Thomas Gould
Question:706. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of promised legislation that would allow local authorities to rename public areas. [40824/22]
View answerLegislative Measures
Questions (706)
Written answers
Provisions relating to placename changes in Part 18 of the amended Local Government Act 2001 were commenced in early 2019. Previous provisions under local government legislation were repealed. In addition, provisions in the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011, amending Part 18 of the 2001 Act, were commenced.
The newly commenced provisions under the amended Part 18 of the 2001 Act require updated Regulations to be made for the holding of plebiscites to change placenames.
However, in advance of making those Regulations, an issue has been identified concerning the interaction of the amended Part 18 of the Local Government Act 2001 and provisions contained in Official Languages legislation, which comes under the aegis of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
My officials are engaging with their counterparts in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in relation to the interaction of the two legislative codes and the two Departments' respective policy positions. Once an agreed policy approach in this complex matter can be found and draft legislative amendments supported by both Departments are prepared, it is hoped to include them in an appropriate Bill at the earliest available opportunity.
Land Issues
Questions (707)
Thomas Gould
Question:707. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration could be given to ensuring no historical title deeds are destroyed as permitted under rule 152 of the Land Registry rules and are instead retained for historical purposes. [40830/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Property Registration Authority (PRA) which is under the aegis of my Department continues to provide essential services to support the property market. To ensure the maintenance and preservation of its records, the PRA has, with input from the National Archives, developed two comprehensive policies to govern records management, a Records Retention Schedule and Disposal Procedures. These policies recognise the historical value of records it holds as one of three key determining factors for the retention periods of PRA records.
Rule 15 (3) of the Land Registration Rules, 2012, as amended, provides that except as provided in the Rules, deeds and documents under which an entry in the National Land Register is made shall be retained in the Land Registry. The exception relates to attested copies which may be filed in reference to original deeds/documents or cases where the PRA may, on completion of a registration, direct the release of filed documents to the registered owner, their nominee or the solicitor for the registered owner.
All deeds/documents retained in the Land Registry as ‘instruments’ are stored in the PRA’s central filing repository as a working archive. Rule 152(1) provides that the PRA cannot destroy these instruments and certified copies can be made available to persons specified under Rule 159 of the Land Registration Rules.
Rule 152 (4) provides that the PRA, subject to compliance with National Archives Act, 1986, may direct the destruction of closed folios or any documents filed in the Land Registry when they have been superseded by entries in the Register or have ceased to be of any effect, or it may, if such documents appear to it to be of historical interest, transmit them to the National Archives for filing.
A closed folio is a folio for which the title has been transferred to another live folio. All archived paper-based folios, including those which have been closed, are filed offsite under the control of the PRA’s Central Filing Repository. The PRA does not have any plans at present to destroy these documents. A copy of any archived paper-based folio can be obtained upon request to the PRA and lodgement of a prescribed fee.
Housing Provision
Questions (708)
Thomas Gould
Question:708. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority houses that were sold and build, respectively; the financial income from sales and the financial spend by year from 2002 to date in tabular form. [40831/22]
View answerWritten answers
Housing 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 the 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.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity. This data is available to Q1 2022, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.
Social housing construction is funded through a range of different delivery streams such as local authority direct construction, Part V, turnkey developments and regeneration programmes and through direct construction and turnkey developments delivered by approved housing bodies.
In the period 2016 to end June 2022, funding of €4.514 billion was provided by my Department to local authorities in respect of social housing build programmes. The breakdown of this expenditure annually is set out in the table below. Prior to 2016 housing expenditure was reported on a programme basis only.
|
2016€m |
2017€m |
2018€m |
2019€m |
2020€m |
2021€m |
2022 (to end June)€m |
|
€173m |
€337m |
€745m |
€836m |
€1,032m |
€1,075m |
€316m |
Statistics on the sale of local authority homes is published on my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/0906a-other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/#sale-of-local-authority-houses.
My Department does not hold the financial information requested on the sale of local authority houses.
Housing Provision
Questions (709, 710)
Paul Murphy
Question:709. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is of the view that long-term leases are an effective use of public money and a sustainable solution to the lack of social housing in relation to the €450 million State fund which has been launched to lease 1,000 new-build homes for social housing. [40872/22]
View answerPaul Murphy
Question:710. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an alternative plan been drawn up in relation to the €450 million State fund which was launched to lease 1,000 new-build homes for social housing, including the direct building of social housing on State land; and if so, the estimated number of units that could be provided for the same amount. [40873/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 709 and 710 together.
As a necessary measure to accelerate the provision of social homes and to alleviate pressure on the wider housing system this year; the Housing Agency in conjunction with my Department is exploring the introduction of a new emergency targeted leasing initiative.
On 15 July, a without prejudice call for expressions of interest was published on www.etenders.gov.ie, to test the market’s ability to deliver up to an additional 1,000 social homes between 2022 and 2025.
This new targeted leasing initiative is designed to provide greater value for money to the state than existing standard leasing. It aims to secure a greater discount than standard leasing (currently up to 20% market rent discount). It also explores the financial feasibility of long-term ownership of the homes at the end of the lease term by means of asset transfer at the greatest possible open market value discount. Expression of interest submissions will be assessed and ranked against a number of criteria, the top one being value for money.
The outputs from the project submissions will enable an accurate cost analysis to be completed to determine the exact funds required to progress this initiative, which will then be assessed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for funding approval.
Housing for All commits to ending long term leasing by 2025 year end. This policy remains unchanged, however leasing continues to be an important mechanism for faster delivery to meet social housing needs as build supply ramps up to meet demand.
Question No. 710 answered with Question No. 709.
Housing Provision
Questions (711)
Sorca Clarke
Question:711. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses delivered by the Land Development Agency per county to date in tabular form. [40875/22]
View answerWritten answers
Housing 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. Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
2022 represents the first year of a very ambitious programme of delivery of affordable housing. Significant funding has been secured and is being made available by Government to support delivery of affordable housing for purchase or for cost rental by local authorities, AHBs and by the LDA.
The Land Development Agency (LDA) has an immediate focus on managing the State’s own lands to develop new homes, and regenerate under-utilised sites. In the longer-term, it will assemble strategic land-banks from a mix of public and private lands making these available for housing in a controlled manner, which is expected to bring essential more long-term stability to the Irish housing market. It is also tasked with unlocking stalled private, planning-consented developments in the shorter-term through its market engagement initiative - Project Tosaigh.
The target under Project Tosaigh is the delivery of 5,000 new homes in the years 2022 to 2026 for affordable cost rental or sale to eligible households under affordable purchase arrangements. The LDA has advised my Department that they are nearing the completion of phase 1 of Project Tosaigh and will be in a position to provide details as to where these developments are shortly.
This stream is in addition to the 2,800 affordable and social homes to be delivered from the initial state lands that the LDA are currently working on.
The Q2 2022 Housing for All progress report detailing proposals and progress on the LDA's active sites over both the short and long term can be accessed on the following link.
www.gov.ie/en/publication/03335-housing-for-all-q2-2022-progress-report/.
Rental Sector
Questions (712)
Sorca Clarke
Question:712. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of disputes opened with the Residential Tenancies Board by a tenant regarding a proposed increase in rent outside the rules applicable to a rent pressure zone per county and per relevant town in tabular form [40876/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial 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.
My Department does not collect the data sought. However, the Clerk of the Dáil requested that arrangements be put in place to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies to members of the Oireachtas. Following the issue of Circular LG (P) 05/16 on 20 September 2016 from my Department, the RTB set up a dedicated email address for this purpose. The RTB may be contacted at OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie to establish the extent to which it may hold the information sought.
Homeless Persons Supports
Questions (713)
Sorca Clarke
Question:713. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and percentage increase in homelessness presentations per local authority for each of the months February to June 2022. [40877/22]
View answerWritten answers
My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. While responsibility for the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis with nine regional lead authorities in place nationally.
Quarterly performance reports are submitted to my Department by regional lead authorities which provide information on entries and preventions on a regional basis. The performance reports provide a basis for a quarterly homelessness progress report. The Q1 2022 Progress Report gives enhanced data in respect of family presentations, which has been provided to my Department by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive in respect of the Dublin region:
|
Month |
Total families presenting |
Less families prevented from entering emergency accommodation |
Net new families entering emergency accommodation |
Families leaving emergency accommodation |
|
Jan-22 |
134 |
60 |
74 |
35 |
|
Feb-22 |
133 |
53 |
80 |
31 |
|
Mar-22 |
146 |
55 |
91 |
41 |
|
2022 YTD |
413 |
168 |
245 |
107 |
As a result of improvements to data collection in Q1 2022, this data is now available from all regions on a quarterly basis. The summary Quarterly Progress Report and Performance Reports from each region are available on my Departments website at the following link www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/.
The national data in terms of family presentation, preventions and exits are set out in the table below:
|
Quarter |
Total families presenting |
Less families prevented from entering emergency accommodation |
Net new families entering emergency accommodation |
Families leaving emergency accommodation |
|
Q1 2022 |
728 |
262 |
466 |
200 |
Housing Provision
Questions (714)
Sorca Clarke
Question:714. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement that he and his Department have had with Longford County Council and Approved Housing Bodies regarding Colmcille Terrace, Granard [40881/22]
View answerWritten answers
As with all locally delivered social housing, the management of the project at Colmcille Terrace, Granard is being overseen by Longford County Council, in this case working with Tuath Housing Association. My Department met with both Longford County Council and Tuath in March of this year following which I understand Tuath has agreed adjustments to their approach to this development with the Council. Funding approval for this adjusted approach has recently been confirmed which should allow the development proposal to go to tender. Subject to a successful tender process, it is expected the development work could commence on site this year. Further information on the project will be available directly from Longford County Council.
Commercial Rates
Questions (715)
Sorca Clarke
Question:715. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement that he has had with Longford County Council regarding the shortfall in funding to that local authority following the early closing of the power plant at Lough Ree; and the commitments that have been given to ensure certainty to the local authority to the date that the power plant was originally scheduled for closure. [40882/22]
View answerWritten answers
It is acknowledged that the closure of power plant in Longford has had a negative impact on the commercial rates income of the Council. To alleviate this negative impact, my Department provided Longford County Council with €1.3m in both 2021 and 2022.
My Department recognises the serious ongoing impact of this closure, and will engage with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform during the Estimates process in respect of the 2023 position.
Housing Schemes
Questions (716)
Sorca Clarke
Question:716. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing assistance payment recipients in counties Longford and Westmeath who have received the full discretionary HAP rates (details supplied) per town in tabular form. [40891/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. In order for a household to qualify for HAP, they must first be assessed as eligible for social housing support by their local authority. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP and those households must source their own accommodation in the private rental sector. The accommodation sourced by tenants should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits, which are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned.
The Programme for Government commits to ensuring that HAP levels are adequate to support vulnerable households, while the supply of social housing increases.
Under Housing for All, the Department was tasked with undertaking an analytical exercise to examine whether an increase in the level of discretion available to Local Authorities under HAP is required. The Housing Agency undertook to carry out this analytical exercise on behalf of the Department to better understand what level of discretion should be made available to Local Authorities under HAP to maintain adequate levels of support.
Following receipt and analysis of this review, 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.
At the end of Q1 2022, the use of discretion for Longford and Westmeath was 54.2% and 42.8% respectively, while the level of discretion was 19.2% and 17.2% respectively for the relevant counties.
The tables below detail discretion by municipal districts, Q1 2022.
Westmeath discretion by municipal area - Q1 2022
|
Municipal Area |
Active Tenancies end Q1 2022 |
No. of tenancies that received discretion |
Average Discretion Rate |
|
Athlone |
365 |
152 |
18% |
|
Mullingar |
545 |
205 |
17% |
|
Other MAs outside LA* |
64 |
30 |
17% |
Longford discretion by municipal area - Q1 2022
|
Municipal Area |
Active Tenancies end Q1 2022 |
No. of tenancies that received discretion |
Average Discretion Rate |
|
Ballymahon |
93 |
55 |
19% |
|
Granard |
27 |
10 |
16% |
|
Longford |
217 |
113 |
19% |
|
Other MDs outside LA* |
36 |
18 |
19% |
* Inter-authority movements, whilst the tenant is registered with Longford or Westmeath County Councils, the tenancy is located outside of the county.
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 although it should be noted that local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that tenancies are sustainable.
I am committed to decreasing our reliance on the HAP scheme and we will only do that through significantly scaling up our social housing supply. ‘Housing for all’ sets us on a pathway to delivering 90,000 social homes between now and the end of 2030 including 9,000 this year.
Departmental Properties
Questions (717)
Sorca Clarke
Question:717. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions and engagements that his Department has taken to date to reduce carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency in all buildings under his Department. [40915/22]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has taken numerous measures to reduce carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency in all Departmental locations. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland published its Annual Report on Public Sector Energy Efficiency Performance for 2021. The report notes that my Department has exceeded the baseline target of a 30% energy reduction within the time frame. We currently stand at an energy savings of 39.6% and are on the glide path to meet the 50% target by 2030 as set out in the Climate Action Plan.
In addition, my Department renewed its ISO 14001:2015 Standard Accreditation on 2 September 2021. This accreditation certifies the effectiveness of my Department’s Environmental Management Systems. This means my Department has environmental management systems in compliance with international best practice. Furthermore, we have achieved two firsts among Government Departments, namely; achieving this accreditation and also expanding it on a multisite basis. Energy usage in my Department is monitored by Facilities Management Unit through both the Environmental Management team and with staff participation in local ‘green teams’ throughout departmental locations. Officials in my Department work closely with colleagues in the OPW on an ongoing basis, to reduce carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency in all Departmental locations. Some of the specific measures undertaken by my Department include:
- The installation of new energy efficient heat pumps in the Custom House Dublin, which will further reduce energy consumption.
- The retrofitting of lights in the Car Park of our Wexford offices with energy efficient LED bulbs.
- Working with the OPW on a programme to swap out old internal light fixtures with new energy efficient, motion activated bulbs throughout all its locations.
- Significant roof insulation works were carried out in our Ballina offices in 2021. These works have improved its BER from C1 to B2. Light fixtures throughout the building were also replaced with energy efficient bulbs during this project.
- My Department Commissioned feasibility studies regarding the installation of Solar Panels in our main office locations. Based on the recommendations of those studies, we are proceeding with the installation of solar panels in our Ballina Offices. We are currently in consultation with the OPW regarding tendering for those works. On installation it is envisaged that the Ballina Office, which is over 30 years old, will be upgraded to an A2 BER which will be a fantastic achievement. It is estimated that the Solar Panels, once installed, will cater for 24.3% of onsite electricity requirements.
- My Department has implemented a One Device Policy which has moved away from issuing desktops as the standard ICT equipment issue, to now issuing laptops which has significantly reduced power consumption.
- My Department’s Green Team was established in order to coordinate environmental management practices across Department sites at the Custom House, Wexford and Ballina with our co-tenants by implementing practices to help reduce the organisation´s energy and environmental footprint and to promote resource efficient practices among employees and suppliers in order to achieve the goals identified in our organisation’s Statement of Strategy 2021-2025 along with the goals and targets identified more specifically in our organisation´s Resource Efficiency Action Plan and Environmental Management Work Programme as part of the Department’s ISO 14001:2015 accreditation.
- The EU Bike2Work project has developed the Cycling Friendly Employer accreditation for bicycle-friendly organisations. Cycling Solutions Ireland provides official European certification of cycle-friendliness in the workplace. Our Custom House offices qualified as a Gold standard cycle-friendly employer at the start of 2022.
- My Department is also a signed up partner of the Smarter Travel Programme. This programme is coordinated by the National Transport Authority and helps to encourage and support active and sustainable travel on the commute to work, thereby reducing carbon emissions and promoting employee health and well-being.
Housing Schemes
Questions (718)
Richard Bruton
Question:718. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the means test for cost rental that has been agreed for each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40999/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Government has acknowledged that many families are currently facing housing affordability issues in Ireland. To address this problem and as part of its Housing for All strategy, the Government has committed to the delivery of 18,000 Cost Rental homes by 2030, or an average of 2,000 homes per year, which will make a real difference for families experiencing affordability issues in Ireland.
Cost Rental is defined as housing in which tenants only pay rents to cover the costs of financing, managing, maintaining and delivering the property, rather than rents being subject to market driven movement.
The target cohort for Cost Rental homes is moderate-income households, with incomes above social housing limits. The social housing sector already caters for a significant cohort of people and it is not intended for Cost Rental to overlap with or replace traditional social housing for low-income households, which remains a priority for the Government. Cost Rental is a fundamentally different proposal and represents a new tenure option.
The Cost Rental Letting and Eligibility Regulations (S.I. No. 755/2021 signed in December 2021) set out the main eligibility condition for leasing a Cost Rental dwelling, which is that a household’s annual income, less income tax, PRSI, USC and superannuation contributions, must not be greater than €53,000. This limit targets the Cost Rental homes that are available at moderate-income households above the income limits for social housing supports, who are currently facing inflated private sector rents without any State assistance.
Applications for Cost Rental tenancies are made to the landlord for the relevant property rather than centrally to a Local Authority. At present, it is expected that Cost Rental will be delivered primarily via Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), Local Authorities, and the Land Development Agency (LDA). Landlords have final discretion over whether to enter into any tenancy agreements as they must satisfy themselves that the tenants can pay the cost rent. Landlords are directed to seek the efficient use of resources by allocating appropriately sized homes according to household needs.
Question No. 719 answered with Question No. 680.
Housing Schemes
Questions (720)
Brendan Griffin
Question:720. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address an anomaly in the local authority house purchase loan scheme preventing joint tenants (details supplied) from accessing a loan to purchase their social house due their age and tenancy composition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41039/22]
View answerWritten answers
The 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. It also includes the purchase of homes through State schemes such as the Tenant Purchase Scheme and Affordable Purchase Scheme, with the exception of the First Home Scheme.
To be eligible for the Local Authority Home Loan, as with any mortgage, all persons involved in the purchase must be named on the mortgage and must all be eligible for the scheme as set out below:
- be a first-time buyer
- be aged between 18 and 70 years
- be in continuous employment for a minimum of two years, as the primary earner or be in continuous employment for a minimum of one year, as a secondary earner
- single applicant must have an annual gross income of not more than €65,000 (gross) in counties Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow and be earning under €50,000 (gross) in all other counties
- joint applicants must have an annual gross income of not more than €75,000 (gross) in all counties
- submit two years certified accounts, if self-employed
- provide proof of insufficient mortgage offers of finance from two regulated financial providers
- not be a current or previous owner of residential property in or outside the Republic of Ireland, unless you are a "Fresh Start" applicant
- occupy the property as your normal place of residence
- purchase or self-build a property situated in the Republic of Ireland
- purchase or self-build a property which does not exceed the maximum market value applicable for the county in which it is located
- consent to a Central Credit Register check
- currently have a legal right to reside and work in the State and be able to demonstrate that they are habitually resident in Ireland
Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions. Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 specifically provides that the Minister's power to issue policy directions and guidelines to housing authorities in relation to their housing functions should not be construed as enabling the Minister to exercise any power or control in relation to any individual case with which a housing authority is or may be concerned. I am, therefore, precluded from intervening in relation to individual cases.
The final decision on loan approval is a matter for each local authority and its Credit Committee on a case-by-case basis. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the statutory credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure consistency of treatment for all applicants.
Further information on the scheme is available on the dedicated websites
localauthorityhomeloan.ie/ and www.gov.ie/en/service/00500-local-authority-home-loan-scheme/.