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Wednesday, 14 Jul 2021

Written Answers Nos. 125-148

Emergency Accommodation

Questions (125)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

125. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent on emergency accommodation in each of the years 2015 to 2020; and the criteria to qualify as emergency accommodation for the purposes of this spending. [38273/21]

View answer

Written answers

My 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 emergency accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. The purposes for which housing authorities may incur expenditure in addressing homelessness are prescribed in Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988.

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. Therefore, the exact spend by housing authorities on homeless services, as well as the types of services including emergency accommodation, are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homeless Consultative Forum.

Financial reports from each of the homeless regions, setting out expenditure on homeless services are published on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/#local-authority-regional-financial-reports

Housing Policy

Questions (126)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

126. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the provision he will put in place to enable a significant cohort of families and single persons to buy a home who are just over the eligibility criteria for social housing and under it for a Rebuilding Ireland mortgage and have no prospects of renting or buying a home in the private market. [38278/21]

View answer

Written answers

The Affordable Housing Bill 2021 which has now cleared all stages in the Oireachtas is the first ever stand-alone affordable housing legislation. The provisions of the Bill establish the basis for 4 new affordable housing measures. These measures will deliver on the Programme for Government commitment to put affordability at the heart of the housing system and prioritise the increased supply of affordable homes through (1) delivering affordable homes on local authority lands, (2) the introduction of a new form of tenure in Cost Rental, (3) a new affordable purchase shared equity scheme and (4) expanding Part V planning requirements to increase the 10% contribution requirement to 20% and to apply it to cost rental as well as social and affordable housing.

These measures are in addition to the previously established Help to Buy and the Rebuilding Ireland schemes, and are further supports for those who are over the eligibility criteria to receive social housing.

The Help to Buy Scheme may return tax paid in the previous four years (up to a maximum amount of €30,000) to eligible first-time buyers of a new home. Further information is available online at: www.revenue.ie/en/property/help-to-buy-incentive/index.aspx.

The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is another support for first-time homeowners, including self-builds. This scheme enables access to sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new properties, or finance self-builds, or purchase second-hand properties, in a suitable price range. There are no set minimum income limits to avail of the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan Scheme. Under current conditions, applicants must have an annual gross income of not more than €50,000 as a single applicant or not more than €75,000 combined as joint applicants.  Households do need to have sufficient borrowing and repayment capacity and must be capable of repaying the mortgage. Further information on the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is available at rebuildingirelandhomeloan.ie/.

Government will very shortly publish a new 5 year ‘Housing for All’ strategy which will include ambitious affordable home delivery targets and further details for these schemes.

Postal Voting

Questions (127)

Richard Bruton

Question:

127. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans under consideration to amend Irish arrangements for postal voting. [38366/21]

View answer

Written answers

Postal voting is provided for in electoral law in respect of a number of categories of electors, including: -

- Irish diplomats serving abroad and their spouses/civil partners,

- whole-time members of the Defence Forces,

- members of An Garda Síochána,

- electors living at home who are unable to vote because of a physical illness or a physical disability,

- certain election staff employed at the poll outside the constituency where they reside,

- full-time students registered at their home who are living elsewhere while attending an educational institution in the State,

- prisoners, and

- electors whose occupation, service or employment makes it likely that they will be unable to vote in person at their local polling station on polling day.

The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future – contains a commitment to establish an Electoral Commission. In this regard the General Scheme of an Electoral Reform Bill, was approved by Government in December 2020 and inter alia provides for the establishment of the commission. The General Scheme was published in January 2021 and is available on my Department's website at the following link www.gov.ie/en/publication/34cf6-general-scheme-of-the-electoral-reform-bill-2020/. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage is currently carrying out pre-legislative scrutiny on the General Scheme.

The Government recently approved proposals, for inclusion in the Electoral Reform Bill, which will ensure that voters with any illness or disability (physical or mental) will have equal access to postal and special voting arrangements.

The Programme for Government also commits to mandating the new Electoral Commission to examine the use of postal voting, with a view to expanding its provision. Any reform of electoral law concerning postal voting generally will have regard to the outcome of this work.

Local Authorities

Questions (128)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

128. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the affordable housing targets for the four Dublin local authorities for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38370/21]

View answer

Written answers

The Affordable Housing Bill 2021 which has now cleared all stages in the Oireachtas is the first ever stand-alone affordable housing legislation. The provisions of the Bill establish the basis for 4 new affordable housing measures. These measures will deliver on the Programme for Government commitment to put affordability at the heart of the housing system and prioritise the increased supply of affordable homes through (1) delivering affordable homes on local authority lands, (2) the introduction of a new form of tenure in Cost Rental, (3) a new affordable purchase shared equity scheme and (4) expanding Part V planning requirements to increase the 10% contribution requirement to 20% and to apply it to cost rental as well as social and affordable housing.

Government will very shortly publish a new 5 year ‘Housing for All’ strategy which will include ambitious affordable home delivery targets for these schemes.

Local Authorities

Questions (129)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

129. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent on long-term leasing by the four Dublin local authorities for the years 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38371/21]

View answer

Written answers

Funding provided under the long term leasing schemes to the four Dublin local authorities, from 2019 to end Q1 2021, is set out in the table below. The data is based on the claims received in the Department from each local authority.

Local Authority

2019

2020

2021 to end Q1

Dublin City

€7,792,948

€11,913,455

€0

DLR

€1,469,177

€3,867,488

€827,296

Fingal

€6,268,286

€7,577,849

€1,997,978

South Dublin

€7,297,839

€8,475,144

€57,740

Local Authorities

Questions (130)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

130. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent on housing adaptations in Dublin City Council in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38372/21]

View answer

Written answers

Details of the funding provided by my Department to Dublin City Council in respect of the Disabled Persons Grants Scheme/Improvement Works in Lieu (DPG/IWIL) for local authority tenants, including details of the 10% local authority contribution, can be found in the following table:

Department Funding (90%)

Local Authority Funding (10%)

Total

2016

€1,402,204

€155,800

€1,558,004

2017

€1,897,701

€210,856

€2,108,557

2018

€1,865,010

€207,223

€2,072,234

2019

€1,953,402

€217,045

€2,170,447

2020

€1,529,062

€169,896

€1,698,958

My Department allocated funding of €23.7 million in May of this year to local authorities to carry out all works that could be completed this year under the 2021 DPG/IWIL Programme. From this, Dublin City Council was allocated €2.5 million and taking the local authority contribution into account this brings the funding available to €2.79 million. Local authorities are currently progressing their 2021 work programmes but it will be later this year before significant recoupment claims are lodged with my Department. Full details in relation to the drawdown of funding for Dublin City Council in 2021 will be available early in 2022.

Separately, funding of €75 million is available nationally in 2021 for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme, in respect of private houses. Local authorities fund 20% of the overall budget from their own resources with the balance of 80% funded by the exchequer. Dublin City Council have drawn down a total of €2,181,752 in grant funding from my Department up to 30 June 2021. Details of the funding drawn down for the grants up to 2020, for all local authorities including Dublin City Council, are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/social-and-affordble/other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics

Housing Provision

Questions (131)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

131. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent on the housing assistance payment in Dublin 9 and 11 in each of the years 2019 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38373/21]

View answer

Written answers

The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is available to all eligible households throughout the State. At end Q1 2021 there were nearly 61,300 households in receipt of HAP and over 33,900 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.

HAP Exchequer funding recoups the HAP SSC the costs associated with the making of HAP payments, including Homeless HAP; the administration cost of local authorities in their operation of the scheme; and the costs associated with providing public access to general information on the HAP scheme. Actual outturn on HAP in 2020 was €464.6 million. HAP spend to end Q1 2021 was €127.4 million.

My Department does not hold data on HAP tenancies by post code, but rather collects and publishes data by local authority area.

Data in relation to the funding provided by the State in 2019 and 2020 and number of active tenancies, 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 2014-2020 is outlined in the table below:

Year

Additional Households supported at end of year

No. of LAs operating HAP Scheme

Outturn €M

2014

485

7

0.39

2015

5,680

18

15.64

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

Q1 2021

3,914

31

127.4

Local Authorities

Questions (132)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

132. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent on voids in the four different local authorities in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38374/21]

View answer

Written answers

Under the Voids Programme funded by my Department, over €65 million was provided to the four local authorities encompassing the geographic area of the county and city of Dublin in the period 2016-2020. This figure is in addition to the funding provided by the local authorities through their own resources to prepare vacant units for re-letting.

The table below provides a breakdown of the funding provided under this programme.

Funding 2016

Funding 2017

Funding 2018

Funding 2019

Funding 2020

Funding 2016 - 2020

Dublin City

€8,757,848

€8,520,549

€8,299,452

€12,137,116

€10,606,565

€48,321,530

Fingal

€1,725,774

€1,329,300

€589,150

€219,738

€3,800,289

€7,664,251

South Dublin

€703,736

€718,446

€574,589

€914,084

€2,946,175

€5,857,031

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown

€183,092

€283,531

€436,845

€778,172

€1,554,659

€3,236,300

My Department announced earlier this year that funding will be provided for the refurbishment and re-letting of approximately 3,000 social homes this year. Each local authority has been allocated a number of properties and work in this regard is underway but it will be later this year before significant recoupment claims are lodged with my Department. Full details in relation to the 2021 drawdown of funding for any local authority will be available early in 2022.

Housing Schemes

Questions (134, 133)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

134. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will increase the funding that his Department makes available to local authorities for the housing adaptation grant; his views on the way in which the current level of funding is continually excluding many persons from getting work done; his views on the way Monaghan County Council’s budget for 2021 is already fully allocated; his views on the fact that as a result Monaghan County Council is now processing cases that will come out of the 2022 allocation; his further views on the fact that only priority 1 cases are being considered in this regard; his plans to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38377/21]

View answer

Niamh Smyth

Question:

133. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the way the underfunding of the housing adaptation grant results in families being unable to get sensory rooms fitted out; his further views on the fact that when families apply for this funding from Monaghan County Council that the money allocated has been spent; his views on the impact that this is having on persons with disabilities; and if he will consider requesting an increase in funding for the housing adaptation grant for persons with a disability. [38376/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together.

My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People, which are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. The detailed administration of these grant schemes, including assessment, approval and prioritisation, is the responsibility of local authorities. The grants fund on an annual basis approximately 10,000 home improvement and adaptation works and are hugely effective in meeting the accommodation needs of older persons and persons with a disability right across the country.

My Department's approach each year is to issue a single full year allocation to each local authority, so they can effectively plan and implement the grants programme. Over the course of the year, my Department works closely with the local authorities to monitor spend and to achieve a full drawdown of the available funding. This means that if underspends arise on the part of some local authorities, they can be redistributed to other authorities which have high levels of grant activity.

Over the course of this year, Monaghan County Council have made two separate requests for additional Exchequer funding, totalling €571,020. These requests have been approved by my Department, bringing the Council's combined allocation for 2021 to €2 million, of which €400,000 is being provided from the Council's own resources. If Monaghan County Council is in a position to allocate additional own resources to the grant scheme in 2021 further additional funding can be requested from my Department and ever effort will be made to accede to any such request.

Separately, grant aid may be considered for the provision of infrastructural and safety related adaptations to create appropriate space for applicants with specific sensory needs. Applications of this nature should be supported by a multidisciplinary assessment of the applicant by specialist healthcare professionals. This should outline who will be responsible for therapy services and/or the provision and upkeep of sensory related equipment as the grant schemes do not fund the provision of such equipment.

Funding 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 increasing 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:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/ea33c1-housing-options-for-our-ageing-population-policy-statement/

Land Issues

Questions (135)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

135. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to a number of instances across north County Donegal in which landowners have come into conflict with their neighbouring landowners arising from discrepancies between their original folio Land Registry maps and the maps that have emerged from the digitisation of the mapping system by the Property Registration Authority of Ireland; if he will request that an independent review of these discrepancies will be carried out; and the reason that such discrepancies occurred. [38396/21]

View answer

Written answers

I am informed that the digitisation of the Property Registration Authority (PRA) map record took place between December 2005 and August 2010. During this period, approximately 2.5 million registered land parcels, comprising approximately 15 million line entities, were digitised from 36,000 PRA paper map sheets.

Having completed the digitisation of the PRA map record, a comprehensive assessment of the quality of the data capture was carried out. This study revealed an error rate of 0.18 per cent. It should be noted that the digital mapping project was much more than just a matter of transferring the registered land parcels from a paper map record to a digital map record. Listed below are some of the factors that contributed to the complexity of the challenges associated with the project:

- Moving all registrations from the now defunct County Series and Irish Grid map projections to the latest Irish Transverse Mercator map projection;

- Development schemes mapped on the PRA paper-based record were found to be at variance with the more accurate “As Built” layout presented by Ordnance Survey Ireland;

- Transferring registrations from Western seaboard counties which, up until the digital mapping project predominantly mapped on 1/10560 or 6” Ordnance Survey mapping, had not benefited from any revisions for decades;

- Deciphering map data on old PRA paper maps, some of which were 100 years old; and

- Deciphering map data on badly damaged PRA paper maps.

It should be noted that prior to the data capture element of the project, the process was validated by eminent international mapping/land administration experts.

I am further informed that the PRA has in place robust structures whereby the registered owners of properties or their representatives can engage with the PRA in relation to matters pertaining to the mapped representation of the registration. The PRA also has a longstanding and valued relationship with solicitors, surveyors, engineers and architects in all matters pertaining to property registration.

The PRA’s experience has been such that many of the queries received, once investigated, do not indicate any registration error. Many of the perceived errors do not emanate from the PRA but, in fact, can originate from inaccuracies in the application map lodged for registration. It should be noted that the responsibility for the accuracy of the application map lodged rests with the applicant.

There also needs to be due recognition given to the fact that the PRA digital mapping project resolved many thousands of pre-existing issues and anomalies that existed in the paper-based map system. Being pro-active in the adoption of Ordnance Survey topographical detail, during digitisation, has absolved many property owners of the need to incur costs in an effort to perfect or amend the Land Register to reflect the actual position on the ground.

As referred to previously, the PRA has in place a robust structure whereby the registered owners of properties or their representatives can engage with the PRA in relation to matters pertaining to the mapped representation of the registration(s). Registrations that are queried require a considerable amount of effort to investigate. There is a requirement to retrieve the original registration documents and maps in order to facilitate a thorough analysis and examination. On some occasions, there is a necessity to revert to and consult with Irish Land Commission maps and documentation in order to draw a conclusion. Statistics show that approximately 50 per cent of the cases reviewed by the PRA result in no change to the registration, yet they are very time consuming to investigate. Of course, the PRA makes every effort to review each case in as timely a manner as possible.

Having regard to the foregoing, I have no plans to conduct or commission an independent review of alleged discrepancies.

Local Authorities

Questions (136)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

136. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of land purchases by local authorities that have been approved by his Department in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; if he will provide a list of these purchases including location and hectarage; and the financing provided to each local authority for each land purchase. [38401/21]

View answer

Written answers

All local authorities acquire land on an ongoing basis for a wide range of uses, including housing developments. My Department provides funding to local authorities also on an ongoing basis where they use their land for social housing developments. Specific allocations of funding are not made to local authorities for land, rather each local authority makes its own decisions regarding land acquisition in line with their needs and my Department provides full funding in respect of the all-in capital costs - including land costs and construction costs, when land is used for the construction of new social housing.

To incentivise and support local authorities to further develop their landbanks, a new initiative has been confirmed for 2021 to support land acquisition where it is for new social housing developments. The focus with this initiative is land that is development-ready for housing, is appropriately zoned, which faces no other known obstacles to its development and where the local authority can work to a delivery programme to develop social housing as soon as possible on the site. In such cases, funding for the land will be provided by my Department when a local authority presents a social housing development proposal for the site. On the back of this initiative, local authorities are seeking suitable sites that can be acquired and funding will be provided by my Department as these are brought forward.

The amount of money spent by local authorities on land purchase in 2019 is set out in Appendix 5 of the Annual Financial Statement at the following link; www.gov.ie/en/collection/e103b-local-authority-annual-financial-statements/. This is the latest year for which there are fully audited accounts available for local authorities.

Housing Schemes

Questions (137)

Steven Matthews

Question:

137. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the advice he can offer to first-time homeowners seeking to build their own home on private land; the supports available in this scenario; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38412/21]

View answer

Written answers

A number of measures are currently in place for first-time homeowners seeking to build their own home on private land. The Help to Buy Scheme may return tax paid in the previous four years (up to a maximum amount of €30,000) to eligible first-time homeowners purchasing or self-building a new home. Further information on this support is available online at: www.revenue.ie/en/property/help-to-buy-incentive/index.aspx.

The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is another support for first-time homeowners, including self-builds. This scheme enables access to sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new properties, or finance self-builds, or purchase second-hand properties, in a suitable price range. To avail of this support, applicants need to have sufficient borrowing and repayment capacity and must be capable of repaying the mortgage. Further information on the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is available at rebuildingirelandhomeloan.ie/.

I can confirm that in addition to the above supports, a suite of affordability measures and targets for first time buyers will be announced in the "Housing For All" strategy to be published later this month.

Departmental Correspondence

Questions (138)

Niall Collins

Question:

138. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on correspondence (details supplied); the status of the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38445/21]

View answer

Written answers

The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area of building defects and provides for an examination of defects in housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing report, "Safe as Houses".

In this context, I established a working group to examine defects in housing. The group’s terms of reference have recently been adopted and include:

1. Examine defects in housing having regard to the recommendations in Item 4 “Addressing the legacy of bad building and poor regulation” in Chapter 4 of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government report - ‘Safe as Houses? A Report on Building Standards, Building Controls and Consumer Protection’.

2. Establish the nature of significant, wide-spread fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 – 2013 in Ireland through consultation with affected homeowners, homeowner representative organisations, owners’ management companies, relevant managing agents, public representatives, local authorities, product manufacturers, building professionals, industry stakeholders, insurance providers, mortgage providers and other relevant parties. Including such matters as;

- Identification and description of defect,

- Nature of defect – design, product, workmanship,

- Non-compliance with building regulations or actual damage,

- Severity/risk to life or serviceability of dwelling,

- Period of construction affected,

- Type of dwelling affected,

- Location of dwellings affected.

3. Establish the scale of the issue – estimate number of dwellings affected by the defects identified including those already remediated.

4. Consider a methodology for the categorisation of defects and the prioritisation of remedial action.

1. In the case of defects with fire safety implications, consider how the framework for enhancing fire safety in dwellings can be applied to mitigate the risks arising from fire safety defects pending the remediation of defects and the Code of Practice for Fire Safety Assessment of Premises and Buildings, which is currently being developed by National Directorate of Fire and Emergency Management.

2. Suggest mechanisms for resolving defects, in the context of the legal rights, duties and obligations of developers, builders, building professionals, insurers, mortgage providers, building control authorities, fire authorities, owners’ management companies, owner occupiers, renters and landlords, including:

3. Technical options for the remediation of dwellings,

4. Efficient means of carrying out work,

5. individual dwellings or whole building approach,

6. routine maintenance/refurbishment or remediation,

7. Structures or delivery channels needed to facilitate resolution – advice and support.

8. Evaluate the potential cost of technical remediation options.

5. Pursue options on possible financial solutions to effect a resolution, in line with the Programme for Government commitment to identify options for those impacted by defects to access low-cost, long-term finance.

To report to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the Examination of Defects in Housing.

The plenary working group has been meeting monthly since March 2021, in addition to subgroup meetings.

In regard to the working group’s deliberations, the group will seek to engage with a range of interested parties, including homeowners, public representatives, local authorities, product manufacturers, building professionals and industry stakeholders, among others to examine the issue of defects in housing and report to me on the matter. Arrangements in regard to the consultation with relevant parties are currently being put in place by the working group.

Finally, in regard to income tax relief and Vat, taxation issues are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Finance.

Departmental Strategies

Questions (139, 140)

Holly Cairns

Question:

139. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit are implementing Action 16 of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 (details supplied). [38484/21]

View answer

Holly Cairns

Question:

140. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit are implementing Action 32 of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 (details supplied). [38512/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 140 together.

My Department has significantly increased activities in recent years to comply with the range of disability statutes, conventions and codes of practice. My Department has appointed an Access Team, with terms of reference and official policy to deliver a targeted Action Plan over 3 years. The objective is to greatly enhance access to my Department, and its services, for those with disabilities.

Regarding the promotion of accessibility and universal design in the implementation of the Public Service ICT Strategy, my Department established a group earlier in 2021 to specifically examine this Priority. That group made a number of recommendations including - the development of guidelines to ensure all in-house IT development caters for those with disabilities; the procurement of a vendor to evaluate all Department websites and applications; ensuring Access features in the ICT Digital Strategy, currently being drafted; and reviewing existing ICT policies to ensure that Access is appropriately addressed.

Finally, under Action 16, my Department has appointed 3 Access Officers to cover the different aspects of access - including buildings, ICT and published information. Contact details are listed on our website.

Regarding engagement through consultative committees and other appropriate fora, I have procedures in place to ensure that people with disabilities are consulted regularly. These include people within my organisation and outside of it. My Department has established a Disability Consultative Committee which includes membership from disability organisations and the National Disability Authority as well as Departmental officials and local authorities. The Committee, which is chaired by my Department, meets regularly to discuss progress with implementation of the Actions in the National Disability Inclusion Strategy. A wide range of issues are addressed by the Committee including franchise, housing, accessibility of the built environment, procurement and universal design. The Committee will continue to act as a consultative mechanism to facilitate a streamlined process of engagement between my officials and the disability sector in relation to all relevant Actions under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy.

For those within my Department, a Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) has been appointed who provides additional support to staff with disabilities on an ongoing basis, providing reasonable accommodations as appropriate. The DLO regularly promotes awareness on disability and supports available through the DLO by email communications, our Staff Intranet and directly with staff, as needed.

My Department does not maintain 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, as set out in the attached table.

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

Question No. 140 answered with Question No. 139.

Departmental Funding

Questions (141)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

141. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if further discussions and or meetings have taken place between his Department and Louth County Council in respect of progressing a further appeal or new application for the Port Access Northern Cross Route URDF application; the details of same; if he expects to allocate a further tranche of URDF funding in the coming months; if so, the timeline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38534/21]

View answer

Written answers

At my Department's invitation Louth County Council requested a meeting for further feedback on its Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF) application in respect of the Port Access Northern Cross Route (PANCR) proposal which was unsuccessful under both Call 1 and Call 2 of the URDF. The meeting between officials of my Department and officials of Louth County Council took place on 25th June.

At the meeting my officials explained that the main focus of Call 2 of the URDF was on supporting integrated development proposals that targeted regeneration and redevelopment within the existing footprint of the urban area in question. My officials further explained that while there was no issue with the quality of the application submitted by Louth County Council unfortunately the PANCR proposal simply does not align sufficiently with the core objectives of the URDF and so was not approved for URDF support.

However, acknowledging the strategic regional importance of Drogheda, my officials are available to assist and support Louth County Council in its consideration and development of alternative integrated development proposals for the Town, which might attract URDF support in the future.

My Department's immediate focus is now on the early advancement of the recently announced €1.3 billion countrywide programme of proposals approved under Call 2 of the URDF. This being the case there are no plans at present for a further call for proposals.

Local Authorities

Questions (142)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

142. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Rebuilding Ireland home loans approved and drawn down in each local authority for 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38554/21]

View answer

Written answers

My Department regularly publishes information on the number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns. Local authority approval means that an official letter of offer has been sent to a borrower (and therefore relates to a specific property and loan amount).

The requested figures for 2019 and 2020 are available at the below link -

www.gov.ie/en/collection/42d2f-local-authority-loan-activity/#local-authority-loans-approvedpaid.

Figures for the first quarter of 2021 will be made available through this link in due course.

Septic Tanks

Questions (143)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

143. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the consideration he has given to extending and reviewing the septic tank grant to ensure upgrades can be availed of for defective tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38556/21]

View answer

Written answers

Following on from the recommendations contained in the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services report in April 2017, the Rural Water Working Group was established to conduct a review of the wider resources and investment needs relating to the rural water sector.

As part of its work, the Working Group recommended a number of revisions to the existing grant scheme that provided support towards the remediation, repair, or upgrading works to, or the replacement of, domestic waste water treatment systems. It was further recommended that financial assistance be expanded to support the attainment of water quality objectives in what are called ‘high status objective catchment’ water areas and ‘prioritised areas for action’, as identified in the River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2018-2021.

The new and revised grant schemes to support the remediation, repair or upgrading works to, or the replacement of a domestic waste water treatment system opened for applications on 4 June 2020. The schemes are administered by the local authorities on behalf of my Department.

In implementing the revised arrangements, my Department has undertaken to conduct a review of the grant scheme after at least one year of operation to ensure its continued alignment with policy objectives. The specifics of this review have not yet been formalised, however, it is anticipated that relevant stakeholders will be consulted e.g. local authorities, EPA, etc., as appropriate. In considering an indicative timeframe for the review, consideration will be given to the most appropriate period in order to ensure best engagement from relevant stakeholders.

Local Authorities

Questions (144)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

144. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the information provided by local authorities using the choice-based letting system to his Department on the performance of the system in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38557/21]

View answer

Written answers

Choice Based Letting (CBL) is a method whereby available social housing stock is let by being openly advertised by local authorities to persons on the social housing waiting list. This allows qualified applicants to 'register an interest' in available homes.

Applicants can act on their own initiative to respond to adverts and express an interest in dwellings that they would like to live in, rather than waiting for an authority to offer them a dwelling. This approach offers more choice and involvement for applicant households in selecting a new home, thereby reducing the likelihood of a refusal, and helping to build sustainable tenancies and stable communities.

The Social Housing Allocation (Amendment) Regulations 2016 required all local authorities, if they had not already done so, to provide for CBL as a method of allocation for social housing in their allocation schemes by the end of 2016. The way in which CBL is implemented, including decisions on which properties are to be offered through it, is a matter for the individual authority concerned. However, it must be done in accordance with the relevant regulations and their allocation scheme.

In relation to the question posed by the Deputy regarding information provided by local authorities on the performance of CBL in tabular form, information of this exact type is not held by my Department. However, given the clear benefits offered by CBL, my Department continues to liaise with the local authorities to ensure that it is implemented as widely as possible across the country and has undertaken a number of surveys in recent years to determine its uptake and impact. Data garnered through these surveys has shown that over half of all local authorities are operating a CBL system. Of those authorities that are operating CBL, the expressed view is that it is having a positive effect on how they allocate houses. The data also shows that where CBL is in operation the rate of refusals has dropped.

Commercial Rates

Questions (145)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

145. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of the current waiver of commercial rates; the estimated cost of extending the commercial rates waiver until the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38606/21]

View answer

Written answers

Given the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and the associated public health restrictions, and in order to continue supporting ratepayers and local authorities, the Government introduced a commercial rates waiver for the first nine months of 2021. This waiver applies to businesses most seriously affected by ongoing restrictions.

The businesses eligible for the waiver include:

- retail;

- hospitality including hotels, pubs and restaurants, leisure and entertainment;

- personal services such as hairdressers and barbers; and

- health services.

In recognition of the fact that there may be ratepayers excluded from the waiver that were severely impacted by the pandemic, it includes a provision that ratepayers not automatically eligible may engage directly with their local authorities, to demonstrate serious financial impact. In such circumstances ratepayers that are not automatically eligible, may also qualify. These applications are being reviewed by local authorities on a case by case basis.

The administration by local authorities of the 2021 waiver is ongoing. It is estimated that the nine month waiver will cost €480m, that is, €160 million per quarter, or approximately €53.3m per month. To extend the waiver on the same terms, to the end of 2022, for a further 15 months would cost an additional €800m or €1.28bn in total for 24 months.

As with all public health measures and associated supports, the waiver of commercial rates will be kept under review. As has been the case since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department will continue to engage with the local government sector and with individual local authorities on the financial impacts of the pandemic.

Housing Schemes

Questions (146, 147)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

146. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that HAP applications are being refused in cases in which household income was assessed as being over the income threshold for property owners whose homes have MICA and who will have to rent alternative accommodation when rebuilding works commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38610/21]

View answer

Pearse Doherty

Question:

147. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is planned to disregard income thresholds for HAP applicants whose homes have MICA and who have to rent alternative accommodation when works commence to repair or rebuild their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38611/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together.

The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need.

In order to qualify for HAP, a household must first be assessed as eligible for social housing support. Applications 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.

The Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme is available to assist homeowners to carry out remedial works, to their principal private residence, where the house is deemed to have been damaged, due to defective concrete blocks.

In response to concerns about the Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme which have been raised by affected homeowners I established a time-bound working group, with representatives from my Department, the local authorities and homeowner representative groups, to review any outstanding issues in relation to the operation of the scheme, including issues such as grant caps, homeowner contributions, engineering and allowable costs, etc. “Allowable costs” include costs associated with accommodation where remediation option 1 (demolition and rebuild) is selected by the relevant engineer. I expect that the review, to be undertaken by the working group, will be completed by 31 July and will inform any changes or improvements to the scheme as may be required. Following receipt of the report of the working group I will, following consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Attorney General, bring proposals in this regard to Government.

Question No. 147 answered with Question No. 146.

Housing Provision

Questions (148)

Pauline Tully

Question:

148. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average length of time spent on the social housing list in County Cavan; the plans to reduce these times; the number on the social housing list in each of the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38643/21]

View answer

Written answers

Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA).

The most recent summary, conducted in November 2020, shows that 61,880 households were assessed as qualified for, and being in need of, social housing support. This represents a decrease of 6,813 households or 9.9% on the last assessment in June 2019. Since 2016, the numbers have decreased from 91,600 to 61,880, a reduction of 32.4%.

Below is the link to the summary report for 2020 which includes breakdowns by each local authority across a range of categories.

In relation to the question posed by the Deputy regarding the average time spent on the housing list in County Cavan, information of this exact type is not held by my Department. However, details on the length of time spent on the record of qualified households (waiting lists), for each local authority can be found at tables 2.8 and A1.8 of the report, although it does not record data on a month by month basis in the manner sought.

It should also be noted that the SSHA is a point in time snapshot of the demand for social housing support in each local authority area and does not necessarily reflect the dynamic nature of entry to and exit from the housing waiting lists.

2020 Report

www.gov.ie/en/publication/970ea-summary-of-social-housing-assessments-2020-key-findings/.

With regard to reducing waiting times, increasing the supply of social, affordable and private housing is a priority for this Government. The Programme for Government commits to the delivery of 50,000 new social homes with a focus on new build homes.

In 2021, the Government has made available €3.3 billion for housing delivery programmes. Subject to delays arising from COVID-19 restrictions, this funding will support the delivery, subject to the impact of COVID-19, of 12,750 social homes, including 9,500 new build homes. The Government will be publishing a new housing strategy in the coming weeks, which will set out details of social housing delivery for 2021-2025, including social housing targets for 2022 onwards. In addition to supporting households in homes allocated by local authorities, eligible households are supported in the private rental market through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).

Also, my Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on all social housing delivery activity. This is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/

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