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Thursday, 31 Mar 2022

Written Answers Nos. 241-251

Transport Policy

Questions (241)

Holly Cairns

Question:

241. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps she is taking to encourage active travel modes to and from work in her Department, as well as in public bodies and agencies that operate under her remit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17386/22]

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Written answers

My Department continues to support and facilitate the operation of the Cycle to Work Scheme which encourages cycling to work by the provision of tax exemptions and the facilitation of salary deduction for the purchase of bicycles.

In addition, my Department actively promotes and encourages employees to engage with health and well-being initiatives including those that support physical activity.

State Agencies, under the remit of my Department, are also in a position to facilitate the Cycle to Work Scheme. However, any individual initiatives are an operational matter for the Agencies themselves.

Environmental Investigations

Questions (242)

Richard Bruton

Question:

242. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is considering providing environmental health officers with additional powers in order that they could more effectively address environmental hazards created by blockages on combined household drains, which can only be resolved if all those households served by the blocked drain share in the effort to resolve the issues. [17126/22]

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Written answers

I have no role in determining the function of the Environment Health Service of the Health Services Executive which would fall to the Minister for Health who has overall policy responsibility for public heath matters generally. I understand that the Environmental Health Service undertakes certain functions on behalf of local authorities on an agency basis, but that is a matter between the environmental health service and the local authorities concerned.

It is worth noting that section 70 of the Water Services Act 2007 places a general duty of care on the owner or occupier of a premises to ensure that wastewater from the premises does not cause nuisance or risk to human health or the environment. Subsection (2) of section 70 requires the owner of a premises to keep all drains, manholes, gullytraps and storage and treatment systems (which are not in the charge of a water services authority) serving the premises in such condition as not to cause a risk to human health or the environment or a nuisance through odours. A water services authority or any person affected by a failure of a third party may complain to the District Court in relation to a breach of the duty of care under section 70 once they have notified the third party in advance of their intention to make such a complaint. A prescribed form of notice of such complaint is available for general use under S.I. No. 141 of 2009.

Housing Policy

Questions (243)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

243. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider broadening the qualifying criteria for persons who live in local authority houses and wish to purchase those houses in respect of the tenant purchase scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17131/22]

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Written answers

The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme.

The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 provides that the Minister may set out a minimum income required for tenants to qualify under the scheme. The minimum income requirement has a dual purpose - it ensures the scheme is sustainable and that the tenant purchasing the house has the financial means to maintain and insure the property for the duration of the charged period.

When determining the minimum reckonable income, local authorities can include income from a number of different sources and classes, such as from employment; private pensions; the contributory and non-contributory State pension; maintenance payments and certain social welfare payments, including pensions where these are secondary to employment income.

In line with commitments in Housing for All, I recently introduced changes to the scheme. These included inter alia revising the minimum income criteria for applicants from €15,000 to €12,500, thereby allowing older tenants in particular (whose only income might be the contributory or non-contributory State pension) to buy their homes if they have the means.

Further changes to the scheme are being examined as part of the work on the broader social housing reform agenda.

Property Registration

Questions (244)

Neale Richmond

Question:

244. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to issues regarding the Property Registration Authority, PRA, and delays in receiving information; if he has taken steps to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17143/22]

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Written answers

The Property Registration Authority (PRA) continued to maintain a high level of service to support a robust property market throughout the period of Covid-19 restrictions. In 2021, overall completions of applications had recovered to 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. Notwithstanding this level of activity, there has been an increase in the length of some completion times and an increase in arrears, due, in the main, to Covid-19 restrictions.

In terms of business continuity planning, and in anticipation of accumulating arrears, in 2021, a request for a planned increase in the pay-bill subhead of the PRA’s Vote was granted in the Revised Estimates for 2022. As part of its strategic workforce planning, the PRA has been engaging on a continuing basis with the Public Appointments Service to prioritise its requests for the recruitment of staff.

A new Arrears Clearance Programme has already been set in train by the PRA Management Board, and cross organisational multi-disciplinary teams have been established to focus on the elimination of arrears. This programme, underpinned by project management discipline, envisages a structured approach to implementation, with an emphasis on data analysis, innovation and business process improvement. The PRA intends to communicate this intent, and ongoing progress achieved, to both its internal and external stakeholders. One aim of the programme is to achieve the guaranteed casework turnaround times that existed pre-Covid in the PRA’s Customer Charter.

Finally, the PRA is always willing to act on requests from lodging parties to expedite an application pending in the Land Registry, and every effort is made to expedite cases where valid grounds for urgency exist, such as a pending sale or financial hardship.

Housing Policy

Questions (245)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

245. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) who has been disqualified from social housing due to maintenance payments bringing them over the income threshold; the alternative supports or pathways that are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17179/22]

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Written answers

Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations.

The Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The Policy defines net income as gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Additional Superannuation Contribution. It also provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities have discretion to disregard temporary, short-term or once-off income. However, with limited exceptions, income from social insurance and social assistance payments, allowances and benefits, maintenance payments and occupational and social welfare pensions (from whatever source, including from abroad) is assessable.

Rent Supplement is available for people living in private rented accommodation who cannot provide for the cost of their accommodation from their own resources. If there has been a recent change in a household’s circumstance and the household requires short-term support with their rent, they may apply for rent supplement.

Planning Issues

Questions (246)

Marian Harkin

Question:

246. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will publish the Mulcahy report without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17189/22]

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Written answers

I am considering the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course.

With regard to the question of the publication of the Mulcahy Report, the decisions of the Commissioner for Environmental Information (CEI/18/0019) of 13 February 2019 and the Information Commissioner (OIC-59426-Q8D7T8) of 27 February 2020 in relation to requests to publish this report will also be taken into account. Both decisions are publicly available on those bodies' websites.

It should be noted that in each of these cases, both the Commissioner for Environmental Information and the Information Commissioner decided not to grant access to the report. The Office of the Information Commissioner decision stated "placing the details concerned in the public domain would significantly breach the rights to privacy of identifiable individuals." Therefore, this is a matter that requires careful consideration given that the report details unproven allegations against named individuals.

Housing Schemes

Questions (247)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

247. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when amended guidelines in respect of the tenant purchase scheme will be available; the reason for the delay in the issuing of these guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17201/22]

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Written answers

The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme was reviewed in 2021 in line with Programme for Government and Housing for All commitments.

The amendments, which came into effect on 1st February 2022, include a reduction in the minimum reckonable income required to be eligible under the scheme from €15,000 to €12,500. The time an applicant is required to be in receipt of social housing supports to be able to apply under the scheme has also been revised. This has been increased from one to ten years.

While local authorities have already been formally advised of these changes, my Department will issue revised guidelines shortly.

Local Authorities

Questions (248, 249)

John Brady

Question:

248. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding allocated and drawn down by Wicklow County Council for re-let works on council properties for each of the years from 2018 to date, in tabular form. [17219/22]

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John Brady

Question:

249. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the funding deficit for 2022 in relation to local authority property re-let works in County Wicklow; if his Department is planning to provide increased funding to Wicklow County Council to deal with this shortfall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17220/22]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 249 together.

The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.

Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 2019. Local authority officials and elected members have a very important role to play in this regard by making adequate budgetary provision for housing repairs and cyclical maintenance utilising the significant housing rental income available to them as part of the annual budgetary process.

Notwithstanding the legal obligations on local authorities to manage and maintain their housing stock, my Department does provide annual funding to local authorities to support their work in this area through the Voids Programme. This funding was introduced originally to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted to support authority's to ensure minimal turnaround and re-let times for vacant stock.

From 2014 to 2021, expenditure of some €261 million was recouped to local authorities under the Voids Programme which funded the return to productive use of 18,527 properties nationwide.

There has been extensive funding provided particularly over the last two years under the Voids programme which not only catered for standard re-lets but also for vacant properties requiring more extensive works prior to re-let. It is up to each local authority to submit a programme of works based on their individual allocation or targets.

Over the period 2018 to 2021, 240 properties were remediated in Wicklow under the Voids Programme funded by my Department. The table below provides the breakdown of the funding allocated and drawn down by Wicklow County Council by year. This figure does not include properties returned to productive use by the local authority using funding from their own resources.

-

Funding

Allocated 2018

Funding Drawndown

2018

Funding Allocated 2019

Funding Drawndown

2019

Funding Allocated 2020

Funding Drawndown

2020

Funding Allocated 2021

Funding Drawndown

2021

Funding Allocated 2018 - 2021

Funding Drawndown

2018 - 2021

Wicklow

-

€452,145

€494,600

€235,309

€1,310,481

€1,179,514

€1,672,000

€1,411,536

€3,477,081

€3,278,504

In 2018 local authorities were advised of a target number of units under the Voids programme and Wicklow's target that year was 36 units. Funding would be recouped to local authorities on the LAs target number of units provided the costs did not breach the maximum cap of €30,000 and the line item limits set that year, this figure includes Energy Efficiency Works. Wicklow County Council returned 24 units at a total cost of €452,145.

Full details in relation to output up to and including the 2021 programme is available on the link below.

www.gov.ie/en/collection/0906a-other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/#voids-programme

My Department will continue to support local authorities in their work in this area this year and allocations for the Voids Programme in 2022 will issue to Wicklow County Council presently. However, as result of the significant investment from my Department in the Voids Programme, local authorities should also now be in a strong position to begin the transition to a strategic and informed planned maintenance approach to stock management and maintenance.

To that end my Department and local authorities are working to transition from a largely response and voids based approach to housing stock management and maintenance to a planned maintenance approach. This will require the completion of stock condition surveys by all local authorities and the subsequent development of strategic and informed work programmes in response. My Department will support these work programmes by ensuring that the funding available under the various stock improvement programmes are aligned with this approach.

Question No. 249 answered with Question No. 248.

Housing Schemes

Questions (250)

Colm Burke

Question:

250. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the first home shared equity scheme; when it is likely to be introduced and applications permitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17231/22]

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Written answers

Part 4 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 provides the basis for the First Home Scheme, which will be available nationwide. This scheme will support eligible first-time buyers to buy a new-build home in private developments by means of an equity share model, similar to that employed in the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme.

First Home will operate for the period 2022 to 2025 and deploy overall funding of c. €400 million, jointly funded on a 50:50 by the State and participating mortgage lenders, in order to support c. 8,000 purchases of new homes. A new First Home Designated Activity Company, incorporated in December, will operate this scheme.

Significant work is continuing on the detailed design and parameters of the scheme, and full details will be confirmed upon completion of this work. It is anticipated that intended activity on key areas of work, including public communications, will be undertaken over the coming months in advance of First Home’s first receipt of applications and deployment of equity support, anticipated from the end of Q2 this year.

Housing Policy

Questions (251)

Colm Burke

Question:

251. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports that are available to people to buy second-hand homes; if further measures will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17232/22]

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Written answers

The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. It is the successor to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan.

As part of the eligibility criteria applicant(s) of the Local Authority Home Loan must have received insufficient offers of finance from two regulated financial providers to apply for a Local Authority Home Loan. The loan enables credit worthy first time buyers and fresh start applicants to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties or to self-build in a suitable price range.

To be eligible for a Local Authority Home Loan you must:

- be a first-time buyer;

- be aged between 18 and 70 years;

- be in continuous employment for a minimum of two years, as the primary earner or be in continuous employment for a minimum of one year, as a secondary earner

- as a single applicant have an annual gross income of not more than €65,000 in counties Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow and be earning under €50,000 in all other counties;

- as joint applicants have an annual gross income of not more than €75,000 combined in all counties;

- not be a current or previous owner of residential property in or outside the Republic of Ireland, unless you are a “Fresh Start” applicant;

- purchase or self-build a property situated in the Republic of Ireland;

- purchase or self-build a property which does not exceed the maximum market value applicable for the county in which it is located. The maximum house price is €320,000 in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare Louth, Meath and Wicklow, and €250,000 in the rest of the country.

The final decision on Local Authority Home Loan applications is a matter for the relevant local authority. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches in the best interests of both borrowers and the lending local authority.

Further information on the scheme is available on the dedicated website, localauthorityhomeloan.ie/

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