Written Answers Nos. 359-380
359. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to amend section 15 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014 in view of the recent census data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38922/22]
View answerI have no plans to amend section 15 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014 in view of preliminary data from Census 2022.
Unlike the position for Dáil members, there is no constitutional or legislative requirement for the revision of the number of elected members of local authorities. Any such consideration of elected member numbers will be determined in the context of final Census results and any subsequent local electoral area reviews. While the publication of final Census results is a matter for the Central Statistics Office, results are anticipated for publication in Spring 2023.
The Electoral Reform Bill 2022, which is currently progressing through the Houses of the Oireachtas, provides for, among other matters, the establishment of an Electoral Commission. The Electoral Commission will be independent of Government, reporting directly to the Oireachtas. It will take on several existing statutory electoral functions from the outset, including responsibility for the work currently carried out by Local Electoral Area Boundary Committees.
Section 23 of the Local Government Act 2001 empowers the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to divide a local authority area into local electoral areas and to amend those areas. However, the Electoral Reform Bill requires, in advance of deciding to make an order under section 23 of the 2001 Act, that I request the Electoral Commission to make a report having regard to such matters as may be specified.
I have no plans to make an order under section 23 of the Local Government Act 2001 amending local electoral areas in advance of the next local elections due in 2024.
360. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applicants for social housing in County Limerick to date in 2022, by district in tabular form; the number of social housing units completed in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38931/22]
View answerDetail on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is published by my Department in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). See below for the link to the 2021 summary.
SSHA 2021
www.gov.ie/en/publication/f6119-summary-of-social-housing-assessments-2021-key-findings/
The SSHA exercise for 2022 will take place later in the year and the summary published in 2023.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity available at www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
361. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff who are abated under his Department in accordance with the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, in tabular form. [38955/22]
View answerThere are two members of staff in my Department whose public service pension is abated.
362. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if persons whose houses were repossessed and sold are eligible to apply for local authority loans to purchase a new house; if not, if he intends to change the rules to afford these persons a second chance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39024/22]
View answerThe Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage scheme for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.
The Fresh Start principle extends the supports available under the Local Authority Home Loan scheme to applicants who are divorced, legally separated, or where the relationship has ended and where they retain no beneficial interest in a home.
The Fresh Start principle also applies to those who have previously purchased a residential property but have been divested of this through personal insolvency or bankruptcy arrangements, proceedings or other legal processes. The divestment of the home must have been consequent upon insolvency.
The following categories of persons are eligible to apply for the Local Authority Home Loan under the Fresh Start principle:
- Applicant(s) that previously purchased or built a residential property, but is divorced and has left the property and divested themselves of their interest in the property are eligible.
- Applicant(s) that previously purchased a residential property, but have been divested of this through insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, are eligible to apply. The applicant must be discharged from bankruptcy proceedings. It should be noted that a return to solvency should not be interpreted as a return to creditworthiness, which is a separate assessment.
The final decision regarding the Local Authority Home Loan application is made by the relevant Local Authority Credit Committee on a case by case basis.
Further details can be found on localauthorityhomeloan.ie/
363. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when it is hoped that the review by his Department of the amendments made in Seanad Éireann to the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016 will be completed in order that he can bring a memorandum to Government seeking approval to have the Bill restored to the Order Paper of Dáil Éireann; the reason for the delay with this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39030/22]
View answerThe Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016 gives legal effect to the proposed reconfiguration of the raised bog Natural Heritage Area network arising from the 2014 review of the raised bog Natural Heritage Area network.
The Bill had completed all stages in the Dáil and the Seanad, and had been returned to the Dáil for consideration of the various amendments made by the Seanad when the Bill lapsed with the dissolution of the 32nd Dáil on 14 January 2020.
It is my intention to bring a Memorandum to Government to seek approval to have the Bill restored to the order paper, once a number of complexities have been resolved, and the amendments made in the Seanad have been re-examined in consultation with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) from a legal and drafting perspective.
My Department is engaging with the OPC on this process with a view of completion in the coming months.
364. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of affordable homes that have been built in counties Cavan and Monaghan in each of the past five years; the total number planned for 2023; the total funding allocated each year to the local authority to supply affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39114/22]
View answerFollowing the publication of Housing for All, I asked local authorities to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans. In preparing these plans local authorities were asked to assess the level of housing demand with affordability constraint projected for their area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) tool and plan their provision accordingly. Local authorities with an identified affordable housing need were asked to prepare Affordable Delivery Action Plans and were set five-year Affordable Delivery Targets.
An identified high level of affordable housing need arises where the HNDA indicates that, of the total projected need for housing in the county, over 5% of new households will not qualify for social housing but will also be constrained in accessing housing by their ability to afford to buy or rent. The level of affordably constrained need across both Cavan and Monaghan is assessed at below 5%, although some localised affordability issues may arise in certain towns within the county.
It is possible for local authorities, including Monaghan County Council and Cavan County Council, to undertake HNDA analysis at sub county level to determine whether a need for affordable housing schemes is evident in specific towns/areas. The Affordable Housing Fund subsidy is available to support affordable housing purchase in schemes located in large or key towns per National Planning Framework objectives and to ensure that provision is aligned with where need is concentrated. My Department and the Housing Agency are available to assist in this regard.
The First Home Scheme to support affordable purchases of new homes in the private market will operate nationwide. Targeted at First Time Buyers or those eligible under the Government’s ‘Fresh Start’ principle, the Scheme will be delivered via a strategic partnership between the State and participating mortgage lenders, and was launched last week. It will improve access to newly-built homes by using a shared equity model to bridge the gap between mortgage finance and the cost of new homes. The homes must be priced within regional price ceilings which will reflect the median prices paid by First Time Buyers for new homes in each area, so this is an intervention to support homeownership in the lower region of the market.
365. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average length of time spent on the social housing list in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the plans to reduce these times; the total number on the social housing list for each of the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39115/22]
View answer371. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average length of time spent on the social housing list in Cork city; the plans to reduce these times; the total number on the social housing list for each of the past 12 months and in each month to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39204/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 371 together.
Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area and the length of time on waiting lists are provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA).
Below is the link to the summary report for 2021:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/f6119-summary-of-social-housing-assessments-2021-key-findings/
The SSHA exercise for 2022 will take place later in the year and the summary published in 2023.
The Housing for All strategy is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade, including an average of 10,000 social homes per annum from 2022-2030. It is anticipated that the new supply will further reduce the wait times for those on the social housing list.
366. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of applicants for Rebuilding Ireland home loans from counties Cavan and Monaghan; the total number that have been successful; the total number that have been refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39116/22]
View answer372. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of applicants for Rebuilding Ireland home loans and local authority home loans from Cork; the total number that have been successful; the total number that have been refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39205/22]
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 are accepted, although applications/approvals already in process are being honoured.
The Housing Agency provides a central support service that assesses applications for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, and its successor the Local Authority Home Loan scheme, on behalf of local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities to approve or refuse applications.
Each local authority must have in place a credit committee and it is a matter for the committee to make the decision on applications for loans, in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the Credit Policy that under pins the scheme, having regard to the recommendations made by the Housing Agency.
The most recent figures provided by the Housing Agency on the number of Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan applications that it has assessed and recommended for approval and decline for Cavan County Council, Monaghan County Council, Cork County Council and Cork City Council from March 2018 up to the end of June 2022 are set out in the below table:
|
Local Authority |
Applications Assessed |
Recommended to Approve |
Recommended to Decline |
|
Cavan County Council |
45 |
23 |
22 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
119 |
36 |
83 |
|
Cork City Council |
480 |
209 |
271 |
|
Cork County Council |
866 |
414 |
452 |
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 Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan drawdowns, approvals, average drawdowns, and average approvals to Q1 2022 is available at the following link, under the folder name 'Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan' which will be updated as soon as figures are available:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/42d2f-local-authority-loan-activity/#local-authority-loans-approvedpaid
367. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has invited Cavan and Monaghan local authorities to make an application for the vacant properties' voids programme; if such an application has been submitted; the total amount of funding that his Department proposes to allocate to each authority; the expected timeframe for release of the funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39117/22]
View answerThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.
Notwithstanding this, my Department provides annual funding support to local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-let under the Voids Programme. This funding was introduced originally to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted to support authorities to ensure minimal turnaround and re-let times for vacant stock.
From 2014 to 2021, expenditure of some €261 million was recouped to local authorities under the Voids Programme which funded the return to productive use of 18,527 properties nationwide.
My Department continues to support local authorities in their work remediating vacant social housing properties in 2022. This year funding of €25 million to support the refurbishment of c. 2,273 vacant properties is being made available and each individual local authority has been notified of their target number of units and funding allocation as per Circular 18/2022.
Cavan County Council has received an allocation of €594,000 to remediate 54 properties and Monaghan has received an allocation of €330,000 to remediate 30 properties. Both local authorities are progressing a programme of works based on their allocation. This funding is available immediately and will be recouped to the local authorities upon receipt of a valid claim.
368. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the report of the independent working group that was set-up to examine the issue of defective housing will be completed; and if any measures to help these homeowners will be included in Budget 2023. [39126/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area of addressing building defects. These include a commitment to to examine defects in housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing’s report "Safe as Houses?" and to assist owners of latent defect properties, by identifying options for those impacted by defects to access low-cost, long-term finance. Housing for All, the Government’s national plan on housing to 2030, reiterates these commitments.
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 have taken 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.
3. Establish the scale of the issue – estimate number of dwellings affected by the defects identified including those already remediated.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Evaluate the potential cost of technical remediation options.
7. 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.
8. Report to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the Examination of Defects in Housing.
The working group is currently concluding its deliberations in support of the delivery on its extensive terms of reference and working towards finalisation of its report. Once I receive the report I will give full consideration to its contents.
369. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if first time self-build homeowners will qualify for the new home equity scheme announced recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39146/22]
View answerThe First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new build houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. The Scheme uses regional price ceilings based on the median prices of new build first time buyer homes.
Full details of the scheme are available at www.firsthomescheme.ie.
The First Home Scheme is not currently available for self-build properties. The First Home Scheme Designated Activity Company holds responsibility for scheme delivery and has confirmed the scheme parameters will subject to review in the future.
370. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of affordable homes that have been built in Cork city in each of the past five years; the total amount planned for 2022; the total funding allocated each year to the local authority to supply affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39203/22]
View answerFunding is made available by Government to assist local authority and Approved Housing Body (AHB) delivery of affordable housing, for purchase and rent, through the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF), previously known as the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF), and the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL).
Two Affordable Housing Fund supported schemes will deliver affordable housing in Cork City this year. Cork City Council has advised my Department that the first two phases of the Boherboy Road project in Cork City, involving a total of 117 affordable purchase homes, will see 37 of those homes completed and advertised for applications to purchase this month.
In addition, a development at Cluain Chaoin in Tower will deliver 36 affordable purchase homes in two phases and will also be advertised this month.
Nationally, approval in principle has been confirmed for approximately 900 new Cost Rental homes to be delivered in urban centres by AHBs under the Cost Rental Equity Loan scheme over the period 2021-2023. Of these initial approvals, approximately 150 are scheduled to be delivered in Cork City in 2022 and 2023, across four different sites. The first 73 Cost Rental homes in Cork are scheduled for delivery by the Clúid AHB at Lancaster Gate, Cork City, later this year.
Furthermore, the Land Development Agency (LDA) are currently working on the former HSE site at St. Kevin’s Hospital in Cork City. The LDA have secured planning permission for 265 social and affordable homes. Work will begin on site this year and the first homes are expected at the end of 2023.
The planned delivery of affordable housing, in accordance with the Affordable Housing Act 2021, is set out in local authorities' Housing Delivery Action Plans. Preparation of the Plans allowed each local authority to assess the level of demand with affordability constraint in their area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment and plan provision accordingly. They provide a comprehensive national overview of projected delivery of affordable housing.
Finally, the recently launched First Home Scheme to support affordable purchases of new homes in the private market will operate nationwide. Targeted at First Time Buyers or those eligible under the Government’s ‘Fresh Start’ principle, the Scheme will be delivered via a strategic partnership between the State and participating mortgage lenders, and was launched last week. It will improve access to newly-built homes by using a shared equity model to bridge the gap between mortgage finance and the cost of new homes. The homes must be priced within regional price ceilings which will reflect the median prices paid by First Time Buyers for new homes in each area, so this is an intervention to support homeownership in the lower region of the market.
373. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has invited Cork City Council to make an application for the vacant properties' voids programme; if such an application has been submitted; the total amount of funding that the Department proposes to allocate to the authority; the expected timeframe for release of the funding; the number of units that this funding will cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39206/22]
View answerThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.
Notwithstanding this, my Department provides annual funding support to local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-let under the Voids Programme. This funding was introduced originally to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted to support authorities to ensure minimal turnaround and re-let times for vacant stock.
From 2014 to 2021, expenditure of some €261 million was recouped to local authorities under the Voids Programme which funded the return to productive use of 18,527 properties nationwide.
My Department continues to support local authorities in their work remediating vacant social housing properties in 2022. This year funding of €25 million to support the refurbishment of c. 2,273 vacant properties is being made available and each individual local authority has been notified of their target number of units and funding allocation as per Circular 18/2022.
Cork City Council has received an allocation of €1,584,000 to remediate 144 properties and are progressing a programme of works based on this allocation. This funding is available immediately and will be recouped to the local authority upon receipt of a valid claim.
374. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that HAP recipients are not able to get repayment plans if they are in arrears; the way that tenants in arrears can deal with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39217/22]
View answer375. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of tenants who had HAP arrears and who lost their tenancies by county since 1 January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39218/22]
View answer376. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will publish the guidelines used by HAP and by the local authorities on the way that they deal with vulnerable customers in rent arrears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39219/22]
View answer377. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will request HAP to allow tenants in rent arrears to take-up payment plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39220/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 374, 375, 376 and 377 together.
Tenants 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.
Since HAP was rolled out in 2014 to end 2021, HAP support has been ceased for 1,418 tenancies due to tenant differential rent arrears. This represented 1.4% of all tenancies set up during that period. Data in respect of 2022 is not yet available. My Department does not hold data on the number of tenants who have exited HAP due to arrears on a county by county basis, the management of individual HAP tenancy exits is a matter for each individual local authority.
The approach taken by the HAP Shared Services Centre (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 has now resumed the standard debt management process.
The National Homeless Action Committee (NHAC), which I chair, was established in December 2021 in line with a commitment set out in Housing for All . At the first meeting of NHAC, it was agreed that immediate priority would be given to additional measures to prevent homelessness. A number of measures have been identified and are now being advanced. Three separate subgroups have also been established to focus on specific areas of homelessness prevention. One of these subgroups is tasked with considering the risk of homelessness for HAP/HHAP tenants in arrears.
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.
378. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable, affordable mortgage, cost rental and council houses including Approved Housing Bodies, that will be delivered in County Louth in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39221/22]
View answerHousing for All, is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.
Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes; 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing and 28,500 new affordable homes in the period 2022-2026. In September 2021, I issued social housing targets to each local authority, for the period 2022-2026 and in March I issued local authority targets for affordable purchase and cost-rental. Louth County Council has a target to deliver 1,323 new build social homes in the period 2022-2026 including a target to deliver 660 new build social homes in 2022.
Specific to Affordable Housing Fund- supported homes, Louth County Council have a target to deliver 226 affordable purchase and cost-rental homes in the period 2022-2026. The First Home affordable purchase shared equity scheme is also available to purchasers in Louth. The Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) is available to Approved Housing Bodies and the scheme will deliver 34 Cost Rental homes in Louth in 2023. The Help to Buy Scheme, Local Authority Home Loan and the expanded Part V requirements are also available to increase the supply of new housing and make home ownership more affordable across Louth.It is a matter for each local authority to determine the location of social and affordable housing projects, having regard to the identified need. A key action of Housing for All is that local authorities develop and submit Housing Delivery Action Plans to include details of social and affordable housing delivery. The Plans set out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022 - 2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. All local authorities submitted their Housing Delivery Action Plans to me in December and my Department worked closely with the local authorities to review and finalise the Plans, having regard to the targets and policy objectives set out in Housing for All. The Plans are being published on local authority websites.
379. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement that there has been by his Department with the Attorney General on the planning review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39222/22]
View answerHousing for All 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. The review forms one of the actions in Housing for All and is set in the context of the broad policy outlined therein.
The review is being overseen by the Attorney General and he has appointed a working group of professionals with planning law expertise to assist him in this work. It is intended that the review will be completed by December 2022.
Extensive work is underway on the review and a dedicated Planning Legislation Review Unit has been established within my Department to work closely with the Attorney General and his working group on an ongoing basis, particularly with regards to any policy implications of proposed changes, responsibility for which lies within the remit of the Minister.
To supplement this work, extensive stakeholder engagement is underway. A Planning Advisory Forum has been established, consisting of a wide stakeholder membership with representatives from a broad range of sectors, including representation from the public sector, business, environmental, social and knowledge based sectors. This forum, which I chair, is a key element of the planning review and its role is to input to the evolving policy and legal agenda, particularly in relation to the review.
380. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he and or his officials have been contacted by or engaged with the Corporate Enforcement Authority and or The Standards in Public Office Commission in respect of the review of certain matters at An Bord Pleanála. [39277/22]
View answerMy Department published the terms of reference (attached) for the Report into the management of conflicts of interest and relevant disclosures by the Deputy Chairperson of An Bord Pleanála in relation to certain Decisions of that Board and related matters on the 12th of May 2022. In accordance with the terms of reference, Remy Farrell, Senior Counsel, was requested to provide a report to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage within a period of 6 weeks from the 12th of May 2022.
On 22th June 2022 I received and acceded to a request from Mr. Remy Farrell for an extension of time to 29th July 2022 in order to allow Mr. Farrell sufficient time to complete his work and finalise the report. The Terms of Reference published on 12th May 2022 remain unchanged.
Neither I, nor my officials, have been contacted by or engaged with the Corporate Enforcement Authority and or The Standards in Public Office Commission in respect of the review of certain matters at An Bord Pleanála.
