Written Answers Nos. 285-295
289. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which developments at COP26 in Glasgow are likely to affect house building here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55432/21]
View answerAs COP 26 takes place, we have published the Climate Action Plan 2021. This plan sets a roadmap for taking decisive action to halve our emissions by 2030 and reach net zero no later than 2050, as committed to in the Programme for Government.
The actions in Housing for All, our new housing plan for Ireland have been developed to support the targets and objectives of the Climate Action Plan, setting out a pathway to economic, societal and environmental sustainability in the delivery of housing. Actions include:
- Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) regulations will ensure that all homes built in the future will meet advanced energy performance standards whilst also providing comfortable, healthy homes with reduced carbon emissions. These homes will also take account of risks such as fire safety, ventilation and durability.
- Rollout the Social Housing National Retrofitting Programme which aims to retrofit 36,500 local authority dwellings by 2030 to reach BER B2 or equivalent. A budget of €85 million in 2022 will see approximately 2,400 units delivered under the programme.
- The National Planning Framework has embedded the policy of compact growth into the overall strategy for the country.
- Maximising the use of our existing housing stock, especially in our towns and cities, through the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund to support the refurbishment of vacant homes and a new Local Authority-led programme for the CPO of vacant properties for resale on the open market.
The transition to an energy efficient and fossil fuel free built environment will provide extensive social, economic and environmental benefits in the short as well as long-term. This process will bring about reduced energy costs and more comfortable, healthier, safer, and less costly to heat and cool, homes enhancing our living standards, improving our air quality and helping to address energy poverty. It will also improve energy security and reduce Ireland’s dependence on fossil fuels in addition to other significant co-benefits for the environment and socio-economic development.
My colleague, the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications has committed to the retrofitting of 500,000 homes to BER B2 standard by 2030, and installing 600,000 renewable energy heating sources in both new and existing residential buildings.
My Department has committed to actions across diverse areas such as planning systems, wind energy, climate science, climate services, social housing retrofitting and peatlands restoration to deliver the Climate Action Plan for the years ahead.
This Government is committed to the transformational shift of our economies and societies towards climate resilient and sustainable development. Ireland is supporting and driving many climate related actions across a local and a national level and we will continue with this work while also working with our international partners to drive the climate change agenda.
291. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress to date in the upgrading of various group water schemes by county basis; the number needing and awaiting such treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55435/21]
View answerMy Department provides support to the Rural Water Sector through a Multi-annual Rural Water Programme for capital investment and the Annual Subsidy for Group Water Schemes.
The current Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2019-2021 is providing capital funding for 621 projects across 25 local authorities. This funding is being provided through local authorities and will largely support infrastructure improvements for Group Water Schemes in rural areas. Details of these projects/schemes that received an allocation can be found on my Department's website at this address:www.gov.ie/en/circular/cf807-circular-l219-approval-of-schemesprojects-under-the-multi-annual-rural-water-programme-2019-2021-and-grant-allocations-to-local-authorities-for-2019/
My Department monitors progress under the Programme based on the expenditure of each local authority. However, it does not hold a data base which would include information in the manner requested in the question. Each local authority has a dedicated Rural Water Liaison Officer and further queries in relation to specific schemes/projects can be addressed to the Officer in the relevant local authority.
My Department, under the oversight of the Rural Water Working Group, is currently reviewing the Framework for the upcoming Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2022-2024. In reviewing the Framework the Working Group is also considering emerging demands within the Rural Water Sector, to expand and improve on the previous multi-annual programme.
Under the National Development Plan 2021-2030 funding has been allocated over the period 2021 to 2025 for (non-Irish Water) investment in rural water infrastructure. This includes €175 million for the Rural Water Programme to be delivered through the multi-annual programme.
I expect to receive a submission on the Framework in the coming weeks for my consideration with, subject to my approval, the bids process for the upcoming multi-annual programme to take place early in the new-year. The process will allow, projects/schemes in the Rural Water Sector requiring capital works, an opportunity to bid for funding.
293. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses, affordable or for those on local authority housing waiting lists, that have been allocated to appropriately qualified families in each of the past six weeks to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55437/21]
View answerThe Housing for All Strategy delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to put affordability at the heart of the housing system.
A multi-faceted approach is being implemented to deliver 54,000 affordable homes interventions between now and 2030. This will be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency, as well as through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks. The first local authority affordable purchase homes delivered under the Serviced Sites Fund will be delivered in December 2021.
Delivery of affordable housing in accordance with the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme established in Part 2 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 will be underpinned by the preparation by each local authority's Housing Delivery Action Plan. All homes made available under affordable housing schemes must adhere to eligibility criteria prescribed under the Act.
Local authorities will be submitting their Plans to me, to include social and affordable housing, before the end of December 2021. This will allow each Local Authority, to determine any affordability constraint in their area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment and plan the provision of affordable homes accordingly.
Part 4 of the Affordable Housing Act provides for the ‘First Home’ scheme to primarily support affordability-constrained first-time buyers to purchase privately developed new homes. This scheme will commence in 2022 and will be available at a national level.
Part 3 of the Affordable Housing Act provides for the establishment of a Cost Rental sector in Ireland, through the Ministerial designation of Cost Rental dwellings. Budget 2021 allocated €35 million to the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) scheme which enabled the first Cost Rental homes to be delivered this year by the Clúid AHB at Taylor Hill, Balbriggan. The tenanting processes for further Cost Rental homes at Enniskerry Road in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Barnhall, Leixlip, County Kildare, are currently underway. In total, 390 Cost Rental units will be delivered through this funding, with the initial focus being in the Greater Dublin Area and Cork. A further €75 million was allocated in Budget 2022 to help meet the Housing for All target of 750 Cost Rental homes in 2022.
The Land Development Agency will deliver homes for both affordable purchase and Cost Rental. The Housing for All strategy outlines how the Land Development Agency through Project Tosaigh will seek to unlock stalled developments and accelerate the delivery of affordable homes.
In addition the Help to Buy Scheme and the Local Authority Home loan scheme remain available nationally and make housing more affordable to purchasers.
In relation to the question posed regarding the number of social houses allocated in the past six weeks to date, information of this exact type is not held by my Department. Information relating to allocation of housing is available from individual local authorities.
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 social homes per annum from 2022-2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4b per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn in funding through the Housing Finance Agency over a five year period.
Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Individual targets for the delivery of housing have been provided to each local authority and their Housing Delivery Action Plans will set out details on how and when local authorities will deliver their housing targets, including the delivery of affordable homes.
294. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue in the case of persons (details supplied) whose applications were submitted via post a number of months ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55298/21]
View answerMy Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the processing time for Foreign Births Registration (FBR) applications stood at 18 months due to an unprecedented surge in applications as a result of the Brexit referendum in the UK, and the necessary rigorous processing that applies to citizenship applications.
Due to the pandemic, FBR staff have been reassigned to assist in the delivery of essential services. This has resulted in a pause in overall FBR processing. FBR staff have continued to provide an emergency service for Foreign Birth Registration in cases of exceptional urgency, such as expectant parents, or stateless persons. In cases of exceptional urgency FBR applicants may continue to contact the Passport Service directly. For other applications, the Department operates a transparent general policy of processing FBR applications in order of receipt.
The applications referenced were registered on 26 February 2020. All documents received are being stored in a secure environment.
The Passport Service is actively preparing to resume processing Foreign Birth Registration applications as soon as possible and an announcement of the resumption date can be expected imminently. My Department is committed to allocating further resources to assist with the high volume of applications, with a focus on reducing turnaround times. In the medium term, changes to the FBR process to increase efficiencies and improve the customer experience will be delivered under the next phase of my Department's Passport Reform Programme.
295. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport can issue for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that this passport is a renewal application was received in the Passport Office on 6 September 2021 and the delay in issuing same will potentially jeopardise a sporting opportunity for this person. [55324/21]
View answer297. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that this application is with the Passport Service for 50 working days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55380/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 295 and 297 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.
