Written Answers Nos. 667-693
667. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review correspondence from (details supplied); if he will address the concerns raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20560/22]
View answerConstruction work was significantly impacted, with both delays and site closures throughout 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and associated restrictions. Therefore, on 9 September 2021, section 7 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2021 was commenced to allow for applications, subject to certain conditions, for further extensions of duration of planning permission of 2 years or until 31 December 2023, which ever first occurs, under a new section 42(1B) of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
This further extension period takes into account the restrictions on construction and disruptions in logistics, supply chains, and the availability of personnel when restarting construction work after the closure of building sites during 2021.
668. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the method of calculation of the rental charge on 50 two-bedroom cost rental apartments delivered under the Housing for Aall scheme at the recently tenanted development (details supplied) in County Dublin. [20598/22]
View answerThe project referred to in the Question was developed by the Respond and Tuath Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) on land provided by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCC), with €4.5 million of funding provided through the Serviced Sites Fund, the precursor to the Affordable Housing Fund. This project is the result of an innovative collaboration between the two AHBs and DLRCC and includes 105 social housing homes at the same location.
The 50 purpose-built Cost Rental apartments have been allocated and the selected tenants began moving into their new homes from the 14th of March 2022. The cost-covering rent for these two-bedroom apartments is €1,200 per month, which represents a significant discount of approximately 40% on market prices in the area (c. €2,000).
The Affordable Housing Act 2021 (Cost Rental Designation) Regulations 2021, which came into effect on 19 August 2021, govern the process by which the owners of properties may obtain the designation of these as Cost Rental dwellings. This applies to any private or public body, including a Local Authority, AHBs, or the Land Development Agency. This designation is operated on an opt-in basis, but obtaining a designation is treated as a pre-requisite condition for Cost Rental properties that utilise funding from Departmental schemes, such as the Affordable Housing Fund and the Cost Rental Equity Loan.
As per the regulations, the applicant must propose an “initial maximum rent” for the dwelling. This is a year-one starting rent for that specific property, based on a financial cash-flow, which must be modelled over a stated period of at least 40 years (the “cost calculation period”). The applicant must also propose a minimum length of time over which the designation will apply (the “minimum cost rental period”), which must be at least as long as the cost calculation period.
Having regard to these regulations, my Department reviewed the two applications from each AHB for the Cost Rental Designation of their portion (25 homes each) at the development, based on this initial maximum rent of €1,200 per two-bedroom home. The Housing Agency completed a financial assessment for these applications on behalf of my Department, using the information provided by the Respond and Tuath AHBs and found both applications to be in accordance with said regulations, including that the rents proposed were accurate reflections of the costs incurred. Subsequent to this, I formally designated these homes as Cost Rental on 11th March 2022, for a period of 70 years, in line with the legislation and regulations.
669. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 262 of 3 March 2022, if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the different inputs and materials used to reach a cost of €2,457 per hectare to remove rhododendron; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20634/22]
View answerThe figure of €2,457 is based on an open tendering process, using a framework established on the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) website. Any successful tenderer would take into account such factors as; cost of materials (chainsaw, chainsaw oil, petrol, chains/bars), the relevant industrial wage, travel costs, distance of the plot from the road. It is the market that dictates these prices, and my Department is not in control of setting a market price. Contracts are awarded on criteria set out in the original request for tender. The figure given is a direct division of the overall amount tendered and divided by the hectares involved, and each site is unique in terms of the age of the rhododendron, density, durability and access.
670. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff within his Department who availed of a secondment from January 2019 to date on the basis that it was not the intention of the staff member to return to his or her position within the Department. [20645/22]
View answerSeven staff are currently seconded from my Department to other organisations. To the best of my knowledge none of these staff took up these seconded roles on the basis that it was not their intention to return to their position within the Department.
While different conditions can apply to individual secondments, depending on their particular circumstances, my Department is guided by the advice issued to all Government Departments by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to secondments, which is available at the following link - hr.per.gov.ie/en/corporate-pages/career/mobility/secondment/.
671. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has estimated the number of persons who continue to cut turf on bogs for domestic heating or the number of individual private holdings on bogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20666/22]
View answerI am advised that my Department has not estimated the number of persons who continue to cut turf on bogs for domestic heating or the number of individual private holdings on bogs. I would note however that there are many non designated bogs and these are outside the ambit of the designated sites overseen by my Department.
My Department administers the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, which was established in 2011, applicable to those who had been cutting turf on 53 raised bog special areas of conservation encompassed by the scheme. The scheme was extended in 2014 to include those who had been cutting turf on 36 raised bog natural heritage areas. This scheme is comprised of a payment of €1,500 per annum, index-linked, for 15 years, or relocation, where feasible, to a non-designated bog, together with a payment of €500 on the signing of a legal agreement under the scheme.
There are in the region of 2,300 qualifying applicants presently in the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme.
672. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he anticipates additional resources will be allocated to his Department to address the backlog of foreshore licence applications; the length of time before the backlog is cleared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20709/22]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 267 of 7 April 2022 which set out the approach to processing foreshore licence applications for site investigations linked to the proposed development of offshore renewable energy projects and the work currently underway to establish a new consenting regime in the maritime area under the Maritime Area Planning (MAP) Act 2021.
The foreshore section of my Department is continuing to make progress on many foreshore consent applications related to strategically important projects and developments, such as telecommunications and interconnector cables, port development, water infrastructure and local authority infrastructure and works. Several foreshore licence applications for site investigation activities linked to "relevant projects" or Phase 1 offshore renewable energy projects, which qualify to make an application to the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications for a Maritime Area Consent as part of the transition provisions in the MAP Act 2021 are also expected to be concluded in the next few weeks. Details of these applications and determinations can be viewed on my Department's website www.housing.gov.ie
My Department continues to engage with an existing external panel of technical advisors and is harnessing ecological expertise available across the wider Department to ensure that foreshore consent applications can be progressed and assessed robustly in accordance with the requirements. Foreshore consent applications will continue to be progressed in accordance with an established prioritisation framework and national policy. I will continue to keep the situation under review.
673. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a person (details supplied) will receive a payment under the turf cutting compensation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20721/22]
View answerAn application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme referred to in the Question was received by my Department. With respect to the 53 raised bog special areas of conservation sites encompassed by the scheme, the qualifying criteria for the scheme are that:
- The applicant must have had a legal interest (ownership or a turbary right (right to cut turf)) in one of these sites on 25 May 2010 and must have had the right to cut and remove turf from the property on that date;
- The applicant must have been cutting turf on the land in question during the relevant five year period (up to 25 May 2010 in respect of the 29 raised bog special areas of conservation nominated for designation between 1997 and 1999, up to 31 December 2011 in respect of the 24 raised bog special areas of conservation nominated for designation in 2002);
- The turf resource on the site has not been exhausted; and
- No turf cutting or associated activity is ongoing on the property.
I am advised that my Department continues to check all the qualifying criteria of the scheme have been met and that officials from my Department have made contact with the applicant with a view to further processing the application.
675. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to bring forward amendments to the legislation that underpins the appointment of members to An Bord Pleanála to ensure that all future appointments to the board are made via the public appointments process. [20749/22]
View answerThe appointment of Board members to An Bord Pleanála is governed by section 106 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), and Part 7 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. It provides that appointments to the Board by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government are generally made from candidates nominated by panels of prescribed bodies.
Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland sets out a number of objectives with the aim of improving the functioning of the planning system including the comprehensive review and consolidation of planning legislation. This review is being led by the Attorney General and he has established a working group of professionals with planning law expertise to assist him in this work. All provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, including those relating to An Bord Pleanála, will be examined in the context of this review, which is due to be finalised by September 2022 to allow updated legislation to be enacted by December 2022.
676. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has set up a standard process across local authorities for the provision of services to refugees from Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20764/22]
View answerOn 31 March 2022, my colleague, Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development, and I wrote to the chief executives of the local authorities welcoming the establishment of Community Response Forums in every local authority area to coordinate the community-led response in the provision of assistance and support to those arriving into our communities having fled the conflict in Ukraine.
Building on structures and relationships which were highly effective during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Community Response Forums will enable all those involved to work together, under the stewardship of the local authority. The purpose of the forums will be to ensure effective communication and information sharing in the coordination of local community and voluntary actions providing community supports to the new Ukrainian communities.
To assist in the process, a Community Response Forum Framework, prepared by our Departments with the local government sector was developed. The Framework is a national template for arrangements to be in place in each area to enable all involved at a local level to work together to support the integration of Ukrainian refugees to our communities. The Community Response Forums are meeting regularly and are doing so in a very positive and collaborative environment.
Information about the Community Response Forums can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/d7cf1-how-people-can-help/
In recognition of the growing numbers involved and the complexity of managing such a quickly changing situation, on 22nd April, I wrote again to Chief Executives of all local authorities to request that a Director of Service level staff member be assigned fulltime, supported by a small team, to coordinate the provision of services and supports locally.
677. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that the self-help grant scheme has been discontinued by Kildare County Council for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20775/22]
View answerThe Self Help Grant Scheme was an initiative introduced by Kildare County Council to assist local authority tenants to carry out minor improvement works on their home. My Department did not have any role in the design, funding or oversight of this grant scheme. Queries in relation to the scheme should be directed to Kildare County Council.
The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, responsive repairs and implementing planned maintenance programmes, is a matter for each individual local authority, under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966
Notwithstanding the legal obligation on local authorities to manage and maintain their own stock, my Department does provide annual funding support to local authorities for management and maintenance under a number of stock improvement programmes.
Under the Voids Programme, my Department has supported local authorities in refurbishing vacant social homes and returning them to productive use. This funding programme was introduced in 2014 and has to the end of 2021 returned 18,527 properties to use with funding of almost €261 million from my Department.
Under the Energy Efficiency Programme, my Department funds the carrying out of retrofitting works to local authority dwellings. Over the period 2013 to 2021 over 75,000 units of social housing stock have been retrofitted with a total exchequer spend of over €187 million under the scheme.
In 2022, the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting programme will see a significant increase in funding support to €85 million, allowing approximately 2,400 homes nationally to be upgraded to a B2 or cost optimal equivalent (BER).
The Department currently supports large-scale regeneration programmes in Limerick, Cork and Dublin and also on a smaller scale in Tralee, Sligo and Dundalk. A total of €50m has been made available nationally to support the 2022 regeneration programmes in addressing the causes of disadvantage in these communities through a holistic programme of physical, social and economic regeneration.
In addition, work is also ongoing with the local authority sector, through the City and County Management Association to transition from a largely response and voids based approach to housing stock management and maintenance to a planned maintenance approach as referenced in Housing for All, policy objective 20.6. This will require the implementation of a centrally hosted ICT system within the LGMA to support the completion of stock condition surveys by all local authorities and the subsequent development of strategic and informed work programmes which will be supported by my Department’s stock improvement funding programmes. It is envisaged surveys will commence in 2022.
678. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of recipients of the local authority home loan scheme for each county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20800/22]
View answerThe Local Authority Home Loan has 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 have been accepted, although applications/approvals already in process are being honoured.
As applications for the Local Authority Home Loan only opened at the beginning of 2022, drawdown statistics are not yet available. However, such statistics are avilable for the previous Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme.
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 from 2018 to Q4 2021 are available at the following link under the folder name 'Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan 2018 to date', which will be updated, as updated figures are available: www.gov.ie/en/collection/42d2f-local-authority-loan-activity/#local-authority-loans-approvedpaid
679. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if approval will be given to the homeowners whose properties are affected by mica, pyrite and-or sulphate to be given 100% redress and not a grant, a scheme that is workable for everyone and every property without the restrictions, hidden costs and process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20829/22]
View answerI 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.
Full details in relation to the changes announced are available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/e365e-minister-obrien-announces-enhancements-to-the-defective-concrete-block-scheme/
I aim to bring the required primary legislation to give effect to the enhanced scheme before the Oireachtas as soon as possible with Spring 2022 being the indicative target timeline.
In the interim three enhancements to the current scheme have been brought into effect through amendments to the existing scheme regulations. On the 24 February 2022 I signed the Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 which amend the Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020, so as:
- to make provision, in the case of an application for confirmation of eligibility received before the date of the coming into operation of these regulations, for the recoupment of the fees connected with the provision of the engineer’s report without the need for a prior stage 1 confirmation of eligibility;
- to make provision for the inclusion as an allowable cost ‘essential immediate repair works’, up to a value of €5,555, which are identified by a competent engineer in a ‘building condition assessment report’ and relate to the structural stability of any part of a home affected by defective concrete blocks; and
- to make provision for an increase from 75% to 85% in the value of stage payments which can be recouped to an approved applicant prior to the final grant payment.
The Government, as part of its decision on the 30 November 2021, requested that the current I.S. 465 standard be reviewed. The National Standards Authority of Ireland are the competent authority in this regard and they have agreed to undertake such a review with work now underway.
The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme. The provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material.
The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” for affected homeowners who have no other practical option to obtain redress and is limited in its application and scope. The full conditions for eligibility are set out in the scheme which is available on the Board’s website, www.pyriteboard.ie. Under these conditions, if on 12 December 2013 a person owned, whether or not jointly, more than one dwelling, they may only make an application to the Pyrite Resolution Board for inclusion of one of those dwellings in the Scheme.
680. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown, by local authority, of the affordable housing targets funded by the affordable housing fund from 2022 to 2026. [20842/22]
View answerNational affordable housing delivery targets were published in Housing for All for 2022 – 2030. Overall targets to 2030 include 54,000 affordable housing units. Within that, the target for affordable purchase homes is 36,000 dwellings, with a further 18,000 to be cost rental units. From 2022 to 2026, over 28,000 affordable homes are targeted for delivery.
The five-year 2022-2026 total target for local authority affordable delivery is 7,550 (excluding those dwellings expected to be delivered affordably under the terms of Part V agreements). This five-year target has been allocated to eighteen local authority areas, where the need for affordable housing is determined as being a sufficiently significant proportion of overall housing need, as per the table below.
In addition to this targeted local authority delivery, affordable purchase and cost rental homes will also be made available by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) and the Land Development Agency (LDA) in these local authority areas as part of the overall affordable housing delivery commitment under Housing For All. Targets for affordable delivery by AHBs and the LDA were set nationally in consultation with AHB sector representatives and the LDA, having regard to projected delivery capacity.
Housing for All
Local Authority Affordable Housing
Delivery Targets from LA Lands or Advance Purchase 2022 - 2026
|
Local Authority |
Total |
|
Carlow County Council |
38 |
|
Cork City Council |
378 |
|
Cork County Council |
189 |
|
Dublin City Council |
2114 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
1057 |
|
Fingal County Council |
981 |
|
Galway City Council |
151 |
|
Galway County Council |
226 |
|
Kildare County Council |
226 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
76 |
|
Laois County Council |
38 |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
264 |
|
Louth County Council |
226 |
|
Meath County Council |
151 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
1133 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
76 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
76 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
151 |
|
TOTAL |
7550 |
681. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown, by local authority, of the affordable cost rental housing targets funded by the cost rental equity loan from 2022 to 2026. [20843/22]
View answerA Housing Delivery Action Plan prepared by each Local Authority will underpin local authority delivery of affordable purchase and cost rental homes to 2026. This includes local authority delivery of Cost Rental homes utilising the support of the Affordable Housing Fund. Each Local Authority submitted the first iteration of their plans in December and my officials have now met with each authority. The final Delivery Action Plans are anticipated to be published in Q2 of this year.
Over the period to 2030, the Government's Housing for All strategy commits to delivering a total of 18,000 Cost Rental homes. Delivery will increase incrementally, to an average of 2,000 Cost Rental homes per year. This includes a target of c4,000 for the delivery of Cost Rental homes by Approved Housing Bodies utilising the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) over the years 2022-2022
The CREL scheme has been designed as a method for funding the delivery of Cost Rental housing by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). CREL provides funding for up to 30% of the capital costs of providing Cost Rental homes, with simple interest at 1% for 40 years. Legislative provision was made for the scheme under Section 40 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021, which enables the Housing Agency to issue loans to AHBs for this purpose
Rent levels for Cost Rental tenancies are based on the cost of the provision of homes, rather than being subject to market driven movement. State subventions therefore help to reduce the starting rents in the Cost Rental properties provided to those in the middle-income cohort. Approval in principle was confirmed for approximately 900 Cost Rental homes to be delivered by AHBs under the CREL scheme over the period 2021-2023.
682. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the monitoring carried out by his Department on the performance of An Bord Pleanála in deciding planning appeals within the statutory objective of four months; the percentage of appeals arising from this monitoring that are decided within this timeframe to date; the number of appeals on hand to date for more than four months; the number of appeals on hand for longer than one year; the longest length a current appeal is on hand; the action he intends taking to ensure that all appeals except in very exceptional circumstances are decided within the four-month period from their receipt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20853/22]
View answerAn Bord Pleanála’s Performance Delivery Agreement (PDA) with my Department documents the agreed level of service between the parties to facilitate improved effectiveness and efficiency of relevant public services, setting out the Board’s key targets and defining the output and outcome indicators on which its performance should be measured. The 2021 PDA reflected an overall target to determine 60% - 75% of all normal planning appeal cases within the 18 week statutory objective period. It is my understanding that, as of end December 2021, 58% of all such cases disposed were concluded within this 18 week target.
Section 126 of the Act provides that it shall be the duty and objective of the Board to decide appeals as expeditiously as may be and, for that purpose, to take all such steps as are open to it to ensure that, insofar as is practicable, there are no avoidable delays at any stage in the determination of appeals.
It is important to acknowledge that a certain percentage of cases, due to particular circumstance such as complexity requests for further information from applicants for permission or further submissions from other participants including third parties, will not meet the 18 week target. It should also be recognised that while An Bord Pleanála continued to deliver its service throughout the Covid emergency, there was an unavoidable impact on its case processing timelines. Also, the number of cases received by the Board in 2021 was up 18% on 2020.
It should be noted that arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie. In order to assist the Deputy, my Department requested and received the information sought by the Deputy from An Bord Pleanála, which is set out in the table below.
|
Appeals |
Number |
|
Number of normal planning appeals on hand to date for more than four months |
532 (as at 19/04/2022) |
|
Number of normal planning appeals on hand for longer than one year |
61 (as at 19/04/2022) (note that there may be particular circumstances with certain cases e.g. legal proceedings) |
|
Longest length a current normal planning appeal is on hand |
125.7 weeks (as at 19/04/2022) (note that this case has been the subject of legal proceedings) |
My Department approved all 24 additional posts requested by the Board in their Workforce Plan 2021-2022 and will continue to liaise closely with the Board to ensure that it has appropriate resources to improve its compliance rate, in line with its annual PDA targets.
683. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated number of local authority owned houses that are heated mainly by solid fuel, in tabular form; the number where solid fuel is the main fuel used for cooking, by local authority; the percentage of these houses that represent the total local authority houses in each local authority area; the plans he has to fund a scheme to enable local authorities to provide alternative and more environmentally sustainable energy sources in these houses for cooking and heating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20860/22]
View answerMy Department does not collate information in relation to local authority housing stock according to their heating source or cooking source. However, this information may be available or requested from each individual local authority.
My Department does provide funding under the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) to support local authorities with the retrofit of local authority owned homes requiring insulation and energy upgrade works. Since the programme commenced in 2013 over 75,000 homes have been retrofitted with a total exchequer spend of €184 million under the scheme.
In response to the Programme for Government commitment, my Department launched a newly revised ten year Energy Efficiency Programme in 2021 for local authority owned housing. This new programme set a BER performance requirement of “B2” or cost optimal level. The upscaling of the works included in the programme sees a substantial overall increase in funding made available for insulation, windows and doors, with a significant increase for the upgrading of the heating system, specifically for the installation of a Heat Pump and associated works. The installation of gas/oil boilers are no longer supported under the energy efficiency programme funded by my Department.
An annualised breakdown of the funding provided under the Energy Efficiency Retrofit programme for the years 2013-2021, is available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme-expenditure-output/
The Department also introduced a pilot Midlands Energy Retrofit Programme in 2020-2022, the details of which are found below.
gov.ie - Midlands Energy Retrofit Programme - Expenditure and Units (www.gov.ie)
In 2022, the EERP will see a significant increase in funding to €85 million, allowing approximately 2,400 homes nationally to be upgraded to a B2 or cost optimal equivalent (BER). Allocations have issued to each local authority in this regard.
685. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost to the Exchequer in 2021 per unit of accommodation for (details supplied), in tabular form. [20870/22]
View answerCost information on the delivery of social homes through the various construction streams, is collated by my Department at development level rather than at individual housing unit level. The cost of constructing new homes is dependent on a range of variables, such as the location, the scale of the development and the size and type of the homes involved, the number of units delivered in individual local authorities. The table below sets out the average cost to the exchequer in 2021 of social housing delivery across a range of programmes.
The Social Housing PPP Programme is being delivered through the ‘availability’-based PPP model. Under this type of contract, a PPP consortium, as the private partner, designs, builds, finances, maintains and operates the relevant bundle of social housing units in return for a monthly ‘availability’ and performance-based payment (or unitary charge) made over the operating period. The duration of the contract is the construction period plus a 25-year operating period and no unitary charge payments are made until the homes are constructed and available to house tenants.
The estimated full value of Bundle 1 (534 units) and Bundle 2 (465 units) of the Social Housing PPP contracts in nominal terms is €301 million and €253 million respectively (both figures are exclusive of VAT and include a forecast of inflation). Over the lifetime of the contract, this equates to an average of approximately €1m per month, (exclusive of VAT and inclusive of an allowance for inflation), or approximately €1,900 per unit per month for bundle 1 and approximately €0.84m per month, (exclusive of VAT and inclusive of an allowance for inflation), or approximately €1,800 per unit per month for bundle 2. This cost includes all construction, maintenance, operating, lifecycle, tenancy management and financing costs. Service provision that is included in the contract includes building and asset management, waste management, security, void management, tenant helpdesk services, and the provision of community development services. At the end of the 25-year operating period, the units are handed over to the relevant local authority in a pre-defined condition. In 2021, the remaining 150 units in Bundle 1 and all units in Bundle 2 were delivered.
|
Funding |
2021 Average |
|
Cost Rental Equity Loan |
€109,905 |
|
CALF Construction |
€54,695 |
|
CALF Turnkey |
€63,424 |
|
CALF Part V |
€32,360 |
|
CAS Construction |
€222,630 |
|
CAS Turnkey |
€231,105 |
|
CAS Part V |
€77,750 |
|
SHCIP Construction |
€249,349 |
|
SHCIP Turnkey |
€256,262 |
|
SHCIP Part V |
€278,373 |
Note 1: The information provided above is based on the financial information available to the Department. Delivery does not necessarily occur in the year of approval or spend.
Note 2: The CALF figures are based on application details and may be subject to change as the project progresses. The CALF Capital Outlay represents the average amount of CALF funding provided by the exchequer. (A maximum of 30%)
Note 3: Agreement on Part V arrangements are a matter for the local authorities. In some cases the Part V average is affected by delivery of homes that were subject to agreements prior to the current Part V arrangements. Complete details of PART V arrangements are available from the local authorities. It should be noted that some Part Vs, while recorded as delivered in 2021, costs have not been claimed or recouped as yet and so are excluded from the average costs below. The CAS Part V average is based on the cost of providing one unit in a shared accommodation dwelling.
Note 4: For SHIP Construction projects it should be noted that the averages predominantly relate to new build projects but also include some projects delivering new homes via refurbishment/conversion of existing/derelict properties. These averages represent projects of various designs, types of units (houses, apartments, duplexes) and size (number of bedrooms etc.). The averages reflect current Department approved amounts, which may be subject to final adjustment (pending conclusion of contractor final accounts, etc.). The table reflects all-in delivery costs, which include (as applicable) construction costs, along with site / property purchase costs, fees, utilities, site investigations/surveys, local authority in-house fees, public art etc.
Note 5: In terms of Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL), the figure above represents the average cost for funding 30% of the capital costs of providing the 65 CREL-funded Cost Rental homes delivered in 2021. The Housing Finance Agency funds the remaining 70% of capital costs for these developments.
687. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homeless persons who died in County Cork in 2021. [20917/22]
View answer688. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that homeless death data is only collated for Dublin. [20918/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 687 and 688 together.
My Department does not collate information relating to deaths of homeless individuals. However, Cork County has advised that three people died while residing in emergency accommodation in the local authority area in 2021. Each of these deaths is a tragedy and I extend my sympathies to the families concerned. The deaths of people availing of homeless services are a concern and are being taken very seriously. It is important that the facts are established concerning the circumstances involved, and that the response is based on the best knowledge and evidence available.
My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at the local level.
My Department publishes a detailed monthly report on homelessness, based on data provided by housing authorities. The Report outlines details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. The Reports are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data
The Dublin Region Homeless Executive also records death notifications from all its funded residential and outreach services, in line with procedure agreed with the HSE.
A pilot study on data collection of homeless deaths nationally is being undertaken by the Health Research Board (HRB) on behalf of the Department of Health. It is hoped that the HRB will be in a position to publish the study shortly. The research is applying the methodology used to compile the National Drug Related Deaths Index, which is a census of drug-related deaths and deaths among drug users and those who are alcohol dependent in Ireland. The data collection for 2019 deaths, including deaths among people who were homeless, involves the review of approximately 17,000 files from all Coroner districts. My Department will engage with the Department of Health on completion of this study.
It is vital that we continue to deliver the appropriate measures to support all individuals experiencing homelessness. My Department is working closely with the Department of Health, the HSE and local authorities in doing this.
689. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current members of An Board Pleanála, the Minister who appointed each and the current remuneration of each, in tabular form. [20920/22]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy regarding current members of the Board of An Bord Pleanála, the Minister that appointed each member, and the rate of remuneration for Board members is set out in the attached table.
Current Members of the Board of An Bord Pleanála (26 April 2022)
|
NAME |
APPOINTED BY |
TERM |
|
Mr. David Walsh (Chairperson) |
The Government |
30/10/18 to 29/10/25 |
|
Mr. Paul Hyde (Deputy Chairperson) |
Former Minister Phil Hogan Reappointed by former Minister Eoghan Murphy (Appointed Deputy Chairperson from 29/01/19 to 30/04/24 by former Minister Eoghan Murphy) |
01/05/14 to 30/04/19 01/05/19 to 30/04/24 |
Ordinary Board Members
|
Mr. John Connolly |
Minister Simon Coveney |
18/09/17 to 17/09/22 |
|
Mr. Chris McGarry |
Former Minister Eoghan Murphy |
01/02/19 to 31/01/24 |
|
Ms Michelle Fagan |
Former Minister Eoghan Murphy Reappointed by former Minister Eoghan Murphy |
12/02/18 to 31/12/19 01/01/20 to 11/02/23 |
|
Mr. Stephen Bohan |
Former Minister Eoghan Murphy Reappointed by former Minister Eoghan Murphy |
11/06/18 to 31/12/19 01/01/20 to 10/06/23 |
|
Ms Patricia Calleary |
Minister Darragh O’Brien |
22/03/22 to 21/03/27 |
|
Mr. Terry O'Niadh |
Minister Simon Coveney |
04/09/17 to 03/09/22 |
|
Dr. Maria Fitzgerald |
Minister Simon Coveney |
10/07/17 to 09/07/22 |
REMUNERATION
|
- |
Personal Pension Contribution (PPC) |
Non-Personal Pension Contribution (Non-PPC) |
|
Chairperson |
€204,630 |
€194,399 |
|
Deputy Chairperson |
€144,056 |
€136,855 |
|
Ordinary Board Member |
€127,677 |
€121,294 |
690. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the National Biodiversity Action Plan provides supports for biodiversity projects in counties Laois and Offaly; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20942/22]
View answerMy Department administers the Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF), previously National Biodiversity Action Plan Local Authority Grant Scheme, to assist local authorities in the implementation of actions in the National Biodiversity Action Plan. The funding stream launched in 2018 and is available to biodiversity officers and heritage officers across the country. The scheme enables local authorities to develop projects that address biodiversity loss in their localities by raising awareness for biodiversity, creating new habitats, restoring existing ones and by tackling invasive alien species.
An amount of €1.5m has been made available for the LBAF in 2022. A call for proposals was issued to all 31 local authorities in March and applications are currently being processed.
Projects supported by my Department through the LBAF in Laois and Offaly in 2021 include:
|
County |
Project Area |
Amount |
|
Laois |
Wetlands |
€14,323.00 |
|
Laois |
Biodiversity Awareness |
€13,047.00 |
|
Offaly |
Wetlands Survey and awareness |
€15,085.33 |
|
Offaly |
IAS - Japanese Knotweed &Himalayan Balsam |
€15,117.08 |
|
Offaly |
Birds - Barn Owl |
€5,100.00 |
|
Offaly |
Biodiversity Awareness |
€4,698.80 |
Engagement with communities and local authorities is crucial to the implementation of the National Biodiversity Action Plan. The LBAF scheme represents a commitment by my Department to support implementation of the Plan at community, county and regional level, recognising the importance of the work carried out by local authorities in their respective areas.
691. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure the Residential Tenancies Board is adequately resourced to deal with disputes in which the tenant does not know the address of the landlord; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20955/22]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021 (RTA), to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. Registered landlords and all tenants can apply to the RTB for dispute resolution.
Section 134 of the RTA requires a landlord to apply to the RTB to register a tenancy of a dwelling within one month of its commencement. All private landlords, Approved Housing Bodies and providers of Student Specific Accommodation are required to register their tenancies with the RTB. This allows the RTB to collect and provide definitive data on the rental sector and for transparency across the rental sector through the public register of tenancies; thus, enabling a better understanding of the sector.
Section 136(b) of the RTA requires that when a landlord is registering a tenancy with the RTB, ‘the name, address where the landlord ordinarily resides, any other address for correspondence the landlord may wish to provide and the personal public service number (if any) of the landlord and, where the application is made by his or her authorised agent, the name, address for correspondence and personal public service number (if any) of the agent’ must be provided as part of the application process.
For data protection reasons, the names of landlords and tenants are not published on the RTB’s public register of tenancies.
The RTB has registration enforcement powers to pursue landlords who have not complied with their obligation to register their tenancies. Failure to register is an offence which may result in a criminal conviction, a fine of up to €4,000 and/or up to six months imprisonment. The RTB, receives information from different sources regarding whether a tenancy is registered or not, including local authorities, members of the public, RTB checks and follow-ups and the Department of Social Protection.
The RTB has a dedicated Investigations and Sanctions unit to investigate certain potential breaches of rental law by a landlord referred to as improper conduct under Schedule 2 to the RTA, one of which is a failure to register a tenancy with the RTB within one month of the tenancy commencing. The Investigations and Sanctions Unit can initiate an investigation either as a result of information received from members of the public or as a result of information gathered from records that the RTB has access to under the RTA. If a landlord is found to have engaged in improper conduct, a sanction may be imposed on them by an independent decision maker which may comprise one or all of the following - a written caution, a financial penalty of up to €15,000 and a payment of up to €15,000 in respect of related RTB investigation costs.
In order to ensure that the RTB is fully resourced to deliver on its ever increasing mandate, I secured €11 million current funding for the RTB’s operational costs in 2022.
The RTB received sanction for an additional 41 staff since 2019 to ensure that its enhanced powers and the new legislative provisions are fully implemented and enforced. The authorised staff complement for the RTB is now 106.4 Whole Time Equivalents.
Under Housing for All, The Government will also facilitate increased enforcement of registration of tenancy requirements. Enforcement will be generally enhanced through measures such as the expansion of data-sharing arrangements between the Revenue Commissioners and the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to assist in enforcement of residential tenancy obligations.
My Department continues to engage with the RTB to guarantee that it has the funds and staffing that is required to carry out its role as a regulator of the rental sector.
692. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a local authority can remove a person from the rent book of a social housing unit if they move to temporary accommodation, for example a long-stay hospital or prison. [20960/22]
View answerThe day-to-day operation of the social housing system, including tenancy agreements, is a matter solely for each local authority. My Department has no role in this regard.
That said, it is typically a condition of social housing tenancy agreements that tenants must inform the relevant local authority of any change in circumstances related to their tenancy, including changes in employment, changes to the make-up of the relevant household, or where members of the household are no longer normally resident in the dwelling. Local authorities may then reassess the rent payable to reflect these changes in circumstances.
693. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps taken by his Department and the Property Registration Authority to ensure the security of the data held by the PRA; the extra resources provided to the PRA to secure the cybersecurity of their systems against false claims of registration of property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20981/22]
View answerThe Property Registration Authority (PRA) is very heavily dependent on the availability, reliability and integrity of information relating to the registration of property and deeds in Ireland. Information and communication technologies (ICT) governance and security are of critical importance to the process.
Accordingly, the PRA has a well-developed information security policy and access control regime in place which accords with best industry practice and which provides appropriate safeguards. Security policies, measures, activities, services and products are kept constantly under review as new threats come to light.
In recognition of this evolving landscape, the information security policy is underpinned by the following mechanisms:
- Use of 'best-of-breed' security procedures and security technology.
- A team within the ICT Unit dedicated to ICT/cyber security, reporting through its ICT Security Manager to the Chief Technology Officer and, ultimately, to the Chief Information Officer, who has a place on the Management Board. Specialist external expertise is also deployed in certain areas, for example, firewalls' management and monitoring and regular penetration testing.
- An ongoing programme of training and development for technical staff on security and related issues, relevant to the PRA’s technical and infrastructural environment.
- An ongoing programme of cyber security training for the staff of the PRA.
- A comprehensive online, nearline and offline electronic data backup policy and regime.
My Department works with the PRA on staffing issues on an ongoing basis to ensure that appropriate resources are in place to deliver on its mandate
