Written Answers Nos. 78-87
79. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered implementing a scheme to counter the increase in rent to supplement those who are struggling due to the recent surge in the cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21444/22]
View answerAs outlined in the 'Housing for All' strategy, the Government’s primary response to mitigating residential price inflation is to increase supply. The strategy outlines the plan to increase affordability and housing supply by committed to, amongst other things, an average of 2,000 new ‘cost rental’ homes every year, with targets of rents being at least 25 per cent below market level. Additionally, in respect of properties in rent pressure zones, since 11 December 2021 annual rent increases are limited to 2 per cent per annum or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower.
With that said, as Minister for Finance I can only answer the Deputy's question in respect of taxation measures as any direct expenditure measures in this area are a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Tax relief in respect of rent paid was previously available to those paying for private rented accommodation, including rent paid for flats, apartments or houses. It did not include rent paid to local authorities. This relief was abolished in Budget 2011 following a recommendation in the 2009 report by the Commission on Taxation. As such, it is no longer available to those that commenced renting for the first time from 08 December 2010.
The view of the independent Commission was that, in the same manner in which mortgage interest relief increases the cost of housing, rent relief increases the cost of private rented accommodation. Accordingly, the result of reintroducing this relief would very likely be a transfer of Exchequer funding directly to landlords, which would not have the intended effect of reducing the cost pressure on tenants.
At the time of its abolition, the rental tax relief cost the Exchequer up to €97m per annum and it is likely that this figure would be even higher today were a similar scheme to be put in place.
Having regard to the foregoing, I have no plans at present to reintroduce a tax-based support for those in private rental accommodation.
80. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has considered cutting contributory public service pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21298/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, there are two separate pension increase arrangements applying to public service pensions depending when individuals joined their relevant pension scheme. These are as follows:
1. Single Scheme:
This the mandatory pension Scheme for all new-joiner pensionable public servants since 2013. The Scheme's rules are set out in legislation and are outlined in the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012. Section 40 of that Act specifically provides for pension increases to be applied to pensions in payment in line with increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
2. Pre-Existing Schemes
There is a separate policy applying to those public service pension schemes which predate the Single Scheme. It is important to note that the grant of increases for members of these schemes is a discretionary power of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform under section 29(2) of the Pension Increase Act 1964.
Under the current pension increase policy for pre-existing public service pension schemes, an individual's pension is eligible for an increase to the extent that this will ensure alignment with the pay of serving staff. This means that the majority of retired members generally receive pension increases in line with the pay increases due to their peers in employment.
The current policy has been in place since 2017 and was introduced as an equitable approach to deal with the differences between cohorts of pensioners depending on when they retired (i.e. those who retired post February 2012 did so on reduced pensions). These complexities were caused by the introduction of FEMPI arrangements and their subsequent unwinding.
The policy is outlined in detail in my Department’s Circular 10/2021, which is available here: www.gov.ie/en/circular/e3bc7-instruction-on-the-pension-increase-policy-in-the-public-service-until-end-2022/
In summary, the pension increase policy for all new members of the public service since 2013 is linked to inflation consistent with the relevant legislation and is the default arrangement for all new members of the public service. The existing pension increase policy for the members of pre-existing schemes remains in place for the period up until the end of 2022, in advance of which I will give due consideration to the policy approach going forward.
81. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the timeline for all the Financial Emergency Measures in Public Interests legislation restoration dates over the remainder of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21454/22]
View answerThe process of unwinding the Financial Emergency (FEMPI) legislation commenced under the Lansdowne Road Agreement 2016-2018, with the remainder of the process largely completed under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 (PSSA). This will continue under ‘Building Momentum: A New Public Service Agreement, 2021-2022’.
At this point, salary rates up to €150,000, which account for 99% of the Public Service, have been fully restored. Section 20 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 sets out that public servants with annualised basic salaries above €150,000 should be restored by a date no later than 1 July, 2022.
As the Deputy may be aware, I have established an Independent Review Panel into the recruitment and pay determination processes for Senior Public Service posts.
In addition, each year, under the terms of the FEMPI Act 2013, I am obliged to carry out an annual review of the operation, effectiveness and impact of the FEMPI Acts, having regard to the overall economic conditions in the State and national competitiveness. In this annual review, I am also to consider whether or not any of the provision of the relevant Acts continue to be necessary having regard to the purposes of those Acts, the revenues of the State and State commitments in respect of public service pay and pensions.
The 2021 annual review, a written report of which was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on the 25 June, 2021, recommended the continuation of the unwinding of the FEMPI measures in line with the provisions enacted in the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act, 2017.
82. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the persons and companies that have received licences for potential offshore wind development, specifically the relevant projects; the dates on which the original licences were issued; the dates on which the rights to develop granted under these licences to develop offshore energy prior to the passing of any recent legislation; the changes to the ownership of the licences of which his Department has been notified of; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21305/22]
View answerA foreshore licence issued under section 3 the Foreshore Act 1933, as amended, is generally granted for short-term, temporary activities which do not require exclusive occupation of the Foreshore. Activities which are the subject of a foreshore licence application generally relate to site investigations, dredging and sporting events or developments such as pipes and cables. Where exclusive use of the foreshore is required for a proposed development a foreshore lease is the appropriate consent under section 2 of the Foreshore Act 1933, as amended. A foreshore licence granted to a developer for the purposes of conducting site investigation activities to inform the proposed development of an offshore windfarm farm does not permit a developer to construct an offshore wind farm. The benefit of such a licence is personal to the licensee and not assignable and the rights given thereunder may one be exercised by the licensee within the conditions of the license itself.
Details of the applications and determinations made in respect of foreshore licenses, including those 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 Maritime Area Planning ACT 2001 (MAP Act 2021), can be viewed on my Department's website www.housing.gov.ie Details of historic licences issued for site investigation activities are not readily available as these were granted when the foreshore consenting function came under a different Department and records from this time generally exist in hard copy format only.
Under the MAP Act 2021 a new development management system for the maritime area has been introduced to replace the current regime as operated under the Foreshore Acts. This new marine planning system will incorporate consenting for the occupation of the maritime area (Maritime Area Consents) by a new agency, the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, and a new planning consenting regime, to be implemented by coastal local authorities and An Bord Pleanála.
83. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority home loan applications that have been received by all local authorities since the scheme was established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21321/22]
View answer84. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority home loan applications that have been approved by all local authorities since the scheme was established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21322/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 84 together.
The Local Authority Home Loan has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022.
The Housing Agency provides a central support service that assesses applications for the Local Authority Home Loan on behalf of local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities to approve or refuse applications. Each local authority must have in place a credit committee and it is a matter for the committee to make the final decision on applications for loans, in accordance with the regulations, having regard to the recommendations made by the Housing Agency.
The most recent figures provided by the Agency on the numbers of applications that it has assessed for each local authority, from January up to the end of March are set out in the below table:
|
Local Authority |
Applications Underwritten |
Recommended to Approve |
|
Carlow County Council |
2 |
1 |
|
Cavan County Council |
1 |
1 |
|
Clare County Council |
8 |
5 |
|
Cork City Council |
2 |
0 |
|
Cork County Council |
64 |
24 |
|
Donegal County Council |
3 |
2 |
|
Dublin City Council |
40 |
29 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
3 |
2 |
|
Fingal County Council |
11 |
9 |
|
Galway City Council |
3 |
2 |
|
Galway County Council |
13 |
6 |
|
Kerry County Council |
8 |
3 |
|
Kildare County Council |
14 |
6 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
8 |
6 |
|
Laois County Council |
4 |
2 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
5 |
1 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
17 |
9 |
|
Longford County Council |
9 |
5 |
|
Louth County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Mayo County Council |
6 |
3 |
|
Meath County Council |
27 |
17 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
14 |
5 |
|
Offaly County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
5 |
2 |
|
Sligo County Council |
6 |
1 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
22 |
13 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
6 |
6 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
5 |
0 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
4 |
3 |
|
Wexford County Council |
23 |
11 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
11 |
5 |
|
Total |
344 |
179 |
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).
Information on Local Authority drawdowns, approvals, average drawdowns, and average approvals is available at the following link, under the folder name 'Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan 2018 to date'.
www.gov.ie/en/collection/42d2f-local-authority-loan-activity/#local-authority-loans-approvedpaid
As the Local Authority Home Loan is only for applications since 4 January, data on drawdowns is not yet available for this loan type. This link will be updated when information on the Local Authority Home Loan becomes available.
85. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is a national policy on whether those staying in a hostel have a right to notice of eviction in relation to privately run homeless hostels; if not, the reason therefor and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21342/22]
View answerMy 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. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities.
Specifically under Section 10 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 local authorities are responsible for the provision of housing supports to households for the purposes of meeting their accommodation needs, including services provided to homeless persons under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. The matter referred to in the Question is an operational issue which is a matter for the relevant housing authority.
86. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when it is envisaged that the required regulations setting out the detailed criteria of the local authority affordable purchase scheme will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21350/22]
View answerPart 2 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021, which I commenced on 3 September 2021, lays the foundation for the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, which allows all Local Authorities to make available affordable homes for purchase. This is a key element in the Government's Housing For All strategy and will enable home ownership through an equity share model, in which eligible purchasers are able to buy the homes at prices significantly below open market value and in return the Local Authority takes a percentage equity interest in the home.
On 13 April 2022 I signed two sets of Regulations to govern the implementation of this scheme by Local Authorities, both of which came into effect that day and which were announced in Iris Oifigiúil on 19 April. The Affordable Housing Regulations 2022 set out the eligibility criteria for the scheme, including the specific gross income limit calculated with reference to the market value of each affordable home. The Affordable Housing (No. 2) Regulations 2022 provide for a number of other matters, including the process by which Local Authorities will advertise homes, receive and assess applications, and operate a Scheme of Priority. These Regulations has been circulated to Local Authorities along with an Explanatory Note and an Income Assessment Policy. The texts of Regulations are available online on the Irish Statute Book website at:
www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2022/si/183/made/en/print
www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2022/si/184/made/en/print
87. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a Tenant Incremental Purchase Scheme application can be considered a joint application under a discretionary process considering the practicalities in such a circumstance further to the recent changes announced to the Tenant Incremental Purchase Scheme in which the applicants are married since 2008 but only one of the applicants is on the tenancy agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21352/22]
View answerThe 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 scheme was reviewed in line with Programme for Government and Housing for All commitments in 2021, with amendments to these criteria subsequently approved by Government. The amendments came into effect on 1st February 2022.
A tenant is defined in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 as any person to whom a housing authority has let a house under the Housing Acts 1966 to 2014 or Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. An application by a spouse to become a joint tenant must be made to the relevant local authority. It is a matter for each local authority, as part of its housing management functions, to determine the conditions in relation to joint tenancies in its administrative area.
