Written Answers Nos. 798-817
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Written Answers Nos. 798-817
799. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to a question to the European Commission (details supplied), if he consulted with the Commission in relation to making public land available to not for profit housing associations to build social and affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20338/21]
View answerThe Approved Housing Body (AHB) sector in Ireland has played, and will continue to a play, a significant role in the provision of social housing for low-income households and has done so using land made available to it by local authorities. The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, commits to putting affordability at the heart of the housing system. The Government also views the AHBs as key partners in the delivery of affordable housing under the new Cost Rental model both the immediate future and over the longer term, for which the forthcoming Affordable Housing Bill will provide a statutory foundation.
In the case of public land owned by local authorities, the disposal of such land to AHBs is first and foremost a matter for local authorities. In the case of land held by Government Departments and their subordinate agencies and companies, its disposal is governed by general public interest considerations and the Government’s specific commitment to deliver public and social housing, as set out in the Programme for Government.
The forthcoming Land Development Agency Bill will allow the Minister to set an affordability requirement, varying according to local needs, for the delivery of affordable homes for sale or rent on public lands.
800. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of sites being assessed for the vacant sites levy in each local authority area; the number of sites for which planning permission has been granted in each local authority area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20349/21]
View answerUnder the vacant site levy provisions in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, planning authorities were empowered to apply a vacant site levy of 3% of the market valuation of relevant properties which were listed on local authority vacant site registers in 2018, which relevant owners were liable to pay in January 2019. The rate of the levy increased to 7% for sites listed on local authority vacant sites register from 2019 onwards which site owners became liable to pay in January 2020.
My Department does not maintain a central register of vacant sites as each local authority administers the vacant site levy in respect of their functional area; this includes site assessment, assignment of market valuation and maintaining a local register. As provided for under the Act, the register in respect of each local authority is available for inspection at its offices and online on its website. Therefore, the specific information requested is not available in my Department.
In relation to planning statistics generally, these 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/collection/6e88b-planning-statistics/
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/ .
801. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the planned ownership of the Land Development Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20379/21]
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 primary legislation when it will be established as a commercial State agency.
As stated in the Programme for Government, legislation to establish the LDA on a statutory basis is being progressed as a matter of priority. The Land Development Agency Bill 2021 will focus on the establishment of the corporate form and financial structure of the Agency. The LDA Bill was recently published and has been debated at Second Stage in Dáil Éireann.
Once the primary legislation is in place, arrangements will be finalised for the capitalisation of the LDA with funding of up to €1.25 billion being provided from Ireland Strategic Investment Fund.
Under the LDA Bill, the initial shareholding in the LDA will be €100 million, with the Minister of Public Expenditure and Reform being the majority shareholder, holding shares with a value of €99 million, and the Minister for Housing being a minority shareholder, holding shares with a value of €1 million.
802. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the person or body the Land Development Agency will be answerable to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20380/21]
View answer803. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the person or body who will be answerable to the Land Development Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20381/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 802 and 803 together.
The 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 primary legislation when it will be established as a commercial State agency. In accordance with the LDA Bill, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and myself will the sole shareholders of the Land Development Agency, who will also be accountable to Public Accounts Committee and other Committees of the Oireachtas as appropriate.
Under the Land Development Agency Bill 2021, the LDA will require the approval of the Minister for Housing, along with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and Minister for Finance in certain circumstances, for a range of processes. These include such processes as entering into capital commitments, disposing of land and establishing subisidiary Designated Activity Companies (DACs). The Minister for Housing will receive advice from the New Economy and Recovery Authority (“NewERA”)(a business unit of the National Treasury Management Agency) when assessing these requests.
Under the Bill, the LDA will also be required to report to the Minister for Housing on its progress with regards to the achievement of the purposes of the Act every five years. The LDA will also have to comply with any directions given by the Minister for Housing, with the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, in relation to the performance of its functions.
The LDA Bill also places an obligation on relevant public bodies to cooperate with the LDA in the performance by the Agency of its functions relating to the relevant public land owned by the body. The relevant public body will be required to provide certain information on its relevant public land to the LDA including information on the current and previous use of such land.
804. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of inspections that were undertaken by the Residential Tenancies Board in each of the years 2018, 2019 and 2020 in each local authority area; the number that were deemed to be compliant; the number of fines that were issued for those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20414/21]
View answerMinimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. These Regulations focus on tenant safety and specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light, safety of gas, oil and electrical supply and fire. These Regulations apply to all properties let or available for let and are available at http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2019/si/137/made/en/print.
With very limited exemptions, the regulations apply to all private rented residential accommodation. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply. The Residential Tenancies Board have never undertaken rental standards inspections. Responsibility for the inspection of rented dwellings and the enforcement of the regulations rests with the relevant local authority.
Comprehensive data in respect of the number of inspections of private rental properties, Improvement Letters and Improvement Notices issued, and the legal actions initiated by local authorities in the period 2005 to 2019 is available on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/da3fe-private-housing-market-statistics/
Detailed information in relation to the number of inspections and enforcement actions undertaken in 2020 is currently being collated by my Department and will be available on the website shortly.
The information requested in respect of the number of fines issued is not reported by local authorities to my Department and is not available.
The Strategy for the Rental Sector, published in December 2016, set out a series of measures to be introduced to ensure the quality of private rental accommodation by strengthening the applicable standards and improving the inspection and enforcement systems. Significant progress has since been made across the local government sector. The number of inspections undertaken in 2019 was more than double those in 2017. In 2017 19,645 inspections were carried out, rising to 28,806 in 2018 and 40,998 in 2019.
However, given the need for an authorised inspector to enter a tenant’s home, pandemic restrictions have severely impacted on both inspections and enforcement activity since March 2020. The number of on-site inspections carried out in 2020 fell to 24,315.
In response to the pandemic some local authorities have been piloting virtual inspections. Dublin City Council have led this initiative, which entails landlords receiving a checklist for self-assessment and being required to submit photographic/video evidence by email, tenants being invited to raise any non-compliance issues they are aware of and the Council reserving the right to conduct a physical on-site inspection when it is safe to do so. While virtual inspection systems present certain challenges and limitations, they do offer a way of improving the standard of rental accommodation despite the pandemic. Nearly 1,400 virtual inspections were undertaken last year.
The virtual inspection initiative is still very much in the pilot stage and will be subject to a full evaluation before any final decisions are taken on its future role in the overall inspection regime.
My Department is encouraging local authorities not involved in the pilots to consider participation and providing Exchequer funding to those that do. An increased budget of €10 million (a rise of 300% since 2018) has been approved to facilitate inspections in 2021.
805. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there plans to amend section 133 of the Local Government Act 2001 to ensure that all councillors have access to detailed minutes and decisions made at a corporate policy group level in each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20417/21]
View answerThere are no current plans to amend section 133 of the Local Government Act 2001.
Part 7 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended, sets out provisions for the establishment and operation of local authority committees and joint committees, including corporate policy groups (CPGs). Section 54(2) of the 2001 Act allows me to issue general policy guidelines for the purpose of any provision of Part 7 and states that local authorities shall comply with any such guidelines.
Guidelines entitled "Corporate Policy Groups and Strategic Policy Committees: Guidelines for establishment and operation" issued to local authorities on 29 May 2014 under circular LG 07/2014. Section 2.2 of the Guidelines requires that "the minutes of CPG meetings should be circulated to all members of the local authority as a matter of course".
The circular and guidelines are available on Gov.ie at the link below:
https://www.gov.ie/en/circular/1d064-circular-lg-072014-establishment-of-new-strategic-policy-committees-spcs-and-corporate-policy-group-strategic-policy-committee-guidance/
806. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will increase the income limits for eligibility for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20445/21]
View answer825. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to increase the income threshold on Rebuilding Ireland home loans in view of the difficulty for those earning over € 50,000 to €75,000 purchasing with bank mortgages. [20766/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 806 and 825 together.
Single applicants for the Rebulding Ireland Home Loan must not be earning greater than €50,000 gross per annum. The combined income of joint applicants must not be greater than €75,000 gross per annum. 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. These income limits are unchanged from the previous local authority loan offerings.
The Programme for Government "Our Shared Future" contains a commitment to expand the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan and work to review its operation is in train.
808. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the houses in Limerick city and county that have received funding under the voids programme in 2018, 2019 and 2020; and if any of the houses are still vacant. [20466/21]
View answerSince 2014, Exchequer funding has been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. This funding was initially introduced to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted at ensuring minimal turnaround and re-let times for local authority vacant stock.
My Department funded 216 units in Limerick City and County under the Voids Programme over the period 2018 - 2020. This figure does not include homes which were returned to productive use by Limerick City and County Council using funding from its own resources.
In relation to the current occupancy status of properties previously funded under the voids programme my Department does not maintain such records.
809. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding streams available to local authorities for the refurbishment of vacant local authority homes in need of minor and major repairs; and the criteria and process for same. [20467/21]
View answerThe 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.
Notwithstanding this, my Department provides annual funding support to local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-let under the Voids Programme. This funding was introduced originally to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted to support authorities to ensure minimal turnaround and re-let times for vacant stock. This funding programme was introduced in 2014 and has to the end of 2020 returned 16,102 properties to use with funding of €229m from my Department.
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 a 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 Voids programme. A further communication in respect of the 2021 voids programme detailing the funding streams available will issue to all local authorities shortly.
My Departments Energy Efficiency Programme also provides funding support to local authorities for retrofitting works that can be carried out on both vacant and tenanted local authority properties. The budget for this programme has increased substantially in 2021 to €65m and allocations have issued to local authorities in this regard.
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 which will be supported by my Department’s stock improvement funding programmes.
810. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the vacancy percentage of local authority owned homes for each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20468/21]
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 vacant local authority owned homes 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/
811. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of public funding that has been spent on legal fees for the mortgage to rent scheme; the number of mortgages approved for the mortgage to rent scheme that have been sold to vulture funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20514/21]
View answerThe Mortage to Rent (MTR) scheme introduced in 2012 for borrowers of commercial lending institutions is targeted at those households in mortgage arrears who have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP), who agree to the voluntary surrender of their home and who have very limited options, if any, to meet their long-term housing needs themselves. In addition, the household must be deemed eligible for social housing support.
Since the introduction of the private MTR scheme in 2012 to the end of March 2021, 1,179 households with unsustainable private mortgages have completed the MTR process. The 1,179 households in the scheme represent 1,970 adults and 1,699 children who have remained living in their homes and communities. There are currently 1,079 active cases being progressed under the scheme.
Currently there are 23 lenders participating in the MTR scheme including both banks and non-bank entities. The Housing Agency publishes, on a quarterly basis, detailed statistical information on the operation of the MTR scheme including a breakdown of the number of active, completed, ineligible and terminated cases per lender. This information is available on the Agency's website at the following link: https://www.housingagency.ie/housing-information/mortgage-rent-statistics
Lenders contribute up to €500 towards legal fees for advice for the borrower to enable the borrower to take an informed decision as to whether MTR is the correct solution to resolve their mortgage arrears situation. Where a borrower applies for MTR, the €500 contribution would also cover the legal fees incurred on the voluntary surrender of the property by the borrower to the lender which are minimal. Lenders cover their own legal costs.
My Department does not cover any legal costs where Home for Life, a private company, acquires a property under the MTR scheme.
In order to assist Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) with the legal and technical costs incurred in a MTR transaction, my Department pays a once-off administration fee which is based on either vouched expenditure or on 5% of the annual payment & availability agreement cost, whichever is the lesser. In addition, 1.5% of the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) eligible capital costs of a project is available to an AHB after the payment & availability agreement for the unit is signed and this funding can be used to cover legal fees incurred by the AHB.
Under the Abhaile service, which is jointly funded by the Departments of Justice and Social Protection, a borrower can access free legal advice on issues related to their mortgage arrears and how best to resolve these issues. The MTR scheme may present as a solution in some of these cases where appropriate.
A review of the MTR scheme undertaken in 2017 introduced a range of improvements to the eligibility criteria and its administration. In order to increase awareness and understanding of the scheme a new website, www.mortgagetorent.ie, was developed. In addition, new structures and arrangements were put in place to encourage a greater number of entities to take part in the scheme. As a result of the improvements implemented, an upward trend in case completions has been evident since 2018.
Building on the significant improvements already made to the scheme since 2017 and in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government to strengthen the scheme and ensure that it is helping those who need it, my Department is currently working closely with the Housing Agency to identify any further improvements required to the scheme.
812. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding assessment for social housing in certain circumstances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20526/21]
View answerApplications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.
If a household meets the eligibility and need criteria, it qualifies for the suite of social housing supports, including HAP, and is placed on the housing list to be considered for the allocation of suitable tenancies in accordance with the authority’s allocation scheme.
A housing authority is not be required to carry out a social housing assessment in respect of a household in receipt of social housing support that is seeking to transfer to, or to avail of, another form of social housing support.
813. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expected time to finalise the new affordable housing Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20530/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government, ‘Our Shared Future’, clearly lays out our commitment to putting affordability at the heart of the housing system. Government approved priority drafting of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 on 22 December 2020, the General Scheme of which I published on 20 January last.
The Bill includes provisions to underpin three schemes delivering on the Government’s commitment to prioritise the increased supply of affordable homes through (1) affordable homes for purchase delivered by local authorities, (2) a new affordable purchase shared equity scheme for private homes, and (3) the introduction of a new form of tenure in Cost Rental.
The detailed drafting of the Bill is close to completion and I anticipate that the Bill will be brought to Government for decision shortly. Subject to Government approval, I intend to bring the completed Bill before the Oireachtas as part of the summer legislative programme.
815. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will convene a meeting or correspond with the banks and financial institutions to call on the banks and financial institutions to assist families in County Donegal who have been affected by MICA defective concrete blocks in their homes given the recent comments by Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal in relation to the matter. [20574/21]
View answerI met earlier this year 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 wrote to the Minister for Finance on the matter.
The Minister for Finance replied on 9 March and expressed firm support for the existing provisions of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme. The Minister advised that neither he nor his Department have any role in relation to the commercial decisions of individual regulated entities, such as decisions they may make on applications for credit, or in respect of individual actions they may take to assist households with a mortgage which is secured on a residence affected by mica or pyrite.
The Minister also advised that in relation to those banks in which the State has a shareholding interest, commercial independence is specifically provided for in a legally binding "Relationship Framework" document which states that each bank continues to be a separate economic unit with independent powers of decision, and that it is the respective boards and management of each bank that determines its commercial policies and conducts its day-to-day operations. The Minister stated that he is precluded from any involvement in the commercial decisions of such banks, and it would not be possible or appropriate for him to intervene with individual banks on this matter.
The Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme is not a compensation scheme and is very much a scheme of last resort for homeowners who have no other practical options to obtain some form of redress. My Department in formulating the scheme concluded that a contribution of 10% from affected homeowners was appropriate to:
- control costs;
- incentive the use of the appropriate remediation option and
- promote the reuse of materials where this is feasible.
816. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding available to local authorities to support legal fees and costs incurred from CPOs under the vacant sites levy. [20652/21]
View answerUnder the vacant site levy provisions in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, planning authorities were empowered to apply a vacant site levy of 3% of the market valuation of relevant properties which were listed on local authority vacant site registers in 2018, which relevant owners were liable to pay in January 2019. The rate of the levy increased to 7% for sites listed on local authority vacant sites register from 2019 onwards which site owners became liable to pay in January 2020.
The proceeds of the levy raised on vacant sites by individual planning authorities can be used by them for the provision of housing and regeneration development in the local area in which vacant sites are located. For example, the levy proceeds may be spent on:
- the provision of housing, the preservation/protection of structures of special architectural, historical, cultural interest etc.,
- the provision or improvement of services or facilities for the local community i.e. education, training, recreational, cultural facilities,
- the preservation, improvement and extension of amenities, including recreational amenities, on the land, civic improvements, and
- projects/works for the benefit of urban streets in the area including the improvement of streets/ footpaths in local shopping streets and business areas and the removal of graffiti.
No more than 10% of the levy monies received by planning authorities may be used on their administration costs.
In relation to compulsory purchase orders or CPOs, local authorities are empowered under a number of statutes to acquire land, by agreement or compulsorily, for the purposes of performing any of its functions, including any derelict site situated within their functional area under the Derelict Sites Act 1990. In this context, the exercise of compulsory purchase powers to acquire land is a matter for local authorities and is subject to confirmation by An Bord Pleanála through the appropriate statutory procedure.
My Department can provide full funding to local authorities for sites on which they bring forward suitable new social housing construction projects, including sites acquired by compulsory purchase order. The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future commits to the delivery of 50,000 new social homes over the period to 2025, with a focus on new build, and local authorities will be supported to acquire appropriate sites with a view to delivering on this build programme.
