Written Answers Nos. 355-377
355. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of rapid build homes funded by his Department in each of the years since 2016, broken down by the number in each local authority; the average cost per unit in each county; and the average delivery time from conception, planning, commencement and completion again in each local authority in tabular form. [22777/22]
View answerMy Department is working closely with all local authorities in relation to increasing and accelerating the delivery of a range of social housing programmes and supports, including through the use of design-build rapid delivery methodologies (including prefabricated and modular build units). Local authorities have been advised that design-build rapid delivery approaches should be adopted where appropriate to deliver social housing projects on local authority-owned land.
For the purpose of tracking social housing delivery, a Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR) is published each quarter by my Department. This provides details of the individual social housing build projects, including design-build schemes, in the programme of each local authority. The most recent CSR publication covers the period up to the end of Quarter 4 of 2021, and is available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/af746-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q4-2021/#
Since 2016, 752 units have been delivered under the Programme to Q4 2021, while there are projects in the pipeline that will deliver in excess of 1,380 units out to 2025. Details in relation to the units delivered to end 2021 are set out in the following table:
|
Local Authority |
No. of Schemes |
No. of Units |
Average Funding Approved per Unit |
*Average Scheme Delivery (Weeks) |
|
Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council |
1 |
12 |
€279,423 |
105 |
|
Dublin City Council |
6 |
240 |
€226,939 |
76 |
|
Fingal County Council |
4 |
104 |
€203,176 |
109 |
|
Kerry County Council |
1 |
20 |
€251,679 |
260 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
2 |
59 |
€265,324 |
219 |
|
Meath County Council |
3 |
30 |
€230,766 |
125 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
3 |
177 |
€209,445 |
104 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
4 |
110 |
€258,330 |
111 |
|
Total |
24 |
752 |
|
|
* Average Scheme Delivery (Weeks) from my Departments receipt of initial proposal through pre-construction stages including planning and tendering to construction commencement and completion
Many of the issues around delivery that non-prefabricated social housing construction projects face, are also faced by design-build projects, such as preparing sites, services/access to the site, community consultation, planning, etc. There can, however, be savings in terms of programme and construction time with these advantages growing as more use is made of these frameworks and as contractors gain more experience in implementing these methods. Under this mechanism, acceleration is delivered both by the use of the design-build services of specialist contractors and reduced construction time periods due to considerable off site fabrication.
356. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the Independent Working Group to examine the defects in housing will report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22778/22]
View answer359. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the working group on safety remediation costing for apartment complexes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22832/22]
View answer378. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the working group into defective housing, in particular in relation to fire safety and structural safety deficits; if he anticipates including an expenditure provision for same in his 2023 estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23392/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 356, 359 and 378 together.
The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area of 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.
Establish the scale of the issue – estimate number of dwellings affected by the defects identified including those already remediated.
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.
1. Evaluate the potential cost of technical remediation options.
2. 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.
3. Report to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the Examination of Defects in Housing.
As part of its deliberations, the working group is consulting with a wide range of relevant stakeholders. As part of this stakeholder engagement, the Working Group conducted a series of online surveys between 31 January and 14 March 2022 seeking the experiences of homeowners, landlords, Directors of Owners’ Management Companies and Property Management Agents.
The insights gained through engagement with stakeholders as well as the outcome of the online consultation are informing the ongoing deliberations of the Working Group and are supporting 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.
357. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has given consideration to introducing carbon limits for our built environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22808/22]
View answerThe Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 commits Ireland to a legally-binding target of a climate neutral economy no later than 2050 and a reduction in emissions of 51% by 2030 (compared to 2018 levels).
The carbon budget programme proposed by the Climate Change Advisory Council has been approved by Government, and adopted by the Oireachtas. This carbon budget programme comprises three successive 5-year carbon budgets from 2021 up to 2035.
Under the Act, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (MECC) will now prepare, within the limits of the agreed carbon budget programme, the maximum amount of greenhouse gas emissions that are permitted in different sectors of the economy during a budget period (‘sectoral emissions ceilings’) and different ceilings may apply to different sectors.
The MECC is currently consulting with my Department and others in relation to these sectoral emissions ceilings - this includes the Built Environment Sector.
Proposals will be brought to Government following this process.
358. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will consider introducing regulations for full carbon life cycle assessments of buildings in public procurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22809/22]
View answerIn general, public procurement is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Government Procurement.
Embodied Carbon in construction materials makes a significant contribution to the lifetime carbon emissions of new buildings. Currently these embodied carbon emissions are addressed in the Climate Action Plan 2021.
The operational carbon emissions for heating, lighting and other services have been significantly reduced in Nearly Zero Energy Buildings. These regulations apply to all new buildings including social and affordable housing developments.
A taskforce chaired by Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment is currently examining the actions required to achieve the Climate Action Plan target of a “10% (and up to 60%) decrease in embodied carbon in construction materials” including low carbon cement – as per Action 134 in Climate Action Plan 2021 (Annex of Actions).
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) are also carrying out a research and development project to examine life cycle analysis and embedded energy in buildings to compare the use of sustainable materials and under Action 198 of CAP 2021 are developing an embodied carbon building rating calculation methodology.
Under Action 197 of CAP 2021 the Office of Public Works (OPW) are putting in place a roadmap to promote greater use of lower-carbon building material alternatives in construction and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
The review of Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (known as the Constructions Products Regulations or “the CPR”) was confirmed by the European green deal in December 2019 and the circular economy action plan in March 2020. In parallel, the European Commission initiated discussion on an implementation plan for a future environmental life cycle assessment framework for construction products, looking at the impacts on the wider environment that occur during the whole life cycle of a construction product. The objective is to identify the strategic issues that need to be addressed with a view to the implementation of Basic Works Requirement 7 ‘Sustainable Use of Natural Resources’ (BWR7) in the context of the current and the future revision to the Construction Products Regulation.
The European Commission published a proposal on 30th March and are currently inviting feedback on this for a minimum period of 8 weeks (03 April 2022 - 16 June 2022). Further detail can be found at: www.ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12458-Construction[1]products-review-of-EU-rules_en .
All feedback received will be summarised by the European Commission and presented to the European Parliament and Council with the aim of feeding into the legislative debate. Separately, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage intends to consult with relevant stakeholders on the legislative proposal.
Ireland will be obliged to follow this harmonised procedure via harmonised technical specifications for construction products, when a consensus of approach emerges. In that regard, it would be counter to harmonisation to develop national rules for matters covered by the Internal Market regulation.
In addition my Department has issued design guidelines for sustainable housing which includes recommendations to have due regard for the environmental impact of construction materials. These guidelines “Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities” are available on my Department’s website at the following link. www.gov.ie/en/publication/24d9e-quality-housing-for-sustainable-communities-design-guidelines/
360. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which the use of concrete in house building contributes to any emissions whether during construction, processing or thereafter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22860/22]
View answer361. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which conventional house building through the use of concrete or concrete products contributes to greenhouse gases as opposed to wooden-framed housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22862/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 360 and 361 together.
Climate Action Plan 2021 commits to working with industry stakeholders to increase the use of low carbon materials and technologies in the construction and renovation of buildings in Ireland, informed by evolving EU standards and by best practice in other jurisdictions.
Embodied Carbon in construction materials makes a significant contribution to the lifetime carbon emissions of new buildings. Currently these embodied carbon emissions are addressed in the Climate Action Plan and the Construction Products Regulation. Separately, the operational carbon emissions for heating, lighting and other services have been significantly reduced in Nearly Zero Energy Buildings. These regulations apply to all new buildings including social and affordable housing developments.
A taskforce chaired by Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment is currently examining the actions required to achieve the Climate Action Plan target of a “10% (and up to 60%) decrease in embodied carbon in construction materials” including low carbon cement – as per Action 134 in Climate Action Plan 2021 (Annex of Actions).
Under Action 197 of CAP 2021 the Office of Public Works (OPW) are putting in place a roadmap to promote greater use of lower-carbon building material alternatives in construction and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) are also carrying out a research and development project to examine life cycle analysis and embedded energy in buildings to compare the use of sustainable materials and under Action 198 of CAP 2021 are developing an embodied carbon building rating calculation methodology.
The review of Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (known as the Constructions Products Regulations or “the CPR”) was confirmed by the European green deal in December 2019 and the circular economy action plan in March 2020. In parallel, the European Commission initiated discussion on an implementation plan for a future environmental life cycle assessment framework for construction products, looking at the impacts on the wider environment that occur during the whole life cycle of a construction product. The objective is to identify the strategic issues that need to be addressed with a view to the implementation of Basic Works Requirement 7 ‘Sustainable Use of Natural Resources’ (BWR7) in the context of the current and the future revision to the Construction Products Regulation.
The European Commission published a proposal on 30th March and are currently inviting feedback on this for a minimum period of 8 weeks (03 April 2022 - 16 June 2022). Further detail can be found at: www.ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12458-Construction[1]products-review-of-EU-rules_en .
All feedback received will be summarised by the European Commission and presented to the European Parliament and Council with the aim of feeding into the legislative debate. Separately, my Department intends to consult with relevant stakeholders on the legislative proposal.
Ireland will be obliged to follow this harmonised procedure via harmonised technical specifications for construction products, when a consensus of approach emerges. In that regard, it would be counter to harmonisation to develop national rules for matters covered by the Internal Market regulation.
Housing for All commits that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), supported by my Department, will promote a culture of innovation in residential construction. This will be achieved through, the development of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and the establishment of a Centre of Excellence Demonstration Park for MMC.
In addition my Department has issued design guidelines for sustainable housing which includes recommendations to have due regard for the environmental impact of construction materials. These guidelines “Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities” are available on my Department’s website at the following link. www.gov.ie/en/publication/24d9e-quality-housing-for-sustainable-communities-design-guidelines/
362. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of his plans to review the building regulations; if he will ensure that public and public access buildings must have defibrillators and have their own or a community emergency response system that can provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation within five minutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22936/22]
View answerThe Building Regulations apply to the design and construction of all new buildings (including dwellings) and to certain works to existing buildings. They are subject to ongoing review in the interests of safety and the well-being of persons in the built environment and to ensure that due regard is taken of changes in construction techniques, technological progress and innovation.
The provisions of the Building Regulations do not relate to management matters and compliance with the Regulations is not dependent on these, however it is acknowledged that management provides an important function to the use of a building.
363. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the percentage of social media posts made on each of his Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit that were exclusively in Irish between 1 May 2021 and 30 April 2022, inclusive; the percentage of same that feature bilingual translations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23052/22]
View answer364. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the percentage of social media posts made on each of his Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit that were exclusively in languages besides English or Irish between 1 May 2021 and 30 April 2022, inclusive; the percentage of same that featured languages besides English or Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23070/22]
View answer365. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the percentage of social media videos posted on each of his Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit included closed captioning and or subtitling between 1 May 2021 and 30 April 2022, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23088/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 365, 363 and 364 together.
Corporately, my Department uses five social media accounts. In addition, there are approximately a further 40 social media accounts operated locally in my Department in areas such as our six National Parks; the LIFE Programme; National Inventory of Archaeological heritage; National Monument Service; Marine Planning Ireland and Fire Safety Ireland. Given the number of these accounts, the compilation of the information requested would involve an inordinate amount of staff time and cost, thus, for the purposes of responding to the Question, the information provided will relate only to the social media accounts of the Department itself, and not accounts operated locally. This information is currently being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
The information requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the individual bodies concerned. Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for each agency is set out in the following table:
|
State Body |
Contact E-mails |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie |
|
An Fóram Uisce (the Water Forum) |
info@nationalwaterforum.ie |
|
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum |
infodocklands@dublincity.ie |
|
Ervia |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Gas Networks Ireland |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Heritage Council |
oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
publicreps@housingagency.ie |
|
Irish Water |
oireachtasmembers@water.ie |
|
Land Development Agency |
oireachtas@lda.ie |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
corporate@lgma.ie |
|
National Oversight and Audit Commission |
info@noac.ie |
|
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee |
ntacc@housing.gov.ie |
|
Office of the Planning Regulator |
oireachtas@opr.ie |
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland |
Oireachtas@osi.ie |
|
Property Registration Authority |
reps@prai.ie |
|
Pyrite Resolution Board |
oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie |
|
Valuation Office |
oireachtas.enquiries@VALOFF.ie |
|
Valuation Tribunal |
info@valuationtribunal.ie |
|
Water Advisory Body |
info@wab.gov.ie |
|
Waterways Ireland |
ceoffice@waterwaysireland.org |
366. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views in relation to an audit carried out by the public auditors (details supplied); the person or body that the public auditors are answerable to; if they are independent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23097/22]
View answerThe Local Government Audit Service conducts a yearly audit of the annual financial statements of each local authority.
Part 12, Chapter 2 (Sections 114-126) of the Local Government Act 2001 (as amended) provides for the establishment, functions and procedures of the Local Government Audit Service, the role of which is "to carry out or assist in the carrying out of audits of the accounts of local authorities and other bodies".
In accordance with Section 116(2) of the 2001 Act, local government auditors are independent in the exercise of their professional functions.
Sections 120 and 121 of the 2001 Act provide for the annual audit report to be referred to the local authority Audit Committee and the elected Council for consideration.
Once presented to the members of the local authority, the annual audit reports are published on my Department's website, as is the Annual Overview of the Work of the Local Government Audit Service. These reports are available at this link: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/2031c-local-government-audit-service/
367. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his response to research findings concerning sea level rises on Irish coasts (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23153/22]
View answerThe Government established the Inter-Departmental Group on Managing Coastal Change to scope out an approach for the development of a national co-ordinated and integrated strategy to manage the projected impact of coastal change to our coastal communities. The Inter-Departmental Group is jointly chaired by my Department and the OPW and will bring forward options and recommendations for the Government to consider. The work of the Inter-Departmental Group is also supported by a Technical Working Group chaired by the OPW.
Ongoing research work such as that referred to in this question is both necessary and warranted to more fully understand the scale and locational effects of sea level rise and such work is an important ongoing element of responding to this challenge.
I understand that the Technical Working Group has met recently and that it is inter-alia considering the range of data, information and research available across State organisations and that which is needed in the short, medium and longer terms to monitor the projected impact of coastal change associated with sea level rise.
The Inter-Departmental Group Steering Group is meeting this month with a view to further advancing the drafting and finalising of its report. This report, when finalised, will be presented to Government for their consideration.
368. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff broken down by grade and unit employed in An Bord Pleanála who are dealing directly with applications from offshore wind energy projects; if he intends to increase this number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23157/22]
View answerIt 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 from An Bord Pleanála, who have advised that they do not currently have any applications from offshore wind energy projects.
An Bord Pleanála’s Workforce Plan for 2021-2022 was approved by my Department in October 2021 and sanctioned 24 additional posts. This included an initial 8 staff for a new Marine/Climate Unit, which would involve responsibility for processing future offshore wind energy applications, as follows:
|
An Bord Pleanála’s Workforce Plan for 2021-2022 |
|
Assistant Director of Planning (or equivalent) x 1 |
|
Senior Planning Inspector (or equivalent) x 5 |
|
Executive Officer x 1 |
|
Administrative Assistant x 1 |
I understand that the Board is currently preparing a Maritime Resource Plan to identify the additional staffing needs to implement its new functions expected under the Maritime Area Planning Act. It is expected that this Maritime Resource Plan will be submitted by An Bord Pleanála to my Department for consideration shortly.
369. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of contracts awarded in 2022 by his Department or bodies under his aegis outside the standard procurement process in order to assist the arrival of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23198/22]
View answerMy Department has not awarded any contracts outside the standard procurement process to date in 2022.
370. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department employ persons or firms to deal with public relations; if so, the number of persons employed by his Department to deal with public relations; the names of firms involved; and the total amount spent on public relations by his Department. [23227/22]
View answerMy Department does not employ external persons or firms to deal with public relations. My Department’s Press Office provides public relations services and the engagement of external expertise would only be considered where the issues involved require specific expert skills that are not readily available within the Department.
372. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there has been a change in policy with respect to tenants in arrears with their HAP payments to local authorities entering into repayment agreement; and if so, the policy change; and when it was introduced. [23245/22]
View answerTenants in the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme are required to sign a rent contribution agreement to pay a weekly rental contribution to the relevant local authority, in line with the local authority’s differential rent scheme. As set out in the rent contribution agreement, this weekly rental contribution must be paid by them so that they remain eligible for the HAP scheme.
The HAP Shared Services Centre (SSC) manages the collection of all HAP tenants’ differential rents, on behalf of the relevant local authority, and the payment of all HAP rents to landlords on behalf of tenants supported by the HAP scheme. The HAP SSC follows a clear communication policy if rental arrears issues arise. This policy includes regular and early written communication with tenants, landlords and the relevant local authority.
The approach taken by the HAP SSC has been very effective with minimal levels of rent arrears arising for HAP tenants. In 2019, the scheme had a 96% differential rent collection rate, with minimal arrears arising for tenants or local authorities. At Q4 2021, the scheme had a 99% differential rent collection rate. Therefore, only a very small number of tenants have fallen into difficulty with their differential rent.
During the Covid-19 emergency, the HAP Debt Management Process (DMP) was suspended from March 2020 and partially re-commenced in October 2020. This meant non-payment of differential rent by a tenant during that time did not affect payments to HAP landlords. Tenants were, however, expected to continue to pay their rent with supports available for those financially impacted by Covid.
Following on from the successful roll out of the Covid vaccine programme and the reopening of society, the normal DMP was reinstated from 6 September 2021.
Tenants that incurred arrears during the Covid-19 emergency were given additional time to engage with the HAP Debt Management Unit to clear their arrears, as well as access to payment plans as a specific Covid measure. Under the normal HAP DMP payment plans are not offered or available to tenants at this stage of the process. The HAP SSC have now resumed the standard debt management process.
HAP tenants in arrears should contact their local authority and the HAP SSC to discuss the options that are available to them to ensure the continuation of their HAP support.
373. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the difference between the Quality Standards Framework that applies to voluntary sector homeless emergency accommodation and the Quality Standards Framework as it applied to private providers of emergency homeless accommodation in tabular form. [23246/22]
View answerThe Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the statutory role of local authorities in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons.
The National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) is in place nationally for local authority and NGO delivered services, and is designed to ensure a consistent approach in how local authorities and service providers respond to the needs of those experiencing homelessness and to improve the quality of services provided.
In summary there are 8 themes under which the NQSF standards are organised. Themes 1-4 focus on the provision of person centred services, which are safe and effective, and support the rights and equal treatment of persons at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Themes 5-8 focus on the organisational capability and capacity to deliver high quality services.
As a number of facilities are operated privately in the Dublin Region, the DRHE have adapted the NQSF standards in order to apply their provisions to private emergency accommodation. As happened with the NGO sector, this will involve a scaling up of standards over time. The Quality Standards for private emergency accommodation are framed under the same eight themes in the NQSF. The standards inform service users as to what they can expect from homeless services and ensures that service providers are clear in their responsibility to delivery safe, effective and consistently high standard services. Under the Quality Standards for Private Emergency Accommodation, the owner/operator are responsible for the physical standards and the visiting support teams responsible for the support and case management standards. It is understood that the DRHE appointed a Development Officer in January 2022, to roll out these standards in private emergency accommodation and to co-ordinate training with the HSE for staff working in these settings. The Development Officer will also co-ordinate quarterly key performance indicator (KPI) returns.
In Dublin the oversight and operation of standards is a matter for the DRHE. Both the NQSF and Quality Standards for Private Emergency Accommodation are available on the DRHE website at www.homelessdublin.ie/info/publications?type=&year=&keyword=quality+standards
374. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will publish the qualifying criteria associated with the new €50 million funding scheme recently announce at targeting the wastewater collection and treatment needs of villages and settlements without access to public wastewater services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23266/22]
View answerOn Thursday, 28th of April I announced the commencement of a new funding scheme targeting the waste water collection and treatment needs of villages and settlements without access to public waste water services. Details of this announcement can be found at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/f2fa6-minister-obrien-announces-50-million-in-funding-to-improve-the-waste-water-needs-of-rural-villages/
This announcement also included publication of full details of the scheme, including terms and conditions and a circular. The relevant accompanying documents can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/a524a-group-water-schemes-and-rural-water-issues/#waste-water-collection-and-treatment-needs-for-villages-and-settlements-without-access-to-public-waste-water-services.
375. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position in relation to the inclusion of County Clare in the defective concrete block scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23267/22]
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.
I aim to bring the required primary legislation to give effect to the enhanced scheme before the Oireachtas in the coming weeks.
There has been ongoing engagement between Clare County Council and my Department in respect of an extension of the Defective Concrete Block Grant scheme to homes located in County Clare. I understand that Clare County Council are currently finalising a revised submission in this regard and it is expected to be with my Department shortly.
The Government in its decision of the 30 November, 2021 on the revised scheme agreed that I may, with Government approval, extend the scheme beyond the counties of Donegal and Mayo to additional counties, where the evidence supports such an extension. The further submission expected from Clare County Council in this regard will on receipt be dealt with promptly by my Department.
376. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of cost rental homes he expects to be delivered via the cost rental equity loan in 2022; and the number of affordable purchase homes he expects to be delivered via the Affordable Housing Fund in 2022. [23357/22]
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 and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
Under this strategy, approximately 10,000 Cost Rental homes will be delivered from 2021 to 2026 by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), Local Authorities and the Land Development Agency (LDA). AHBs will be supported by Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) funding and Local Authorities will be able to avail of funding for Cost Rental delivery through the Affordable Housing Fund, formerly the Serviced Sites Fund. The LDA will also deliver Cost Rental on its own portfolio of sites or through acquisitions under Project Tosaigh.
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. The necessary financial and commercial arrangements in relation to a number of these projects are being completed by the AHBs concerned. When these arrangements are concluded, full details of the projects, including specific locations, housing typologies and cost-covering rents, will be made public. As matters stand, addition to the 65 delivered in 2021, AHBs have indicated that over 500 of these homes approved for CREL funding will be delivered in 2022 with the remainder due for completion in 2023.
The first 65 CREL-funded Cost Rental homes were tenanted by the Clúid AHB in 2021, with 25 at Taylor Hill in Balbriggan and a further 40 at Barnhall Meadows in Leixlip. Both developments delivered cost-covering rents at least 40% below comparable open-market prices.
This year, tenants have been selected by the Tuath AHB for 44 Cost Rental homes at Parklands, Citywest. These are two-bedroom apartments and two-bedroom duplexes, with starting cost rents projected to range from €1,200 to €1,300, representing a discount of approximately 30% on comparable market rents in the area.
A further 74 Cost Rental units will be completed by the Tuath AHB at Kilcarbery Grange, Clondalkin this year and an additional 16 Cost Rental units will be tenanted by Clúid at the Barnhall Meadows project in Leixlip, Co. Kildare. The first phases of schemes in Newcastle, Dublin and in Newbridge, Co. Kildare will see a further 57 new homes completed in Q2 2022.
In relation to Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) supported affordable housing delivery, 50 Cost Rental homes were tenanted last month in Woodside, Enniskerry Road, Stepaside, with rents with approximately 40% below open-market rates for comparable homes in that area.
Local Authority Affordable Purchase homes supported by the AHF will be made available shortly at Boherboy Road in Cork City this month, where 22 two and three-bed dwellings are expected to be delivered at discounts of up to 20% on market value with homes being made available from €218,000 to €243,000. A further 15 units are scheduled to be completed at Boherboy by year end. Cork City Council have also indicated that they will deliver 36 Affordable Purchase homes in Cluain Chaoin, Tower in two phases this year.
39 Affordable Purchase homes will also be delivered at Dun Emer in Lusk, Co Dublin by Fingal County Council in two phases this year. These two and three bed dwellings are expected to be delivered at an average discount of 25% on market values, ranging in price from €166,000 to €258,000.
In addition, South Dublin County Council recently advertised 16 Affordable Purchase homes in Kilcarbery Grange, Clondalkin all to be delivered this year, which will cost between €245,600 and €285,300.
Waterford City and County Council also expect to deliver Affordable Purchase homes at a development in Mount Neil, Carrickphierish by the end of 2022. In addition, a further development at Summerfields, Kilbarry is expected to deliver its first phase in 2022. A pipeline of affordable housing delivery is being developed by local authorities with nine schemes expected to go on site in 2022.
As affordable housing programmes are rolled out, additional affordable housing delivery will be facilitated through the expanded 20% Part V requirement, the introduction of the 'First Home' shared equity scheme, and through the Land Development Agency.
377. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps that his Department is taking to work closely with An Bord Pleanála to ensure that adequate staff resources are being provided to improve its statutory objective period compliance rate, particularly in relation to planning issues around renewable energy projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23388/22]
View answerAn Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts.
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.
In October 2021, my Department approved the 2021-2022 An Bord Pleanála Workforce Plan which provides for an additional 24 posts across a range of technical and administrative grades including the setting up of a new Marine and Climate Unit to implement the role assigned to the Board under the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 and associated projects under the Climate Action Plan 2021.
These additional 24 approved posts increase overall approved Board staffing by 13% from its previous total of 183 staff (excluding board members). In addition, the Board advertised on 25 March 2022 for qualified individuals to apply to be members of external specialist consultancy panels to advise the Board e.g. ecologists, ornithologists, hydrologists etc.
Following an updated assessment by the Board of resourcing issues likely to emerge as a result of planning applications for the National Development Plan and other infrastructure projects as well as legislative changes, a new workforce plan for 2022-2023 seeking additional resources was submitted to my Department by the Board on 1 April 2022. The Board subsequently revised this plan and resubmitted their 2022-2023 workforce plan to my Department on 22 April 2022.
My Department is actively engaging with the Board in relation to this revised workforce plan. I understand that a separate staff resourcing plan for projects associated with the Maritime Area Planning Act, 2021 is expected from the Board shortly and this will also be considered in the context of the proposed Workforce Plan 2022-2023.
The Board is continuing to progress modernisation initiatives including a major ICT transformation project - Plean-IT – to deliver efficiencies in its planning inspectorate’s case processing including the facilitation of on-line submission of applications and appeals. My Department continues to liaise closely with the Board in relation to their resourcing needs, the upskilling of the organisation and the modernisation of their case processing procedures in order to effectively deliver on their statutory functions.
