Written Answers Nos. 779-797
779. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans in place to encourage town living through the identification of vacant housing, buildings and heritage buildings in towns and villages in order to conserve existing buildings and to incentivise persons to live in built-up areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19913/21]
View answerThe primary benefit of bringing vacant buildings back in to use is the increased supply of quality and sustainable housing for the individuals and families. Revitalising our main streets through well designed refurbishment of residential units, particularly above shops, could help to rejuvenate rural areas, smaller town centres and city streets as well as producing more homes. The Government is committed to bringing vacant and partially vacant properties back into use.
There are a number of supports available to owners to bring vacant housing stock back into use including:
- The Repair and Leasing Scheme, this is available to assist private property owners, local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies in utilising existing vacant housing stock throughout the country. The 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 property. If eligible for the scheme, the property owner can avail of a loan of up to €60,000 from the local authority to carry out the refurbishment of property.
- The Buy and Renew initiative particularly focuses on older vacant homes to help tackle the problem of dereliction and improve the appearance of the community with the added value of delivery social housing units. It provides the option for suitable properties to be purchased rather than leased.
In December 2018, my Department published the Bringing Back Homes Manual for the Reuse of Existing Buildings.
The Bringing Back Homes manual is aimed at property owners, members of the public, local authorities and stakeholders in the construction industry who are interested in developing vacant buildings. It provides clear and detailed guidance on current policy and regulatory requirements that apply to this form of development.
The Bringing Back Homes manual is available to download at:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/68a5b-bringing-back-homes-manual-for-the-reuse-of-existing-buildings
The manual also supports the work of the vacant homes offices in local authorities, which create a central point of contact for those interested in developing existing buildings. These offices are a useful resource to assist developers and owners in clarifying the regulatory requirements that exist and how they apply to development, thus reducing uncertainty and complexity but maintaining safe, sustainable and quality standards for homes.
My Department is working closely with Local Authorities to encourage property owners to avail of the Buy and Renew Scheme and the Repair and Lease Scheme to combat vacancy and dereliction and to accelerate, where possible, bringing units back into use for residential purposes. This focus on greater use of these schemes also aligns with the ambition under Action 58 of “Our Rural Future – Rural Development Plan 2021 to 2025.
780. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the temporary accommodation pressures in County Donegal as a consequence of families having to vacate their houses due to demolition and reconstruction of houses with MICA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19921/21]
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 provisions available 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.
The aim of this scheme is to help in so far as possible to reinstate the applicant's home to the condition it would have been in had the original block work not been affected by pyrite/mica. The scheme provides funding in order to rectify the defective concrete blocks issue within individual homes.
I am keeping progress on the scheme under review and engaging with both local authorities and local action groups. As the scheme opened for applications in June 2020 and applicants are at various stages of the process, it would be premature to consider making any changes to the scheme at this time.
781. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the Programme for Government commitment to incentivise local authorities to bring forward pilot participatory budgeting projects; when details of same will be announced; the funding mechanism to be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19941/21]
View answerIn light of the considerable other challenges facing the local government sector at the moment, particularly the ongoing response to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, I have no immediate plans to activate this measure. It will be kept under review over the coming months.
782. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of fines imposed on Ireland by the EU in each of the past ten years due to raw sewage being released into coastal waters at various wastewater treatment plants nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19955/21]
View answer783. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of fines imposed on Ireland by the EU in each of the past ten years due to raw sewage being released into Dublin Bay by the Ringsend wastewater treatment plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19958/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 783 and 782 together.
There have been no fines or costs payable by Ireland as a result of the judgment in March 2019 by the Court of Justice of the European Union on Ireland's non-compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, including in relation to the Ringsend plant. Following the judgment my Department, accompanied by Irish Water, met Commission officials and proposed a programme of measures to ensure this case is resolved. My Department wrote to the European Commission in January this year to outline progress on the programme of measures and will continue to update the Commission on progress on this case on a regular basis. Works have been completed at 16 of the 28 agglomerations identified in the judgment to bring them into compliance with the Directive.
Irish Water continues to develop and implement a long-term investment perspective in order to strategically address the deficiencies in the public water and waste water system. Building water and waste water treatment plants, as well as upgrading or building new water and waste water networks, requires significant and sustained investment. The National Development Plan 2018-2027 provides for significant investment in public water and wastewater infrastructure over the course of the plan to ensure the continued operation, repair and upgrading of Ireland’s water and waste water infrastructure to support social and economic development across the State and ensure compliance with EU Directives.
784. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has examined the increased costs of building materials such as timber, steel and other essential materials; if he has assessed the impact that recent price increases will have on housing supply; if he will introduce measures to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20019/21]
View answerChanges in relation to building material costs are monitored and recorded by the Central Statistics Office (Wholesale Price Index for Building & Construction Materials). Issues relating to increases in construction costs generally and measures to address such issues, are matters for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform, whose Department convenes the Construction Sector Group to support regular and open dialogue between Government and industry on how best to achieve and maintain a sustainable and innovative construction sector positioned to successfully deliver on the commitments in Project Ireland 2040.
Given my own Department’s role in relation to public housing, we of course are concerned with regard to construction costs and recognise that significant material cost increases can result in increased tender costs. In this regard, we continually monitor tender cost trends through ongoing engagement with colleagues in local authorities and through engagement with other Departments and the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland. My Department continues to work with each local authority to ensure that projects are developed and progressed in a cost effective manner.
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785. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the Arklow wastewater treatment plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20068/21]
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. The prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for determination by Irish Water.
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.
Under section 16 of the Water Services Act 2013 (as amended by section 46 of the Gas Regulation Act 2013), Irish Water is required to seek the consent of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given with the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to enter into capital commitments. Irish Water must seek Ministerial consent prior to entering into any individual capital commitment (or a series of individual capital commitments in respect of a project) of a value in excess of €20m. This is a financial control and not a project consent.
In the context of the updated Public Spending Code for evaluating, planning and managing the public investment in the project as it proceeds through its lifecycle, consideration is also being given to the appropriate application of the Code having regard to the current lifecycle stage of the project.
Irish Water expects construction work to begin in the second half of 2021. Together with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, we are expediting our consideration of the capital commitment consent for a timely decision to support Irish Water’s plans to commence construction. While I understand further inputs into this review process are awaited from Irish Water, I expect to be in a position to provide a timely decision to support Irish Water in its delivery of the project once scrutiny is complete.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
786. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 625 of 24 March 2021, when he expects to receive the updated data in respect of quarter 1 2021 from local authorities in terms of short-term letting regulations. [20115/21]
View answerMy Department requests information from local authorities on the implementation and enforcement of the Short-term Letting Regulations on a quarterly basis. The Q1 2021 data will be requested in the coming days.
787. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when legislation for the new role of a directly elected mayor for Limerick city and county will be brought before Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20127/21]
View answerFollowing Government approval at the end of January, work has advanced as a priority in my Department to draft a general scheme providing for a directly elected mayor with executive functions for Limerick city and county. The general scheme also includes an electoral code to facilitate the holding of mayoral elections in Limerick, as well as provisions to allow for the holding of plebiscites in other jurisdictions in 2024 as outlined in the Programme For Government.
I am pleased to confirm that on Tuesday, 20 April, Government approved the publication of the general scheme, its forwarding to the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for pre-legislative scrutiny and the priority drafting of the Bill.
788. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when his Department will publish the annual planning and development statistics for the years 2013 to 2019 for each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20128/21]
View answerPlanning statistics are compiled by each planning authority on an annual basis for collation and publication on my Department’s website, at the following link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/service/9e4ee-get-planning-statistics/ .
The data collected relates to the total number of applications and decisions for all developments that require planning permission, broken down by year and planning authority.
In addition, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical office, compiles and makes available detailed data on a number of planning related issues including permissions granted and completions by development type and county. Data is available at the following link on the CSO website: https://www.cso.ie/en/statistics/construction/planningpermissions/ .
790. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if one-off housing on family-owned land in a location (details supplied) will be considered for approval under the Ireland 2040 plan; and when the planning rules recommended in the plan will come into force. [20162/21]
View answerUnder Section 30 of the Planning and Development 2000 Act, as amended, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is specifically precluded from exercising power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned. It is therefore not possible for me to comment on any individual case.
More generally however, under the Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Rural Housing 2005, planning authorities are required to frame the planning policies in their development plans in a balanced and measured way that ensures the housing needs of rural communities are met, while avoiding excessive urban-generated housing. The 2005 Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines were issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and are available on the Government’s website at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/23809-sustainable-rural-housing-development-guidelines/ . My Department communicated to planning authorities (Circular letter PL 2/2017) on 31 May 2017, advising that the existing 2005 Guidelines remain in place until advised otherwise by the Department and this remains valid.
Since 2018, the National Planning Framework (NPF) has been in force as the national planning policy document, as part of Project Ireland 2040. The NPF is a planning policy framework rather than a set of recommendations and provides an important strategic basis for interpreting the 2005 Guidelines and in particular, the distinction between urban and rural generated housing.
In this regard, NPO 19 of the NPF aims to ensure that a policy distinction is made between areas experiencing significant overspill development pressure from urban areas, particularly within the commuter catchment of cities, towns and centres of employment, on the one hand, and other remoter and weaker rural areas where population levels may be low and or declining, on the other. NPO 19 is also aligned with the established approach whereby considerations of social (intrinsic part of the community) or economic (persons working full or part time) need may be applied by planning authorities in rural areas under urban influence.
The NPF acknowledges that rural settlements are not suitable for a suburban or a high density approach to development and tailored design approaches are needed. The NPF also recognises that in rural Ireland many people seek to have an opportunity to build their own homes.
Work is current underway on an update of the 2005 Guidelines and I expect to receive an initial draft guidelines document shortly. Given the complexity of the issues involved, the need for environmental assessment and both internal and external consultation, I would expect draft updated guidelines to be available later in 2021.
In the interim, the NPF objectives together with the 2005 Guidelines, enable planning authorities to continue to draft and adopt county development plan policies for one-off housing in rural areas.
Question Nos. 791 and 792 answered with Question No. 729.
794. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to correspondence received by Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning dated 12 March 2021 in relation to the CPO of lands (details supplied); the action his Department has taken in relation to the new information contained in this correspondence; and if he has brought this new information to the attention of the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Minister for Transport. [20311/21]
View answer796. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he considers the 12 March 2012 Report of the Independent Review of the management by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government of an application by Wicklow County Council for loan approval in respect of the compulsory purchase of land at Charlesland, County Wicklow and the 9 February 2013 Report of the Independent Review of the Compulsory Acquisition of Land at Charlesland, County Wicklow by Wicklow County Council to be reliable given the new evidence provided to his Department. [20313/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 794 and 796 together.
The independent reviews in question were carried out in accordance with the agreed terms of reference that addressed each of the specific concerns that had been raised by certain public representatives during 2011. The reviews found that the relevant legal requirements and administrative requirements or practices were complied with by the Department and the Council.
The reviews were carried out on a non-statutory basis and as such the reviewer did not have powers to make any binding determinations of facts. The reports state that any findings or conclusions made should be viewed in that context. The reports further state that the reviewer obtained the full cooperation of all parties concerned.
Subsequent to the review being completed, further correspondence was received by my Department, most recently dated 12 March 2021, in relation to a number of additional concerns. These additional concerns raised are being considered.
795. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a meeting took place on 29 September 2014 between a senior Department official and three persons to discuss the unauthorised removal from the Minister’s office of a file pertaining to the CPO of lands (details supplied) and to receive a replacement file; if a security file within his Department was created in connection with the security search for the missing file; and if the unauthorised taking of the file from the Minister’s office between the dates of its first delivery on 1 September 2014 to the date of the replacement file of 29 September 2014 was reported to An Garda Síochána. [20312/21]
View answerIt is my understanding that a meeting took place in Leinster House on 29 September 2014 between the Private Secretary to the then Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and 3 other people for the purpose of obtaining a copy of a file that had been sent by them to the Minister and subsequently mislaid.
The original file was not removed from the Minister's office without authorisation but was inadvertently placed with other papers and subsequently found after a period of time. Accordingly, the matter was not reported to An Garda Síochána, as there was no security incident.
797. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects to be able to introduce the new streamlined local authority funding model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20317/21]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 92 of 11 February 2021 which sets out the position in this matter.
