Written Answers Nos. 667-684
667. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated additional revenue which would be raised from reducing the non-principal private residence charge at a rate of €200 or €500 respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39940/21]
View answerThe Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended by the Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011, provides the legislative basis for the non-principal private residence (NPPR) charge. The NPPR charge, which has since been discontinued, applied in the years 2009 to 2013 to any residential property in which the owner did not reside as their normal place of residence. The self-assessed charge was set at €200 per annum.
2013 was the last year of operation of the NPPR charge, however, outstanding NPPR liabilities and payments remain payable to the local authority in whose area the property concerned is located.
NPPR charges, including late payment fees and the charge on a property, expire for all property owners after 12 years from the date of liability. This means that for NPPR liabilities incurred from 2009 to 2013 and remaining unpaid, the portion of the liability and charge on a property which relates to 2009 will expire in 2021 and so on until the liability and charge on a property relating to the final year of NPPR in 2013, expires after 31 March 2025. This expiry corresponds with the repeal of the whole Act, also on 31 March 2025.
My Department has no role in relation to the collection or the enforcement of the charge. The data requested in relation to the estimated additional revenue which would be raised from reducing the charge is not available in my Department.
668. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the procedure which was put in place in 2014 whereby counties that required additional funding from the equalisation fund could apply to bring counties back to their previous funding levels before 2014 is still available; the procedure which Tipperary County Council can use to apply for this funding; the basis used to calculate previous funding levels; the amount applied in each year since the equalisation fund was set up; the amount granted in each year since 2014; if there has been a shortfall on the amount requested in each year since 2014; if so, the explanation for the shortfall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40012/21]
View answerThe Government remains committed to ensuring that the local government sector retains a sustainable and stable source of funding from Local Property Tax (LPT), distributed to local authorities via the Local Government Fund, to support the delivery of local authority services.
The current LPT local retention policy began in 2015 and since then, 80% of the estimated LPT liability in each local authority area for a given year is retained in that area to fund public services, notwithstanding any local variation decisions. The remaining 20% of LPT is re-distributed to provide equalisation funding to those local authorities that have lower property tax bases, due to the variance in property values and density across the country. Funding for equalisation purposes is provided via the Local Government Fund.
In accordance with decisions taken by Government regarding the distribution of LPT funding, every local authority has a minimum level of funding available to it known as the LPT baseline. There are variances across the country in terms of LPT levels but it is important that all local authorities in the State receive at least this minimum funding level to ensure they can deliver services. The LPT funding baseline is linked to previous General Purpose Grant amounts and Pension Related Deductions retained by authorities in 2014. Exchequer funding is also required to ensure every local authority receives at least its baseline funding. Two-thirds of authorities receive equalisation funding support to bring their funding levels up to their baselines. Tipperary County Council’s LPT baseline of €29.95m is the highest of any local authority. As 80% of the projected LPT yield is lower than its baseline, the authority is a recipient of €16.29m in equalisation support, which is again, the highest level of support of any local authority.
Detailed information on the LPT retention system, including equalisation funding and allocations is published by my Department on an annual basis and is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/ea27d-local-property-tax-allocations/
The Programme for Government 'Our Shared Future', commits to bringing forward LPT reforms. These reforms will involve bringing new homes, which are currently exempt from LPT, into the taxation system as well as providing for all money collected locally to be retained within the county. This will also be done on the basis that those counties with a lower LPT base are adjusted via an annual national equalisation fund paid from the Exchequer, as is currently the case.
My Department recently confirmed provisional LPT allocations to local authorities for 2022 amounting to €528m. The €34.3m shortfall between the 20% contribution from all local authorities and the total amount required for equalisation is met by the Exchequer. There will be no change to allocations for the 20 local authorities requiring equalisation funding, as their LPT yield is below their funding baseline. When detailed information on the new LPT yield, becomes available following the revaluation process, my Department will progress work on the planned move to 100% local retention of LPT and the effects on the funding system for local authorities.
My Department works closely with the local government sector on a range of financial issues, to ensure that any additional resources that may be available are appropriately targeted. The funding for all local authorities will be kept under review as part of the normal Estimates process and in the context of the aforementioned LPT revaluation process.
669. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the process for purchasing NAMA-owned properties in particular derelict vacant units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40028/21]
View answerThere has been an ongoing engagement between my Department, the Housing Agency and the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) since 2011 to identify properties from the NAMA loan portfolio that would be suitable for social housing. In 2011, a Steering Group was established to identify properties that would be suitable for social housing. Once demand was confirmed, NAMA facilitated delivery, through its debtors or receivers, by way of either direct sale or lease to a local authority or an Approved Housing Body (AHBs).
In order to expedite delivery, NAMA also established a special purpose vehicle, National Asset Residential Property Services DAC (NARPS) in July 2012, which operates by purchasing properties from NAMA’s debtors and receivers and making them immediately available to local authorities or AHBs through a standardised long-term lease.
Since 2011, over 2,600 properties have been made available for social housing from the NAMA portfolio. NAMA’s social housing programme continues to move towards completion in line with the orderly wind-down of the Agency.
670. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the agencies and State organisations under his Department that are receiving State funding that do not have to declare salaries of employees under the 2016 code of governance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40039/21]
View answerThe Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, 2016) provides a framework for the application of best practice in corporate governance by both commercial and non-commercial State bodies.
Section 9 of the Code requires that State bodies publish in their annual report the salary of the Chief Executive Officer. All State bodies under the aegis of my Department are expected to comply with this requirement, subject to data protection considerations.
671. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a commitment will be made to raising the minimum statutory requirements that a building must achieve in respect of access that is incorporated within the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2010 and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use 2010 from visitable for a wheelchair user to liveable for a wheelchair user; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40048/21]
View answerHousing needs of people with disabilities are addressed in the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD) 2016-2021. 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.
The Building Regulations apply to the design and construction of all new buildings (including dwellings) and to certain works to existing buildings. They are subject to ongoing review in the interests of safety and the well-being of persons in the built environment and to ensure that due regard is taken of changes in construction techniques, technological progress and innovation.
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. Part M aims to foster an inclusive approach to the design and construction of the built environment.
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 the National Disability Authority, who are an independent statutory body that provides information and advice to the Government on policy and practice relevant to the lives of persons with disabilities.
Finally, in December 2020, my Department established a Working Group to examine the provision for a changing places toilet in certain buildings. A changing places toilet offers larger supported facilities that address the needs of people for whom current accessible sanitary accommodation is inadequate. These facilities enable people with complex care needs to take part in everyday activities such as travel, shopping, family days out or attending a sporting event.
The plenary Working Group has met six times to date, in addition to a number of sub-group meetings. Draft documentation, which includes Draft Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2021, Draft Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use 2021 and a Regulatory Impact Analysis, is currently being prepared to support a public consultation in the matter later this year.
672. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the consultation process that has been undertaken to develop the new National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability; the groups that were involved in these consultations; if the consultation has considered the need to raise the minimum statutory requirements that a building must achieve in respect of access which is incorporated within Part M Access and Use of the Building Regulations 2010 from visitable for a wheelchair user to liveable for a wheelchair user; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40049/21]
View answerA review of the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD) 2011-2021 commenced in March 2021, conducted by the Housing Agency. The first round of consultation which comprised a wide-ranging questionnaire on the existing strategy and priorities for its successor took place in March and April. A large volume of responses were received which are now being assessed and considered.
I expect the second round of consultation to be held in the Autumn and to include meetings with relevant stakeholders around the country. In parallel, research being undertaken by the Housing Agency will also feed into the review process.
The full range of issues raised by respondants to the consultation, including the statutory requirements regarding wheelchair accessibility, are being given appropriate consideration in the review process and in the development of the new strategy.
674. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking in response to the Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality in 2020: An Indicators Report key finding that surface waters and groundwaters continue to be under pressure from human activities particularly from nitrogen and phosphorus from agriculture. [40173/21]
View answer675. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking in response to the Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality in 2020: An Indicators Report finding that reducing the nitrate levels in Irelands waters must be a priority and that the next nitrates action programme must deliver reductions in nitrogen losses to water. [40174/21]
View answer677. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking in response to the Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality in 2020 An Indicators Report key finding that that surface waters and groundwaters continue to be under pressure from human activities, particularly from urban waste water discharges. [40192/21]
View answer678. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking in response to the Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality in 2020 An Indicators Report finding that 43% of rivers are still in unsatisfactory quality and there was a decline in water quality in 230 rivers nationally. [40193/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 674, 675, 677 and 678 together.
I note the report from the Environmental Protection Agency, which highlights that the main risk to water quality continues to be excess nutrients in our rivers, lakes and coastal areas.
Nutrient concentrations are too high and the trends in some areas are going in the wrong direction. The oversupply of nutrients is coming from agricultural land and from underperforming urban and domestic waste water systems.
However, I welcome the positive signs that some rivers are showing evidence of improvement, particularly in the Priority Areas for Action that were identified for targeted action in the current River Basin Management Plan for Ireland.
Our water resources are facing complex pressures, and increasing demands, from population change; expected further growth in the economy; as well as from a changing climate. As a result, we will need a cross-sector collective effort to protect Ireland’s water quality.
On agricultural nutrients, I am working closely with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on effective measures to address these issues through the River Basin Management Plan process, the Nitrates Action Programme and the CAP Strategic Plan.
Our farmers, food producers and our agricultural system must work in harmony with our environment if we are to maintain our clean, green image. We must carefully manage how we use nutrients on our agricultural land to both secure productivity gains and reduce the loss of excess nutrients to water.
To do this we must continue to work together at a local catchment-scale using programmes such as the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) and the Agriculture Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) who work directly with communities and with farmers to protect and deliver improvements in water quality.
The Programme for Government commits Ireland to producing a new, stronger River Basin Management Plan in 2022, a draft plan of which will be publish for public consultation in the coming weeks.
Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme is another key instrument in achieving good water quality. It is designed to prevent pollution of surface waters and groundwater from agricultural sources and to protect and improve water quality. The current regulations run to the end of 2021 and a new Nitrates Action Programme will be published at the beginning of 2022.
A second consultation phase on the review of the Nitrates Action Programme will be published shortly. This review is being led by the Nitrates Expert Group, which includes scientific experts from my own Department; the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine; Teagasc and the Environmental Protection Agency. The Nitrates Expert Group will assess the most up to date scientific evidence, and will advise my Department on the measures that should be included in the next Action Programme. The Expert Group are also engaging in bilateral discussions with interested stakeholder groups as part of the review.
To address waste water issues, Irish Water must continue to deliver its capital investment programme. While progress is being made by Irish Water in reducing the number of waste water plants on the EPA’s priority action list, continued and sustained investment is needed to reduce the impact from insufficiently treated waste water discharges and to meet our Water Framework Directive objectives.
As part of Budget 2021, I secured funding of over €1.4 billion to support water services. This includes €1.3 billion in respect of domestic water services provision by Irish Water. This overall investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and wastewater services, support improved water supplies right across Ireland, including rural Ireland, and support a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine area.
676. 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 review the protection including enforcement of relevant legislation of Ireland's natural heritage, including hedgerows, native woodland and wetlands. [40191/21]
View answerI have taken the following steps towards fulfilling this commitment:
I launched a protocol of cooperation and collaboration between the National Parks and Wildlife Service of this Department and An Garda Síochána for the purpose of combating wildlife crime. This protocol will lead to much closer cooperation between both enforcement bodies, especially in the areas of communications, intelligence sharing and joint operations.
I have begun the process of creating, for the first time, a dedicated Wildlife Crime Unit in the National Parks and Wildlife Service This Unit will support and enhance the law-enforcement work of our regional staff. It will also collaborate with An Garda Síochána and Revenue’s Custom Service to ensure that we play our part in combating illegal international trade in protected species.
I announced my intention to fill up to 60 Conservation Ranger posts. This will represent an increase of approximately 30% in the number of Conservation Rangers in the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The first 20 of these new rangers are currently being assigned to locations around Ireland and the new Wildlife Crime Unit will play a leading role in their training.
I commissioned an independent report on the readiness of the National Parks and Wildlife Service to face the challenges of the coming decade and I expect to receive the final report soon.
I will consider the report’s findings and recommendations carefully before deciding if any further measures are needed to strengthen NPWS’s ability to protect biodiversity.
679. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the provision against landlords asking students to pay multiple months of rent in advance as outlined in Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 will come into force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40211/21]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 was signed into law on 9 July 2021 and limits, in respect of tenancies created on or after 9 August 2021, the amount of rent in advance (maximum of 1 month’s rent) and/or a deposit (maximum of 1 month’s rent) that a landlord can ask anyone, including a student, to pay to secure a tenancy Accordingly, the maximum upfront payment can be no more than 2 months’ rent and any ongoing advance rent payment during a tenancy can only cover 1 month’s rent.
The Act will greatly reduce any financial exposure to tenants, including students, on foot of paying much restricted upfront payments.
Comprehensive information and supports, including a detailed guidance document and a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document on the Act, are available on the Residential Tenancies Board’s website – www.rtb.ie.
680. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant and derelict housing units across the country; the plans that are pending to regenerate these buildings for housing purposes and to improve the environmental look of towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40283/21]
View answer701. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant and derelict housing units in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40471/21]
View answer797. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant dwelling houses per county in tabular form; his views on whether bringing these units back into use could help address part of the housing shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41308/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 680, 701 and 797 together.
The Department does not hold the data on the amount of vacant or derelict housing units in the State. Under section 8(5) of the Derelicts Sites Act, 1990, a copy of the derelict sites register for any local authority can be inspected at the offices of that authority during office hours. Therefore, the specified information in relation to derelict sites, which may include housing units, may be requested from individual local authorities.
My Department is committed to ensuring that existing housing stock is utilised to its fullest extent including providing a targeted, effective and co-ordinated approach to identifying and tackling vacancy across Ireland. There are a range of measures to assist in meeting housing needs by ensuring that our existing housing stock is used to the greatest extent possible.
The National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy, was published in 2018, and contains a range of objectives and key actions to be pursued in partnership with stakeholders and agencies across the housing sector to address vacancy in our housing stock. The Strategy is underpinned by a number of supports and guidance put in place by my Department to assist in bringing vacant housing stock back into use including:
- The Repair and Leasing Scheme which assists private property owners, local authority and Approved Housing Bodies to utilise existing vacant housing stock throughout the country as social housing. The scheme is targeted at owners of vacant properties who cannot afford or access the funding needed to bring their properties up to the required standard for a rental property. The maximum loan for property repair available under the Repair and Lease Scheme is €60,000.
- The Buy and Renew Scheme particularly focuses on older vacant homes to help tackle the problem of dereliction and improve the appearance of the community. It provides the option for suitable properties to be purchased by local authorities, rather than leased, if that is the preference of the owners.
- In December 2018 my Department published the Bringing Back Homes Manual for the Reuse of Existing Buildings. Revitalising our main streets through well designed refurbishment of residential units, particularly above shops, could help to rejuvenate smaller town centres and city streets as well as produce more houses.
To further support this work at local authority level, my Department has secured funding for each local authority to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office. The provision of central funding reinforces the capacity of the Department’s Vacant Homes Unit to liaise with and seek information/statistics from a dedicated contact point within each local authority. The Vacant Homes Office plays a key role in the co-ordination of this work within each local authority.
The innovative website vacanthomes.ie was developed by Mayo County Council in July 2017 on behalf of the local government sector to serve as a central portal for individuals to anonymously log possible vacant homes and to alert local authorities so that they can then follow up with the registered owners. It is a key tool in the effort to identify and bring long-term vacant homes back into use.
This source of locally generated information is proving useful in supplementing the country-wide analysis on vacancy and in mobilising communities to assist local authorities in developing and implementing a targeted approach to deal with vacancy. The website also provides useful information for property owners on how to bring their vacant properties back into use and on available financial supports.
The latest available data on vacanthomes.ie shows that 5,883 properties have been logged on the website. 164 of the properties logged were in County Clare. A breakdown of the properties logged on the website by County is in the table attached.
The Government set out its housing priorities in the Programme for Government across numerous areas, including homelessness, affordable home ownership, private and social housing delivery, rent reform and planning and my Department is focused on moving those priorities forward.
To deliver on these commitments, my colleague Minister O'Brien will publish a new housing policy and action plan 'Housing for All' in the coming weeks which will provide a whole of Government approach to housing policy and is at an advanced stage of development at present.
Vacanthomes.ie Properties Logged to Date
|
Leinster |
||
|
Louth |
184 |
|
|
Meath |
171 |
|
|
Westmeath |
110 |
|
|
Longford |
45 |
|
|
Offaly |
94 |
|
|
Kildare |
223 |
|
|
Dublin City |
583 |
|
|
South Dublin Co |
218 |
|
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
130 |
|
|
Fingal |
134 |
|
|
Wicklow |
102 |
|
|
Carlow |
50 |
|
|
Kilkenny |
95 |
|
|
Wexford |
137 |
|
|
Laois |
64 |
|
|
Total |
2340 |
40% |
|
Munster |
||
|
Clare |
164 |
|
|
Cork City |
181 |
|
|
Cork County |
1442 |
|
|
Kerry |
85 |
|
|
Limerick City |
54 |
|
|
Limerick County |
158 |
|
|
Tipperary |
125 |
|
|
Waterford City |
59 |
|
|
Waterford County |
145 |
|
|
Total |
2413 |
41% |
|
Ulster |
||
|
Cavan |
322 |
|
|
Monaghan |
20 |
|
|
Donegal |
88 |
|
|
Total |
430 |
7% |
|
Connacht |
||
|
Mayo |
242 |
|
|
Galway City |
130 |
|
|
Galway County |
144 |
|
|
Sligo |
54 |
|
|
Roscommon |
85 |
|
|
Leitrim |
45 |
|
|
Total |
700 |
12% |
|
GRAND TOTAL |
5883 |
100% |
681. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of complaints that have been investigated by the Residential Tenancies Board over the past 12 months; the number of complaints that were upheld; the nature of these complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40284/21]
View answer682. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the ratio of determinations made by the Residential Tenancies Board in the past two years in favour of tenant or landlord; the implication for renting going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40287/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 681 and 682 together.
The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021, to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.
My Department does not collect the data sought, however the Clerk of the Dáil requested that arrangements be put in place to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies to members of the Oireachtas. Following the issue of Circular LG (P)05/16 on 20 September 2016 from my Department, the RTB set up a dedicated email address for this purpose. The RTB may be contacted at OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie to establish the extent to which it may hold the information sought.
683. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans for local authorities to support persons with a disability by approving a second housing building loan for persons with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40302/21]
View answerIt is a matter for individual local authorities to assess an applicant's eligibility for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan in accordance with the conditions of the scheme. These conditions include a loan amount of 90% of the market value of the property or, in the case of self-build properties, 90% of the total build costs subject to a maximum loan of between €225,000 and €288,000 depending on where the house is located.
The scheme does not provide any additional funding for people with a disability. However, a range of other targeted supports are available to support the housing needs of disabled persons.
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 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/
684. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing units to be completed in County Limerick in 2021, in tabular form [40332/21]
View answerMy Department publishes a Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR) each quarter, which contains details of all social housing developments completed, under construction or at the planning and design stage in each local authority area. The most recent report, published on 28 May 2021, covers the period up to the end of Quarter 1 2021 and is available at the following link: rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-obrien-publishes-social-housing-construction-status-report-for-q1-2021/. The data pertaining to the CSR for Quarter 2 will be collated in the coming weeks and published thereafter.
Since 2016, 1,422 homes across 110 schemes have been completed in Limerick City and County. There are also 638 homes across 35 schemes currently ‘Onsite’ with a further 326 homes across 23 schemes at various stages of the approval process as set out in the latest CSR.
Social Housing Targets were issued to each local authority in December 2020. Limerick was set a target of 525 homes to be delivered in 2021, including 441 new build homes. Due to the public health restrictions introduced to combat the spread of COVID, there have been significant delays to many construction projects, which will impact on output this year. However, I have asked local authorities to take all possible measures to ensure that the maximum number of homes are completed in 2021.
