Written Answers Nos. 341-360
341. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 795 of 21 April 2021, the date the missing file from his office was found; the person who found the file; the location in which the file was found; the person who misplaced the file within his office; and if the file was missing within his Department from the Minister's office from 1 September 2014 to at least 29 September 2014. [24175/21]
View answerI refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 795 of 21 April 2021.
It is my understanding that a file that had been delivered to the Minister's Office during September 2014 was misplaced within the Office. The file was searched for by members of the staff of the Office of the then Minister and was found after a period of time among other papers, where it had been inadvertently placed.
342. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether it is appropriate that his Department published a non-determination of facts naming persons in the reviews carried out into the CPO at Three Trout Stream, Charlesland, Greystones, County Wicklow given that both the reviewer and his Department have accepted that these reviews are not statements of fact and that the reviewer has subsequent to the publication stated that they did not receive relevant documentation from Wicklow County Council in the carrying out of their reviews; and his further views on whether the reviews should be removed from publication on all Government websites. [24176/21]
View answerI refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 794 and No. 796 of 21 April, 2021 provided by my colleague, Mr Peter Burke TD, Minister of State for Local Government and Planning.
The reviews state that, during October 2011, concerns over the CPO and loan application were the subject of representations to the former Minister from three named Wicklow public representatives. Similar concerns had been raised in correspondence sent by the Public Accounts Committee to the former Minister in July 2011, as well as during meetings of Wicklow County Council.
The reviews proceeded following receipt of legal advice from and consultation with the Office of the Attorney General. Terms of reference were agreed to address the specific concerns that had been raised by the public representatives. The reviews sought to establish the processes followed by my Department and the Council and to identify any deviation from relevant legal requirements and administrative requirements or practices.
The reviews found that there was no deviation by Wicklow County Council or my Department from the relevant legal requirements and administrative requirements or practices, and concluded that almost all of the concerns were not well founded or were misconceived.
The CPO was a matter of public interest and the reports on the findings of the reviews were accordingly published in the interests of transparency.
It is not considered that there is any basis for the removal of the reports from Government websites.
343. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the legislative measure and the associated regulation of the Planning and Development Act 2000 which lists or makes reference to the key observations or considerations that must be taken into account when making a planning observation on a proposed development. [24350/21]
View answerSection 34(2) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), provides that when making a decision on a planning application, a planning authority shall be restricted to considering the proper planning and sustainable development of the area in which a development is proposed, with regard being also had to the following factors:
- the provisions of the development plan,
- any guidelines issued by the Minister under section 28 of the Act,
- the provisions of any special amenity area order relating to the area,
- any European site or other area prescribed for the purposes of section 10(2)(c) of the Act,
- where relevant, the policy of the Government, the Minister or any other Minister of the Government,
- conditions under section 34(4) of the Act that may be required if granting planning permission,
- previous developments by the applicant which have not been satisfactorily completed,
- previous convictions against the applicant for non-compliance with the Act, the Building Control Act 2007 or the Fire Services Act 1981,
- any other relevant provision or requirement of the Act, and any regulations made thereunder,
- where relevant, specific planning policy requirements of guidelines issued by the Minister under section 28 of the Act, and
- the views of any other planning authority where it is considered that a particular decision may have a significant effect on the area of any such planning authority, or the effect that a particular decision may have on any area outside its area, including areas outside the State.
Section 34(3)(b) of the Act provides that a planning authority shall, when considering an application for permission, also have regard to any written submissions or observations concerning the proposed development made to the planning authority in accordance with the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations).
In this connection, article 28 of the Regulations provides that a planning authority shall give notice of a planning application to designated prescribed bodies where the application relates to proposed development or activities which may have particular impacts on local amenities, areas or sectors. The giving of notice in this regard shall include a copy of the planning application in question, a location map, the date of receipt of the planning application and notice of the requirement that any submissions or observations in relation to planning application concerned should be made to the planning authority within 5 weeks of the date of receipt of the planning application.
Furthermore, article 29 of the Regulations provides that any person or body, on payment of the prescribed fee, may make a submission or observation in writing to a planning authority in relation to a planning application within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application. Any submission or observation received shall state the name of the person or body making the submission or observation and indicate the address to which any correspondence relating to the application should be sent.
344. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons in receipt of the housing assistance payment and the rental accommodation scheme that were moved directly into social housing property for each county per annum since 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24365/21]
View answerThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) continue to be effective and secure forms of social housing support, and remain a significant part of the suite of social housing options currently available to those who are assessed as being in need of housing support.
While the Department does not hold information on the number of HAP or RAS tenancies that moved directly into social housing property, data is available in relation to the number of tenancies that moved from those schemes to other forms of social housing support.
The following table details the number of HAP tenancies that transferred to other forms of social housing, by local authority in the period 2016 - 2020:
|
Local Authority |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
Carlow County Council |
9 |
27 |
25 |
113 |
80 |
|
Cavan County Council |
0 |
1 |
10 |
27 |
20 |
|
Clare County Council |
17 |
74 |
76 |
75 |
95 |
|
Cork City Council |
14 |
32 |
20 |
66 |
130 |
|
Cork County Council |
32 |
73 |
119 |
119 |
252 |
|
Donegal County Council |
24 |
75 |
137 |
147 |
130 |
|
Dublin City Council |
0 |
4 |
64 |
145 |
131 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
0 |
0 |
12 |
39 |
23 |
|
Fingal County Council |
1 |
2 |
21 |
31 |
117 |
|
Galway City Council |
0 |
13 |
9 |
13 |
37 |
|
Galway County Council |
1 |
8 |
15 |
45 |
45 |
|
Kerry County Council |
0 |
0 |
13 |
39 |
67 |
|
Kildare County Council |
1 |
26 |
67 |
114 |
269 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
20 |
26 |
51 |
76 |
103 |
|
Laois County Council |
0 |
1 |
29 |
18 |
56 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
0 |
1 |
5 |
9 |
21 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
35 |
41 |
72 |
57 |
91 |
|
Longford County Council |
0 |
2 |
3 |
12 |
16 |
|
Louth County Council |
16 |
47 |
115 |
209 |
275 |
|
Mayo County Council |
2 |
14 |
23 |
38 |
65 |
|
Meath County Council |
3 |
28 |
115 |
185 |
302 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
16 |
32 |
43 |
71 |
88 |
|
Offaly County Council |
3 |
6 |
24 |
50 |
58 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
0 |
1 |
12 |
38 |
35 |
|
Sligo County Council |
1 |
11 |
29 |
42 |
44 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
0 |
2 |
18 |
100 |
139 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
12 |
42 |
86 |
103 |
116 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
33 |
37 |
83 |
217 |
211 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
0 |
0 |
1 |
12 |
41 |
|
Wexford County Council |
0 |
0 |
21 |
75 |
77 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
0 |
1 |
4 |
29 |
119 |
|
Total |
240 |
627 |
1,322 |
2,314 |
3,253 |
Details in relation to the number of RAS tenancies that exited the RAS scheme and moved to any other form of social housing support in the period 2016 - 2019 are included in the table below. Data for 2020 is not currently available.
|
Local Authority |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
Carlow County Council |
16 |
21 |
7 |
38 |
|
Cavan County Council |
9 |
6 |
6 |
27 |
|
Clare County Council |
24 |
40 |
28 |
10 |
|
Cork City Council |
65 |
64 |
45 |
61 |
|
Cork County Council |
28 |
31 |
27 |
36 |
|
Donegal County Council |
2 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
Dublin City Council |
121 |
111 |
133 |
170 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
17 |
27 |
11 |
19 |
|
Fingal County Council |
12 |
18 |
25 |
25 |
|
Galway City Council |
31 |
25 |
23 |
32 |
|
Galway County Council |
13 |
3 |
7 |
6 |
|
Kerry County Council |
26 |
52 |
69 |
54 |
|
Kildare County Council |
33 |
37 |
70 |
93 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
19 |
13 |
34 |
38 |
|
Laois County Council |
5 |
8 |
9 |
4 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
7 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
16 |
15 |
38 |
19 |
|
Longford County Council |
0 |
6 |
8 |
5 |
|
Louth County Council |
20 |
11 |
2 |
3 |
|
Mayo County Council |
20 |
5 |
9 |
14 |
|
Meath County Council |
20 |
26 |
24 |
27 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
13 |
13 |
12 |
19 |
|
Offaly County Council |
20 |
12 |
4 |
0 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
4 |
15 |
23 |
13 |
|
Sligo County Council |
12 |
10 |
15 |
18 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
114 |
23 |
100 |
32 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
23 |
79 |
61 |
55 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
46 |
35 |
56 |
30 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
21 |
45 |
9 |
43 |
|
Wexford County Council |
13 |
16 |
31 |
43 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
21 |
26 |
19 |
76 |
|
Total |
791 |
800 |
908 |
1,015 |
345. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the non-governmental organisations in receipt of funding from his Department; the amount of funding allocated to same in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24377/21]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
|
Name of NGO |
Amount of funding allocated in 2020 |
|
National Women’s Council of Ireland |
€3,700 |
|
Women for Election |
€132,300 |
|
Longford Women’s Link |
€104,000 |
|
Immigrant Council of Ireland |
€24,090 |
|
Chambers Ireland |
€25,000 |
|
Irish Peatlands Conservation Council |
€7,367.96 |
|
Community Wetlands Forum via Irish Rural Link |
€25,000 |
|
Bat Conservation Ireland |
€4,840.00 |
|
Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland |
€24,900 |
|
Burren Beo Trust |
€15,000.00 |
|
Irish Forum for Natural Capital Grant funding |
€23,000 |
|
Irish Whale and Dolphin Group |
€10,000 |
|
Irish Traveller Movement |
€96,154.82 |
|
Alone |
€24,000 |
|
Threshold |
€800,000 |
|
Voluntary Housing Support Services |
€40,000 |
|
Irish Council for Social Housing |
€515,000 |
|
Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland |
€30,000 |
|
Royal Irish Academy |
€59,582 |
|
European Archaeological Council |
€20,000 |
|
An Taisce |
€691,905.50 |
|
Coastwatch |
€32,563 |
|
Sustainable Water Network Ireland |
€226,977 |
|
Irish Heritage Trust |
€848,759.49 |
|
Irish Landmark Trust |
€40,000 |
|
Irish Architectural Foundation |
€93,000 |
|
Irish Architectural Archive |
€18,000 |
|
International Council on Monuments and Sites |
€17,500 |
|
Irish Georgian Society |
€4,540 |
346. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress made to date with respect to the Town and Villages Growth Programme 2020-2024; the amount allocated under the fund nationally; the amount allocated to each local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24400/21]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of public water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels.
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.
Irish Water brought forward proposals for a Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme, as part of its Capital Investment Plan 2020-2024 to the Commission for Regulations of Utilities (CRU) for consideration. I understand from Irish Water that an allocation of almost €100 million for this programme was approved by the CRU. I also understand that projects are now commencing design, and that investment under the Programme will begin to deliver in the coming years. Irish Water is working with local authorities across the country in ensuring the investment supports the growth of identified settlements where these are prioritised in line with the local authority development plans. Further details of a recent announcement are available on the Irish Water website at https://www.water.ie/news/small-towns-and-villages/index.xml
For specific details on Irish Water's allocations under this programme 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 to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
My Department is also considering the matter of waste water infrastructure in villages/settlements not serviced by Irish Water. I have instructed the relevant officials in my Department to prepare a report on this topic at national level. This will include a baseline survey of all rural local authorities to establish the numbers, size, national distribution and other environmental impacts for villages/settlements that do not have waste water collection and treatment infrastructure provided by Irish Water. I will be in a position to provide further update once I have received this report.
347. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding he has advanced to local authorities in preparation for the ending of direct provision; his plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24406/21]
View answerThe Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (D/CEDIY) recently published a White Paper on International Protection and policy in this area is a matter for that Department. The authorities and agencies under my Department's remit will support D/CEDIY as appropriate in implementation.
348. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is an inspection process into homeless services provided by private companies and non-governmental agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24416/21]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual housing authorities. Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 sets out the purposes for which costs may be incurred by housing authorities in respect of the provision of homeless accommodation and related services.
All emergency accommodation, whether provided by local authorities, NGOs, voluntary bodies or privately are required to comply with standards and these standards are monitored. The National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) for homeless services is in place nationally for local authority and NGO delivered services. The Framework was developed to ensure a consistent approach in how local authorities and service providers respond to the needs of those experiencing homelessness and to improve the quality of services provided.
Local authorities also carry out inspections on facilities that are not covered under the Framework. This regime operates in parallel with, and is based on, the NQSF arrangements. The Standards and Facilities Teams in the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) oversee all emergency accommodation in the region and seek to ensure that all relevant guidelines, policies and procedures are complied with in order to deliver a safe and comfortable place to stay for service users. The DRHE has an inspection regime in place to deal with complaints and to ensure accommodation is appropriate and safe. This includes engaging with homeless families and individuals on issues arising in their accommodation. The DRHE has advised my Department that it has a thorough complaints procedure in place, and that each complaint is fully examined and addressed in a timely manner.
Separate to the service standards expected of providers via service level agreements, all homeless service providers must meet the requirements of statutory codes, in particular the requirements of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Fire Services Acts.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, my Department has been advised that Dublin City Council and the DRHE have commissioned a comprehensive review of all properties/facilities being managed by both NGOs and by private operators. They have confirmed that this report, when complete, is to be published. They have advised my Department that they have also initiated a procurement process for the engagement of an external body or company to take on the permanent role of inspecting and reporting back on all properties being funded by the DRHE, with such reports to be published on the DRHE website.
349. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a steady funding stream will be provided for the upgrading of local authority owned homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24417/21]
View answerManagement and maintenance of the local authority housing stock is very important and local authorities have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 2019. Local authority officials and elected members have a very important role to play in this regard by making adequate budgetary provision for housing repairs and cyclical maintenance utilising the housing rental income available to them as part of the annual budgetary process.
Notwithstanding the legal obligation on local authorities to manage and maintain their housing stock, my Department provides annual funding support to local authorities for management and maintenance under a number of funding programmes.
Under the Voids Programme, my Department has supported local authorities in refurbishing vacant social homes and returning them to productive use. 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.
In 2020, my Department rolled out the largest ever voids funding programme. With additional funding of €40m secured under the July Stimulus Programme. Funding of €58.3m was made available to local authorities which saw 3,607 vacant properties funded last year.
Under the Energy Efficiency Programme, my Department funds the carrying out of retrofitting works to local authority dwellings. Over the period 2013 to 2020 over 73,500 units of social housing stock have been retrofitted with a total exchequer spend of €161m under the scheme.
Under the Disabled Persons Grant Scheme, my Department funds local authorities in carrying out necessary adaptation works to local authority properties to cater for the needs of elderly and disabled tenants and families living in overcrowded conditions in local authority properties. Since 2011 my Department has provided exchequer funding of some €120m to support this programme.
Under the Regeneration Scheme, my Department funds programmes of estate regeneration in a number of targeted areas around the country. This programme focuses on the remediation and upgrade of existing local authority homes within defined areas of disadvantage and can also provide for some new homes as part of the overall regeneration plan for the area. Since 2015 over €300m of exchequer funding has been provided to support this programme.
Since 2011 my Department has provided funding of over €800m to local authorities under the above stock improvement programmes.
My Department will continue to support local authorities in their work in these areas in 2021, however, 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 planned maintenance approach. This will require the completion of stock condition surveys on all social homes in local authority ownership over a 4 to 5 year timespan. This is scheduled to commence in late 2021 as part of the piloting of the ICT system to support this work. The subsequent development of strategic and informed work programmes will be determined as a result of these surveys. My Department will support these work programmes by ensuring that the funding available under various stock improvement programmes support this approach.
350. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of orders issued under section 10 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 during each of the past five years by specific local authority, public authority and type of order issued, respectively. [24421/21]
View answerIn accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
My Department does not collect data from local authorities in respect of orders under Section 10 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. My Department has advised local authorities to work with Traveller families to find alternative accommodations where possible.
In March 2020, at the start of the Covid emergency, my Department introduced the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 legislation which offered protection against evictions. My Department continues to urge local authorities to exercise forbearance in this regard during the ongoing pandemic.
351. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons employed by his Department; and the collective total salary received by employees of his Department. [24452/21]
View answerThere were 1,255 staff serving in my Department at the end of December 2020. Their total gross salary for the year was €69.976m.
352. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he or his Department employ persons or firms to deal with public relations; if so, the number of persons employed by his Department to deal with public relations; the names of any firms involved; and the amount spent on public relations by his Department. [24453/21]
View answerMy Department does not employ persons or firms to deal with public relations. A number of Departmental staff work on external communications to ensure my Department's work is communicated to the public, media, stakeholders and others. My Department did not incur any expenditure on third party public relations advice or communications advice since January 2020 to date. Procurement of external communications expertise is generally only considered where the issues involved require expert skills or capabilities that are not readily available within my Department.
353. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if species of birds (details supplied) will be removed from the list of birds that may be shot currently included in the Open Seasons Order published on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service; if he will cancel the derogation which allows the continued year-round shooting of wood-pigeons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24466/21]
View answerWith regard to the Open Seasons Order, I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 472 of 28 April, 2021.
A revised derogation in respect of Wild Birds for the period 1 May 2021 to 30 April 2022 was signed on 30 April 2021 and is posted on the website of the NPWS at https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/General-Declaration-May-2021-to-April-2022.pdf. I have no proposals to amend this derogation.
354. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the information his Department, the Housing Agency or any other agency operating under the aegis of his Department has on the number of housing units that have been owned by real estate investment trusts at the end of each of the years 2013 to 2020, in tabular form by the number of apartments and houses. [24500/21]
View answerMy Department does not collect data in relation to the ownership of individual housing units purchased and sold in the housing market.
I understand that data published by market commentators indicates that approximately 15,500 units were owned by investment trusts at the end of 2020.
The Property Registration Authority, which was established as an independent statutory body under the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, records property transactions and ownership in Ireland. The PRA has advised my Department that it does not hold details of the type requested.
355. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing units that have been leased from real estate investment trusts by each local authority in each of the years 2013 to 2020, in tabular form. [24501/21]
View answer356. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount paid by each local authority to real estate investment trusts for the leasing of housing units in each of the years 2013 to 2020, in tabular form. [24502/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 355 and 356 together.
The Social Housing Leasing Programme supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities for the long term leasing of houses and apartments.
Details of the owner involved in each social housing leasing project are not held by my Department. These details, and details of the total funding paid to each owner, are held by the relevant local authority. However, I can confirm that total funding paid to private owners in respect of leased dwellings in 2020 was €53.7m.
357. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if housing investments are subject to individual tenders; and if a panel of approved contractors can be used to deliver projects as they arise against a standard cost profile. [24510/21]
View answerSocial housing construction projects (as with all publicly funded construction projects), must be competitively tendered, in accordance with the public procurement guidelines, to ensure transparency as well as value for money for the tax-payer and must comply with the Government’s Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF). The CWMF is for use by contracting authorities involved in the expenditure of public funds on construction projects and related consultancy services.
Local authorities can utilise a Public Works Framework Agreement to procure construction works. A framework is a list of contractors that have prequalified following an advertised competitive process. These framework contractors then compete in a mini-competition for specific projects, which streamlines the procurement process, as it is not necessary to advertise the competition for each project.
358. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific measures in place in his Department to assist local authorities in taking estates in charge; and the way in which they apply to the ongoing issue of malfunctioning effluent treatment plants in those estates. [24514/21]
View answerResidential developments consisting of two or more dwellings that have been granted planning permission under the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended, are normally eligible for taking-in-charge.
The taking-in-charge of residential estates by local authorities, is provided for under section 180 of the Act. The taking-in-charge of estates is a reserved function of the elected members of the authority.
On 21 September 2020, I announced allocations under the new multi-annual capital investment programme - the Multi-annual 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. This, the first funding cycle of a new multi-annual programme, runs to the end of 2021.
The focus of the first multi-annual programme is on estates in towns and villages where the resolution is to connect their water services to the public networks. The programme will also support a number of pilot projects where connection is not feasible in the immediate future. These pilot projects, together with a major study currently being undertaken by Irish Water, will inform future policy considerations on resolving sub-standard developer provided infrastructure with sustainable solutions.
All local authorities that submitted bids were informed about the outcome of their bids in a circular which included a copy of an independent Expert Panel report on the bids process. The report provides the commentary of the Panel on their evaluation in the case of unsuccessful bids and guidance for the local authority in making future bids in upcoming programmes.
The circular is available on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-services/circular-ldpi01-2020-approval-projects-residential-estates-under-developer
359. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the deterioration of a wealth of heritage at Knocklofty House in Clonmel, County Tipperary which is falling into a state of disrepair; his plans to save the unique architectural, design and artistic features of the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24519/21]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 730 of 21 April 2021, which sets out the position in this matter.
360. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress being made in relation to the social housing reform agenda as referred to in Parliamentary Question No. 470 of 28 April 2021; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulty that persons on HAP are facing in having issues with their living conditions addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24520/21]
View answerThe minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these Regulations. Responsibility for enforcement of the Regulations rests with the relevant local authority.
Local authorities report to my Department on numbers of overall inspections carried out and enforcement actions undertaken on a quarterly basis. The most recent data received in respect of the number of inspections of all private rental properties and those with HAP tenancies is set out in the table below:
|
HAP Inspections carried out in 2019 |
Total Inspections carried out in 2019 |
HAP On-site Inspections carried out in 2020 |
Total On-site Inspections carried out in 2020 |
HAP Virtual Inspections carried out in 2020 |
Total Virtual Inspections carried out in 2020 |
|
23,424 |
40,728 |
12,031 |
24,315 |
991 |
1,388 |
Given the need for inspectors to enter tenants’ homes, Covid-19 pandemic restrictions have impacted on the inspection of all rented dwellings – including those with HAP tenancies. The City and County Management Association’s Local Authority Resilience and Recovery Plan for living with Covid-19 (October 2020) and its subsequent Local Authority Services Framework for Future Covid-19 Pandemic Response (January 2021) do not permit rental inspections in Levels 4 and 5. This is in order to protect tenants, landlords and rental inspectors.
In response to the difficulties caused by pandemic restrictions, some local authorities have been piloting virtual inspections. Dublin City Council has 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 being asked to confirm that any remedial works requested by the local authority have been completed, 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. I support these initiatives and my Department is encouraging local authorities not already involved in the pilots to consider adopting them. I have committed to providing Exchequer funding for those that do.
My Department is committed to providing adequate housing support to those who need it most i.e. those people who can least afford to meet their accommodation needs from their own resources. The commitments in the Programme for Government are being examined as part of the work on the broader social housing reform agenda. I expect to be in a position to finalise any changes once the work on these reform measures is complete.
