Written Answers Nos. 616-630
616. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if retrospective financial supports are available for an individual (details supplied) in the process of building their home. [39702/22]
View answerOn the 14th July my Department launched the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. The fund is initially focused on supporting refurbishment of vacant homes in regional towns and villages. The Fund is being delivered by local authorities, and will provide new choices for people to live in towns and villages in Ireland, initially through the provision of a grant to support the refurbishment of vacant properties, with priority given to areas where the level of vacancy or dereliction is high.
A grant of up to a maximum of €30,000 will be available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence, including the conversion of a property which has not been used as residential heretofore. Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €30,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 will be available where the property is confirmed derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €50,000.
Applications are to be made to the relevant local authority prior to works commencing. They will arrange for suitable technical staff to visit the property to assess the projected costs of the work proposed. The grant will be paid based on vouched expenditure following a final inspection by the local authority.
617. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way that the new notice periods which must be provided by a landlord to end a tenancy from 6 July 2022 affect those who received their notice prior to this date (details supplied). [39703/22]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the rented residential sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 (RTA), to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.
From 6 July 2022, Part 11 of the Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 amends the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 to:
- Extend notice periods, by approximately two months, to be given to tenants when serving a Notice of Termination (NoT), where there has been no breach of tenant obligations, in tenancies of less than three years duration;
- Improve procedures where a landlord is required to make an offer of re-let;
- Require landlords to copy the RTB when serving a notice of termination; and
- Increase from 28 days to 90 days, the period from the date of receipt of a ‘no fault’ NoT for a tenant to submit a dispute as to the NoT’s validity to the RTB for resolution.
The revised notice periods for NoT's are as follows :
|
Duration of Tenancy |
Notice Periods for Notice of Terminations served from 06 July 2022 |
|
Less than 6 months |
90 days |
|
Not less than 6 months but less than one year |
152 days |
|
Not less than one year but less than 3 years |
180 days |
|
Not less than 3 years but less than 7 years |
180 days |
|
Not less than 7 years but less than 8 years |
196 days |
|
Not less than 8 years |
224 days |
Further information can be found at: www.rtb.ie
In addition, all NoT's must be copied to the RTB at the same time as being served to the tenant and will be invalid if it is not so copied.
There is no provision in the RTA for retrospective application of the revised notice periods under section 66. These revised notice periods cannot apply to Notices of Termination served before the law came into effect.
618. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will advise on a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to domestic septic tanks registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39704/22]
View answer633. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address legislative matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) in respect of septic tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39896/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 618 and 633 together.
My Department provides financial assistance towards the remediation, repair or upgrading works to, or the replacement of a domestic waste water treatment system under new and revised grant schemes, which launched in June 2020. The schemes are focused on areas of greatest environmental priority rather than general in application. This is in line with Government Policy which is framed in the context of meeting relevant obligations under legislation.
The Water Services Act 2007, as amended, required all owners of premises served by an individual domestic waste water treatment system to have the system entered into a register maintained by local authorities. The prescribed date of 1 February 2013 was appointed by the Water Services Act 2007 and 2012 Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Registration) Regulations 2012, as amended. New houses with domestic treatment systems continue to be required to register.
My Department has undertaken to conduct a review of the grant schemes, examining all issues to ensure their continued alignment with policy objectives. The review is currently ongoing and is expected to be completed by year end.
619. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if he will provide an Oireachtas contact email for the Residential Tenancies Board to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39743/22]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the rented residential sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Acts to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.
While this is an operational matter for the RTB, I am aware that some landlord and agent customers are encountering issues with the new RTB tenancy management system and unfortunately, it has taken longer than expected to overcome these issues. The RTB has assured me that it is committed to working collaboratively and constructively with the sector to move through this period.
The RTB has been experiencing significantly high volumes of calls, webchat, and emails. In response to increased customer demand, the RTB’s contracted service partner increased their staffing on the RTB account from 49 to 81 as of the end of June. This represents a 75% increase on staff to ensure the RTB can continue to engage with stakeholders to resolve any issues.
Complaints directly relating to the quality of the service provided by the RTB should be made in writing (email, fax or letter) to the Quality Customer Service Officer (QCSO). The QCSO can be contacted by email at customer.service@rtb.ie or by letter addressed to the Quality Customer Service Officer, Residential Tenancies Board, PO Box 47, Clonakilty, County Cork.
Full details of the RTB’s complaints procedure is outlined in their Customer Charter and is available to download from their website at:
www.rtb.ie/rtb-freedom-of-information-publication-scheme/customer-charter
The RTB may be contacted directly at OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie for any further information on its operational matters.
620. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has been notified by local authorities of potential defective blocks identified in advance of contracts being signed on social housing construction or turnkey projects; if so, the local authorities involved; the number of occasions on which such possible defective blocks were identified; and the action that was taken by his Department with respect to the potential defective blocks such as notification of the National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office or related inspection and enforcement action. [39749/22]
View answerThe primary responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations rests with the designers, builders and owners of buildings, while the enforcement of the Building Regulations and the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) is a matter for local authorities, who are independent in the exercise of their statutory powers. Under the European Union (Construction Products) Regulations 2013, each of the building control authorities (local authorities) have been designated as the principal market surveillance authorities for construction products that fall within the scope of the CPR, within their administrative areas. In addition, the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020 (Construction Products – Market Surveillance) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 682 of 2020) appointed Dublin City Council as a competent authority for the carrying out of market surveillance functions under the European Union (Construction Products) Regulations 2013 for all related construction products on a nationwide basis. Dublin City Council-National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office, (NBC&MSO) Market Surveillance Unit has been established for this purpose. Building control authorities liaise with NBC&MSO national market surveillance unit to support compliance with the CPR and to determine appropriate action on enforcement matters, as they arise.
My Department has provided some material and observations on documentation received from Donegal County Council, to the National Building Control & Market Surveillance Office, in respect of housing units they intend to acquire for social housing use. While the information provided by Donegal County Council was provided to the National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office, any matters of concern with respect to compliance with the Building Regulations/Construction Products Regulations should be raised with Donegal County Council’s Building Control Section.
621. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department received a report from Donegal County Council on foot of its inspection of 187 quarries in the County; if he will provide a summary of the information and recommendation contained in the report; and the action that his Department is taking in respect of same. [39750/22]
View answerIn October of last year I requested a market surveillance audit of all quarries in Donegal which was carried out by the National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office in partnership with Donegal County Council and Geological Survey Ireland.
I received a draft report of this audit at the end of June. Some queries have arisen on examination of the report and additional information has been sought from the authors of the report. Once I receive the final report I will give full consideration to its contents.
622. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is considering requesting National Standards Authority of Ireland to conduct reviews of the masonry block industry standard and the aggregate industry standard. [39751/22]
View answerArising from the Government Decision on an enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme in November 2021, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) was tasked with delivering a programme of work to address the following technical items:
- A review of I.S. 465:2018+A1:2020 - Assessment, testing and categorisation of damaged buildings incorporating concrete blocks containing certain deleterious materials and its application.
- A review by NSAI Masonry Committee of the Irish Standard for Concrete Blocks (including aggregates).
- A review of the impact of pumped cavity wall insulation on cavity wall construction and within homes susceptible to or impacted by defective concrete blocks.
NSAI does not operate under the auspices of my Department, it is an autonomous body under the aegis of the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, and as such detail on its programme of work is a matter for the NSAI.
However, an interagency Defective Concrete Blocks – Technical Matters Steering Group has been established to support and inform the NSAI Standardisation Program in relation to technical issues. The steering group includes representatives from NSAI, Geological Survey Ireland, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, and representatives from my Department.
623. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department met its revised target date of 31 June 2022 to have full-time vacancy officers in place in every local authority; if he will list those local authorities that have yet to engage a full-time vacancy officer; when those vacancies will be filled; the steps that he is taking to ensure that all local authorities have a full-time vacancy officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39759/22]
View answer779. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of whole-time equivalent vacant homes officers in each local authority. [41597/22]
View answer796. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the local authorities that now have vacant homes officers in place; if they are full-time vacant homes officers; and if not, if this work constitutes part of their overall responsibilities in tabular form. [41631/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 623, 779 and 796 together.
In January 2022, my Department communicated with local authorities outlining that it is increasing the funding made available since 2018 from €50,000 to €60,000 per annum from mid-2022, to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office including a vacant homes officer to support the commitment in Housing for All to ensure that vacant homes officers are full-time. The provision of central funding reinforces the capacity of local authorities, including through the important role of vacant homes officers, to ensure a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction with a view to increasing the opportunities for residential development.
Local authorities were requested to arrange for the vacant homes officer position to become full-time by the end of Q2 2022 and to notify my Department accordingly. Of the 31 Local Authorities, 18 Vacant Homes Officers are now on a full-time basis, with the remaining local authorities in the process of transitioning the role to being full time. The Department is continuing the ongoing engagement with the remaining local authorities on the process underway to ensure that full-time Vacant Homes Officers are in place. Details of individual local authorities are contained in the table below.
The work of the Vacant Homes Officers is aligned and integrated with the roll out of Housing for All and the Town Centre First Policy, and will include:
- Overseeing a coordinated approach to Housing for All pathways to addressing vacancy and efficient use of existing stock through working closely with the multi-disciplinary technical team in the relevant local authority, to support implementation of Towns Centre First policy;
Actively leading uptake within the local authority of various Departmental schemes such as:
a. Social Housing Capital Delivery Schemes e.g. Buy and Renew Scheme;
b. Repair and Leasing Scheme;
c. New programme for the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) of vacant properties to secure for sale on the open market; and
d. Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund focused on towns and villages
- Actively monitor and assess vacancy data locally to support development of associated targets for vacancy reduction, including in specific urban areas and neighbourhoods
- Advisory role both internally for local authority teams and externally as a contact point for members of the public and key interested parties on vacant homes/properties to assist, inform, provide and promote expert up to date advice on bringing vacant properties back into use.
|
Local Authority |
Vacant Homes Officer Full-time |
|
Carlow |
In Transition |
|
Cavan |
Yes |
|
Clare |
Yes |
|
Cork City |
Yes |
|
Cork county |
In Transition |
|
Donegal |
In Transition |
|
Dublin City |
Yes |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
Yes |
|
Fingal |
Yes |
|
Galway City |
In Transition |
|
Galway County |
Yes |
|
Kerry |
In Transition |
|
Kildare |
Yes |
|
Kilkenny |
In Transition |
|
Laois |
In Transition |
|
Leitrim |
Yes |
|
Limerick |
Yes |
|
Longford |
In Transition |
|
Louth |
Yes |
|
Mayo |
Yes |
|
Meath |
Yes |
|
Monaghan |
Yes |
|
Offaly |
In Transition |
|
Roscommon |
Yes |
|
Sligo |
In Transition |
|
South Dublin |
Yes |
|
Tipperary |
Yes |
|
Waterford |
Yes |
|
Westmeath |
In Transition |
|
Wexford |
In Transition |
|
Wicklow |
In Transition |
625. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the percentage of water that is being lost through leaks in each county in the State, for each of the past five years in tabular form. [39791/22]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The day-to-day operation of the public water system, including the leakage reduction programme, is therefore a matter for Irish Water and as Minister I have no function in relation to this matter. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578. It is understood that Irish Water will readily supply the required information on request.
626. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of Government money received by Irish Water in each of the past five years and to date in 2022. [39792/22]
View answerIn September 2017, the government agreed a new funding model for Irish Water following the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services that was published and approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas in April 2017.
The new funding model provides for a Government subvention for domestic water services funded from the Exchequer through my Department’s Vote and a continuation of charges for non-domestic customers and new connections. My Department also funds Irish Water through a capital contribution to fund their capital programme in respect of the domestic sector.
In March 2019, the Government approved recommendations made by an inter-departmental working group on replacing Irish Water’s existing commercial debt facilities with state funding and provide state borrowing facilities in respect of the capital programme for the non-domestic sector. This facility is provided by the Minister for Finance.
The Programme for Government commits to funding Irish Water's capital investment plan for water and wastewater infrastructure on a multi-annual basis. The National Development Plan 2021-2030 commits to almost €6bn investment to be undertaken by Irish Water in the period from 2021-2025, of which over €4.5 billion will be Voted Exchequer funded in respect of domestic water services.
In this regard, as part of Budget 2022, I secured funding of over €1.57 billion to support water services. This includes €1.459 billion in respect of domestic water services provision by Irish Water. This overall investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and waste water services, support improved water supplies right across Ireland, including rural Ireland, and support a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine areas.
State funding provided to Irish Water in the past 5 years including the funding to date for 2022 is set out in the table below:
|
Amounts to nearest €m |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Funding to June 2022 |
|
Current |
291 |
600 |
562 |
624 |
677 |
262 |
|
Capital |
500 |
646 |
679 |
599 |
304 |
|
|
Total Vote 34 |
291 |
1,100 |
1,208 |
1,303 |
1,276 |
566 |
|
Local Government Fund |
639 |
|||||
|
Capital contribution from the Minister for Finance |
270 |
758 |
||||
|
Minister for Finance funding for the replacement of commercial borrowings |
238 |
|||||
|
State Borrowing Allocations |
134 |
130 |
45 |
|||
|
Total |
1,200 |
1,100 |
1,966 |
1,675 |
1,406 |
611 |
627. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline and document evidence of engagement with the banks in an effort to facilitate persons who are not in a position to come up with the initial funds for second stage engineering fees and demolition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39793/22]
View answerOversight of the financial institutions is outside the scope and remit of my Department but I did write to the Minister for Finance on these matters.
The Minister for Finance advised that neither he nor his Department have any role in relation to the commercial decisions of individual regulated entities, such as decisions they may make on applications for credit, or in respect of individual actions they may take to assist households with a mortgage which is secured on a residence affected by mica or pyrite.
Notwithstanding this I can confirm that engagement is on-going with the Banking and Payments Federation on specific issues raised by Defective Concrete Block homeowners to see what can be done to address their concerns.
628. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on quality control checks and measures at quarries that produce 4-inch, 6-inch and 12-inch concrete blocks and reinforced lintels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39795/22]
View answerThe Construction Products Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (CPR) sets out rules for the marketing of construction products in the EU, from 1 July 2013. Where a construction product, covered by a harmonised standard (including concrete blocks and reinforced lintels), is being placed on the EU market, the CPR requires the manufacturer to draw up a ‘declaration of performance’ and affix a ‘CE’ marking to the product. In order to do so, manufacturers must test and declare the performance of their construction products using a common technical language prescribed in the harmonised standard.
The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), is Ireland’s official standards body and is an autonomous body under the aegis of the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment. NSAI has produced additional guidance to some harmonised (including concrete blocks, aggregates for concrete and lintels) in the form of Standard Recommendations (SRs) which set out appropriate minimum performance levels for specific intended uses of certain construction products in Ireland.
In relation to the specification of aggregate concrete blocks and lintels, the relevant harmonised standards are ‘I.S. EN 771-3:2011+A1:2015 - Specification for masonry units - Part 3: Aggregate concrete masonry units (Dense and lightweight aggregates’ and ‘EN 845-2:2013+A1:2016 - Specification for ancillary components for masonry - Part 2: Lintels’, respectively. NSAI has published additional guidance in the form of ‘S.R. 325:2013+A2:2018/AC:2019 Recommendations for the design of masonry structures in Ireland to Eurocode 6’ which provides, inter alia, guidance on lintels, the choice of masonry units and mortar classes most appropriate for particular situations as regards durability for finished work in Ireland. S.R. 325:2013+A2:2018/AC: 2019 recommends the use of Category 1 aggregate concrete blocks, which requires independent third party oversight of factory production control by a Notified Body (a designated body that carries out third-party tasks).
In relation to the manufacture of lintels, the manufacturer is responsible for factory production control but the performance on the basis of testing must be assessed by a notified laboratory.
A full list of designated Notified Bodies (including notified laboratories), for construction products may be found on the New Approach Notified and Designated Organisations (NANDO) Information System hosted by the European Commission.
Ultimately, the manufacturer is responsible for compliance with the CPR and in particular for the Declaration of Performance/CE marking of the construction product he or she is placing on the market, having full knowledge of the raw material (as is legally required by the CPR via the relevant harmonised European Standards) and having regard to the end product’s suitability for use in construction works in accordance with the relevant Standard Recommendations published by the NSAI.
My Department recently published ‘A Guide to the Marketing and Use of Aggregate Concrete Blocks to EN 771-3 in Ireland’ which is available on the Department’s website. This guide aims to facilitate clearer communication within the supply chain regarding the declared performance of essential characteristics of concrete blocks having regard to national provisions in Ireland. Guidance is also provided for specifiers, designers, builders, certifiers and end users who when specifying and choosing aggregate concrete blocks, they should ensure that the construction products are fit for intended use and the conditions in which they are to be used. Appropriate specifications and choices will help secure compliance with the Building Regulations 1997 to 2021. This Guide was disseminated to all building control authorities, the National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office (NBCMSO), industry stakeholders and interested parties.
While the CPR came into force in July 2013 and has direct legal application across the entire European Union, each Member State is responsible for regulating for its own market surveillance activities in accordance with the specific requirements of the CPR and the broader overarching requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on market surveillance and compliance of products and amending Directive 2004/42/EC and Regulations (EC) No 765/2008 and (EU) No 305/2011.
Under the European Union (Construction Products) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No.225 of 2013), each of the building control authorities (local authorities) have been designated as the principal market surveillance authorities for construction products that fall within the scope of the CPR, within their administrative areas. In addition, the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020 (Construction Products – Market Surveillance) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 682 of 2020) appointed Dublin City Council as a competent authority for the carrying out of market surveillance functions under the European Union (Construction Products) Regulations 2013 for all related construction products on a nationwide basis. Dublin City Council-National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office (NBCMSO) Market Surveillance Unit has been established for this purpose. Building control authorities liaise with NBCMSO national market surveillance unit to support compliance with the CPR and to determine appropriate action on enforcement matters, as they arise.
Ireland’s National market surveillance programme 2021 is published on the website of the European Commission. Section 2.5 provides specific details with the market surveillance of construction products and outlines a market surveillance campaign led by NBCMSO, to perform risk assessments of selected quarrying and pit operations, follow-up inspections, sampling and testing as appropriate to ensure compliance with the CPR. The 2022 programme is currently being finalised and is expected to continue to focus on the extractive industries sector and expand upon the programme commenced in 2021.
In October of last year I requested National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office, in partnership with Donegal County Council and Geological Survey Ireland, to carry out a Market Surveillance Audit of all quarries in Donegal. I received a draft report of this audit at the end of June. Some queries have arisen on examination of the report and additional information has been sought from the authors of the report. Once I receive the final report I will give full consideration to its contents.
In addition to the initiatives above, Market Surveillance Authorities respond to complaints raised. Therefore any information on suspected non-compliance should be submitted in writing (detailing as much information as possible) to either the appropriate local Market Surveillance Authority and/or the National Building Control Office and Market Surveillance Office (NBCMSO). The Local Market Surveillance Authority may be contacted through the City or County Council. NBCMSO may be contacted at: support@nbco.gov.ie.
629. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will bring a memo to Cabinet to deal with the issue of down-sizing as part of the defective concrete block remediation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39798/22]
View answerFollowing on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme, the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 has now been passed by both the Dáil and Seanad and signed into law by the President. I progressed this legislation to ensure that we can have the scheme ready for homeowners to access by the end of the year.
The purpose of this Act is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the scheme as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021. Full details can be found at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/328d7-minister-obrien-welcomes-progress-on-enhanced-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme/.
The grant awarded to an applicant under the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme will be appropriate to the size of home they intend to build. I and the Government have an obligation to the taxpayer and participants in the scheme to ensure that the grants approved are appropriate to the size of home being rebuilt and that homeowners rebuilding a home of the same size are commensurately grant aided.
630. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the options that are available to persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39837/22]
View answerThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support available for people who have a long-term housing need. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP. Eligible households can source their own accommodation in the private rental sector which should be within the HAP rent limits provided to them by the local authority.
The Programme for Government commits to ensuring that HAP levels are adequate to support vulnerable households, while the supply of social housing increases. I, in cooperation with Government colleagues and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, have now approved an increase in the HAP discretion rate from 20% to 35% and for new tenancies to extend the couple’s rate to single person households. This will secure more tenancies and prevent new entries to homelessness. Both these measures came into effect from 11 July 2022.
Each local authority now has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% above the prescribed maximum rent limit to secure appropriate accommodation for a household that requires it, or up to 50% in the case of homeless households in the Dublin region.
My Department is aware that some HAP recipients are making payments directly to their landlords, beyond the amount of HAP being paid on their behalf. There is no legislative provision precluding HAP supported households contributing towards the monthly rent required by the landlord; however it is a matter for the local authority to determine, on a case by case basis, whether, and to what extent, the application of the flexibility is warranted. Local authorities also have a responsibility to ensure that tenancies are sustainable and that households in HAP are in a position to meet the rental costs involved.
The administration of the HAP scheme is a matter for the relevant local authority and it is the responsibility of the local authority to make a decision in each individual case. As Minister, I am precluded from involvement in individual cases.
