Written Answers Nos. 282-295
282. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the HAP spend on landlord payments from 2016 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27932/21]
View answerThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is available to all eligible households throughout the State. At end Q4 2020 there were nearly 60,000 households in receipt of HAP and over 33,520 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the scheme.
In respect of the provision of HAP funding, Limerick City and County Council provides a highly effective HAP transactional shared service on behalf of all local authorities. This HAP Shared Services Centre (SSC) manages all HAP related rental transactions for the tenant, local authority and landlord. Accordingly, my Department does not recoup individual local authorities in respect of HAP rental payments in their administrative areas but, rather, recoups all landlord costs via the HAP SSC.
Data in relation to the number of active HAP tenancies and funding provided by the State in 2019 and 2020, broken down by local authority area, can be found on my Department's website at this link:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#housing-assistance-payment.
This funding represents the portion paid by my Department after receipt of the differential rent which is paid by the tenant to the local authority. It does not include administration costs related to the Scheme.
The overall cost of supporting the HAP Scheme to the Exchequer for the period 2016-2020 is outlined in the table below:
|
Year |
Additional Households supported at end of year |
No. of LAs operating HAP Scheme |
Outturn €M |
|
2016 |
12,075 |
28 |
57.69 |
|
2017 |
17,916 |
31 |
152.69 |
|
2018 |
17,926 |
31 |
276.6 |
|
2019 |
17,025 |
31 |
382.4 |
|
2020 |
15,885 |
31 |
464.6 |
283. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will commence a review of part M of the Building Regulations 2010 to include specifications for liveable accommodation which provide appropriate accessibility as required by persons with varying levels of mobility in accordance with the lifetime adaptable housing design criteria (details supplied); if he will introduce planning regulations in order that 7% of all houses should be built to be fully wheelchair accessible while the remaining 93% of new houses are designed and constructed to follow and apply lifetime adaptable housing design criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27939/21]
View answerThe Planning system primarily deals with considering the appropriate location, impact on the wider environment, form and phasing of development. The purpose of the Building Regulations is primarily to protect the health, safety and welfare of people in and around buildings. While both codes deal with the built environment, they have interrelated but separate roles. The design and construction of buildings is regulated under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2020. The Act provides for the making of Building Regulations and Building Control Regulations.
The Building Regulations 1997-2019 set out minimum standards for the design and construction of buildings and works to ensure the health and safety of people in and around such buildings. In this context, the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2010, and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use (2010), which came into effect on 1 January 2012, set out the minimum statutory requirements that a building must achieve in respect of access. Where works are carried out in accordance with TGD M, this will, prima facie, indicate compliance with Part M of the Second Schedule of the Building Regulations.
Part M of the Building Regulations aims to foster an inclusive approach to the design and construction of the built environment. While the Part M requirements may be regarded as a statutory minimum level of provision, the accompanying technical guidance encourages building owners and designers to have regard to the design philosophy of universal design and to consider making additional provisions where practicable and appropriate.
Housing needs of people with disabilities are addressed in the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD). A new NHSPWD, is currently being developed by my Department and the Department of Health, with a view to publishing by the end of 2021. The strategy is about facilitating the provision of housing options and related services to disabled people to allow individual choice and support independent living.
In accordance with the vision and strategic aims of the current NHSPWD to achieve a coordinated and integrated approach to meeting the housing needs of people with a disability at local level, Housing and Disability Steering Groups (HDSGs) have been established in all local authority areas. These are chaired by the Directors of Housing with membership including the Health Service Executive (HSE) and disability representatives.
Each HDSG has prepared a local Strategic Plan for its own City/County area, to develop specific local strategies to meet the identified and emerging housing needs of people with disabilities in their areas with a view to developing annual targets for the delivery of housing to people with a disability on their housing waiting lists.
Separately, Action 97 of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 states – “We will prepare policy advice on ways of achieving universal design solutions for new housing so that new homes can be accessed and used by all persons, irrespective of size, age, ability or disability. We will advise on any implications of same for stakeholders including designers, builders, homeowners and tenants.”
I understand that the National Disability Authority (NDA), which falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth, is working on this policy advice and associated estimate of costs on ways of achieving universal design solutions in new housing.
The NDA also provides comprehensive guidance on how to design, build and manage buildings and spaces so that they can be readily accessed and used by everyone, regardless of age, size, ability or disability. 'Building for Everyone, A Universal Design Approach', a NDA publication, may be accessed at www.nda.ie.
The ‘Programme for Government Our Shared Future’ commits to ensuring that there is an appropriate mix of housing design types provided, including universally designed units, and accommodation for older people and people with disabilities.
In addition, the joint policy statement Housing Options for Our Ageing Population, launched by my Department and the Department of Health in 2019, includes an Action on universal design to “In partnership with industry, introduce measures to ensure that over a five year period delivery is increased to ensure that 30% of all new dwellings are built to incorporate universal design principles to accommodate our ageing population.” Appropriate measures to deliver on this commitment are currently being formulated by my Department.
284. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the MICA and pyrite remediation schemes for counties Donegal and Mayo given the difficulty applicants to those schemes are experiencing. [27942/21]
View answer285. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the issues in relation to local authorities acquiring construction materials from companies that previously provided materials with MICA. [27943/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together.
The 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 maximum grant amounts payable 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.
As the application process only opened in June 2020 it would be premature to consider or make any changes to the scheme at this time. I am keeping progress on the scheme under review and engaging with both local authorities and local action groups on the matter.
In relation to purchasing decisions, it is important to note that local authorities are independent legal entities whose purchasing activities are governed by public procurement rules. It would not be appropriate therefore for my Department to comment on the individual purchasing decisions of local authorities.
286. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of State expenditure on housing in each of the years 2014 to 2020; and the proportion of taxpayer expenditure on housing which is defined as off-balance sheet in each of the years in question and not calculated as part of overall Exchequer debt in both cash terms and as a percentage of the overall expenditure on housing in tabular form. [28011/21]
View answer287. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of expected State expenditure on housing in each of the next five years; and the proportion of taxpayer expenditure which is budgeted to be spent on housing which is defined as off-balance sheet in each of the years in question and not calculated as part of overall Exchequer debt in both cash terms and as a percentage of the overall expenditure on housing, in tabular form. [28012/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 287 together.
The future investment framework for the delivery of housing will be determined as part of the review of the National Development Plan and the development of the new housing strategy, Housing for All, which will be published later this year. Delivering the required supply of homes requires a multi-faceted approach and the agreed investment framework will reflect the various blend of delivery methods and mechanisms required to deliver on the targets set out in the Programme for Government to increase the supply of public, social and affordable homes, including through the delivery of 50,000 new social homes with a focus on new build homes.
Expenditure on the delivery of housing programmes in each of the years 2014 to 2020 and the budget for 2021 is set out in the table below.
|
2014 €m |
2015 €m |
2016 €m |
2017 €m |
2018 €m |
2019 €m |
2020 €m |
2021 Budget €m |
|
2014 €m |
2015 €m |
2016 €m |
2017 €m |
2018 €m |
2019 €m |
2020 €m |
2021 Budget €m |
|
585 |
762 |
943 |
1,408 |
2,061 |
2,439 |
2,632 |
3,306 |
Social housing is provided through a range of Exchequer funded programmes, including programmes to deliver new social homes through the Build, Acquisition and Leasing delivery mechanisms. The Central Statistics Office is responsible for Government financial statistics, including the reporting of the General Government Balance. However, I understand that the capital cost of delivering social homes under both certain leasing programmes and Social Housing Public Private Partnerships are currently considered 'off balance sheet'.
288. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to extend the Shannon–Erne waterway to the Erne estuary-Atlantic coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28036/21]
View answerWaterways Ireland is the navigation authority for the Erne System.
The western limit of navigation on the Erne System as managed by Waterways Ireland is at Belleek, Co. Fermanagh where there is a marina with services.
There are no plans at this time to extend the navigation farther west to the Atlantic coast at the Erne estuary.
289. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 303 of 24 February 2021, if a full breakdown will be provided of the funding provided to Donegal County Council for housing in each of the years from 2016 to 2020; the amount that was spent on building, leasing, HAP, RAS and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28104/21]
View answerA breakdown of the funding, set out in the reply to Question No. 303 of 24 February 2021, which was provided to Donegal County Council for the delivery of housing programmes in each of the years 2016 to 2020 is set out in the table below.
|
- |
2016€m |
2017€m |
2018€m |
2019€m |
2020€m |
|
Build |
1.36 |
4.27 |
10.36 |
9.86 |
17.28 |
|
Acquisition |
2.50 |
9.74 |
6.74 |
8.71 |
3.15 |
|
Lease |
1.07 |
2.08 |
1.75 |
2.19 |
2.17 |
|
HAP |
0.14 |
0.05 |
0.07 |
0.09 |
0.04 |
|
RAS |
2.04 |
2.01 |
1.77 |
1.83 |
1.77 |
|
Other Capital Programmes |
2.45 |
2.20 |
1.61 |
3.03 |
4.56 |
|
Other Current Programmes |
2.73 |
2.68 |
2.77 |
2.56 |
2.76 |
|
Total |
12.29 |
23.03 |
25.07 |
28.27 |
31.73 |
In respect of the provision of HAP funding, Limerick City and County Council provides a highly effective HAP transactional shared service on behalf of all local authorities. This HAP Shared Services Centre (SSC) manages all HAP related rental transactions for the tenant, local authority and landlord. Accordingly, my Department does not recoup individual local authorities in respect of HAP rental payments in their administrative areas but, rather, recoups all landlord costs via the HAP SSC. HAP funding is also provided for the administration cost of local authorities in their operation of the scheme.
In respect of homeless funding, my Department does not fund any homeless services directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards these costs. Under the funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of these funding arrangements with my Department. In light of the foregoing, the spend by Donegal County Council on homeless services is a matter for the individual housing authority in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homeless Consultative Forum.
Exchequer funding for homeless services is provided through my Department to housing authorities on a regional basis. County Donegal is included in the North West region for the purposes of homeless administration, along with Sligo and Leitrim. Financial reports from each homeless region including the North West setting out expenditure on homeless accommodation and related services are published on my Department’s website and can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/.
290. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is a policy of data back-up in the operations of his Department and all agencies under his remit. [28121/21]
View answerMy Department has policies and processes in place for data back-up to ensure the security and integrity of its systems, files and data. My Department does not hold the requested information in respect of the State Bodies under its aegis. These State Bodies may be contacted directly by e-mail by members of the Oireachtas at the email addresses set out in the table below.
|
State Body |
Contact E-mail Address |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie |
|
An Fóram Uisce (the Water Forum) |
info@nationalwaterforum.ie |
|
Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority |
info@ahbregulator.ie |
|
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum |
infodocklands@dublincity.ie |
|
Ervia |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Gas Networks Ireland |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Heritage Council |
oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
publicreps@housingagency.ie |
|
Irish Water |
oireachtasmembers@water.ie |
|
Land Development Agency |
oireachtas@lda.ie |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
corporate@lgma.ie |
|
National Oversight and Audit Commission |
info@noac.ie |
|
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee |
ntacc@housing.gov.ie |
|
Office of the Planning Regulator |
oireachtas@opr.ie |
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland |
Oireachtas@osi.ie |
|
Property Registration Authority |
reps@prai.ie |
|
Pyrite Resolution Board |
oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie |
|
Valuation Office |
oireachtas.enquiries@VALOFF.ie |
|
Valuation Tribunal |
info@valuationtribunal.ie |
|
Water Advisory Body |
info@wab.gov.ie |
|
Waterways Ireland |
ceoffice@waterwaysireland.org |
291. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to expand on the six demonstration projects on the community connection to wastewater networks scheme; if he will provide details of the conclusions drawn from the six projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28157/21]
View answerA Rural Water Working Group was established in 2018 to conduct a review of the wider investment needs relating to rural water services. The Working Group's aim is to recommend measures to ensure an equitable outcome between those who receive water services from Irish Water and non-Irish Water customers.
The Working Group, which is chaired by my Department, includes the National Federation of Group Water Schemes, Environmental Protection Agency, Health Service Executive, Department of Rural and Community Development and local authorities, through the County and City Management Association. In undertaking its work, it also consults with other key stakeholders, particularly Irish Water.
Under the current Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2019-2021, six demonstration Community Wastewater Connection projects were approved for funding. These projects will have until the end of 2021 to be fully or substantially completed. However if they are not completed by this time period, the projects will continue to be eligible for funding to proceed to completion under the 2022-2024 funding cycle. Once these projects are completed, my Department will then be in a position to carry out a review and draw conclusions on these projects.
The Working Group will shortly be considering the scope of the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2022-2024. Their report will make recommendations on the measures, including Community Wastewater Connections, to be funded in the next cycle of the multi-annual programme. Following my consideration of these recommendations, I expect to announce details of the programme priorities and the invitation to submit bids should issue to local authorities in Q3 this year.
292. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the review of the reconstruction loan scheme will be completed. [28173/21]
View answer293. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and value of paused applications currently due to the review of the reconstruction loan scheme by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28174/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 292 and 293 together.
The Home Improvement Loans product (the successor to reconstruction loans) is currently being examined by my Department. My Department does not collect data on applications for these loan types.
294. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if funding or grants are available to provide financial assistance for a person (details supplied) to have a ramp installed. [28296/21]
View answerMy Department provides funding to local authorities in respect of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist eligible people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability (max grant €30,000), the Mobility Aids Grant (max grant €6,000) and the Housing Aid for Older People (max grant €8,000). A means test applies to each grant scheme. The detailed administration of the schemes is the responsibility of the local authorities.
Further details on these schemes is available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/service/6636c-housing-adaptation-grants-for-older-people-and-people-with-a-disability/.
295. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent by his Department on external professional legal services in 2014, 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [28305/21]
View answerMy Department seeks, where possible, to minimise legal costs and avails of the services of the Chief State Solicitor's office, the Attorney General's Office and the State Claims Agency in terms of the provision of legal advice and representation of the Department in Court cases.
The table below sets out details in relation to external legal services provided directly to my Department by legal firms in the years 2014, 2019 and 2020. This table does not include costs associated with the Planning Tribunal.
|
- |
External Profession Legal Services |
|
Year |
Total (€) |
|
2020 |
€546,789 |
|
2019 |
€488,864 |
|
2014 |
€42,032 |
