Written Answers Nos. 115-135
115. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a guarantee from a company (details supplied) will suffice in lieu of a HB47 homebond or premier guarantee under the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24736/21]
View answerThe Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan Scheme (RIHL) is designed to enable credit worthy first-time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties or self-builds.
In relation to self-builds, the RIHL requires that construction is covered by latent defect insurance policies and is underwritten by Insurance Companies. Builders', manufacturers' or engineers' certification are not equivalent to latent defect insurance and therefore cannot be used as a substitute.
116. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing developments across the country in which foreign investment funds have purchased units by county in tabular form. [24780/21]
View answer117. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures his Department has taken to gather information on the number of new build and existing housing that has been bought by foreign investment funds in County Tipperary (details supplied). [24781/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together.
My 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 (PRA), 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.
118. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the spend on the cessation of the turf-cutting compensation scheme in each year since its establishment; the number of persons who availed of this scheme in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24835/21]
View answerIreland, like all EU Member States, Ireland is bound by the requirements of the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. These Directives aim to ensure the protection of habitats and species which have been selected for conservation within special areas of conservation and special protection areas.
Significant efforts have been made by the State to resolve the issue of the protection of Ireland’s raised bog special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas within the framework of the Habitats Directive. This has included the establishment of the Peatlands Council, intensive and on-going engagement with turf cutting interests, the farming community, non-governmental organisations and with the European Commission, as well as the establishment of a long-term compensation scheme for affected turf cutters.
The Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (CTCCS) was established in 2011 for domestic turf cutters arising from the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation and was extended in 2014 to include raised bog natural heritage areas. This scheme is applicable to turf cutters who have been affected by the designation of raised bogs as special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas encompassed by the scheme and who fulfil the qualifying criteria of the scheme. It is comprised of a payment of €1,500 per annum, index-linked, for 15 years, or relocation, where feasible, to a non-designated bog, together with payment of €500 on the signing of a legal agreement under the scheme.
2590 applicants are regularly receiving compensation under the scheme. There are other affected turf cutters, who may qualify under the scheme, who have not yet applied. I would encourage them to do so.
While applicants are waiting for relocation sites to be investigated, prepared and developed, they may, on an interim basis, opt for the annual payment of €1,500 (index-linked) or opt to receive an annual supply of up to 15 tonnes of cut turf delivered to their homes. To date, 1,215 deliveries of turf have been made to applicants.
Of the 2,590 applicants regularly receiving compensation under the scheme, 185 have applied for relocation to a non-designated bog.
The total spend to the end of 2020 on payments, turf deliveries and relocation under the CTCCS was €46.9 million, the breakdown of this expenditure per year is as follows:
|
Year |
Expenditure under the CTCCS |
Applicants Availing of the CTCCS |
|
2011 |
€45,000 |
30 |
|
2012 |
€3,919,459 |
1772 |
|
2013 |
€4,871,983 |
1880 |
|
2014 |
€4,931,018 |
1972 |
|
2015 |
€4,615,579 |
1982 |
|
2016 |
€5,211,280 |
2197 |
|
2017 |
€5,695,973 |
2346 |
|
2018 |
€6,202,841 |
2475 |
|
2019 |
€6,432,279 |
2546 |
|
2020 |
€5,031,520 |
2461 |
|
Totals |
€46,889,952 |
N/A |
The expenditure to date in 2021 is in the region of €1.5 million, with 732 applicants having already received a compensation payment for 2021. 14 applicants have been relocated to non-designated bogs in 2021 to date.
119. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount expended by his Department on advertising and awareness raising initiatives related to Covid-19 from March 2020 to date in 2021; the print, online and broadcasting media organisations contracted to provide this service; the amount provided to each in the timeframe concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24931/21]
View answerMy Department has not incurred any expenditure on advertising in relation to COVID-19 related matters.
In 2020, my Department spent €192,907 on awareness-raising public information material as part of the Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This expenditure related to the design and translation of the Community Call national leaflet into a number of languages and also included the production of Braille and Irish Sign Language versions of this leaflet.
This expenditure also included procurement of the graphic design of the COVID-19 Guide for the Bereaved (available on gov.ie).
120. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new social homes delivered via build programmes in County Mayo each year since 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24939/21]
View answerMy Department provides funding to all local authorities, including Mayo County Council, to support the delivery of new social homes via a range of programmes, including through build, acquisition and leasing. Statistics on all social housing delivery activity including via build programmes, is publicly available on my Department’s website, at the following link: https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordable/overall-social-housing-provision.
In addition to the statistics on delivery over the years by each local authority, a detailed Social Housing Construction Status Report is published quarterly and provides scheme level detail on new build social housing activity for the local authorities, including projects that are on site, in planning or design and completed projects. The most recent publication covers the period up to the end of Q4 2020 and is available at the following link: https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-obrien-publishes-2020-social-housing-statistics/.
121. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties to date in rent pressure zones per local authority in respect of quarter 1 2021 data that have been identified as potentially in breach of short-term lettings regulations; the number of site inspections that have taken place; the number of change of use planning applications received; the number of warning letters issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24942/21]
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 has been requested and returns are due back by Friday 14 May.
122. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans to provide Ministerial consent for the Arklow Wastewater Plant to proceed; the process and a timeframe for the delivery of the plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24954/21]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 785 of 21 April 2021 which sets out the position in this matter.
124. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is considering increasing funding to local authorities to aid housing adaptation grants for older persons and persons with a disability applicants to meet the extra costs in circumstances in which the maximum grant available for available falls considerably short of rising construction costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24990/21]
View answerFunding of €75 million is available nationally in 2021 for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Scheme. This funding has increased year on year since 2014. As part of the annual budgetary process, consideration will be given to this funding in future years in line with the Programme for Government commitments and the Policy Statement on Housing Options for Our Ageing Population, which is available on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ea33c1-housing-options-for-our-ageing-population-policy-statement/
Officials from my Department will begin a review of the existing grant limits and income thresholds applicable to the grants this year.
125. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of his engagements with members and plans for houses with an association (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that loans on these properties will mature in five years; and if a handover or option to purchase will be considered by him. [24991/21]
View answerThe approved housing body referred to delivered new build social homes through the Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme. This funding model involves local authorities accessing loan finance from the Housing Finance Agency to support approved housing bodies to deliver homes for social use. The funding arrangement is secured by way of a mortgage agreement between the relevant local authority and the approved housing body. My Department supports the local authorities in the repayment of the loan finance to the Housing Finance Agency.
Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, allows local authorities to sell local authority owned dwellings to existing social housing tenants. The Scheme only provides for the purchase of houses owned by the relevant local authorities and does not extend to houses owned by approved housing bodies as the ownership of these properties remains with them.
If a property is owned outright by an approved housing body and it is not subject to public funding, the approved housing body may choose to sell that property, once this is allowed for in their constitution. It should be noted that approved housing body must have, as their primary objectives, the relief of housing needs, and the provision and management of housing included within their memorandum of association or registered rules, as the case may be.
126. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking in response to concerns from local authority staff who wish to remain in the employment of the relevant local authority rather than being transferred to Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25137/21]
View answer127. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to retain Irish Water in public ownership as a national, standalone, regulated utility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25138/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 127 together.
The Programme for Government provides that the Government will retain Irish Water in public ownership as a national, standalone, regulated utility.
The realisation of this commitment will complete the broad policy and legislative reforms which have seen the public water system embark on a journey of transformation, from a structure based on locally-organised water services authorities, towards a single, national, water utility. This has been a complex and challenging process for key stakeholders, notably the workers, who include approximately 3,200 local authority water services staff who are subject to service level agreement arrangements with Irish Water as well as a smaller number of staff employed directly by Irish Water and Ervia, together with their trade union representatives, the local government sector, and Ervia/Irish Water.
In keeping with the Programme for Government commitment, the Government recently approved a Policy Paper entitled Irish Water - Towards a national, publicly-owned, regulated water services utility which is now available on my Department's website at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/06326-water-sector-transformation-policy-paper/ . The Policy Paper sets out the Government's expectations and views in relation to the next phase of the Water Sector Transformation Programme, including those matters raised in the questions.
By setting out its views and expectations in this way, the Government is enabling stakeholders to engage meaningfully in the change process which will give them the strongest possible say in determining their own future working arrangements. On this basis I have written to the Workplace Relations Commission on 3 March 2021 asking them to contact the parties to arrange to re-commence engagement which had previously been underway on a Framework for the future delivery of water services.
The Workplace Relations Commission has confirmed that it is in a position to recommence engagement and is currently in contact with the parties to the transformation process on this basis.
The Government believes it will be possible to reach a collective agreement which addresses the interests and concerns of all parties.
128. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to support take-up of Irish Water’s Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme 2020-2024 which will provide water and wastewater growth capacity in smaller settlements which would not otherwise be provided for in Irish Water’s capital investment plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25139/21]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 346 of 11 May 2021 which sets out the position in this matter.
129. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress made by his Department to date in conducting the review of the revised well water grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25142/21]
View answerUnder the Housing (Private Water Supply Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020, the grant scheme to support improvement works for a private water supply was revised. The revised scheme forms part of the funding investment under the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2019-2021.
The revised scheme, which opened for applications on 04 June 2020, brought into effect the following changes:
- A maximum grant for rehabilitation works of €3,000, an increase of 47% on the previous maximum grant level of €2,031.
- A maximum grant of €5,000 was introduced, in cases where the local authority agrees that the most appropriate solution is to provide a new well.
- The maximum percentage of approved costs was increased from 75% to 85%, subject to the total maximum costs of either €3,000 for well rehabilitation or €5,000 for a new well.
In addition, in recognition of the role of the grant in improving quality, the water quality treatment element (typically filtration and UV treatment) qualifies for 100% funding, up to a maximum of €1,000. This grant can be claimed on its own or in addition to either the grant for rehabilitation works or the grant for a new well.
In implementing the revised arrangements, my Department has undertaken to conduct a review of the grant scheme after one year of operation to ensure its alignment with policy objectives.
130. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason for a delay in processing the foreign birth registration of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24726/21]
View answerThe processing of Foreign Births Registration (FBR) applications has been temporarily paused as a result of COVID-19 related restrictions.
Prior to this pause, it took twelve to eighteen months to process applications. This was due to pressures on the FBR service, the complex nature of FBR applications, the high volume of applications due to Brexit as well as the impact of COVID-19 restrictions.
The FBR application referenced was registered on 25 February 2020, and is currently waiting to be processed. All documentation submitted is being stored in a secure environment.
The Passport Service is examining how to optimally address the FBR applications on hand, and any delays that have been experienced by a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are regretted. We expect to have an update on this later in the summer.
131. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a letter to allow a person (details supplied) to return home on compassionate grounds. [24738/21]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that the Embassy of Ireland in Bangkok is providing all possible consular advice and support to the citizen, including in relation to his welfare as well as regarding local requirements in terms of visa and immigration procedures.
As the Deputy will be aware, restrictions on travel to Ireland in the context of COVID-19 are a matter for the Department of Health. I can confirm that all passengers travelling to Ireland must provide evidence that they have a negative or ‘not detected’ result from a COVID-19 Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test carried out no more than 72 hours before arrival in Ireland, or have evidence that they are exempt from this legal requirement.
My Department will continue to work closely with the Department of Health in providing appropriate advice and support to our citizens overseas, line with public health requirements in Ireland.
132. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if additional personnel will be put in place in the Passport Office to deal with the backlog of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24764/21]
View answer133. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current number of all passport applications that have not been processed. [24806/21]
View answer134. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the specific measures being put in place to eliminate the backlog of outstanding passport applications. [24807/21]
View answer135. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether it is correct that persons are not able to have their passport applications processed in view of the fact that passports are considered one of the most important documents in a person’s possession and the fact that passports are not always required for travel but are needed for other purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24850/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 132 to 135, inclusive, together.
The Passport Service scaled up to more normal operational levels on 4 May 2021, in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”.
During Level 5 restrictions, the Passport Service processed more than 40,000 or just over one third of the total number of applications received this year, comprising of approximately 3,000 in response to urgent requests and 37,000 non-urgent applications for adults renewing their passport. Customer Service Information was also provided to over 40,000 citizens via our Webchat service during this time.
The Passport Service is now processing all Passport Online applications. It is expected that the 89,000 applications on hand at the end of April will be processed by the end of June. Significant progress has been made thus far with over 16,000 applications processed since 4 May.
Passport Online will continue to be the priority given the efficiencies that are in-built into the system for both the applicant and the Passport Service. The processing of an online application is four times as fast as a paper application. In addition, the use of Passport Online can facilitate social distancing, given that a renewal application for an adult does not require the signature of a witness.
Passport Online can be accessed by first time applicants, both children and adults, in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Europe, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. All Irish citizens, including children, can use the online system to renew their passports from anywhere in the world.
At present, there are approximately 106,000 Passport Online applications in the system. This figure includes the approximately 17,000 new applications received by the Passport Service during the first week of scaled-up services. The Passport Service has a great deal of experience in dealing with peaks in demand, and we are confident, taking into account measures to ensure a safe workplace, that any Passport Online backlog can be cleared in six to eight weeks.
The Passport Service plans to resume processing of paper based applications such as Passport Express and Northern Ireland Passport Express once online applications have been processed. There are currently approximately 1,600 paper based applications in the system.
I am satisfied that there is no requirement, at this time, to allocate additional staff to the Passport Service. Similar to all work places, social distancing is required so this limits the occupation of buildings but my Department has been working closely with the Office of Public Works on this matter.
