Written Answers Nos. 240-259
240. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will increase the funding that his Department makes available to local authorities for persons with disabilities and mobility issues for which the current grants for adaptation are deemed to be insufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12432/22]
View answerThe Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability facilitates older people and people with a disability to remain living independently in their own homes. Voted capital funding of €65 million is available in 2022 which is an increase of €5 million on the 2021 provision of €60 million, continuing the year on year increases since 2014.
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 which includes a review of the existing grant limits and income thresholds applicable to the grant schemes. This review is being undertaken this year.
241. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will remove the SAC designation for Lough Funshinagh Turlough in County Roscommon given the devastating environmental impact of the persistent six-year flooding which has destroyed the natural flora of the catchment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12441/22]
View answerLough Funshinagh was selected as an a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) taking account of the more drawn-out pattern of drainage than the typical annual rise and fall of other turlough lakes. On that basis, there is no scientific case to remove the site from the SAC list. My Department has no plans at this time to review the SAC designation of the site.
242. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the findings of the investigation by the National Parks and Wildlife Service into the Loughrea coursing meeting held in October 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12448/22]
View answerFollowing the investigation by my officials, Loughrea Coursing Club were found to be in breach of a number of conditions of the Section 34 licence to capture live hares. The licence for the Loughrea Coursing Club was immediately suspended for the rest of the coursing season, which has now ended. Any sanctions to be taken against that Club will be considered as part of any new licence application.
243. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new cases of RHDv2 in rabbits and hares notified to the National Parks and Wildlife Service since cases were first detected in 2019; the locations of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12449/22]
View answerSince 2019, in total, 38 cases of RHD2 in rabbits and 9 cases of RHD2 in hares have been notified to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department from across seven counties: Clare, Dublin, Kerry, Kildare, Meath, Wexford and Wicklow. The NPWS has not been notified of any cases since July 2021.
244. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff currently employed by his Department; the current annual salary of the highest and second highest paid persons respectively, employed by his Department; and the various pay scales for persons working in his Department. [12479/22]
View answerThere were 1,460 (1,410.10 FTE) staff serving in my Department at the end of January 2022. These staff serve across 131 individual grades (75 generic grades), and range from the traditional civil service administrative grades to a mix of Professional & Technical and Industrial grades. The grades are listed below in within their respective grade level/equivalent. Using the grade codes listed below, the annual remuneration for each grade can be viewed on the Civil Service Payscales website at the following link - civilservicepayscales.per.gov.ie/. The Secretary General and Assistant Secretary General grades and equivalents are the highest paid staff in the Department.
|
Grade Level/Equiv. |
Grade Code |
Grade Description |
|
SEC |
AV8 |
SECRETARY GENERAL LEVEL II – PPC |
|
SEC |
AV6 |
SECRETARY GENERAL LEVEL III NON-PPC |
|
ASC |
A47 |
ASSISTANT SECRETARY |
|
ASC |
M99 |
ASSISTANT SECRETARY – PPC |
|
ASC |
A95 |
DIRECTOR METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES |
|
ASC |
N04 |
DIRECTOR OF AUDIT – PPC |
|
PO |
X16 |
ADVISORY COUNSEL GRADE 2 – PPC |
|
PO |
N84 |
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MET SERVICES – PPC |
|
PO |
P53 |
CHIEF ARCHAEOLOGIST – PPC |
|
PO |
B62 |
PRINCIPAL |
|
PO |
N87 |
PRINCIPAL – PPC |
|
PO |
N24 |
PRINCIPAL ADVISOR HIGHER LEVEL – PPC |
|
PO |
B91 |
PRINCIPAL AUDITOR |
|
PO |
O10 |
PRINCIPAL AUDITOR – PPC |
|
PO |
B06 |
PRINCIPAL HIGHER |
|
PO |
N45 |
PRINCIPAL HIGHER SCALE - PPC |
|
PO |
O28 |
SENIOR ADVISER - PPC |
|
PO |
D46 |
SENIOR ASSISTANT FIRE ADVISOR |
|
PO |
C58 |
SENIOR METEOROLOGIST |
|
PO |
O56 |
SENIOR METEOROLOGIST - PPC |
|
AP |
P06 |
ENGINEER GRADE 1 CIVIL - PPC |
|
AP |
P20 |
WILDLIFE INSPECTOR GRADE 1 - PPC |
|
AP |
X23 |
ADVISORY COUNSEL GRADE 3 - PPC |
|
AP |
P26 |
ARCHITECTURAL ADVISOR - PPC |
|
AP |
P29 |
ARCHITECTURAL/ENG INSPECTOR - PPC |
|
AP |
D51 |
ARCHITECTURAL/ENGINEERING INSPECTOR |
|
AP |
W81 |
ASSISTANT FIRE ADVISOR |
|
AP |
E26 |
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL |
|
AP |
P92 |
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL - PPC |
|
AP |
C74 |
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL HIGHER |
|
AP |
O69 |
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL HIGHER - PPC |
|
AP |
D72 |
ASSISTANT STAFF ENGINEER |
|
AP |
D16 |
AUDITOR ENVIRONMENT |
|
AP |
O99 |
AUDITOR ENVIRONMENT - PPC |
|
AP |
D26 |
ENGINEER GRADE 1 CIVIL |
|
AP |
D95 |
ENGINEER GRADE 2 CIVIL |
|
AP |
Q58 |
ENGINEER GRADE 2 MECH/HEATING/ELECL - PPC |
|
AP |
F31 |
ENGINEERING GRADE 2 MECH/HEATING/ELEC |
|
AP |
P72 |
FORESTRY INSPECTOR GRADE 2 - PPC |
|
AP |
D34 |
INSPECTOR GRADE 1 |
|
AP |
P14 |
INSPECTOR GRADE 1 - PPC |
|
AP |
P31 |
INSPECTOR PLANNING - PPC |
|
AP |
P98 |
INVESTIGATOR - PPC |
|
AP |
E88 |
METEOROLOGIST |
|
AP |
Q31 |
METEOROLOGIST - PPC |
|
AP |
X80 |
METEOROLOGIST HIGHER SCALE - PPC |
|
AP |
C87 |
PRINCIPAL CLERK |
|
AP |
Q52 |
PRINCIPAL METEOROLOGICAL OFF - PPC |
|
AP |
F19 |
PRINCIPAL METEOROLOGICAL OFFICER |
|
AP |
Y25 |
PRINCIPAL METEOROLOGICAL OFFICER HIGHER |
|
AP |
P60 |
PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT GRADE 2 - PPC |
|
AP |
P11 |
QUANTITY SURVEYOR GRADE 1 - PPC |
|
AP |
E14 |
SENIOR ARCHAEOLOGIST |
|
AP |
P83 |
SENIOR ARCHAEOLOGIST - PPC |
|
AP |
P03 |
SENIOR ARCHITECT - PPC |
|
AP |
P71 |
SUPERVISING HOUSING INSPECTOR - PPC |
|
AP |
D40 |
WILDLIFE INSPECTOR GRADE 1 |
|
AP |
E03 |
WILDLIFE INSPECTOR GRADE 2 |
|
AP |
P73 |
WILDLIFE INSPECTOR GRADE 2 - PPC |
|
AO |
AC2 |
SURVEY CONTROLLER |
|
AO |
R32 |
WILDLIFE INSPECTOR GRADE 3 - PPC |
|
AO |
Q73 |
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER HIGHER SCALE - PPC |
|
AO |
Q71 |
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STANDARD SCALE - PPC |
|
AO |
G15 |
ARCHAEOLOGIST |
|
AO |
R16 |
ARCHAEOLOGIST - PPC |
|
AO |
Q50 |
ARCHITECT - PPC |
|
AO |
S32 |
ARCHITECTURAL ASSISTANT GRADE 1 - PPC |
|
AO |
R17 |
ARCHIVIST - PPC |
|
AO |
I55 |
DISTRICT CONSERVATION OFFICER |
|
AO |
V18 |
DISTRICT CONSERVATION OFFICER - PPC |
|
AO |
R11 |
ENGINEER GRADE 3 CIVIL - PPC |
|
AO |
S59 |
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER - PPC |
|
AO |
Q13 |
STATISTICIAN - PPC |
|
AO |
AC3 |
SURVEY CONTROLLER - PPC |
|
HEO |
F56 |
HIGHER EXECUTIVE OFFICER INSPECTOR |
|
HEO |
F74 |
ASSISTANT AUDITOR ENVIRONMENT |
|
HEO |
Q91 |
ASSISTANT AUDITOR ENVIRONMENT - PPC |
|
HEO |
X50 |
ASSISTANT AUDITOR ENVIRONMENT HIGHER - PPC |
|
HEO |
F69 |
HIGHER EXECUTIVE OFFICER HIGHER SCALE |
|
HEO |
Q86 |
HIGHER EXECUTIVE OFFICER HIGHER SCALE - PPC |
|
HEO |
F60 |
HIGHER EXECUTIVE OFFICER STANDARD SCALE |
|
HEO |
Q78 |
HIGHER EXECUTIVE OFFICER STANDARD SCALE - PPC |
|
HEO |
F95 |
SENIOR METEOROLOGICAL OFFICER HIGHER SCALE |
|
HEO |
R06 |
SENIOR METEOROLOGICAL OFFICER HIGHER SCL - PPC |
|
HEO |
F94 |
SENIOR METEOROLOGICAL OFFICER STANDARD SCALE |
|
HEO |
R05 |
SENIOR METEOROLOGICAL OFFICER STANDARD SCALE - PPC |
|
EO |
R98 |
EXECUTIVE OFFICER HIGHER SCALE - PPC |
|
EO |
I56 |
CONSERVATION RANGER |
|
EO |
V19 |
CONSERVATION RANGER - PPC |
|
EO |
H22 |
EXECUTIVE OFFICER - HTO |
|
EO |
H45 |
EXECUTIVE OFFICER HIGHER SCALE |
|
EO |
H41 |
EXECUTIVE OFFICER STANDARD SCALE |
|
EO |
R94 |
EXECUTIVE OFFICER STANDARD SCALE - PPC |
|
EO |
H63 |
METEOROLOGICAL OFFICER HIGHER SCALE |
|
EO |
S13 |
METEOROLOGICAL OFFICER HIGHER SCALE - PPC |
|
EO |
H62 |
METEOROLOGICAL OFFICER STANDARD SCALE |
|
EO |
S12 |
METEOROLOGICAL OFFICER STANDARD SCALE - PPC |
|
CO |
BH0 |
CIVILIAN DRIVER - PPC |
|
CO |
T26 |
CLERICAL OFF TEMPORARY - PPC |
|
CO |
J49 |
CLERICAL OFFICER |
|
CO |
AP9 |
CLERICAL OFFICER - FORMER HSE |
|
CO |
T14 |
CLERICAL OFFICER - PPC |
|
CO |
J51 |
CLERICAL OFFICER HIGHER SCALE |
|
CO |
T16 |
CLERICAL OFFICER HIGHER SCALE - PPC |
|
CO |
T15 |
CLERICAL OFFICER NEW ENTRANT - PPC |
|
CO |
T77 |
VISUALLY IMPAIRED TELEPHONIST - PPC |
|
SVO |
U36 |
CLEANER - PPC |
|
SVO |
K31 |
HEAD SERVICES OFFICER |
|
SVO |
L73 |
CLEANER |
|
SVO |
L19 |
SERVICES ATTENDANT |
|
SVO |
U10 |
SERVICES ATTENDANT - PPC |
|
SVO |
L07 |
SERVICES OFFICER |
|
SVO |
U04 |
SERVICES OFFICER - PPC |
|
IND |
CB1 |
GENERAL OPERATIVE GRADE 1 (RURAL) |
|
IND |
BT1 |
GENERAL OPERATIVE GRADE 3 (RURAL) - PPC |
|
IND |
CD1 |
GUIDE SUPERVISOR |
|
IND |
CC6 |
CRAFT CHARGEHAND |
|
IND |
CA3 |
CRAFT FOREPERSON |
|
IND |
CC0 |
CRAFT WORKER |
|
IND |
BR7 |
CRAFT WORKER - PPC |
|
IND |
CB7 |
FOREPERSON GRADE 1 |
|
IND |
CB9 |
FOREPERSON GRADE 3 |
|
IND |
CB2 |
GENERAL OPERATIVE GRADE 2 (RURAL) |
|
IND |
BT0 |
GENERAL OPERATIVE GRADE 2 (RURAL) - PPC |
|
IND |
CB3 |
GENERAL OPERATIVE GRADE 3 (RURAL) |
|
IND |
CD2 |
GUIDE |
|
IND |
BU0 |
GUIDE - PPC |
|
IND |
BU1 |
GUIDE SUPERVISOR - PPC |
|
IND |
CC3 |
STOREKEEPER CLERK GRADE 1 |
|
IND |
CC2 |
STOREKEEPER CLERK IN CHARGE |
|
IND |
CC1 |
STORES/OFFICE SUPERVISOR |
245. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority home loan scheme applications that were received from Westmeath County Council for 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and the number that were granted in the same period. [12490/22]
View answer246. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority home loan scheme applications that were received from Longford County Council for 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and the number that were granted in the same period. [12491/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 246 together.
The Local Authority Home Loan has only been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022. Prior to that, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan was the mortgage available from local authorities. As of 4 January 2022, no new Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan applications will be accepted, although applications/approvals already in process will be honoured. Therefore, information on both loan schemes is set out below.
The Housing Agency provides a central support service that assesses applications for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, and its successor the Local Authority Home Loan scheme, on behalf of local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities to approve or refuse applications. Data are collected separately for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan and the Local Authority Home Loan schemes.
Each local authority must have in place a credit committee and it is a matter for the committee to make the decision on applications for loans, in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the Credit Policy that under pins the scheme, having regard to the recommendations made by the Housing Agency.
The most recent figures provided by the Agency on the number of Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan and Local Authority Home Loan applications that it has underwritten for Longford County Council and Westmeath County Council, from 2020 up to the end of February 2022 are set out in the below tables:
Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan
|
- |
|||
|
Year |
Local Authority |
Applications Underwritten |
Applications Recommended for Approval |
|
2020 |
Westmeath |
14 |
9 |
|
2020 |
Longford |
31 |
16 |
|
2021 |
Westmeath |
40 |
25 |
|
2021 |
Longford |
47 |
22 |
|
2022 (to 28/02/2022) |
Westmeath |
3 |
2 |
|
2022 (to 28/02/2022) |
Longford |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Local Authority Home Loan |
|
|
|
|
Year |
Local Authority |
Applications Underwritten |
Applications Recommended for Approval |
|
2022 (to 28/02/2022) |
Westmeath |
2 |
2 |
|
2022 (to 28/02/2022) |
Longford |
4 |
2 |
My Department regularly publishes information on the number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns. Local authority approval means that an official letter of offer has been sent to a borrower (and therefore relates to a specific property and loan amount).
Local Authority drawdowns, approvals, average drawdowns, and average approvals to Q2 2021 is available at the following link, which will be updated, as updated figures are available: www.gov.ie/en/collection/42d2f-local-authority-loan-activity/#local-authority-loans-approvedpaid.
247. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 297 of 25 January 2022, when all vacant homes officers will be full-time officers; the details of any additional funding beyond the current allocation of €50,000 per annum that will be provided to local authorities to enable them to expand existing part-time vacant homes officer roles into full-time roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12493/22]
View answerIn 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.
The provision of central funding reinforces the capacity of local authorities, including through the important role of vacant homes officers, to ensure a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction with a view to increasing the opportunities for residential development.
248. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to a situation in Ratoath, County Meath in which a large supply of houses cannot be released into the housing market due to a shortage in water supply; if this is an issue being experienced in other counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12497/22]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for Irish Water, and is approved through its own internal governance structures.
However, in general Irish Water is delivering a good service in connecting housing developments. For example, in 2021, Irish Water issued 4,515 connection offers associated with 32,404 housing units. There were only 170 connection refusals associated with 271 housing units that did not meet the criteria for approval.
The issue mentioned in the question has not been raised with my Department. However, I will ask my officials to forward the question to Irish Water for direct reply to the Deputy.
249. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of days in each of the past five years for which boil water notices were in place in Navan, Trim, Kells, Ratoath, Ashbourne, Enfield, Kilcock, Dunboyne, Laytown and Bettystown, County Meath in tabular form [12498/22]
View answer250. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of days in each of the past five years for which hose pipe bans and garden watering bans were in place in Navan, Trim, Kells, Ratoath, Ashbourne, Enfield, Kilcock, Dunboyne, Laytown and Bettystown, County Meath in tabular form [12499/22]
View answer251. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of days in each of the past five years for which water was unavailable in Navan, Trim, Kells, Ratoath, Ashbourne, Enfield, Kilcock, Dunboyne, Laytown and Bettystown, County Meath in tabular form. [12500/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 249 to 251, inclusive, together.
Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level, including investment in wastewater treatment plants and returning wastewater safely to the environment in an efficient and sustainable manner. My Department has no operational function in this matter.
Furthermore, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as environmental regulator, is responsible for setting quality standards and enforcing compliance with EU Directives and national regulations for the provision of drinking water.
As a result, my Department does not compile the information requested. However, it may be helpful to note that Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 0818-578578.
252. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the Croí Conaithe scheme will be open to applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12539/22]
View answerThe Government’s “Housing for All, a new Housing Plan for Ireland”, launched in September
2022, 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. The fund will be managed by the Housing Agency on behalf of my Department. My Department is working with the Housing Agency in finalising the operational basis for the new fund and expect to engage prospective proposers in a call for proposals in the near future.
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.
The approach to the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund is currently under consideration and it is expected that a call for proposals will issue to local authorities later this quarter.
253. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the publication date of the report by the Independent Working Group on Defective Homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12542/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area addressing building defects. It commits to an examination of defects in housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing’s report, "Safe as Houses ?". Housing for All, the Government’s national plan on housing to 2030, reiterates this commitment.
In this regard, I established a working group to examine defects in housing. This working group has been meeting monthly since March 2021 (except for August). In addition, regular subgroup meetings take place to advance elements of the work.
The group’s terms of reference, adopted in May 2021, are focused on fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013. The full terms of reference of the Working Group are to:
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.
1. Establish the scale of the issue – estimate number of dwellings affected by the defects identified including those already remediated.
2. Consider a methodology for the categorisation of defects and the prioritisation of remedial action.
- 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.
1. 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.Evaluate the potential cost of technical remediation options.
1. 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.
2. 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 first round of stakeholder consultation commenced in July 2021 with more detailed follow up and additional stakeholder consultations ongoing at present. A series of online surveys was also launched by the Working Group on 31 January seeking the experiences of homeowners, landlords, Directors of Owners’ Management Companies and Property Management Agents. The surveys will run until 14 March 2022 and can be accessed at the following link - www.gov.ie/en/consultation/7e319-online-survey-in-relation-to-defects-in-apartment-and-duplex-buildings/.
The engagement with stakeholders and the online consultation will inform the deliberations of the Working Group and support the delivery on its extensive terms of reference and finalisation of its report.
I am satisfied that the Working Group is working effectively and efficiently on this complex matter, and will require sufficient time to complete its work. In that context, I look forward to a report later this year following completion of their consultations and deliberations. Once I receive the report I will give full consideration to its contents.
254. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of preferences expressed by applicants for social housing in Fingal, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12543/22]
View answerThe information requested is not available in my Department.
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).
In line with the Regulations, applicant households are assessed for eligibility in the first instance. Then, if deemed eligible, their housing need and accommodation requirements are assessed.
Decisions on the most appropriate form of housing support, and the allocation of that support, are a matter solely for the local authority concerned.
255. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when HAP payment limits were last reviewed by Fingal County Council; if there is a plan to review them again in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12544/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to ensuring that Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) levels are adequate to support vulnerable households, while we increase the supply of social housing. Maximum rent limits for HAP were set for each housing authority area in 2016, in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection (DSP). In reviewing the rent limits, my Department worked closely with DSP and monitored data gathered from the Residential Tenancies Board and the HAP Shared Services Centre.
Local authorities also have the flexibility to agree to a HAP payment of up to 20% above the maximum rent limit, because of local rental market conditions and up to 50% in the Dublin region for those households either in, or at immediate risk of, homelessness.
Under Housing for All, my Department was tasked with undertaking an analytical exercise to examine whether an increase in the level of discretion available to Local Authorities under HAP is required, in order to maintain adequate levels of HAP support.
The Housing Agency undertook to carry out this analytical exercise on behalf of my Department. The review was submitted on 20 December 2021. It is undergoing analysis by my Department and I expect to receive recommendations following that analysis.
256. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the affordable housing scheme, the first home scheme will be rolled out in Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12548/22]
View answerThe Affordable Housing Act 2021, the provisions of which I commenced in August and September 2021, laid the foundation for the introduction of two new affordable purchase schemes: the first to be delivered via Local Authorities and the Land Development Agency, and the second a national 'First Home' shared equity scheme supporting purchases in the private market.
Part 2 of the Affordable Housing Act underpins the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, under which Local Authorities will make homes available to eligible buyers using an equity share model. Regulations to set out the detailed criteria for eligibility and the processes for purchase are at an advanced stage and will be issued in the coming weeks.
Limerick City and County Council delivered its Housing Delivery Action Plan to me in December 2021, which allowed it to assess the level of need for affordable housing in the Local Authority area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment tool. This will allow the Council to plan provision accordingly.
Funding for a number of affordable schemes in Limerick was approved in principle in 2019 under the Serviced Sites Fund, to assist in the delivery of approximately 500 affordable purchase and cost rental homes, with these projects currently at planning and design stages. My Department is working closely with Limerick City and County Council to progress these schemes.
Part 4 of the Affordable Housing Act provides the basis for the First Home Scheme, which will be available nationwide. The scheme will support first-time buyers on moderate incomes in purchasing new-build homes by means of an equity share model, similar to that used in the Local Authority Affordable Purchase scheme. First Home will be subject to regional price ceilings reflective of the median prices paid by first-time buyers for new-build homes, so it is an intervention to assist buyers in the lower portion of the home price distribution. The scheme will be targeted at those who have insufficient funds to purchase one of these homes using the mortgage and deposit available to them, and will use equity support to ‘bridge the gap’.
Budget 2022 allocated €44 million to my Department for First Home. The banking sector has confirmed it is committed to working with the State to develop and deliver this scheme, and has agreed in principle to match this State funding in order to increase the pool of funding available to potential new homeowners. Subject to the necessary approvals by all parties, it is anticipated that the First Home scheme will operate for the period 2022 to 2025, utilising overall funding of c. €400m to provide support to c. 8,000 households to purchase new homes.
The scheme will be operated via the First Home Scheme Ireland Designated Activity Company, which has recently been incorporated. Significant work is continuing on the detailed design and parameters of the scheme, and full details including scheme conditionality will be confirmed upon completion of this work. It is anticipated that initial activity, including public communications, will be conducted early in May of this year, in advance of the first receipt of applications and deployment of equity support, which is scheduled for the end of Q2.
Separately, under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF), funding was awarded for a new distributor road and associated infrastructure in Mungret, County Limerick. The original LIHAF housing commitment was estimated at 399 units, to include 60 social, 60 affordable and 179 cost reduced homes with a discount of approximately €9,000. To end 2021, Limerick City and County Council have confirmed that 152 homes have been completed, which includes 81 social and 71 cost reduced homes. The Council has recently indicated that 51 homes will complete in 2022, to include 23 social and 28 cost reduced, and a further 109 homes in 2024, to include 55 social and 54 affordable homes. Final housing numbers and timeline of completion will be available as the project progresses.
257. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding provided to local authorities regarding hedgerow surveys to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12569/22]
View answerHedgerows are an integral part of landscapes in Ireland and play a key role in habitat connectivity as well as being important habitats in their own right. They support a variety of invertebrate, bird and mammal species, and are refuges for biodiversity in landscapes dominated by intensive agriculture.
Teagasc has undertaken hedgerow mapping on a national scale, and while no comprehensive national survey has been carried out to date, a number of Local Authorities have commissioned hedgerow surveys at county level.
My Department does not provide funding specifically for local authority hedgerow surveys but supports Local Authorities through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund, which provides funding for projects that contribute to the implementation of the National Biodiversity Action Plan.
258. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total length of hedgerows in the State, in kilometres and hectares by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12570/22]
View answerMy Department does not have overall responsibility for hedgerow surveys. Teagasc, however, has undertaken hedgerow mapping on a national scale, and while no comprehensive national survey has been carried out to date, a number of Local Authorities have commissioned hedgerow surveys at county level.
According to the Teagasc website, in 2020, there were an estimated 689,000 kms of hedgerow in the country using a very broad definition of hedgerow, which includes all woody vegetation growing on a boundary from stockproof hedgerows to relict hedgerows. Hedgerow length varies across the country. Counties around the midlands and the border tend to have the highest density of hedgerows with smaller fields. Cavan has the highest length of hedgerows per hectare. Counties on the western seaboard have the lowest percentage because they have areas of open upland that aren't enclosed. Also, counties like Donegal and Galway have a lot of stonewalls rather than hedgerows.
Further information on the work of Teagasc in this area can be accessed on the following link: www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/environment/mapping-irish-hedgerows.php.
259. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the delivery of affordable housing in Cork city and county; and the expected allocation date of current developments by site name and number of units in tabular form. [12610/22]
View answerThe Housing for All Strategy delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system, with an ambitious target of 300,000 homes over the next decade for social, affordable and cost rental, private rental and private ownership housing. 54,000 affordable home interventions will be delivered between now and 2030 to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
Delivery of affordable housing, in accordance with the schemes set out in the Affordable Housing Act, 2021 and the funding being made available, will be underpinned by local authorities' Housing Delivery Action Plans. Local authorities, including both Cork City Council and Cork County Council, submitted their Plans to me in December 2021. The Plans allow each local authority to assess the level of demand with affordability constraint in their area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment and plan provision accordingly. The Plans are being revised and updated by local authorities in the light of ongoing engagement and clarifications and I expect that they will be ready for publication by local authorities before the summer. They will provide a comprehensive overview of projected delivery of affordable housing in Cork.
Funding is made available by Government to assist local authority and Approved Housing Body delivery of affordable housing, for purchase and rent, through the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF), previously known as the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF), and the Cost Rental Equity Loan. The SSF supported affordable housing development at Boherboy Road will be made available for affordable purchase shortly and a number of AHF and Cost RentaL Equality Loan applications for developments in Cork are at various stages of funding application and approval.
In terms of delivery of affordable housing in Cork by the LDA, I am happy to inform the Deputy that the development of a site at St Kevin's Hospital is currently being progressed. This 14.5 acre site is expected to deliver 119 affordable purchase and 119 Cost Rental homes. The LDA have advised my Department that enabling works will commence shortly and that the first homes are expected to be available in 2023.
