Written Answers Nos. 742-753
743. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons on the waiting list for social housing less than one year in the Cork City Council and Cork County Council areas. [40854/21]
View answer744. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons on the waiting list for social housing for one to three years in the Cork City Council and Cork County Council areas. [40855/21]
View answer745. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons on the waiting list for social housing for three to five years in the Cork City Council and Cork County Council areas. [40856/21]
View answer746. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons on the waiting list for social housing for five to seven years in the Cork City Council and Cork County Council areas. [40857/21]
View answer747. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons on the waiting list for social housing for seven to ten years in the Cork City Council and Cork County Council areas. [40858/21]
View answer748. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons on the waiting list for social housing for ten to 12 years in the Cork City Council and Cork County Council areas. [40859/21]
View answer749. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons on the waiting list for social housing for 12 to 15 years in the Cork City Council and Cork County Council areas. [40860/21]
View answer750. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons on the waiting list for social housing for more than 15 years in the Cork City Council and Cork County Council areas. [40861/21]
View answer786. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing applicants on local authority lists. [41150/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 743, 744, 745, 746, 747, 748, 749, 750 and 786 together.
Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area are 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, including Cork City Council and Cork County Council, across a range of categories.
In relation to the number of applicants on the waiting list for a given number of years, details on the length of time spent on the record of qualified households (waiting lists) can be found at tables 2.8 and A1.8 of the report. Please note, it does not provide a breakdown of the number of years beyond the category of more than 7 years.
It should 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.
SSHA 2020 Reportwww.gov.ie/en/publication/970ea-summary-of-social-housing-assessments-2020-key-findings/#:~:text=The%20Summary%20of%20Social%20Housing,is%20not%20currently%20being%20met.
751. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the situation of residents in County Mayo being denied access to the defective concrete blocks scheme despite having independent engineering reports that pyrite is present in their home; the criteria that must be met in order to access the scheme; the process a county council must follow in order to make a judgement that a home is not eligible despite the presence of pyrite and if it requires an engineering report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40917/21]
View answer752. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is his position that all homes with defective blocks in which pattern cracking is not present should be classified as group 1 undamaged in the building group table 1 of IS465;2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40918/21]
View answerMayo County Council has responsibility for the detailed administration of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme in Mayo. This includes the assessment of applications for eligibility and payment of grants to successful applicants under the specific remediation option approved.
Homeowners may apply to the local authority seeking confirmation of eligibility for the scheme. As part of this application process, an approved engineer's report in accordance with I.S. 465:2018 is required. The report confirms the existence or otherwise of excessive amounts of pyrite or mica in the blockwork which have given rise to defective concrete blocks and is based on a visual inspection, core sampling and laboratory testing which is carried out by the engineer employed by the homeowner.
While an engineer's report informs a local authority's consideration and assessment of a grant application, the final decision on eligibilty for the scheme in accordance with I.S. 465:2018 and the level of funding approved rests with the local authority. In the event that an application is unsuccessful, the applicant may appeal the decision through the relevant local authority. A local authority official who was not involved with the original assessment will then assess this appeal and contact the applicant with the result within six weeks.
In response to concerns being raised by homeowners in relation to the Defective Concrete Block Grant scheme, I established a time-bound working group, with representatives from my Department, the local authorities and homeowner representative groups who are tasked with reviewing the operation of the scheme and providing a report with recommendations by 31 July.
Engagement with the Working Group is on-going and in line with a request of homeowners, it was agreed that the timeline for the submission of a report by the Working Group would be extended to the end of September. This will allow for further research on core aspects of the scheme, such as the 90:10 requirement and cap on allowable costs.
753. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding allocated for the housing adaptation grant to each city and county council in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the level of funding then granted to applicants for the grant in each city and county council over the same period by year in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40922/21]
View answerDetails of the funding provided by my Department to each local authority in respect of the Disabled Persons Grants Scheme/Improvement Works in Lieu (DPG/IWIL) for local authority tenants up to 2020 is available at the following link.
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/grantsfinancial-assistance/disabled-persons-grants-and-improvement-works-lieu-schemes
The 2021 DPG allocations issued to local authorities in May, details of which can be found at the link below. 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 in 2021 will be available early in 2022.
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/20e02-minister-obrien-minister-burke-approve-over-23m-in-funding-for-the-disabled-persons-grant-scheme-improvement-works-in-lieu-of-local-authority-housing-scheme/
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. This funding has increased year on year since 2014. If Local Authorities are in a position to allocate additional own resources to the grant scheme in 2021, further additional funding can be requested from my Department and every effort will be made to accede to any such request.
Details of the grants for all local authorities up to 2020, 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.
The 2021 funding allocation for all local authorities is also available on my Department’s website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/0da3f-minister-obrien-minister-burke-announce-75m-fund-to-improve-homes-of-older-people-people-with-a-disability/
The following table contains details of the 2021 exchequer funding drawn down by local authorities for housing adaptation grants up to 30 June 2021.
|
Local Authority |
Exchequer Drawdown to 30 June 2021 |
|
Carlow |
€492,388 |
|
Cavan |
€202,297 |
|
Clare |
€248,416 |
|
Cork City |
€412,158 |
|
Cork |
€1,346,244 |
|
Donegal |
€489,762 |
|
Dublin City |
€2,181,752 |
|
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown |
€422,046 |
|
Fingal |
€667,859 |
|
Galway City |
€373,797 |
|
Galway |
€0 |
|
Kerry |
€704,248 |
|
Kildare |
€290,465 |
|
Kilkenny |
€366,221 |
|
Laois |
€32,000 |
|
Leitrim |
€160,035 |
|
Limerick City & County |
€830,858 |
|
Longford |
€146,641 |
|
Louth |
€485,085 |
|
Mayo |
€871,384 |
|
Meath |
€746,594 |
|
Monaghan |
€486,450 |
|
Offaly |
€47,637 |
|
Roscommon |
€215,641 |
|
Sligo |
€631,201 |
|
South Dublin |
€782,844 |
|
Tipperary |
€1,033,234 |
|
Waterford City & County |
€225,442 |
|
Westmeath |
€235,814 |
|
Wexford |
€844,194 |
|
Wicklow |
€396,141 |
