for the protection of heritage buildings and historic structures through the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS), which are in the main, administered by local authorities. The BHIS has been allocated €3m this year, up 20% on 2020. Details of the projects to be funded were announced on 1 April and are available on my Department’s website. The HSF has also been allocated €3m, up over 75% on 2020. Applications under the HSF are currently being examined in my Department and I hope to make an announcement of the projects to be funded shortly. Details of the 2022 schemes will be made available later this year and an application in relation to the structure mentioned would be most welcome.
While I am supportive of efforts to identify suitable future uses to safeguard historic buildings, crucial to their future is the identification of a viable use or uses with sufficient income to ensure their survival. I understand, however, that the scale of investment needed for the structure mentioned would mean that the level of funding available under my Department's grant schemes may not, on its own, be sufficient.
The OPW has a role in relation to maintaining and managing national monuments and historic properties in state ownership, but has no role in relation to private properties.
732. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason An Taisce is a prescribed body in the planning process; the membership and directorship of An Taisce; if he has concerns regarding its remit and ability to cause huge delays to developments of significant importance to the farming community in the south east based on ideological grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19289/21]
View answerAn Taisce - the National Trust for Ireland - was initially designated as a precribed body within the planning system by way of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, (Miscellaneous) Regulations, 1964 - (S.I. No 219 of 1964).
The current prescribed functions in relation to the participation of An Taisce within the planning system are set out in the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act) and the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations).
In this regard, under article 28(1) of the Regulations, a planning authority is required to send notice to An Taisce on receipt of a planning application where it appears that:
- the land or structure is situated in an area of special amenity;
- the development would involve the carrying out of works to a protected structure or proposed protected structure, or to the exterior of a structure which is located within an architectural conservation area;
- the development might affect or be unduly close to a cave, site, feature or other object of archaeological, geological, scientific, ecological or historical interest;
- the development might affect or be unduly close to a monument or place recorded under section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, a historic monument or archaeological area entered in the Register of Historic Monuments under section 5 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1987 or a national monument in the ownership or guardianship of the Minister under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2004;
- the development might obstruct any scheme for improvement of the surroundings of, or any means of access to, any structure, place, feature or object referred to above;
- the development might have significant effects in relation to nature conservation;
- the development relates to development for the purposes of initial afforestation or the replacement of broadleaf high forest by conifer species.
Under article 28(2)(b) of the Regulations, any submission or observation made by a prescribed body to the planning authority in relation to a planning application before the decision is made is required to be taken into account by the planning authority in making its decision on the application.
An Taisce is a registered charity which is governed by a board of directors and members may join the organisation on payment of the necessary fee. As Minister, I have no statutory function in relation to the operations of the organisation. Further information on the organisation may be found at https://www.antaisce.org/.
Furthermore, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned, except in very specific circumstances, which do not apply to this case. This includes cases where An Taisce makes a submission or observation on any proposed development.
734. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline responses with regard to the enforcement of the new short-term letting regulations in counties Louth, Meath and Dublin (details supplied) by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19355/21]
View answerMy Department requests extensive Short-Term Letting data returns from local authorities on a quarterly basis and will be writing to local authorities in the coming days requesting returns for Q1 2021.
Some of the specific statistics requested are outlined in the table below, covering the period until the end of Q4 2020. However, under the Short-Term Letting arrangements, local authorities are not required to identify and report on the number of short-term lets returned to residential use. Additionally, fines can only be issued following successful prosecution, and as no prosecutions have yet been secured, no fines have been issued.
736. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the protocols and rules in place by his Department or local authorities, if any to determine the allocation and construction of (details supplied) per town and village in any particular county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19377/21]
View answerLocal authorities consider many factors when deciding on the location and volume of housing developments in their area. The zoning of land at particular locations is an exercise undertaken as part of the overall statutory development plan function under sections 9-13 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended). Under this legislation, the decision to zone land for development is specifically a reserved function of the elected members of the planning authority and this includes the zoning of lands for residential development in order to meet the identified housing needs of the local authority. In preparing the development plan, the consideration and decision on what particular lands to zone for housing is therefore taken by the elected members and is required to be consistent with national and regional planning policy and legislation, including as identified in the National Planning Framework, Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies and Ministerial planning guidelines.
In order to ensure that housing development can take place on lands that are zoned for development, national policy is that planning authorities would identify and zone lands that are serviced, and, lands that are considered serviceable within the timescale of the plan. It is important that zoned land can be developed as intended, as planning authorities must ensure that there is sufficient residential land available to meet identified housing needs.
Decisions relating to the location of social housing within local authorities is matter for individual local authorities, having regard to the social housing targets and the identified need for social housing in the various locations.
737. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of households currently in receipt of the housing assistance payment support in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19382/21]
View answer738. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the Exchequer expenditure on the housing assistance payment scheme in each of the years 2016 to 2020 inclusive by county in tabular form; the expected outlay for HAP per county in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19383/21]
View answer761. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of households in receipt of the housing assistance payment that have applied for a discretionary top up to their HAP payment; the number that were approved; the number of these applicants that received the full entitlement of the 20% top-up by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19679/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 737, 738 and 761 together.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is available to all eligible households throughout the State. At end Q4 2020 there were nearly 60,000 households in receipt of HAP and over 33,520 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the scheme.
In respect of the provision of HAP funding, Limerick City and County Council provides a highly effective HAP transactional shared service on behalf of all local authorities. This HAP Shared Services Centre (SSC) manages all HAP related rental transactions for the tenant, local authority and landlord. Accordingly, my Department does not recoup individual local authorities in respect of HAP rental payments in their administrative areas but, rather, recoups all landlord costs via the HAP SSC.
Budget 2021 increased the Exchequer funding for the HAP scheme to €558 million. This will allow for the continued support of existing HAP households and also enable an additional 15,000 households to be supported by HAP in 2021.
Data in relation to funding provided by the State for HAP tenancies in 2019 and 2020, broken down by local authority area, can be found on my Department's website at this link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#housing-assistance-payment
This funding represents the portion paid by my Department after receipt of the differential rent which is paid by the tenant to the local authority. It does not include administration costs related to the Scheme.
Details on the Total Exchequer funding for HAP from 2016 to 2020 are set out in the table below:
|
Year |
No. of Local Authorities operating HAP Scheme |
Outturn - €M |
|
2016 |
28 |
57.69 |
|
2017 |
31 |
152.69 |
|
2018 |
31 |
276.60 |
|
2019 |
31 |
382.40 |
|
2020 |
31 |
464.60 |
The table below shows the number of households at the end of Q4 2020, broken down by local authority, who are in receipt of Housing Assistance Payment support.
|
Local Authority |
Total Active HAP Tenancies @ 31-12-2020 |
|
Carlow County Council |
743 |
|
Cavan County Council |
429 |
|
Clare County Council |
1,423 |
|
Cork City Council |
3,133 |
|
Cork County Council |
3,722 |
|
Donegal County Council |
1,833 |
|
Dublin City Council |
4,863 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
735 |
|
Fingal County Council |
2,089 |
|
Galway City Council |
1,951 |
|
Galway County Council |
1,428 |
|
Kerry County Council |
1,623 |
|
Kildare County Council |
2,398 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
854 |
|
Laois County Council |
982 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
293 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
2,442 |
|
Longford County Council |
379 |
|
Louth County Council |
3,280 |
|
Mayo County Council |
1,356 |
|
Meath County Council |
2,275 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
628 |
|
Offaly County Council |
877 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
468 |
|
Sligo County Council |
831 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
2,936 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
1,868 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
2,127 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
1,014 |
|
Wexford County Council |
1,613 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
1,668 |
|
Dublin Regional Homeless Executive* |
7,560 |
|
Grand Total |
59,821 |
*The DRHE is operating the HAP Homeless Place Finder Service on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities.
Each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 20% above the prescribed maximum rent limit to secure appropriate accommodation for a household that requires it, or up to 50% in the case of homeless households in the Dublin region. It is a matter for the local authority to determine, on a case by case basis, whether, and to what extent, the application of the flexibility is warranted. My Department does not hold data on the number of households in receipt of the housing assistance payment that have applied for a discretionary top up to their HAP payment.
The table below shows the number of households at the end of Q4 2020, broken down by local authority, who are in receipt of discretion, and sets out the average level of discretion in each area. This table excludes homeless households in Dublin who were eligible to receive up to 50% discretion.
|
Local Authority |
Number of Tenancies availing of discretion - Excluding DRHE Homeless 50% |
Average level of discretion % |
|
Carlow County Council |
294 |
17.7% |
|
Cavan County Council |
144 |
18.2% |
|
Clare County Council |
895 |
18.8% |
|
Cork City Council |
1,655 |
16.6% |
|
Cork County Council |
790 |
17.5% |
|
Donegal County Council |
117 |
19.9% |
|
Dublin City Council |
2,766 |
15.7% |
|
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
622 |
18.0% |
|
Fingal County Council |
1,224 |
14.8% |
|
Galway City Council |
1,451 |
16.8% |
|
Galway County Council |
608 |
17.2% |
|
Kerry County Council |
895 |
18.6% |
|
Kildare County Council |
1,252 |
14.7% |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
242 |
19.5% |
|
Laois County Council |
589 |
18.9% |
|
Leitrim County Council |
53 |
19.8% |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
554 |
18.4% |
|
Longford County Council |
168 |
18.9% |
|
Louth County Council |
1,231 |
17.0% |
|
Mayo County Council |
1,160 |
18.2% |
|
Meath County Council |
1,668 |
16.3% |
|
Monaghan County Council |
444 |
18.8% |
|
Offaly County Council |
285 |
18.0% |
|
Roscommon County Council |
173 |
18.5% |
|
Sligo County Council |
93 |
14.8% |
|
South Dublin County Council |
434 |
14.5% |
|
Tipperary County Council |
525 |
17.9% |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
829 |
18.5% |
|
Westmeath County Council |
359 |
16.7% |
|
Wexford County Council |
681 |
17.2% |
|
Wicklow County Council |
506 |
16.6% |
|
Total |
22,707 |
17.0% |
739. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 340 of 6 October 2020, the status of the case relating to a windfarm (details supplied); the amount of fines paid and owed to date; the retrospective environmental impact assessment substitute consent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19394/21]
View answerOn Tuesday 12 November 2019, the Court of Justice of the European Union issued its judgment in case C-261/18, which followed on from the judgment in case C-215/06. The judgment ruled against Ireland and imposed a lump sum fine of €5m and a daily fine of €15,000 until compliance is achieved, plus legal costs. The court judgment will be complied with when the Derrybrien Wind Farm, which is owned and operated by a subsidiary of ESB, is subjected to a retrospective Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) - otherwise known as substitute consent.
On Friday 21 August 2020, the ESB submitted a substitute consent application to An Bord Pleanála (the Board). However, in accordance with Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or the Board is or may be concerned.
In this regard, it would be a matter for the Board, in terms of issuing a decision on the substitute consent application, as well as for the ESB, in terms of carrying out any associated works which might be required to comply with the Board’s decision.
My Department is working closely with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, which is a shareholder of ESB and has corporate governance responsibility for same, and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, with respect to the resolution of the judgment and payment of the related fines. Discussions between the three Departments are ongoing.
With regard to the payment of fines, the lump sum fine of €5m was paid in January 2020. The Commission advised that compliance with the judgment would be assessed on a six monthly basis, with a payment demand notice to issue in respect of each assessment period. The sum of €2,745,000 was paid in October 2020 in respect of daily fines accrued during the first assessment period, 12 November 2019 to 12 May 2020. The same sum is due for the second assessment period, from 12 May 2020 to 12 November 2020, but no payment demand notice has yet been received from the Commission. Therefore, a total of €7,745,000 has been paid to date in fines relating to the Derrybrien case. A further €5,160,000 has accrued in daily fines since the first instalment was paid.
740. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the role of the Heritage Council in assessing grants for the publication of books such as a book (details supplied); the level of funding provided each year for such projects; if there is a separate category for such books giving a unique historical perspective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19414/21]
View answerArrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department, which includes the Heritage Council, to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for the Heritage Council is oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie.
