Niamh Smyth
Question:161. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an application has been made for funding for a women’s refuge in counties Cavan and Monaghan. [11986/22]
View answerDomestic Violence
Questions (161)
Written answers
My Department has not received an application for funding to date in respect of a Domestic Violence Refuge for the Cavan/Monaghan area. However, that area has been identified in the recently published Tusla 'Review of Accommodation Services for Victims of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence' as one where new refuge places are needed as a priority.
Accordingly, my Department looks forward to working with stakeholders in advancing such a project for this area and I can assure the Deputy that the capital development funding is in place to support the earliest possible delivery.
Heritage Schemes
Questions (162)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh
Question:162. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to improve biodiversity protection in Ireland in view of the launch of Heritage Ireland 2030 and in the context of 3 March 2022 being World Wildlife Day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11579/22]
View answerWritten answers
Last week, I was delighted to launch Heritage Ireland 2030, the first national heritage plan in 20 years and a commitment under the Programme for Government. Heritage Ireland 2030 recognises the fundamental importance of our heritage in all its forms – natural, built, cultural, linguistic, tangible and intangible – and provides an overarching strategic framework for the management and protection of our heritage for the next ten years, including over 150 actions aimed at achieving this. Of these, several actions relate to natural heritage and biodiversity, including: a commitment to support the full implementation of the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021 and subsequent plans; to support and resource the National Biodiversity Data Centre; to support more all-island approaches to biodiversity protection; and, to establish a Citizen’s Assembly on Biodiversity. The plan and full list of actions can be found on my Department’s website at:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/778b8-heritage-ireland-2030/.
Over the coming months, officials in my Department will engage closely with key partners across government and in the Heritage Council to develop and publish, by Q3 of 2021, a plan for implementing these actions. Updates on this process will be posted regularly on my Department’s website.
Following a comprehensive review of national, European and international biodiversity policies and other relevant plans and strategies, the first draft of the Ireland’s 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) 2022-2026 has been developed. The new Plan acknowledges the intrinsic value of biodiversity to our well being and will increase the focus on the root causes of biodiversity loss. The draft Plan has been sent for stakeholder review to bodies and organisations that will be involved in its implementation and a broader public consultation period will follow.
Housing Policy
Questions (163)
Bríd Smith
Question:163. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to put in place a dedicated housing policy to address the hidden homelessness identified in a report by an organisation (details supplied); his views on the impact that the lack of housing options has on women and their children in abusive situations who often have little choice but to remain with the abuser; the action he intends to take in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12045/22]
View answerWritten answers
The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross-Departmental and multi-agency issue, with overall policy coordinated by the Department of Justice. Responsibility for developing and providing services to support victims rests with my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV rests with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
My Department’s role is to support the work of local authorities and NGOs who provide accommodation support to victims of DSGBV.
I terms of 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 a reference for service providers, highlighting where they can best assist their clients. It covers 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 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 to support a partnership approach by statutory agencies to the delivery of domestic violence services. This is particularly the case in relation to helping prevent and reduce the occurrence of related homelessness and facilitating provision long-term accommodation for victims of domestic violence. This guidance continues to apply in providing direction to housing authorities in supporting the housing needs of victims of domestic violence.
Planning Issues
Questions (164)
Alan Dillon
Question:164. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the review of the Rural Housing Guidelines in recognition of the need for different types of housing, in particular to ensure persons with an affinity to their area; the guidance that will be provided as local authorities such as Mayo County Council finalise their county development plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12125/22]
View answerWritten answers
Since 2018, the National Planning Framework (NPF) is the national planning policy document providing overall strategic policy for the future development of Ireland through specific National Policy Objectives (NPOs) that aim to support the overall rural and small town pattern of development in Ireland and deliver strengthened and diversified rural communities.
Importantly, NPO 19 of the NPF aims to ensure that a policy distinction is made between areas experiencing significant overspill development pressure from urban areas, particularly within the commuter catchment of cities, towns and centres of employment, on the one hand, and structurally weaker rural areas where population levels may be low or declining, on the other. NPO 19 is also aligned with the established approach 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 rural areas under urban influence.
Under the Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Rural Housing 2005, which were issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended, planning authorities are required 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/.
Updated Rural Housing Planning Guidelines are currently being prepared that will continue to allow for the development of homes in rural areas while also highlighting the need to manage certain areas around cities and towns in order to avoid over-development of those areas. Given the complexity of the issues involved, the potential need for environmental assessment and both internal and external consultation, the updated Rural Housing Guidelines, which are at an advanced stage of drafting, will expand on the high level policy of the NPF and will continue to allow county development plans to provide for rural housing in line with the Guidelines.
Subject to the need for any environmental assessment that may be required such as Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) or Appropriate Assessment (AA), the draft guidelines will be the subject of public consultation. The timeline for publication of the draft guidelines will be dependent on whether “full” SEA or AA of the guidelines are required.
Legislative Measures
Questions (165)
Brian Leddin
Question:165. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the electoral reform Bill; his plans to reintroduce a national election study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12091/22]
View answerWritten answers
The General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bill was published and circulated to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage for pre-legislative consideration in January 2021. The General Scheme is available on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/34cf6-general-scheme-of-the-electoral-reform-bill-2020. The Joint Oireachtas Committee carried out a thorough pre-legislative scrutiny process, taking in the views of a wide range of stakeholders and policy experts over seven sessions. The committee's pre-legislative scrutiny report was published in August 2021 and is available from the Oireachtas website at www.oireachtas.ie/en/committees/33/housing-local-government-and-heritage/. The Bill is included on the list of priority legislation in the Government's current legislation programme and I expect that it will be published and will commence its progress through the Oireachtas shortly.
In line with the committment in the Programme for Government - Our Shared Future, the Bill will provide for the establisment of a statutory, independent Electoral Commission. The Electoral Commission's functions will include a significant Research and Advisory function and it is anticipated that this will include provision for it to carry out ex post reviews of the administration of electoral events.
Planning Issues
Questions (166)
Brian Leddin
Question:166. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to ensure that city and county development plans meet the obligations of local authorities under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12117/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Climate Action Plan, 2021 sets out an ambitious course for national decarbonisation to deliver a scale-up in emission performance across all sectors over the coming decade to meet 2030 targets and to set a trajectory to meet 2050 objectives. The plan recognises that climate change is a complex issue that requires transformative responses from every sector in society and that all measures, collectively, represent a coherent approach to dealing with the significant challenges ahead.
The National Planning Framework (NPF) confirms that the planning process provides an established means through which to implement and integrate climate change objectives, including adaptation, at local level and the transition to a low carbon and climate resilient society. The NPF further underpins this approach by stating that "in addition to legally binding targets agreed at EU level, it is a national objective for Ireland to transition to be a competitive low carbon, economy by the year 2050".
The three Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES) also echo the importance of climate action and each contain a number of policy objectives in order to ensure emissions can be reduced and targets met.
Under the relevant provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) (the Planning Act), local authorities prepare development plans and local area plans to set out the planning policies and objectives for their respective functional areas.
A programme of development plan review is currently underway in order to achieve consistency of approach with the NPF and the RSESs adopted by the three Regional Assemblies.
National renewable energy policy objectives, and those set out in the regional strategies, are required to be reflected in County Development Plans.
In addition, section 10(2) of the Planning Act sets out the development objectives that must be included in the development plan of each local authority and are therefore ‘mandatory’ requirements. Furthermore, section 10(2)(n) of the Planning Act was amended by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 to require that the development plan shall include an objective for the promotion of sustainable settlement and transportation strategies in urban and rural areas including the promotion of measures to
1. reduce energy demand in response to the likelihood of increases in energy and other costs due to long-term decline in non-renewable resources,
2. reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and address the necessity of adaptation to climate change, taking account of the local authority climate action plan (within the meaning of section 14B of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015), where such a plan has been made for the area in question;
in particular, having regard to location, layout and design of new development.
These plans, which are adopted by the elected members of the local authority, are subject to review and evaluation by the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) to ensure consistency with national planning policy and guidance. Where matters arise in relation to consistency with national policy, further to a recommendation by the OPR, the Minister may decide to issue a planning authority with a Ministerial Direction under Section 31 of the Planning Act, if a plan has failed to set out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of an area.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) published a Methodology for Local Authority Renewable Energy Strategies (LARES) in 2013 to assist local authorities in this regard. This methodology is currently being reviewed, with input from relevant bodies, to provide a best practice approach to identifying and assessing renewable energy resources in spatial planning at local authority level. Based on the indicative targets for onshore wind energy and grid-scale solar deployment, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications proposes to set out a target for the total onshore capacity that should be planned for on a national and regional level. It is intended that the Regional Assemblies will be required to develop and implement regional renewable electricity strategies based on the overall national targets, renewable energy objectives contained in each of the RSESs, with the support of relevant guidance, including the SEAI LARES.
It should be further noted that planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála, under sections 34 and 143 of the Planning Act respectively, are required to have regard to the objectives of Development Plans and any policies of Government or Guidelines issued with respect to climate targets which are relevant at the time of making a decision on a proposed development.
Housing Policy
Questions (167, 204)
Kieran O'Donnell
Question:167. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the affordable housing schemes under the Housing for All plan; the timeline for the introduction of the schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12101/22]
View answer
Bernard Durkan
Question:204. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action that can be taken to enable housing to become affordable given that persons can no longer live in Ireland due to the high cost of mortgages and rents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11490/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 204 together.
The Affordable Housing Act 2021, the first ever standalone affordable housing legislation, established a basis for four new affordable housing measures. These measures will deliver on the Programme for Government commitment to put affordability at the heart of the housing system and prioritise the increased supply of affordable homes through (1) delivering affordable homes on local authority lands, (2) the introduction of a new form of tenure in Cost Rental, (3) a First Home shared equity scheme and (4) expanding Part V planning requirements to increase the 10% contribution requirement to 20% and to apply it to cost rental as well as social and affordable housing.
This Act, supported by the unprecedented levels of funding committed to in the Housing for All strategy, averaging over €4 billion annually, will underpin the delivery of affordable housing targets. Specifically, 54,000 affordable homes will be delivered between now and 2030 by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
At a national level, 2,550 Affordable Purchase homes and 1,580 Cost Rental homes are targeted for delivery for 2022. Annual targets will increase incrementally in subsequent years.
The Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme will support eligible purchasers of Local Authority-delivered new homes by bridging the gap between the market value of the home and the combined value of the buyer's mortgage and deposit. Regulations setting out the detailed eligibility criteria for the scheme are at an advanced stage and will be issued in the coming weeks.
Separately, as part of the Housing for All strategy, additional funding of €1bn was committed to the Land Development Agency in order for it to deliver on its pipeline of housing. This includes Project Tosaigh under which the LDA will enter into forward purchase arrangements to kick-start stalled private developments and increase the supply of affordable housing. The LDA initiated a call on 12 November 2021 targeting a scale in excess of 150 affordable units per development and is currently assessing the proposals received.
Over 1,500 Cost Rental homes are expected to be developed and tenanted through three delivery strands in 2022: Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), supported by Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) funding; Local Authorities through the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF), and the Land Development Agency (LDA), either on their portfolio of sites, or through Project Tosaigh. All Cost Rental homes will deliver rent prices at least 25% below market rates.
The First Home shared equity scheme, under Part 4 of the Affordable Housing Act, will primarily support first-time buyers purchasing newly constructed homes on the private market. This scheme will be available at a national level and will incorporate regional price caps reflecting median house price sales. Confirmation of the final details of this scheme is ongoing in conjunction with the relevant stakeholders and it is anticipated that the First Home scheme will be available for applications in the second half of this year. This initiative is being designed to ensure support is provided to those that, because of the current income levels, cannot secure a sufficient mortgage to meet the cost of a modest newly constructed home in their preferred location.
Additionally the Help-to-Buy incentive supports first-time buyers in meeting the deposit requirements for newly-built houses or apartments, as well as self-build homes. Subject to the level of income tax and DIRT paid over the previous 4 years, the Help-to-Buy scheme provides a maximum benefit to first-time buyers of €30,000 or 10% of the cost of the newly constructed home. The Help-to-Buy scheme has already helped over 30,000 first-time buyers achieve the deposit required for a new home.
Finally, the Local Authority Home Loan scheme commenced on 4 January 2022 and incorporates a lower interest rate, higher income eligibility thresholds for single applicants in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow (increasing from €50,000 to €65,000), and more flexibility on house size. The loan can be used for new and second-hand properties, or for self-builds with a maximum value of 90% of market value of a residential property. The maximum market values are €320,000 in the counties Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow, and €250,000 in the rest of the country.
The Help-to-Buy scheme, the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme and the First Home scheme are designed to assist first-time buyers in meeting the higher costs of newly constructed homes and, in doing so, will increase the volume of new homes being developed. Importantly the CSO reported that housing completions amounted to 20,433 in 2021, a welcome increase over the 2015 reported levels of 7,219. The CSO also report that Commencement Notices for 30,724 new homes were issued in 2021, representing a 42% increase compared with 2020, or roughly the same as the combined reported totals from 2016 & 2017.
While these reported figures represent a significant step forward in the Government’s ambition to support the supply of new housing, it remains short of the 33,000 new dwellings annual target under Housing for All. This is why the Government has committed unprecedented levels of funding, averaging €4 billion per year to improve affordability for all families or individuals across society wishing to secure a home.
Question No. 168 answered orally.
Question No. 169 answered with Question No. 140.
Question No. 170 answered with Question No. 140.
Legislative Measures
Questions (171)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:171. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the concerns expressed to his Department by the European Commission on the general scheme of the Housing and Planning and Development Bill 2019. [12047/22]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has received correspondence from the EU Commission in relation to the General Scheme of the Housing and Planning and Development Bill 2019 and has been in further communication with the Commission in this regard. This correspondence and communication was in the context of, and falls under, an ongoing infringement procedure (Case 2012/4028) and is therefore confidential. Accordingly it would not be appropriate to release the correspondence and details of any specific issues raised as the case is still ongoing.
Housing Schemes
Questions (172)
Pauline Tully
Question:172. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the rules governing the need to satisfy the local authority that you will occupy the property as your normal place of residence when applying for the housing adaptation grant for people with a disability to take into account parents of a child with a disability who have shared custody as the current rules are preventing children and parents access to visitation and shared living arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12084/22]
View answerWritten answers
Regulations S.I. 670 of 2007 and S.I. 104 of 2014 provide the statutory basis for the operation of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. Article 8 of the Regulations provides that the applicant must occupy the house as his or her normal place of residence on completion of the works.
The administration of the grants scheme, including the assessment, approval and prioritisation of grant applications under the various measures, is the responsibility of each local authority. Having considered all of the circumstances in any particular case, it is a matter for the local authority to determine grant eligibility.
Separately, Housing for All commits 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. This review is being undertaken this year.
Question No. 173 answered orally.
Housing Policy
Questions (174)
Michael Creed
Question:174. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of assistance available to first-time house owners in respect of the purchase and renovation of old or derelict properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12116/22]
View answerWritten answers
Housing for All published in September 2021 provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. This strategy provides for a broad suite of measures and assistance including for first-time buyers.
In particular, in the context of addressing vacancy and and efficient use of existing stock, the strategy provides for the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund which will be delivered by local authorities for the provision of serviced sites for housing, to attract people to build their own homes and to support the refurbishment of vacant properties, enabling people to live in small towns and villages, in a sustainable way. Details of this scheme will be announced later this quarter.
In addition, Housing for All provides for the launching of a programme of Compulsory Purchase Orders to bring vacant units to the market for sale, as well as activating unused State owned properties for this purpose. Housing for All also recognises the potential to utilise relevant heritage building stock for residential purposes, and it is also anticipated funding will be made available under the new round of European Regional Development Fund to tackle vacancy and dereliction in towns.
Separately, my colleague Eamonn Ryan, TD, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment recently published the National Retrofit Plan, as part of the Climate Action Plan, which sets out ambitious plan for the retrofitting of a significant number homes by the end of 2030.
In January 2022, my Department communicated with local authorities outlining that it is increasing the funding made available since 2018 from €50,000 to €60,000 per annum from mid-2022 to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office including a vacant homes officer to support the commitment in Housing for All to ensuring that vacant homes officers are full-time officers. Local authorities have been requested to arrange for the vacant homes officer position to become full-time by the end of Q2 2022 and to notify my Department accordingly. These vacant homes officers are in place in each local authority to assist in returning vacant properties to productive use as homes including for first-time buyers.
Defective Building Materials
Questions (175)
Pádraig MacLochlainn
Question:175. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will allocate the necessary resources to Donegal County Council as requested by the Council, to enable it to make safe all of the homes in its housing stock across County Donegal; and if he will provide the necessary supports to all of the affected families. [11168/22]
View answerWritten answers
I brought a Memorandum to Government on an enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme on the 30 November 2021. It included an unprecedented suite of improvements to the current scheme. Government approved the enhanced scheme which it is estimated will cost approximately €2.2Bn.
Included in the Government decision was a commitment that a parallel programme for Exchequer funding of remediation works to local authority and Approved Housing Body owned social homes would be introduced. Officials from my Department are in ongoing communciation with officials from Donegal County Council on the matter. In this regard, my Department received a submission from Donegal County Council dated 22nd November, 2021 requesting sanction for 9 additional posts for a Special Project Delivery Team for management of the issue of Defective Concrete Blocks in local authority owned Social houses.
My Department has now approved the posts sought and sanction has been conveyed to the local authority. Details of the posts are set out in the table hereunder.
|
Title |
No. of Posts |
Contract |
|
Senior Engineer |
1 |
48 month specific purpose |
|
Senior Executive Engineer |
2 |
48 month specific purpose |
|
Executive Engineer |
2 |
48 month specific purpose |
|
Building Inspector / Clerks of Work |
2 |
48 month specific purpose |
|
Staff Officer |
1 |
48 month specific purpose |
|
Clerical Officer |
1 |
48 month specific purpose |
Housing Provision
Questions (176)
Mark Ward
Question:176. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost of leasing a private home back to the local authority on a 25-year lease in South Dublin County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11577/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities for the leasing of houses and apartments.
Long term lease arrangements, including the enhanced lease of privately owned dwellings, can be entered into by either local authorities or approved housing bodies (AHBs) for periods of between 10 to 25 years.
The average lease cost will vary by local authority having regard to the location of the dwelling, size and property type. The average cost is calculated based on claims for operational new units submitted by local authorities and recorded on my Department’s SHCEP financial management system and does not necessarily represent the amount delivered in that period.
Up to the end of 2021, the average annual cost of a long-term lease for 25 years with South Dublin County Council was €17,679. This reflects the higher cost of units in the Dublin area as lease payments are linked to market rents and discounted appropriately. This data includes local authority direct leasing, enhanced leasing, and AHB private leasing.
Local Area Plans
Questions (177)
Paul McAuliffe
Question:177. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on his Department's efforts to help deliver the Ballymun local area plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12089/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022 included an objective to prepare a Local Area Plan (LAP) for Ballymun. The Ballymun Local Area Plan, 2017, came into effect in October 2017 and remains in force. In addition to the LAP, Ballymun is identified as a 'Strategic Development Regeneration Area' in the City Development Plan 2016-2022 and in the Draft City Development Plan for the period 2022 to 2028.
The Draft Dublin City Development Plan 2022-2028, published in November 2021 states that significant progress has been achieved in implementing the Ballymun LAP including the completion/near completion of five sites totalling c. 5.8 ha providing new affordable and social housing; student housing and retail on the Main Street; and new enhanced linkages at Hampton Woods. The remaining sites have the capacity to deliver c.1,700 new housing units, new commercial and employment opportunities, development of infill sites and intensification of development along the proposed new Metrolink route.
Dublin City Council (DCC) submitted two Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) projects in the Ballymun area to this Department. Both of them received approval in principle under the SSF for the following amounts:
- Balbutcher, Ballymun, 101 affordable purchase units, €4,140,000;
- Sillogue, Ballymun, 105 affordable purchase units, €3,975,000.
The SSF has now been replaced by the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF).
DCC has indicated their intention to the Department that they will be submitting AHF applications in respect of both Balbutcher and Sillogue, as a higher level of subvention would be necessary to make the schemes more viable. To date, no application has been received.
Housing Provision
Questions (178)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:178. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the provision of social and affordable housing in County Carlow. [12099/22]
View answerWritten answers
Increasing the supply of social and affordable homes is a priority for this Government as shown clearly in our new Housing for All strategy. Following the launch of the strategy last September we issued social housing targets to all local authority Chief Executives for the 5 years 2022 to 2026. Of the national target of over 50,000 new social homes, I’m asking Carlow County Council to deliver 464 over those years, through their own projects and also working with the housing associations.
For the purpose of tracking social housing delivery, a Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR) is published each quarter by my Department. This provides details of the individual social housing build projects in the programme of each local authority, including Carlow County Council.. It sets out the locations of the social housing schemes, the number of homes being delivered and the current status of the scheme, including those currently on site and under construction. The most recent CSR publication covers the period up to the end of Quarter 3 of 2021, and is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/feea9-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q3-2021/. Information on Quarter 4 of 2021, will be available shortly and will be added to the published data. Further specific information on their build programmes will be available from the local authorities.
I'm keen that all local authorities progress their social housing schemes as quickly as possible. I want to acknowledge that Carlow County Council with the support of their public representatives, has delivered well against their social housing targets to date and also have a good pipeline of new projects in place. Under Housing for All, the funding is in place to support Carlow County Council and indeed all the Councils and the housing associations, to get these housing projects built.
The Affordable Housing Act 2021 established a basis for four new affordable housing measures, to deliver on the Programme for Government commitment to put affordability at the heart of the housing system and prioritise the increased supply of affordable homes through (1) delivering affordable homes on local authority lands, (2) the introduction of a new form of tenure in Cost Rental, (3) a First Home shared equity scheme and (4) expanding Part V planning requirements to increase the 10% contribution requirement to 20% and to apply it to cost rental, as well as social and affordable housing. The First Home shared equity scheme will be available nationally on a demand-led basis. This scheme will primarily support first-time buyers purchasing new homes through the private market. It is anticipated this scheme will be open for applications in the second half of this year. The national 2022 target delivery for the First Home Scheme is 1,750.
At a national level, 2,550 Affordable Purchase homes and 1,580 Cost Rental homes are targeted for delivery for 2022. Annual targets will increase incrementally in subsequent years.
Delivery of affordable housing will be underpinned by Local Authorities' Housing Delivery Action Plans. Having reviewed the submitted Plans, my Department has held meetings with Local Authorities. The information shared in these meetings, and through a two-day Housing Summit held last week with all local authorities, will facilitate more informed target setting for each area. Updated Housing Delivery Action Plans will be published by the local authorities, including Carlow County Council, later this year.
Additional affordable housing delivery in Carlow will also happen through the expanded 20% Part V requirement.
Question No. 179 answered with Question No. 156.
Planning Issues
Questions (180)
Ciaran Cannon
Question:180. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions he plans to take in view of the decision taken by An Bord Pleanála to refuse substitute consent for the development of an ESB windfarm at Derrybrien, County Galway particularly in view of the daily fine of €15,000 being imposed by the European Commission for an unauthorised development. [11839/22]
View answerWritten answers
A decision on the substitute consent application for the Derrybrien Wind Farm in County Galway was signed by An Bord Pleanála on Friday 4 February 2022.
In their decision, the Board refused to grant substitute consent for ESB’s wind farm, which ends the statutory process seeking to retrospectively regularise the environmental impact assessment status of the wind farm. The Board's decision has been notified to all parties to the case, as well as being made available on the Board's website.
In accordance with Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.
However, I can advise that planning legislation specifies that a development that has been refused substitute consent is deemed to be an ‘unauthorised development’ that shall be subject to planning enforcement by the relevant planning authority, which among other things shall require the cessation of activity on site.
ESB has confirmed through their line department, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), that the operation of ESB's wind farm at Derrybrien has been paused from 15 February 2022 following the decision by the Board to refuse to grant substitute consent, and that ESB is continuing to review the details of the decision.
My Department's officials are working closely with officials in DECC and with the Office of the Attorney General, and will engage with counterparts in the European Commission as soon as possible to clarify the status of Ireland's compliance with the judgement in this case as a result of the Board's decision to refuse substitute consent.