Written Answers Nos. 101-120
101. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way his Department in conjunction with Irish Water plans to provide modern sewage infrastructure to villages lacking sewerage facilities in County Clare. [46387/21]
View answerAs with my reply to Deputy Canney, both Minister O’Brien and I are aware of the demand for waste water infrastructure in towns and villages where there is no access to public infrastructure in County Clare, and indeed in other areas around the country. In fact, I understand that on 27 August last, Minister O’Brien visited the village of Broadford in Clare and spoke to residents on this very issue. He has also met with Oireachtas members from the constituency to discuss the matter on numerous occasions and he is fully committed to finding a suitable solution for the people of Broadford.
My Department builds its strategic water policy and infrastructure delivery programmes around the National Planning Framework 2018-2040 and the National Development Plan 2018-2027. Investment is primarily delivered through Irish Water while my Department operates the Rural Water Programme directly.
The Programme for Government supports the uptake of Irish Water's Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme 2020-2024, which will provide water and waste water growth capacity in smaller settlements that would otherwise not be provided for in Irish Water's capital investment plan.
Complementary to Irish Water’s Programme, my Department is currently examining waste water requirements in the context of villages and settlements that do not have public waste water infrastructure. As mentioned, Minister O’Brien has instructed the relevant officials in the Department to prepare a report on this topic at national level. This report will include the analysis of a baseline survey of all rural local authorities to quantify and qualify the number of villages and settlements concerned. This process is at an advanced stage, and Minister O'Brien will be in a position to consider the matter further in relation to these villages and similar settlements, as identified in the survey, once he has received the final report.
102. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on An Bord Pleanála’s decision to grant student accommodation change of use given the ongoing student accommodation crisis; if he is planning to ban the practice and provide updated guidance to planning authorities regarding this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46463/21]
View answerUnder Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act) I am unable to exercise any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or the Board is or may be concerned. Therefore, I cannot comment on any specific decisions concerning An Bord Pleanála.
On the generalities of the Board performing its functions, when making a decision, the Board in accordance with Section 143 of the Act, shall have regard to the policies and objectives of the Government, a State authority, the Minister, planning authorities and any other body which is a public authority whose functions have, or may have, a bearing on the proper planning and sustainable development of cities, towns or other areas, whether urban or rural. This includes guidance issued by my Department regarding student accommodation.
In the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016, student accommodation was defined as SHD for developments of more than 200 units. As of end August 2021, the Board had received SHD applications in respect of 15,684 student bed spaces. 13,660 student bedspaces have been granted planning permission to that date.
My Department issued Circular PL 8 of 2016 regarding the identification of planning measures to enhance housing supply. This included the consideration of the student accommodation to help ease the housing crisis. My colleague the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has contacted my Department concerning the recent issues regarding student accommodation. An updated circular has issued indicating that in considering planning applications for the change of use of student accommodation for a temporary period, planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála must be satisfied that there are compelling non-Covid related grounds to grant permission for any such proposed change of use, while demand for student accommodation remains high.
103. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement he or his Department have had with Galway city and county councils with regard to allocating resources for additional staff members in order to have the capacity to deliver on its social housing programmes and the range of infrastructural services required to facilitate such developments as highlighted in the minutes of a meeting (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46394/21]
View answerIn March of this year my Department’s Secretary General and other senior officials met with each of the Galway local authority Chief Executives. On 31 May and 2 June and, most recently again, on 13 and 14 September, I met with the Chief Executives of all local authorities including both Galway City and County Councils, where a range of issues relating to the Housing for All plan were discussed, including resources and infrastructure.
Housing for All contains strong commitments on strengthening the capacity of local authorities to initiate, design, plan, develop and manage housing projects. These commitments arise from engagements I have had with all our local authorities - both officials and elected members - including with Galway colleagues, which have directly influenced the new plan.
Supports are being provided to all local authorities through the Housing Delivery Co-Ordination Office (HDCO), which has been established within the Local Government Management Agency.
Housing for All commits to further build focussed housing delivery teams within the local authorities that are equipped to deliver on the scale of ambition in the Plan. It commits that before the end of 2021, we will complete a structured review of the resources, skillsets and training required to ensure that all necessary resources are in place to design, deliver and implement social housing projects, in line with the needs outlined in this Plan. Work is well advanced in this area. The HDCO has met directly with all local authorities including those in Galway, in carrying out an analysis of the additional skillsets and resources required, including project management skillsets.
Housing for All also recognises that housing cannot be delivered unless we have strong integration between housing developments and the surrounding infrastructure and the move to plan-led development will support this integrated system.
104. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the final report of the working group on horticultural peat will be published. [46428/21]
View answerI established the working group referred to by the Deputy, under independent chairman Dr. Munoo Prasad, to examine important issues which had been identified during the Review of the use of Peat in the Horticultural Industry.
The working group is comprised of representatives of the relevant Government Departments, State Bodies and Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations and sectors within the horticultural industry.
Dr Prasad has held 11 meetings of the working group to date, and has had a number of presentations, from, for example, the Chair of the UK Growing Media Association, an Associate Professor at the School of Agriculture and Food Science in UCD, Teagasc and from growing media producers and horticultural industry growers.
I understand that the final report is to be completed and sent to me by the end of September 2021. The report is expected to identify possible alternatives to peat and to outline the research required to produce commercially effective alternatives for the Horticulture sector.
105. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the incentives he plans to introduce to assist first-time buyers in purchasing second-hand houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46457/21]
View answerMy Department operates the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, which is targeted at first time buyers who wish to own their own home, have access to an adequate deposit and have the capacity to repay a mortgage, but who are unable to access a mortgage sufficient for them to purchase their first home.
The loan enables credit worthy first time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties in a suitable price range or to self-build.
As part of Housing for All, I announced that a reformed successor to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan Scheme, the 'Local Authority Home Loan', will be in place later in 2021. The Local Authority Home Loan will include an increase in the income ceiling for single applicants, thus increasing the number of people eligible.
In addition, I have already implemented a reduction of the mortgage interest rate for new borrowers by 0.25% under the existing Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan (RIHL), as from 10 September 2021; this lower rate will also apply to loans issued under the forthcoming Local Authority Home Loan.
I also announced a ‘Fresh Start’ principle for applications to State affordable housing and loan schemes. This means that people who are divorced or separated and have no interest in the family home, or who have undergone insolvency proceedings, will be eligible to apply.
106. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to legislate to grant a further extension to planning permissions for residential housing delayed by Covid-19 and by building supply issues; if he has estimated the numbers of such permissions due to expire without completion in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46345/21]
View answerConstruction work has been significantly impacted, with both delays and site closures throughout 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and associated restrictions. Therefore, on 9 September 2021, new provisions were commenced to allow for applications, subject to certain conditions, for further extensions of duration of planning permission of 2 years or until 31 December 2023, which ever first occurs, under section 42(1B) of the Planning and Development Act 2000. This further extension period takes into account the restrictions on construction and disruptions in logistics, supply chains, and the availability of personnel when restarting construction work after the closure of building sites over the last year. Accordingly, I have no plans to provide for further legislation for extensions to planning permissions for residential housing.
An estimate of the number of planning permissions for residential housing delayed by Covid-19 and by building supply issues due to expire without completion in 2021 is not available in my Department. It is a matter for the relevant planning authority, in respect of any permission due to expire without completion in 2021, to determine on a case by case basis whether the conditions for granting a further extension of the period are satisfied.
107. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans and those of his Department to reserve units in housing developments for first-time buyers as set out in the Housing for All plan; the timeline for this provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46318/21]
View answerAction 1.10 in Housing for All outlines that a form of ‘owner-occupier guarantee’ will be introduced to enable local authorities to specify the proportion of houses and duplexes in a development for owner-occupiers. This is intended to build on the existing higher-rate stamp duty measures and restrictions on planning permissions introduced in May 2021 by way of section 28 Guidelines on the Regulation of Commercial Institutional Investment in Housing.
The current guidelines ensure that new ‘own-door’ houses and duplex units in housing developments are not bulk-purchased by commercial institutional investors in a manner that causes the displacement of individual purchasers and/or social and affordable housing including cost-rental. The guidelines set out two alternative planning conditions to which planning authorities must have regard, in granting planning permission for new residential development that includes 5 or more houses and/or duplex units.
The conditions restrict such properties to first occupation and use by individual purchasers and those eligible for social/affordable housing including cost-rental. To achieve this, the applicant must enter into an agreement with the planning authority, which may be terminated in certain circumstances.
Action 1.10 seeks to allow local authorities, following on from the preparation of Housing Need and Demand Assessments, to specify a proportion of houses and duplexes in a development for individual purchasers. It is not proposed to restrict this measure to first time buyers, however it may assist such individual purchasers. It is proposed to bring proposals forward in Q4 2021 in this regard.
108. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason local authorities are not permitted to purchase homes for tenants by social housing support recipients that are put up for sale but are permitted to enter into long-term lease arrangements for these same properties after the social housing support recipient has been evicted on grounds of a vacant possession notice to quit. [46407/21]
View answerIn 2021, there is a provision for 800 social housing acquisitions by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies. This provision is targeted towards securing specific types of units, including properties for homeless households, one-bedroom properties, housing for individuals with a disability and for households with other priority needs. It is a matter for individual local authorities to allocate social housing homes in accordance with their Scheme of Letting Priorities.
The recently published Housing for All strategy is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade, including an average of 10,000 new build social homes. Under Housing for All, the focus is on increasing social housing through new build, with a reduced reliance on leasing and the acquisition of homes. Long-term leasing will be ended under Housing for All and there will be no new homes delivered through long-term leasing after 2025. There will also be a limited number of social homes delivered through acquisitions, with current projections limiting acquisitions to 200 new social homes per annum.
109. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on and plans to address the concerns regarding the increasing cost of raw materials in the construction industry with a particular focus on the potential impact of house building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46231/21]
View answerHousing for All sets out a pathway to economic, societal and environmental sustainability in the delivery of housing. Reducing construction costs is critical to increasing supply. Recent analysis by industry indicates that construction build costs account for approximately 47% of total apartment development costs.
Prices for a large number of construction materials have increased significantly over the last 12-18 months. The CSO Wholesale Price Index shows the annual increase for building and construction materials to be 9.9% to the end of July 2021.
Construction material supply issues are also being experienced in other markets. These issues appear to result from a range of factors including Brexit, the disruption caused by Covid 19 and increased global demand.
Reducing residential construction costs is a key theme within Housing for All, with actions centred on analysis, innovation, research and productivity through a whole-of-government approach in collaboration with Industry. These structures and actions include:
The new Construction Technology Centre under development by Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment will prioritise residential construction - supporting innovation, modern methods of construction and digitalisation.
The Construction Sector Group led by Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will implement a pipeline of cost reducing innovations and productivity measures for the residential construction sector. This group will also carry out an analysis of costs with a view to reducing these costs and increasing standardisation.
The role of enterprise agencies will be expanded to include the provision of funding and supports for innovation and productivity-related projects in the domestic residential construction sector.
The public sector will continue to provide projects to help with the capacity building process through public tenders for innovations such as rapid delivery housing.
Whilst recognising that the cost of construction materials is subject to external influences, Housing for All commits the State to playing a more central role in leading and funding these structures with a view to reducing the costs of construction in collaboration with the construction sector.
111. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of his plans to participate in the upcoming COP15 on biological diversity in Kunming, China; his involvement and Ireland’s role in the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46333/21]
View answerCOP15 will be convened in two parts. The first part takes place in virtual format from 11 to 15 October 2021. The second part will reconvene in Kunming from 25 April to 8 May 2022.
On 12 and 13 October, I will participate in the High Level Segment of part 1. Over the past year, I have taken part in several international initiatives addressing the biodiversity crisis, including the One Planet Summit hosted by France in January. Ireland has also signed up to the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, a global initiative to mobilise political will for a new and transformative global biodiversity framework at COP15.
My Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has already participated in preparatory meetings for COP15, namely SBSTTA-24 and SBI-3. While officials normally attend in person, these meetings have been held virtually as a result of the global pandemic.
NPWS is involved in ongoing work at EU level to develop and agree strong positions for the EU and its Member States at COP15 through regular meetings of the Working Party on International Environment Issues (Biodiversity).
The Irish delegation to COP15 includes officials from NPWS as well as officials from the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.
112. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement he or his Department had with Galway city and county councils in 2021 to address the funding and legacy debt issues highlighted in the minutes of a meeting (details supplied) in order to minimise their risk in the financing of affordable housing schemes and to maximise the delivery of affordable homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46393/21]
View answerIn March of this year my Department’s Secretary General and other senior officials met with each of the Galway local authority Chief Executives. On 31 May and 2 June and, most recently again, on 13 and 14 September, I met with the Chief Executives of all local authorities including both Galway City and County Councils, where a range of issues relating to the Housing for All plan were discussed, including land, funding and resources.
Housing for All contains strong commitments on strengthening the capacity of local authorities to initiate, design, plan, develop and manage housing projects. Supports are being provided to all local authorities through the Housing Delivery Co-Ordination Office (HDCO), which has been established within the Local Government Management Agency.
In addition, my Department is also supporting local authorities in the area of land acquisition through an early payment arrangement for suitable sites. I hope that both Galway local authorities will be utilising this opportunity to add to their land holdings and take advantage of early payment arrangements. My Department is also working with the Galway local authorities and others to develop housing proposals where possible to utilise sites that carry debt for the authorities.
Galway City Council has availed of the Land Aggregation Scheme (LAGS) which assists in the gradual unwinding of Housing Finance Agency (HFA) loans taken out by housing authorities to purchase land for the social and affordable housing investment programme. Under the Scheme, local authorities could for a nominal fee, transfer residential development land on which there were outstanding HFA loans to the Housing Agency. The Galway City Council site at Ballymoneen Road, Ballyburke was redeemed under LAGS in full at a cost of €7m.
In terms of the delivery of affordable housing schemes, Housing for All delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to put affordability at the heart of the housing system. It is the largest State-led building programme in our history, backed up by an unprecedented financial commitment in excess of €4bn per annum and will see 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes built, alongside 90,000 social homes.
Specifically regarding middle-income families wishing to buy homes, the Housing for All strategy contains a multi-pronged approach to improving affordability.
The Local Authority Affordable Homes scheme and the First Home scheme are primarily focused on supporting first-time buyers purchasing newly built homes. Both of these schemes will be targeted at households constrained by the maximum mortgage and deposit available to them. The gap between the market value and what the household can afford (including with the assistance of the ‘Help to Buy’ incentive) will be bridged via the provision of equity support. The equity support can subsequently be redeemed at any time at the home-owners discretion, or remain outstanding until the home is sold or passed on.
In terms of delivery of affordable housing interventions by local authorities, my Department together with the Housing Agency has met with the Galway local authorities regarding structures for the procurement and delivery of affordable housing. Local authorities intending to advance an affordable purchase scheme can apply to my Department for Exchequer funding of up to €100,000 per unit under the Affordable Housing Fund. It is anticipated that in most cases nationally, affordable homes will be delivered via partnership arrangements between local authorities and contractors whereby the majority of development funding is provided by the contracted body. Direct sales agreements will provide for the sale of homes directly from the contracted party to the eligible purchaser referred by the local authority. In this way the financial risk for the local authority is minimised.
In addition to these distinct shared equity schemes, Housing for All also provides for the 'Local Authority Home Loan', which will be in place later in 2021. The Local Authority Home Loan is a successor to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan Scheme, and will include an increase in the income ceiling for single applicants, thus increasing the number of people eligible. From 10 September 2021, I have already implemented a reduction of the mortgage interest rate by 0.25% for new borrowers under the existing Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan (RIHL). This lower rate will also apply to loans issued under the forthcoming Local Authority Home Loan. The Help to Buy scheme is also currently available to help purchasers in accessing homes.
Further to the above, Housing for All also provides the following supports -
- increased funding provided to the Land Development Agency,
- the Croí Cónaithe initiative intended to service sites and refurbish existing vacant properties in regional towns and villages,
- a higher stamp duty rate for institutional investors that purchase family homes,
- increased regulation of short-term letting properties,
- additional measures to reduce vacancy rates, and
- expanded supports for retrofitting existing homes.
Collectively, these measures will improve affordability for all families or individuals wishing to purchase a home.
113. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a cost analysis on public funding used by local authorities to rent private homes for social housing over a 25 year lease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46391/21]
View answerAn analysis of expenditure on housing supports was carried out by the Irish Government Economic & Evaluation Service (IGEES) within the Department of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform in 2017. This analysis concluded that cost levels within each of the schemes funded under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme, which includes long term leasing, were generally below average rent price levels in the market, and as such, each of the schemes were meeting their individual operating objectives, and reducing the price impact on the market.
Building on the 2017 review, IGEES carried out a further analysis, published in July 2018, focusing on the comparative analysis of delivery streams particularly related to cost effectiveness. This report found that in certain areas, where house prices are higher - e.g. Dublin and Meath - the net present cost (NPC) of delivering units via current funding programmes such as leasing is higher than construction or acquisition. In areas where house prices are lower – e.g. Mayo and Tipperary - the NPC of leasing and other current funding programmes is either at or below that for construction and acquisition.
Whilst the 2018 report found that relative cost efficiency is an important consideration in terms of the mix of delivery, it also found that it is not the only consideration and must be viewed in the context of policy objectives and wider issues. In this context, as well as relative costs, a number of other considerations must be taken into account in terms of the overall mix of delivery including the speed of delivery, the quality and appropriateness of accommodation, sectoral capacity and flexibility.
Looking at the most recent cost information available, the average cost for a leased unit, based on leased units claimed for the first half of 2021, is €11,904 per housing unit.
Finally, a full spending review of the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP), which includes long term leasing, is currently being undertaken by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
114. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the inclusion of the refurbishment as well as the purchase cost of houses by first-time buyers in the Rebuilding Ireland home plan scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46458/21]
View answerThe Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is designed to enable credit worthy first time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties in a suitable price range, or to self build.
It does not include undertaking renovation projects and there are no plans to change this requirement at present.
115. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way the new Croí Cónaithe fund will support villages and towns across rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46471/21]
View answer116. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the scale of his ambition for the cities' fund which will help with the cost of high-density units for buyers as outlined in Housing for All. [46472/21]
View answer169. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Croí Cónaithe fund to increase owner-occupier apartment development in city centres will apply to urban villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46475/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 116 and 169 together.
Our recently launched Housing for All plan sets out four pathways to a sustainable housing system. A key objective is that everyone in the State should have access to a home to purchase or rent at an affordable price, built to a high standard and in the right place, offering a high quality of life.
Aligned with our overall National Planning Framework (NPF) objective for compact growth, vibrant, liveable cities and towns must offer options for both owner occupiers and renters, at all income levels. The new Croí Cónaithe fund as outlined in Housing for All, is intended to ensure that aligned with the objectives of the NPF, additional choices are made available to home buyers in our urban cores, and town centres. It will do this by working to extend home ownership options, where the choice is currently limited:
- In urban areas, for apartment living in developments over a certain height/density threshold;
- In towns, where options for building new private dwellings have been constrained by the lack of serviced sites.
In higher density locations, the number of apartments being built for sale poses a challenge. We are also aware of a high level of unactivated permissions, particularly for apartments, in our urban areas. A Croí Cónaithe (Cities) fund is being established, which through a competitive bid process, will seek to deliver developments at a viable cost for sale to owner occupiers, targeted principally at activating the planning permissions already in place for such homes over the coming five years. It will be managed by the Housing Agency on behalf of my Department.
Different challenges arise for facilitating owner-occupation in towns, where viable sites available for building of new homes are in short supply. There is significant potential for local authorities to support homeownership in these areas by making available serviced sites at a reduced cost or providing support towards the refurbishment of vacant properties where the level of vacancy or dereliction is high. A pathfinder programme will be initiated as part of a Croí Cónaithe (Towns) fund, to facilitate the making available of some 2,000 sites for homes by 2025.
My Department is working with the Housing Agency to develop an operational basis for this new Croí Cónaithe fund, which will work alongside other related funds such as the Affordable Housing Fund and complement measures forthcoming in the Towns Centre First (TCF) policy framework, details of which are expected to be finalised over Q4 2021.
117. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for the long delay in the publication of the State architecture policy. [46408/21]
View answerThe National Policy on Architecture (NPA) is at an advanced stage of development. Following analysis of the public consultation submissions, a comprehensive report was prepared during 2020 and early 2021 with the cooperation of the National Policy on Architecture Advisory Group.
The Deputy last raised this issue in July. At that time, the National Policy on Architecture report had been circulated to all Government Departments and relevant bodies. The observations received in response were constructive and are being incorporated into the draft policy text.
The Deputy has acknowledged the fast-evolving policy environment at national and European levels. Up-to-date built environment policy priorities and strategies have been cross-referenced in the consultation report. They include elements of the European Green Deal relating to the New European Bauhaus, the renovation wave, the urban agenda and the circular economy, forthcoming Council Conclusions on high quality architecture and built environment and the forthcoming European Commission report on High Quality Architecture.
The strategic approaches these high-level policies mandate and recommend have become integral influences on the NPA policy report and implementation plan. They will ensure that the new policy is fit for purpose over the long term.
I look forward to engaging with the Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage shortly, as a final consultative step towards completion of the report and implementation plan. The policy is due to be published Q4 2021.
118. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding given to Cork City Council to address dereliction given the high dereliction levels in the city. [46404/21]
View answerAside from providing for the derelict sites levy - the proceeds of which are retained by local authorities - and associated provisions, the Derelict Sites Act 1990 does not address the issue of funding for local authorities to address dereliction. The proportion of the overall annual budget of each local authority, including Cork City Council, which is spent on addressing dereliction in this regard is a matter for each local authority and is unavailable in my Department. This information may be available from individual local authorities.
Specific funding, to tackle dereliction in major towns and cities, may be made available through the integrated projects being supported by the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) which was launched in 2018. This fund is targeting financial support in an integrated, dynamic and responsive way to support the regeneration and rejuvenation of our towns and cities. Already, the URDF is providing assistance for major projects that will contribute to meeting the objectives of the National Planning Framework and National Development Plan. As part of the two calls for proposals completed to date under the URDF, 6 URDF projects have been approved for Cork City Council with associated financial support for projects in Cork City of €402,886,000 over both calls.
The role of the URDF in ensuring that housing stock is used efficiently is acknowledged in Housing for All, along with a range of actions to bring vacant stock back into use. This includes the publication of the Town Centre First policy in Quarter 4 of 2021.
119. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures that are being taken to identify and support social housing recipients and applicants along with their families who find themselves in difficult domestic violence situations; the training that is being provided to both public and private housing associations and local authority staff to ensure that these persons are being dealt with appropriately given the various situations that can arise from domestic violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46422/21]
View answerResponsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic violence rests with my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and I understand that the delivery of these services is managed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
In terms of social housing services, in 2017, my Department issued policy and procedural guidance to housing authorities relating to the role they can play to assist victims of domestic violence. The guidance is also a useful reference for service providers, highlighting where they can be of greatest assistance to their clients, covering a range of scenarios that may arise for victims of domestic violence currently in receipt of social housing support and those seeking social housing supports. These include provisions around the use of the Housing Assistance Payment scheme, or the Rental Accommodation Scheme, where a victim has a joint interest in the family home, or ownership of alternative accommodation, but would otherwise qualify for social housing support.
In addition, where a victim of domestic violence applies for social housing support in their own right while still a joint tenant, it is a matter for the relevant local authority to address the contractual issues arising in relation to the joint tenancy agreement. Accordingly, the household may transfer out of their existing tenancy and into a new tenancy agreement with the local authority or they may access an independent tenancy in the private rented sector utilising the various housing supports offered by the State.
The guidance was introduced with the objective of supporting a partnership approach by statutory agencies in respect of the delivery of domestic violence services, particularly in relation to helping to prevent and reduce the occurrence of related homelessness and facilitating the provision of long term accommodation for victims of domestic violence.
In addition to the above supports, it should be noted that a new protocol was established in 2020 between the Department of Social Protection and Tusla whereby a victim of domestic violence can apply for Rent Supplement on referral by Tusla or by Tusla-funded service providers.
My Department provides capital funding under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) for a range of important and emerging areas of housing need and this includes funding for refuges for victims of Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence.
Training is not directly provided by my Department but it is provided by a range of organisations in the sector, including for example, the Irish Council for Social Housing.
120. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses completed by Cork City Council and Cork County Council in the past five years; the expected number of houses to be completed in Cork city and county in the coming three years following the publication of the Housing for All plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46328/21]
View answerDetails on social housing delivery for each local authority, across a range of delivery mechanisms, are included in social housing statistics published by my Department. This data is available to the end of Quarter 2 2021 and is available on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
A detailed Social Housing Construction Status Report is also published each quarter which provides scheme level detail on new build activity. The most recent publication covers the period up to the end of Quarter 2 2021 and is available on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/d7709-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q2-2021/. This data includes information for each local authority and includes a list of the individual projects that make up the new build programme for that local authority.
Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes in the period 2022-2026. Individual targets for the delivery of social housing have been provided to each local authority. The targets for Cork City and Cork County are set out in the table below.
|
Year |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
Total |
|
Cork City |
515 |
536 |
548 |
589 |
601 |
2,789 |
|
Cork County |
560 |
622 |
636 |
683 |
697 |
3,198 |
The Housing for All Strategy delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to put affordability at the heart of the housing system. It is the largest State-led building programme in our history, backed up by an unprecedented financial commitment in excess of €4bn per annum. In terms of interventions that improve affordability, at a national level this includes 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. These homes will be provided by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency (LDA), as well as through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
Under Housing for All, each local authority is required to develop a Housing Delivery Action Plan by December 2021. These Plans will set out details on how and when local authorities will deliver their housing targets, including the delivery of affordable homes. The Housing Needs Demand Assessment Framework and associated tools and data repository are available to inform this work.
