Tuesday, 28 Sep 2021

Written Answers Nos. 141-160

Housing Schemes

Questions (141)

Imelda Munster

Question:

141. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the current situation in which the funding for housing adaptation grants is inadequate to cope with demand, leading to a situation in which many county councils have significant backlogs which have rolled over from 2020 and are causing long delays given his commitment to supporting elderly persons to live in their own homes; if he plans to increase the funding to local authorities in order to clear the backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46427/21]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

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/

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 schemes including assessment, approval, prioritisation and apportionment between the three schemes is the responsibility of local authorities.

My Department's approach every year is to issue a single full year allocation to each local authority, so they can 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. If a local authority is dealing with a high level of applications and 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 every effort will be made to accede to any such request.

The receipt and processing of housing grant applications can and has continued throughout the pandemic and the carrying out of such works was specifically exempted from the construction restrictions under the public health regulations which were put in place. It is accepted however that the pace has been affected by the effects of wider restrictions and revised work methodologies necessary in response to the pandemic. Inevitably this has led to a backlog of applications in some local authorities. Officials from my Department are engaging with local authorities and emphasising the importance of urgently reducing any existing backlog through the provision of additional resources and ensuring that all applications are dealt with in accordance with Departmental guidelines.

Finally as detailed in Housing for All, housing policy objectives 6 and 7 give a commitment to undertaking a review of the range of housing grants available to assist with meeting specific housing needs both for our ageing population and people with a disability. Officials from my Department will begin a review of the existing grant schemes later this year.

Defective Building Materials

Questions (142, 160)

Gerald Nash

Question:

142. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the report from the housing defects working group; if recommendations will be published in advance of Budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46462/21]

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

160. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress of the working group on latent defects. [46315/21]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 160 together.

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 plenary working group has been meeting monthly since March 2021, (with the exception of August) in addition to subgroup meetings. The group’s terms of reference were adopted in May 2021 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.

5. 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.

6. 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:

- Technical options for the remediation of dwellings,

- Efficient means of carrying out work,

- individual dwellings or whole building approach,

- routine maintenance/refurbishment or remediation,

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

7. Evaluate the potential cost of technical remediation options.

8. 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.

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

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. Consultation with the relevant parties has commenced and further arrangements in this regard are currently being put in place by the working group.

I am satisfied that the group is working effectively and efficiently on this complex matter and I look forward to a report in due course following completion of their deliberation. Once I receive the report I will give full consideration to its contents.

Any further speculation or discussion on the output of the working group is premature at this stage.

Question No. 143 answered with Question No. 122.

Housing Schemes

Questions (144)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

144. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the options that are under consideration for mid-income families who cannot secure sufficient mortgages in circumstances in which financial institutions will not take their rental payments into consideration on their applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46421/21]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

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.

Over 300,000 new homes will be built by the end of 2030, including a projected 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental 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 addition to these distinct shared equity schemes, the Housing for All strategy 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, the Housing for All strategy 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.

With regard to the issue of mortgage requirements, these requirements are governed by the Central Bank of Ireland which retains independence in the establishment of macro-prudential policy and mortgage measures.

Information in this regard, including on exemptions and other matters, is available at the following Central Bank links:

www.centralbank.ie/consumer-hub/explainers/what-are-the-mortgage-measures, and

www.centralbank.ie/financial-system/financial-stability/macro-prudential-policy/mortgage-measures.

House Prices

Questions (145)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

145. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he has taken to ensure that his housing policies are not inflating prices even further in view of the latest CSO report which shows that house prices have increased by 8.6% in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46015/21]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Housing supply has been impacted by Covid-19. The periods of lockdown since early 2020 have reduced construction activity and placed limitations on the ability to conduct normal sales activity, and this has impacted on house prices. The considerable growth in household savings, related to the public health restrictions which reduced consumption, also seems likely to be contributing to recent price inflation.

The ongoing removal of Covid restrictions will allow for a full reopening of the housing market. CSO data regarding new dwellings completions for Quarter 2 shows that the rate of completions is increasing and the effects of the periods of lockdown are abating. Data on planning permissions and commencements are also showing a significant increase over this period.

The full opening up of the housing market and construction activity, along with the increases in supply that will be delivered by the Government’s Housing for All Plan, will ensure that housing market activity normalises, and supply increases to meet demand as the Plan is implemented.

As a matter of course in the development of housing policy or schemes, account is taken of the intended or potential impacts of the measures under consideration. Further, the governance approach set out in Housing for All will provide the mechanism to consider the sequencing and timing of the rollout of demand side measures with delivery of supply side reforms. The Housing for All Delivery Group and my Department will monitor and prioritise delivery and sequencing of actions, having regarding to relevant market trends including impacts on house prices, where appropriate.

Question No. 146 answered with Question No. 138.

Planning Issues

Questions (147, 149, 324)

Seán Canney

Question:

147. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will publish the new guidelines for the development of rural houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46456/21]

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

149. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the rural housing guidelines will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46390/21]

Carol Nolan

Question:

324. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will publish the revised rural housing guidelines for planning authorities; the number of times the working group established to examine rural housing, including one-off-housing has met physically or virtually since 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46007/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 147, 149 and 324 together.

Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Rural Housing 2005, were issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and require planning authorities to frame the planning policies in their development plans in a balanced and measured way that ensures the housing needs of rural communities are met, while avoiding excessive urban-generated housing. The Guidelines are available on the Government’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/23809-sustainable-rural-housing-development-guidelines/.

Since 2018, the National Planning Framework (NPF) is the national planning policy document providing overall strategic policy for the future development of Ireland. National Planning Objective (NPO) 19 aims to ensure that a policy distinction is made between areas experiencing significant ‘overspill’ development pressure from urban areas within the commuter catchment of cities, towns and centres of employment, on the one hand, and remoter rural areas where population levels may be low and or declining, on the other.

NPO 19 is aligned with the established planning approach as per the 2005 Guidelines, whereby considerations of social (intrinsic part of the community) or economic (persons working full or part-time) need may be applied by planning authorities in certain rural areas under urban influence in order to prevent urban sprawl.

A working group was established to review and, where necessary, recommend changes to the 2005 Guidelines and this group met on five occasions between May 2017 and January 2019. During this period, in 2018, the National Planning Framework (the NPF) was published and provides an important strategic basis for interpreting the 2005 Guidelines. National Policy Objective (NPO) 15 of the NPF fully supports the concept of the sustainable development of rural areas by encouraging growth and arresting decline in areas that have experienced low population growth or decline in recent decades, while simultaneously indicating the need to manage certain areas around cities and towns.

Updated Rural Housing Planning Guidelines are currently being prepared by my Department to ensure consistency with new requirements and legislation at national and EU level introduced in respect of areas related to rural housing such as environmental protection, the Gaeltacht and climate action. The new guidelines will ensure a more consistent approach between counties and alignment with NPF objectives, and will be published in draft before the end of 2021.

Question No. 148 answered with Question No. 123.

Question No. 149 answered with Question No. 147.

Housing Provision

Questions (150)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

150. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which he can draw down extra funding for house building purposes in the remainder of 2021 and in 2022 to boost output in the public and affordable housing sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46410/21]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Government’s commitment to increase the supply of public housing was underpinned in Budget 2021, which provided €3.3 billion to deliver housing programmes this year. This funding will support social and affordable housing delivery, along with the implementation of a broad range of programmes providing targeted support to meet housing need.

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. The table below sets out the annual targets for the delivery of a total of 88,400 new build social homes and 53,800 new affordable homes in the period 2022-2030.

Year	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026	2027	2028	2029	2030
New build social homes	9,000	9,100	9,300	10,000	10,200	10,200	10,200	10,200	10,200
New Build affordable homes	4,100	5,500	6,400	6,400	6,100	6,300	6,400	6,300	6,300

Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency (LDA) and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.

Details of the Exchequer element of funding for social and affordable housing delivery, including for 2022, will be published each year as part of the annual estimates process.

Question No. 151 answered with Question No. 138.

Natural Heritage Areas

Questions (152)

Holly Cairns

Question:

152. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that Garrylucas bog, County Cork is designated as a natural heritage area. [46420/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The site referred to by the Deputy is one of 632 proposed natural heritage areas under Section 16(1) of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. Although proposed natural heritage area sites are not subject to the protection provisions of that Act, their status may be recognised in local authority development plans.

While it is hoped to conduct a review of proposed natural heritage areas in Ireland in the future, the current focus and priority of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is on fulfilling Ireland’s obligations under the Birds and Habitats Directives in relation to Natura 2000 sites i.e. Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas.

Any review of the status of some or all of these sites by the NPWS would be based on careful analysis of the special scientific interest of each site or its diversity of natural attributes or in light of the requirements of the Birds and Habitats Directives.

Housing Schemes

Questions (153)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

153. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of plans to introduce a social housing passport scheme to allow households to move from one local authority list to another; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46212/21]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Programme for Government provides for a package of social housing reforms, including the introduction of a social housing passport to allow households move from one local authority list to another.

It should be noted that the four Dublin local authorities already co-operate in arrangements that enable social housing applicants to apply for housing in one or two of the other Dublin authorities simultaneously. Similar arrangements apply in the two Cork and two Galway local authorities. It is also already possible for households to move and relocate between housing authority areas under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme where the household income is within the appropriate income limits.

The issue of providing for wider tenancy movements is being examined and I will look at proposals in relation to such wider movement along with the other reform package measures.

Vacant Properties

Questions (154)

David Stanton

Question:

154. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the support that has been provided to each of the respective local authorities to enable them to bring vacant and derelict properties back into use as housing; the number of vacant housing officers in place in each local authority; if they are employed on a full or part-time basis; his plans to provide further support to increase the number of officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46443/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy was published by my Department in 2018, this Strategy strives to provide a targeted, effective and co-ordinated approach to identifying and tackling vacancy across Ireland.

Since 2018, my Department has provided funding to each local authority of €50,000 per annum to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office including a Vacant Homes Officer. All 31 local authorities have claimed their funding up to June 2021 and this funding has been secured up to June 2022.

The provision of central funding reinforces the capacity of local authorities to provide information/statistics to my Department from a dedicated contact point within each local authority. The Vacant Homes Office therefore plays a key role in the co-ordination of this work within each local authority.

As part of Housing for All the Government has committed to a range of actions as part of the pathway to address vacancy ensuring the efficient use of housing stock. This includes ensuring that the Vacant Homes Officers based in local authorities are all full-time posts.

The table attached lists the number of Vacant Homes Officers currently in each local authority and whether they are working in a full or part time capacity in that role.

Table of Vacant Homes Officers in Local Authorities
Local Authority	No. of Vacant Homes Officers	Full-time	Part-time
Carlow	1		1
Cavan	1		1
Clare	1	1
Cork City	1		1
Cork County	2		2
Donegal	1		1
Dublin City	3	1	2
Dun Laoghaire	1		1
Fingal	1		1
Galway City	1		1
Galway County	1		1
Kerry	1	1
Kildare	1		1
Kilkenny	1		1
Laois	1		1
Leitrim	1		1
Limerick	1		1
Longford	1		1
Louth	1		1
Mayo	1		1
Meath	2		2
Monaghan	2		2
Offaly	1		1
Roscommon	1		1
Sligo	2		2
South Dublin	1		1
Tipperary	1		1
Waterford	1		1
Westmeath	1		1
Wexford	1		1
Wicklow	1		1

Housing Policy

Questions (155, 175, 349)

Brendan Smith

Question:

155. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he proposes to amend the tenant purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46331/21]

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

175. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when it is planned to publish new regulations for the tenant purchase scheme as outlined in Housing for All; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46389/21]

Brendan Smith

Question:

349. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if amendments will be made to the tenant purchase scheme as detailed in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46378/21]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 155, 175 and 349 together.

The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing support for at least one year.

The Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015 governing the Scheme provides for a number of specified classes of houses to be excluded from sale, including houses provided to local authorities under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended, houses specifically designed for older persons, group Traveller housing and houses provided to facilitate people with disabilities transferring from institutional care to community-based living.

The provisions of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, are designed to enable the development of mixed tenure sustainable communities. Part V homes are excluded from the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 to ensure that homes delivered under this mechanism will remain available for people in need of social housing support and that the original policy goals of the legislation are not eroded over time. The continued development of mixed tenure communities remains very important in promoting social integration.

A review of the first 12 months of the Scheme’s operation has been undertaken. In addition, Housing for All, A New Housing Plan for Ireland, commits to maintain the right of social housing tenants to purchase their own home with some changes to eligibility. The review and the commitments Housing for All are being examined as part of the work on the broader social housing reform agenda. I expect to be in a position to finalise changes to the Scheme once the work on these reform measures is complete.

Housing Schemes

Questions (156)

Seán Canney

Question:

156. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to introduce supports to assist first-time homeowners to deal with the unprecedented rise in the cost of building materials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46459/21]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Changes in relation to building material costs are monitored and recorded by the Central Statistics Office (Wholesale Price Index for Building & Construction Materials). The cost and supply issues that have arisen for basic building materials such as steel, timber, concrete and plastics are also occurring internationally. They appear to result from a range of contributory factors including Brexit, the disruption caused by Covid 19, increased global demand and other global events that have impacted on supply chains. 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.

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.

Over 300,000 new homes will be built by the end of 2030, including a projected 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental 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 addition to these distinct shared equity schemes, the Housing for All strategy 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, the Housing for All strategy 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.

Planning Issues

Questions (157)

Steven Matthews

Question:

157. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the Departmental working group set up to investigate potential amendments to building regulations to require changing places (details supplied) in suitable public buildings; the number of times the group has met; if he plans to meet with the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46211/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

New buildings and extensions or material alterations to existing buildings must comply with the legal minimum performance standards for the design and construction of buildings set out in the Building Regulations 1997 - 2021. The Building Regulations 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.

In relation to the Deputy’s specific query, Part M of the Building Regulations deals with Access and Use. The associated Technical Guidance Document M provides guidance indicating how the requirements of Part M can be achieved in practice. Where works are carried out in accordance with TGD M, this will, prima facie, indicate compliance with Part M of the Second Schedule of the Building Regulations.

Part M of the Building Regulations aims to foster an inclusive approach to the design and construction of the built environment. While the Part M requirements may be regarded as a statutory minimum level of provision, the accompanying technical guidance encourages building owners and designers to have regard to the design philosophy of universal design and to consider making additional provisions where practicable and appropriate.

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.

Housing Schemes

Questions (158)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

158. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address the excessive processing time in many local authorities for housing applications and HAP applications and the impact of these delays on the ability of persons to access social housing support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46405/21]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

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.

Regulation 12 of the 2011 Regulations prescribes the timescales for the processing of applications by local authorities and provides that, subject to conditions, a local authority shall deal with an application within a period of 12 weeks. Local authorities will prioritise housing needs assessments for those in greatest need and ensure that such applications are dealt with within timeframes that are significantly shorter that the statutory maximum. Different timescales may apply where the local authority requires additional information from the applicant within the relevant period, as defined in the Regulations, thus leading to possible extensions to the 12 week deadline in terms of completing the application process.

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.

Despite the challenges faced throughout 2020 and into 2021 due to the Covid emergency measures, local authorities and the Housing Assistance Payment Shared Service Centre (HAP SSC) have continued to provide a critical service to all HAP customers.

Measures that were required to be taken in the context of Covid-19 did, however, have an impact on processing times for HAP applications.

Once a HAP application has been received and confirmed as valid by the relevant local authority, it is entered on the system by the local authority and then submitted for processing and payment by the HAP SSC. If there are delays at the processing stage within a local authority, payment to the landlord may be backdated to the date on which a complete and valid application form was received by the local authority. The landlord is therefore not penalised for any delay.

My Department and the local authorities are aware of the importance of minimising HAP processing times and the critical need to keep this under review at a local level, in order to ensure times are minimised to the greatest extent possible. This has been communicated clearly to the County and City Management Association (CCMA), and my Department is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to do so over the coming months.

Housing Provision

Questions (159)

Brian Stanley

Question:

159. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the likely or estimated number of cost-rental units that his Department will approve within the next 12 months. [46317/21]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Under Action 4.12 of Housing for All, in the period to December 2021 local authorities will be preparing Housing Action Delivery Plans to include social and affordable housing where necessary (affordable purchase and cost rental). This will allow each Local Authority to determine the affordability constraint in their area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment.

Over the period 2021 to 2030, it is intended that approximately 18,000 Cost Rental homes will be delivered by Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies and the Land Development Agency. This represents an average of 2,000 per year. In building to this scale, the State will provide certain focused funding supports to help delivery partners provide rental homes that target affordable rents at levels in the order of 25% below market rents.

A range of work is already ongoing to deliver Cost Rental housing, with State support, through a number of avenues. Under Budget 2021, €35 million was allocated to the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) scheme, designed to facilitate Government loans to Approved Housing Bodies, to finance up to 30% of the capital costs of new homes for Cost Rental. My Department is utilising the expertise of Local Authorities, the Land Development Agency (LDA) and the Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), to deliver initial Cost Rental projects.

A total of 390 Cost Rental homes were approved under this first tranche of CREL funding. The first 25 of these homes, and the first Cost Rental homes to be designated in Ireland, were acquired by the Clúid AHB at Taylor Hill, Balbriggan, and the first tenants moved in on 28 August 2021. In addition to these 390 homes, another 50 Cost Rental apartments are currently being constructed at Enniskerry Road, Stepaside, alongside 105 social housing units. Construction is due to be completed in Q4 2021, and the tenant selection process is underway.

Question No. 160 answered with Question No. 142.