Written Answers Nos. 285-310
285. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will be changing the income threshold for getting on the Donegal County Council social housing list (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48231/22]
View answer302. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to publish the review that his Department has on the social housing income limits; the bodies or individuals that his Department consulted with in the course of carrying-out the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48486/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 285 and 302 together.
The review on social housing income thresholds is now available at the link below on my Departments website:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/c49a0-review-of-income-eligibility-for-social-housing-support/
The background to the report is the commitment in Housing for All, which was published in September 2021 to review income eligibility for social housing. The review was conducted by the Housing Agency on behalf of my Department.
The review, which examined inter alia the efficiency of the current banding model and income limits applicable to local authorities, has been completed and I have recently approved implementation of its recommendations. This included the commissioning of work to scope and develop options for a revised or new social housing income eligibility model. This work will commence shortly under the aegis of the Housing Agency who have been tasked with commissioning it. It is expected that the work will be complete by the end of 2022.
Pending completion of this work, I have also approved changes to the social housing income eligibility bands. Five local authorities - Carlow, Clare, Galway County, Laois and Westmeath - will be moved from Band 3 to Band 2. Accordingly, the baseline income eligibility threshold for these areas will increase from €25,000 to €30,000. The change reflects the movement in rents in recent years in these areas and will ensure local authority areas with similar accommodation costs continue to be grouped together in the respective bands. The changes came into effect from 1 October 2022.
It is now appropriate to await the report I referred to before considering the appropriate income threshold levels for all counties, and the potential impact of any changes that might arise.
286. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has conducted any specific analysis of the impact of the tax and social welfare changes on households currently on social housing waiting lists who may as a result of their changed income circumstances, lose their entitlement to social housing supports. [48291/22]
View answerThe overarching principle of social housing support is reflected in the underpinning legislation and the Household Means Policy, the latter being amended last year. The amended policy aims to better reflect the long-term nature of social housing supports and, in doing so, ensure fairness and equity in the system and that those with a continuing long-term need are prioritised.
A social housing eligibility assessment includes a review of the applicant's net average income for the 12 months prior to application. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities also have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature.
I have recently, approved proposals to scope and develop options for a revised or new social housing income eligibility model. This work will commence shortly and is expected to complete by the end of 2022.
287. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total expected capital underspend in his Department budget for 2022; the line items where this under spend is expected to occur; the total capital carryover into Budget 2023; and the areas that this specific money has been allocated to in 2023. [48292/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, construction, and consequently expenditure on construction related activities, are significantly impacted as a result of ongoing economic issues including the restricted operating environment under Covid-19 health and safety protocols that prevailed up to early 2022 coupled with the significant level of price inflation to construction materials; supply chain disruption and inflation in the prices of fuel and energy.
Despite the very challenging context my Department continues to engage proactively on a range of measures to manage, mitigate and expedite where possible throughout 2022.
The Finance Act 2004, section 91, provides for the carryover of up to 10% of the REV allocation (Capital) from one year to the next.
For 2023, I have confirmed to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform that I am seeking full capital carryover of 10%, amounting to €340m. The details of the source and subsequent allocation of that funding will be published in the REV later this year.
At this stage, I have signaled that the carryover will be applied as follows:
|
A.3 - LOCAL AUTHORITY HOUSING |
€240m |
|
B.5 - IRISH WATER |
€96.5m |
|
F.8 - PEATLANDS RESTORATION, CONSERVATION & MANAGEMENT |
€3.5m |
288. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown of the 5,550 affordable homes referred to in page 122 of the Budget 2023 Budget Book by type including Affordable Housing Fund, Cost Rental Equity Loan, LDA, Shared Equity Loan and any other delivery stream. [48293/22]
View answerUnder Housing for All, the Government will deliver 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (s), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through the First Home Scheme. Government has signalled that homes will be provided broadly on a 2:1 affordable purchase to cost rental basis over the course of the plan.
I can confirm that page 123 of the Budget 2023 Expenditure Report provides a breakdown of the 5,550 affordable homes referred to on page 122 of the report.
- Building on the State funding already provided to the First Home Shared Equity Scheme, a further €50 million will support First Home, which, with additional funding from participating banks, will support the purchase of up to 2,000 homes by eligible buyers.
- More than 2,800 homes will be delivered for affordable purchase and cost rental, through both LDA investment and with funding of €90 million via the Affordable Housing Fund in 2023 to support delivery by local authorities.
- In addition, s will deliver 750 Cost Rental homes - these homes will be delivered via €75 million provided in the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) mechanism.
It is also noted that €250 million will be available in 2023 for lending under the expanded Local Authority Home Loan, which provides a route to home ownership for those who cannot secure the necessary commercial loan.
289. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown of the 2,530 new social homes to be delivered through various leasing schemes referred to in page 122 of the 2023 Budget Book by leasing scheme long-term leasing, Part V leasing, repair and lease, mortgage to rent, and any other; and the way that this leasing target related to the 6,500 social homes to be delivered via the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme as detailed in page 124 of the Budget 2023 Budget Book. [48294/22]
View answerThe Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) budget funds the ongoing current costs of social homes delivered using a variety of different delivery mechanisms. This includes properties built or acquired by Approved Housing Bodies (s) using funding under the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) and the Housing Agency Acquisitions Fund (HAA), which are then made available under a Payment & Availability Agreement to local authorities. It also includes properties leased on a long term basis from private property owners by s or local authorities; comprising properties secured through specific programs such as the Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS), the Long Term Leasing Scheme and the Mortgage to Rent Scheme. Dwellings made available under SHCEP are used to accommodate households from local authority waiting lists.
SHCEP delivery streams have a combined targeted delivery of almost 6,500 social homes for 2023. Within that overall SHCEP delivery target of 6,500 homes; there is a leasing target of 2,530 homes, which is broken down by source in Table 1 below.
Table 1: Targeted Delivery for Leasing Schemes in 2023
|
Source |
Target |
|
Long Term Leasing |
1,200 |
|
Short Term Leasing |
200 |
|
Repair and Leasing |
130 |
|
Mortgage to Rent |
1,000 |
|
Total |
2,530 |
290. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes that he expects to be purchased in 2022 and 2023 using the first home shared equity scheme. [48295/22]
View answerThe First Home Scheme is one of a suite of measures introduced under ‘Housing for All’ that together are intended to deliver some 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030. Launched on 7 July 2022, the Scheme supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model.
As a demand-led measure, within which financial support is allocated as and when eligible applications are processed and thereafter funding is drawn down as the standard conveyancing process is completed, there is no annual ceiling on supported purchases.
Overall, the Scheme is intended to support up to 8,000 affordable purchases in the period out to 2026. The State has committed an overall funding envelope of €200m over the lifetime of the scheme to be matched by the participating lenders. As part of Budget 2023, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform confirmed €50m of funding would be made available. Full details of the Scheme, including eligibility criteria, are available on the website: www.firsthomescheme.ie
291. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable homes that he expects the Land Development Agency to deliver in 2022 and 2023; and if he will provide a breakdown by affordable cost rental and affordable purchase. [48298/22]
View answer303. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of all projects currently being progressed by the Land Development Agency; the projected homes to be delivered; the tenure of these homes; the timelines for delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48487/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 291 and 303 together.
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 (s), 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 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.
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/
292. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable purchase homes that he expects will be delivered with the €90 million allocation to the Affordable Housing Fund in 2023. [48299/22]
View answerOver the period to 2026, the Government's Housing for All strategy commits to delivering 10,000 Cost Rental homes and 18,000 Affordable Purchase homes which will be delivered by Approved Housing Bodies (s), local authorities, the Land Development Agency (LDA), and the First Home shared equity scheme.
2022 represents the first year of a very ambitious programme of delivery of affordable housing. This momentum will continue with delivery significantly increasing in 2023. More than 2,800 homes will be delivered for affordable purchase and cost rental, through both LDA investment and with funding of €90 million via the Affordable Housing Fund in 2023 to support delivery by local authorities.
A number of local authorities are currently working on submitting advance purchase proposals to my Department and it is anticipated that activity in this area will increase further going forward. Of those projects that have been approved to date, the majority will deliver affordable purchase homes in 2022 and 2023.
In implementing Housing for All, each local authority has now prepared a Housing Delivery Action Plan for 2022 to 2026. 18 local authorities with a strong and identified affordable housing need were asked to include planned affordable housing delivery in their Action Plans. These plans have now been published by each local authority. I have set five-year Affordable Housing delivery targets for those local authorities.
Local authorities have been asked to begin collating information on delivery of affordable homes in their area in the same manner as is currently done for social housing. It is intended that information on delivery across all delivery streams will be gathered by my Department and I expect that my Department will be in a position to begin reporting on affordable delivery in national quarterly delivery statistics later this year. A pipeline of affordable housing delivery is also being developed by local authorities.
293. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total expenditure from the €20 million allocation for pyrite remediation and the €60 million for defective block in Mayo and Galway to date in 2022; the estimated underspend from these two schemes at the end of 2022; and the amount of that underspend is included in the capital carryover into 2023’s vote. [48300/22]
View answerThe Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme. The provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material. The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” for affected homeowners who have no other practical option to obtain redress and is limited in its application and scope. The full conditions for eligibility are set out in the scheme which is available on the Board’s website: www.pyriteboard.ie.
As of end September, the Pyrite Remediation Board have drawn down €13m of the €20m allocation. No underspend is estimated for 2022.
Following on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on the 23 July, 2022.
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 table below sets out the expenditure relating to the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme in 2022. There is a very considerable time lag between grant approval and the draw down of funding. Not all homeowners will start work immediately after receipt of approval. In addition, depending upon the remediation option being carried out, the works themselves can take anywhere between 2 and 15 months which can affect the value of funding drawn down in any particular year. Details of the full drawdown for 2022 will not be reconciled until early 2023.
|
DCB Scheme 2022 |
|
|
Budget |
€40,000,000 |
|
Estimated value of Stage 1 approvals to date under the Scheme |
€133,236,000 |
|
Estimated value of Stage 2 approvals to date under the scheme |
€22,698,000 |
|
Spent to Date in 2022 |
€5,770,254 |
294. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing retrofits delivered in 2022 with the €85 million allocation; the amount of this funding that he expects to go unspent in 2022; and the amount of the unspent funding that will be in the capital carryover for 2023. [48301/22]
View answerEarlier this year, my Department announced a significant increase in funding available of €85 million which will provided for the upgrade of approximately 2,400 social homes in 2022. Each local authority received an individual allocation along with a minimum target of homes they are required to retrofit. The programme has been devised in a way to give local authorities a level of flexibility when selecting properties to retrofit ranging from those requiring minor levels of works to properties needing the maximum level of retrofitting required to bring them to a B2/Cost Optimum standard.
Work in relation to the 2022 programme is ongoing, however, it will be later this year before significant recoupment claims are lodged with my Department. Full details in relation to the 2022 Energy Efficiency Programme will be available early in 2023.
In relation to capital carryover for 2023, the Finance Act 2004, section 91, provides for the carryover of up to 10% of the REV allocation (Capital) from one year to the next. For 2023, I have confirmed to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform that I am seeking full capital carryover of 10%, amounting to €340m. The details of the source and subsequent allocation of that funding will be published in the REV later this year. At this stage, I have signalled that €240m of the carryover will be applied to the Housing programme.
295. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown of the €30 million allocation for croí cónaithe funding for 2023, by the cities and towns fund. [48302/22]
View answerHousing for All (published in September 2021) provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. The strategy sets out, over four pathways, a broad suite of measures to achieve its policy objectives together with a financial commitment of in excess of €4 billion per annum.
The suite of measures under the pathway to addressing vacancy and efficient use of existing stock includes measures funded by the Croí Cónaithe Fund and €30 million in funding has been allocated to the Croí Cónaithe fund in 2023.
Under the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) umbrella, being delivered by local authorities, funding is made available for the provision of serviced sites for housing to attract people to build their own homes and to support the refurbishment of vacant properties, enabling people to live in small towns and villages and in a sustainable way.
Given that a key objective of Pathway 4 of Housing for All is to ensure that the houses we already have are being fully used, I have decided to extend the eligibility for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant to vacant properties in both our cities and rural areas.
The Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme supports the building of apartments for sale to owner-occupiers. The Scheme aims to bridge the current “Viability Gap” between the cost of building apartments and the market sale price (where the cost of building is greater). The scheme is targeted principally at activating planning permissions already in place for such homes.
The scheme launched on the 10th May with an Expressions of Interest process and will be managed and administered by the Housing Agency on behalf of my Department. The closing date for receipt of proposals was 21st June 2022. The Housing Agency is conducting the assessment process and due diligence on the first tranche of Croí Cónaithe apartments at the moment but with anticipated construction timelines of around eighteen months Croí Cónaithe (Cities) supported apartment developments will likely be brought to market from 2024. Therefore, financial supports from the Fund, which only arise on sale of apartments to eligible purchasers, are not expected to be incurred until 2024, with the subsidy budget expected to be distributed across 2024, 2025 and 2026.
A small amount of Croí Cónaithe (Cities) expenditure in scheme development and operational costs and proposal professional review costs will be incurred in 2023. The remaining funding has been allocated to Croí Cónaithe (Towns),
296. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that the €544 million HAP allocation in Budget 2023 will fund an additional 8,800 HAP tenancies when the allocation represents a €40 million reduction in the 2022 allocation, which would suggest a net decline in HAP tenancies supported by the Government in 2023. [48303/22]
View answerThe number of new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) tenancies being created each year is declining. In 2020, 15,885 new HAP tenancies were created, this reduced to 13,095 new HAP tenancies in 2021 and at end Q2 2022, 4,625 new HAP tenancies had been created.
At end Q2 2022 there were more than 60,000 households actively in receipt of HAP support. The 2023 budget allocation will enable continued support for existing tenancies along with funding for 8,800 new households to be accommodated in HAP supported tenancies.
HAP recipients can avail of a move to other forms of social housing support through a transfer list. 33% of exits from the HAP Scheme have been to other forms of Social Housing. Including 2,061 transfers to other forms of social housing in the first half of 2022. Last year the transfers to other forms of social housing was 4,587.
I am committed to decreasing our reliance on the HAP scheme and central to that is significantly scaling up our social housing supply. Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies. My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity in all local authorities. This data is available until the end of Quarter 2 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/
297. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the areas that he expects the €20 million in additional current expenditure for homeless services will be spent on. [48304/22]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual housing authorities.
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 administrative regions in place. A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. It is a matter for the management group of the consultative forum, in the first instance, to determine the services and the funding required to address homelessness in each region.
Budget 2023 makes provision for €215m in funding for homeless services, an increase from €194 in 2022. The extra funding for Homelessness reflects the priority that this Government is giving to Homelessness.
The extra funding will allow local authorities to continue to focus on preventing homelessness in the first instance, aid in the further expansion of the Housing First approach in line with commitments made in Housing for All, provide for a planned extension of outreach and intensive engagement services to our most vulnerable and provide accommodation to those experiencing homelessness. Additionally there remains a firm focus on ensuring that pathways out of homelessness for those individuals and families in emergency accommodation are secured as quickly as possible.
298. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of land that his Department has made available for modular housing as part of the Governments emergency response to the Ukrainian housing crisis; the proportion of that land that is designated as Housing for All land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48306/22]
View answerThe Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) has overall responsibility for the provision of accommodation for Ukrainian nationals seeking temporary protection in Ireland. The OPW is supporting this work, leading design, development, procurement and delivery of modular accommodation units.
My Department, in consultation with local authorities and other public bodies, prepared an inventory of sites that may be suitable for modular housing as part of the Governments humanitarian response. The OPW has identified a number of these for further investigation and is currently engaging with the relevant local authorities and public bodies regarding same. The request, at that time, was for sites which had "not already been earmarked for social and affordable housing under Housing for all". While my Department continues to support and provide technical expertise to the OPW, the ultimate decision on whether sites will be progressed for the purposes of modular accommodation is a matter for OPW and DCEDIY.
299. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of participants in the National Parks and Wildlife Service Farm Plan scheme for each of the years 2017 to 2021 and to date in 2022; the average number of hectares and the average payment by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48314/22]
View answerIn my tenure as Minister with responsibility for the National Parks & Wildlife Service, I have increased the funding of the National Parks & Wildlife Service Farm Plan Scheme from approximately €500,000 in 2020 to approximately €2m in 2022.
The number of participants in the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme for each of the years 2017 to 2021 and to date in 2022 (Table 1), along with the average number of hectares (Table 2) and the average payment by county (Table 3) is presented below:
Table 1: Participants in the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme for each of the years 2017 to 2021
|
No. of Participants |
45 |
41 |
43 |
45 |
152 |
171 |
|
County |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Carlow |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cavan |
|
|
|
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
Clare |
|
|
|
1 |
5 |
9 |
|
Cork |
|
|
|
|
9 |
9 |
|
Donegal |
18 |
15 |
17 |
11 |
28 |
28 |
|
Dublin |
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
Galway |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
16 |
18 |
|
Galway and Offaly |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kerry |
|
|
|
2 |
13 |
13 |
|
Kildare |
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
Kilkenny |
|
|
|
|
5 |
5 |
|
Laois |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Leitrim |
|
|
|
2 |
3 |
9 |
|
Limerick |
|
|
|
|
3 |
3 |
|
Longford |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Louth |
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Mayo |
6 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
11 |
13 |
|
Mayo and Mayo Sligo Border |
|
|
|
|
2 |
12 |
|
Meath |
|
|
|
|
2 |
3 |
|
Monaghan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Offaly |
3 |
3 |
3 |
7 |
12 |
13 |
|
Offaly and Roscommon |
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
Roscommon |
1 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
|
Sligo |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
8 |
11 |
|
Tipperary |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
|
Waterford |
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
Westmeath |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
|
Wexford |
9 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
11 |
12 |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
113 additional new Plans being processed for 2022
Table 2: Average No. of Hectares Per County
|
County |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Carlow |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cavan |
|
|
|
|
0.9 |
|
|
Clare |
|
|
|
|
77.04 |
16.67 |
|
Cork |
|
|
|
|
33.59 |
12.66 |
|
Donegal |
47.82 |
28.08 |
65.76 |
69.53 |
37.56 |
32.86 |
|
Dublin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Galway |
28.2 |
28.2 |
28.2 |
28.2 |
15.86 |
20.64 |
|
Galway and Offaly |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kerry |
|
|
|
|
15.45 |
12.878 |
|
Kildare |
|
|
|
|
11.88 |
|
|
Kilkenny |
|
|
|
|
186.087 |
11.66 |
|
Laois |
22.34 |
22.34 |
22.34 |
22.34 |
15.99 |
|
|
Leitrim |
|
|
|
|
38.5 |
|
|
Limerick |
|
|
|
|
14.6 |
50.7 |
|
Longford |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Louth |
|
|
|
|
1.86 |
|
|
Mayo |
6.64 |
6.46 |
6.66 |
6.66 |
13.875 |
111.84 |
|
Mayo and Mayo Sligo Border |
|
|
|
|
54.44 |
22.71 |
|
Meath |
|
|
|
|
|
20.64 |
|
Monaghan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Offaly |
21.54 |
24.93 |
21.54 |
21.54 |
13 |
23.29 |
|
Offaly and Roscommon |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roscommon |
16.44 |
16.44 |
16.44 |
47.42 |
23.51 |
16.44 |
|
Sligo |
11.73 |
11.73 |
11.16 |
11.16 |
21.75 |
28.51 |
|
Tipperary |
38.8 |
0 |
|
|
482 |
73.96 |
|
Waterford |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Westmeath |
101.82 |
101.82 |
101.82 |
101.82 |
89.27 |
45.738 |
|
Wexford |
81.95 |
81.95 |
81.95 |
81.95 |
44.67 |
53.32 |
|
Wicklow |
21.95 |
21.95 |
21.92 |
21.95 |
|
18.13 |
Table 3: Average Payment Per County to date
|
County |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Carlow |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cavan |
|
|
|
|
€10,353.00 |
|
|
Clare |
|
|
|
|
€9,488.75 |
€5,343.47 |
|
Cork |
|
|
|
|
€6,817.00 |
€7,422.00 |
|
Donegal |
€10,564.17 |
€8,297.11 |
€13,588.84 |
€12,869.04 |
€11,935.00 |
€12,573.34 |
|
Dublin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Galway |
€10,688.64 |
€10,602.12 |
€4,460.86 |
€10,605.00 |
€5,371.00 |
€7,501.00 |
|
Galway and Offaly |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kerry |
|
|
|
|
€1,628.81 |
€3,894.44 |
|
Kildare |
|
|
|
|
€7,977.70 |
|
|
Kilkenny |
|
|
|
|
€9,360.00 |
€4,609.67 |
|
Laois |
€6,596.00 |
€10,025.63 |
€5,946.62 |
€7,119.00 |
€5,529.00 |
|
|
Leitrim |
|
|
|
|
€3,628.00 |
|
|
Limerick |
|
|
|
|
€5,903.55 |
€8,718.00 |
|
Longford |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Louth |
|
|
|
|
€3,455.40 |
|
|
Mayo |
€3,561.73 |
€3,537.00 |
€3,395.13 |
€2,957.00 |
€21,289.00 |
€5,965.00 |
|
Mayo and Mayo Sligo Border |
|
|
|
|
€10,933.13 |
|
|
Meath |
|
|
|
|
|
€10,080.00 |
|
Monaghan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Offaly |
€7,411.32 |
€9,128.00 |
€9,128.00 |
€9,128.32 |
€2,732.00 |
|
|
Offaly and Roscommon |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roscommon |
€14,197.29 |
€14,197.00 |
€7,098.65 |
€21,164.00 |
€3,983.73 |
€16,231.00 |
|
Sligo |
€3,819.52 |
€3,819.52 |
€4,092.52 |
€1,909.00 |
|
€3,145.48 |
|
Tipperary |
€13,580.00 |
€0.00 |
|
|
€7,162.20 |
€9,136.00 |
|
Waterford |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Westmeath |
€10,611.23 |
€10,611.23 |
€10,611.23 |
€10,611.00 |
€13,820.00 |
€12,162.00 |
|
Wexford |
€16,838.00 |
€19,832.78 |
€15,705.29 |
€12,395.00 |
|
€19,215.00 |
|
Wicklow |
€11,617.45 |
€10,721.45 |
€10,752.49 |
€10,752.49 |
€5,451.60 |
€12,612.00 |
300. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Environmental Protection Agency is compiling an indicators report of water quality in 2021; the expected publication date of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48315/22]
View answerThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent public body established under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992, it is entirely independent in the exercise of its functions. The EPA prepares an annual Water Quality Indicators report with the 3 yearly full water quality assessment report to be published this year. The timing of the publication of this report is a matter for the Board of the EPA.
301. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding that has been drawn down by a local authority for a project (details supplied); and the purpose for which each drawdown was made in tabular form. [48418/22]
View answerThe Cork Events Centre was included as a commitment under Project Ireland 2040. It underlines the Government’s objectives around urban regeneration, enhanced amenity and heritage, associated quality of life standards, balanced regional development, and the regeneration and development of Cork City Centre.
It was agreed in the context of Budget 2020 that responsibility at central Government level for making the grant aid support available for the project would transfer to my Department. However, responsibility for the advancement of proposals for the development of the Events Centre remains, in the first instance, a matter for Cork City Council.
There has been no draw down of Exchequer funding to date by Cork City Council in relation to the Cork Events Centre.
304. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the CALF review currently underway within his Department. [48493/22]
View answerHousing for All sets out national housing policy and implementation measures for the period to 2030. As part of the objective to increase social housing delivery, the plan recognises the significant role that Approved Housing Bodies (’s) have played as partners in social housing delivery and will continue to play over the next five years.
The Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) funding model has worked very successfully over the past 10 years, particularly for the larger s that have adapted their delivery plans to utilise P&A-CALF funding. Under Housing for All, a specific objective, Action 4.10, is to “review the structure and operation of CALF to assess whether any refinements to the facility are required to support delivery of social housing by the sector across a wider range of Local Authority areas.”
One of the key purposes of this exercise is reviewing the structure of the P&A-CALF funding model to determine if it should be adjusted to support delivery by the sector across a wider range of areas and what options might be available to enable this. The deadline set for completion of this work is Q4 2022.
Due to the rise in construction inflation and increase in interest rates, work on this review was accelerated with the support of the Housing Agency, along with input from the relevant stakeholders and it is currently nearing the final stages of completion. It is expected to be completed shortly.
305. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the changes that he recently made to the cost rental equity loan. [48494/22]
View answerThe Government's Housing for All strategy commits to delivering a total of 18,000 Cost Rental homes over the period to 2030. Significant funding has been secured and is being made available to support delivery of Cost Rental by Approved Housing Bodies (s), Local Authorities and by the Land Development Agency (LDA).
Delivery will increase incrementally, to an average of 2,000 Cost Rental homes per year. 10,000 Cost Rental homes will be delivered from 2021 to 2026. s will be supported by Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) funding and Local Authorities will be able to avail of funding for Cost Rental delivery through the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF). The LDA will also deliver Cost Rental on its own portfolio of sites, or through acquisitions under Project Tosaigh.
International factors have seen an increase in the cost of loan co-financing due to the trajectory of interest rates which impacts delivery of cost rental homes as well as impacting other housing providers. Combined with the ongoing impact of construction cost inflation, the viability of schemes has become more challenging, directly affecting the ultimate cost rent paid by tenants.
With this in mind, Government has decided that it is appropriate to increase the funding ceilings available per dwelling delivered for both the CREL and AHF schemes and my Department is working on operationalising these increases. These increases will be subject to defined criteria and the operational parameters for how these changes will be implemented are currently being finalised and will be completed within the coming weeks.
These changes will help to address some of the challenges faced by s and Local Authorities in the continued implementation of these Cost Rental schemes, and will help to continue to target rents achievable for Exchequer-supported Cost Rental homes at a minimum discount of 25% below open market rates.
306. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the interim short-term letting regulations, the legislation for which was passed in July 2022. [48495/22]
View answerSection 3A of the Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation Act 2022 provides for the introduction of a new regulatory regime in relation to the short-term letting sector, specifically non-principal private residences advertised for letting in the designated Rent Pressure Zones.
My Department is presently engaging with the relevant stakeholder groups on the detailed operational arrangements that will apply in relation to the measure. It is intended to conclude the consultation process as soon as possible. Further engagement is also required with the European Commission on the legislation under the notification requirements of the Technical Regulation on Information Society (TRIS) Directive, before a new regulatory framework is finalised.
308. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority houses in County Wicklow that are currently vacant; if he will provide details outlining the length of time they have been vacant; the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48518/22]
View answerLocal authorities will always have a level of vacancy in their housing stock. This will fluctuate over time as tenancy surrender and re-letting of stock is an ongoing process.
Data in relation to levels of vacancy, average turnaround times and reasons associated with this are not collated by my Department. However, statistics in relation to the social housing stock are published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) in their Annual Reports on Performance Indicators in Local Authorities. These reports provide a range of information in relation to social housing stock, including vacancy and the average time taken to re-tenant a dwelling. The most recent report, relating to 2020, is available on the NOAC website at the following link:
noac.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/NOAC-Local-Authority-Performance-Indicator-Report-2020.pdf
309. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will request that local authorities collect full commercial rates on all commercial premises, including vacant units; if he will require a unit to be registered under the Derelict Sites Act 1990 with a view to maximising their usage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48544/22]
View answerLocal authorities have a statutory obligation to levy rates on the occupiers of rateable property in accordance with the details in the valuation lists prepared by the Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015.
Legislative provision is made for the refund of rates paid on vacant commercial properties in certain circumstances. The Local Government Reform Act 2014 allows local authorities to offer less than 100% refund and to vary the level of refund for vacant properties at its annual budget meeting. Since the introduction of the Act, a number of local authorities have taken the decision to reduce the percentage refund of rates available. In agreeing budgets for 2022, 19 local authorities made the decision to offer less than 100% refund to vacant properties, ensuring in those local authorities that some rates are paid on vacant commercial properties, helping discourage prolonged vacancy.
The Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019 modernised the legislation governing commercial rates and contains provision for schemes for the abatement of rates on vacant properties. Section 9 of the Act provides that the Minister may specify the maximum vacancy relief to be applied and that schemes can be made to provide abatement to a specific class or classes of vacant property. The main objective of section 9 of the Act is to discourage commercial vacancy and incentivise occupancy. This marries with the main objectives in “Town Centres First”, "Housing for All" and "Our Rural Future".
Amendments are required to address key issues in the Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019. The remaining provisions of the Act, including section 9, cannot be commenced until these issues are addressed. Plans to achieve necessary amendments, commence the legislation and introduce associated regulations were delayed due to the COVID crisis but it is intended to advance this work this year.
Addressing vacancy and dereliction, and maximising the use of the existing housing stock, is a priority objective of the Government, as evidenced by Housing for All where one of the four pathways in the plan is specifically dedicated to this area.
My Department continues to liaise with local authorities on the implementation of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 (the Act) with a view to improving its effectiveness. In this regard, my Department initiated a review of the Act in November 2021 and has sought initial submissions from local authorities on potential improvements to the legislative provisions and the way they are applied. My Department has now established a focused working group to progress this matter further.
310. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 171 of 27 September 2022, if it is correct that only one prosecution was initiated against a State body by the National Parks and Wildlife Services in the past five years; the number of prosecutions recommended by the National Parks and Wildlife Services against State bodies that were subsequently not initiated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48545/22]
View answerThe National Parks and Wildlife service (NPWS) staff of my Department are working across all regions of the country to address wildlife crime and enforcement. To assist state bodies in meeting their obligation to respect the strict protection given by EU law of protected species, the NPWS publishes a series of guidance documents dealing with the practical aspects of nature conservation.
A guidance document for public authorities, entitled Strict Protection of Animal Species, is also available on the NPWS website. This guidance is intended to assist in the application of Article 12 and Article 16 of the Habitats Directive to ensure that works are compliant with these articles.
It is normal process that suspected breaches of the law are investigated. Consideration must be and is given to a range of issues, including whether it is considered that the evidence of a crime is sufficient before a decision is taken whether or not to proceed with seeking a prosecution. In addition to the case referenced in the response to the previous question on 27 September 2022, one other case was considered but did not go ahead as my Department did not have sufficient evidence for a prosecution.
My officials are happy to work with public authorities in order to assist them in continuing to meet their obligations.
