Written Answers Nos. 264-283
264. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the next appointments to the board of Screen Ireland are due to take place, as well as the procedure for the appointment process; and the criteria employed as part of such appointments. [57632/22]
View answerFull details of the membership of the Board of Screen Ireland, the terms of each member and the dates those terms expire are available on the screenireland.ie website at www.screenireland.ie/about/board-members. The next appointments to the board of Screen Ireland are due to take place in May 2023 when the terms of two members expire.The Public Appointments Service operates a dedicated website, www.stateboards.ie. This website has been consistently used by my department to identify suitably qualified members of the public who are interested in serving on boards under my remit and it is intended to use the Public Appointments Service for the vacancies arising in 2023 on the Board of Screen Ireland.
265. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if any consideration will be given to removing the broadcast levy paid by independent radio stations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57998/22]
View answerSection 33 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 ('the Act') provides that the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) may impose a levy on broadcasters for the purposes of meeting the cost of fulfilling their functions ('the broadcasting levy'). The design and implementation of the broadcasting levy is matter for the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland as an independent regulatory body.
The Online Safety and Media Regulation (OSMR) Bill, which is currently before the Oireachtas, will dissolve the BAI and established a new body, Coimisiún na Meán, to oversee the regulatory framework for broadcasting, video-on-demand services and online safety set out in the Bill.
The new body will be funded by a levy which will be placed on all regulated entities, including broadcasters, which will ultimately replace the broadcasting levy. Specifically, section 7 of the OSMR Bill will substitute a new section 21 of the Act, which will provide the legal basis for Coimisiún na Meán to prepare and impose the levy or levies. Under that section, each category of regulated entity will be required to contribute proportionally to the cost of the functions relating to that category. In addition, community broadcasters will be exempt from the levy, which is not the case with the existing broadcasting levy.
Under the transitional provisions of the OSMR Bill, the existing broadcasting levy will remain in place until it is replaced by a levy made under section 21 of the Act (as substituted by the Bill), but only insofar as it is required to fund the broadcasting-related activities of Coimisiún na Meán.
A reduction in the broadcasting levy is not the only way to support the independent radio sector. At present, a number of schemes are available to the sector:
- the Sound and Vision Scheme operated by the BAI; and,
- in Budget 2023, I secured €6 million for the establishment of the Media Fund. This will initially fund two schemes, a Local Democracy Reporting Scheme and Court Reporting Schemes which will be administered by Coimisiún na Meán on a platform-neutral basis.
In addition to the 7% of net licence fee receipts which is used to fund Sound and Vision Scheme, I have allocated an additional €25.4 million in Exchequer funding to the Scheme since 2020. Over that period the Scheme has ring-fenced €5 million for independent radio and €1.2 million for community radio to be distributed through dedicated funding rounds. Any open rounds of the Scheme were also open to the independent radio sector.
266. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount paid by motorists in public car parking including kerbside throughout Dublin city in each of the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58122/22]
View answerThe elected members of local authorities have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, including adopting the annual budget and authorising borrowing, and are democratically accountable for all expenditure by the local authority. It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process, having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources.
The loss of parking revenues, as with other income streams, due to the Covid - 19 pandemic, impacted Local Authority finances. As a result Dublin City Council received support for this loss of income in 2020 and 2021 and these figures together with the parking income figures for the past 5 years are included in the attached table.
Income collected from parking charges can be found in Appendix 4 of the Local Authority Annual Financial Statements which are published on my Department's website: gov.ie - Local Authority Annual Financial Statements (www.gov.ie)
|
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
2017 |
|
|
Parking Fines/Charges |
30,056,777 |
26,990,044 |
41,052,656 |
38,636,647 |
38,679,363 |
|
Covid Support re parking |
€11,950,707 |
18,430,761 |
|||
|
42,007,484 |
45,420,805 |
41,052,656 |
38,636,647 |
38,679,363 |
267. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown of the total drawdown from the defective block remediation fund; if he will provide a further breakdown by drawdown in counties Mayo and Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57252/22]
View answerFollowing 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 (DCB) 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 the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the grant 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/ .
Work on drafting the necessary Regulations to facilitate the commencement of the Act and the enhanced Grant Scheme is ongoing and the Regulations will provide for all matters within the Act which are to be prescribed including but not limited to the grant rates, damage threshold, and the form and content of various reports, certificates, forms, and declarations.
The table below sets out the drawdown amounts under the current Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme since June 2020.
Total Drawdown by Local Authorities for current DCB Grant Scheme Since June 2020
|
Mayo |
Donegal |
|
|
Total drawdown 2020 |
€165,600 |
€609,459 |
|
Total drawdown 2021 |
€678,086 |
€3,367,419 |
|
Total drawdown to date in 2022 |
€1,902,154 |
€4,408,195 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Drawdown by LAs Since June 2020 |
€2,745,840 |
€8,385,073 |
|
Total Overall Drawdown Since June 2020 (including a payment of €67,000 to the Housing Agency and Sundries / Consultancies of €42,140): |
€11,240,053 |
|
There is a 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.
268. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the grounds on which a local authority can evict an RAS tenant since the introduction of the eviction ban. [57255/22]
View answer303. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the grounds in which a RAS tenant can be evicted from a property since the introduction of the eviction ban on 30 October 2022 until 31 March 2023. [57896/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 303 together.
The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) involves a three way contractual relationship between landlord, tenant and the local authority with each party having their own responsibilities.
The main landlord and tenant relationship is between the property owner and the RAS tenant. The local authority is not the landlord, but acts as an agent for the RAS tenant and retains responsibility for payment of rent to landlord and for sourcing alternative accommodation if a dwelling that the household is living in becomes unavailable through no fault of their own.
Accommodation provided under RAS is governed by the terms of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2021, as amended.
The Residential Tenancies Board was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022, to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.
The Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 was signed into law on 29 October 2022. The Act makes emergency provision to defer the termination dates of certain residential tenancies that fall, or would fall, during the 'winter emergency period', beginning on 30 October 2022 and ending on 31 March 2023. The aim is to mitigate the risk that persons, whose tenancies would otherwise be terminated during the winter, would be unable to obtain alternative accommodation.
Provision is made for the deferral of the giving of effect to certain notices of termination by a landlord to a tenant, where they have been served by a landlord on or before 29 October 2022 and specify a termination date that falls during the 'winter emergency period'. Such terminations could take effect after the winter, in accordance with the Act, over the period from 1 April to 18 June 2023.
A deferral under this Act does not apply to a notice of termination served before or during the 'winter emergency period' where:
- the termination is grounded on the tenant’s failure to meet his or her obligations under section 16 of the Act of 2004, including to pay rent, or
- the landlord states that the reason for the termination is:
- on the ground of a breach of tenant obligations (other than to pay rent);
- on the ground of a breach of a tenant’s obligation to pay rent; or
- on the ground that the accommodation no longer suits the tenant’s accommodation needs having regard to the number of bed spaces and the size of the household.
Further information on the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates for Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 is contained on the website of the Residential Tenancies Board - www.rtb.ie.
269. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider introducing legislation which would ensure that for house listing websites and estate letting agents every property must be displayed with the original listing date and any modifications made to the advertisement, including price changes from the original price to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57276/22]
View answerMy Department has no role regarding the control and regulation of property service providers, including setting and enforcing standards in the provision of property services. These functions are a matter for the Property Service Regulatory Authority, a body established under the aegis of the Department of Justice by the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011.
270. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the freehold title to properties arising from the guidance issued by his Department to local authorities in April 2009 on the use of unsold affordable houses still rests with the local authority notwithstanding that these social houses are leased by an approved housing body or private management company; and if the working group appointed to deal with this issue will include tenants who are living in these houses for many years at this stage, in view of the fact that the consultation process dealing with this issue has been designed to include his Department, local authorities, approved housing bodies and the Housing Finance Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57287/22]
View answerIn 2009 my Department issued guidance to local authorities on the use of unsold affordable properties to provide social housing. The majority of units were leased to approved housing bodies (AHBs); who act as landlords under a service level agreement with the relevant housing authorities. The local authority retains ownership of the units.
In September 2020, I convened a working group to examine the issues around these units in detail. This working group comprises members of the Local Government Management Agency, Housing Finance Agency, Housing Agency, AHBs through the Irish Council of Social Housing and my Department. The working group is keen to develop a long term solution which works for all parties, including the tenants. Both AHB and local authority representatives have raised tenant related issues with the group. Tenants are welcome to engage with their local authority, AHB or directly with my Department to raise issues in relation to their occupation of these units.
271. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports that are available for local authority frontline staff in the homeless sections such as training in trauma-informed care and counselling to assist them in dealing with the growing levels of homeless presentations. [57291/22]
View answerStatutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities. 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 local authorities in addressing homelessness at a 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 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.
It is the responsibility of each housing authority to ensure that an appropriately staffed homeless action team are in place to address homelessness in each administrative area. In doing so housing authorities should ensure action teams are configured and resourced with the appropriate skill sets, decision-making ability and functional capacity to address homelessness at a local level.
Furthermore I launched the Youth Homelessness Strategy on 9 November 2022. The Strategy recognises that many young people within homeless services have undergone significant traumatic experiences. Accordingly, the Strategy contains a specific action to ensure that service providers are trained in developmentally informed approaches, including trauma-informed care. Local authorities play a vital role in addressing youth homelessness and have been requested to advise if additional resources are required in order to ensure the successful implementation of the actions in this Strategy.
272. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of expenditure by his Department on public relations advice since he assumed office, broken down by the amount paid to each company or external agency in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57294/22]
View answerMy Department has not utilised the services of public relations agencies or PR consultants for advice since I took office.
273. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated number of AHF homes, CREL homes, LDA cost rental homes, and any other homes to be delivered via the affordable housing funding not included in the listed categories by local authority for each of the years 2022 to 2026, in tabular form. [57302/22]
View answerA five year delivery target from 2022 - 2026 has been set under Housing for All, for 28,500 affordable homes to be delivered for affordable purchase and cost rental across the various delivery streams.
In implementing the key objectives under Housing for All, each local authority has prepared and published a Housing Delivery Action Plan in respect of local authority supported or overseen delivery from 2022 to 2026. 18 local authorities with a strong and identified affordable housing need were asked to include their planned affordable housing delivery in their Action Plans. I have also set individual five-year Affordable Housing delivery targets for those local authorities.
Furthermore, local authorities have been begun 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 by the end of this year.
2022 represents the commencement of a very ambitious programme of delivery of affordable housing. This momentum will continue with delivery significantly increasing in 2023. A pipeline of affordable housing delivery is being developed by local authorities, by approved housing bodies using the Cost Rental Equity Loan and by the Land Development Agency.
The Housing for All Action Plan Update was published on 2 November 2022. The section entitled “Planning the required number of homes”, sets out the Government’s approach to reviewing current targets and projections including the refreshing of the overall national housing targets and the subsets of social, affordable and market delivery, having regard to progress already made, to ensure that the overall housing need is met in line with the original vision of Housing for All.
With regard to affordable housing, annual national delivery targets were published in Housing for All (Figure 3, page 32) for the year 2022 to 2030 inclusive. This overall target of 54,000 affordable homes comprises some 36,000 affordable purchase homes, as well as 18,000 cost rental homes. Overall targets within affordable delivery streams will be revised per the approach set out above.
274. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he or any officials from his Department or from bodies under the aegis of his Department travelled to the Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Change Conference; the number who travelled; the costs incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57318/22]
View answerTwo officials from my Department attended the Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Change Conference (COP27). These officials were from the Climate Services, Research and Applications Division of Met Éireann. The costs incurred from this travel to date, is approximately €4,320 in respect of flights, hotels, transfers etc. Given that the conference has finished just recently, it is expected these costs will increase slightly when the officials input their respective travel and subsistence claims.
The information requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the individual bodies concerned. Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for each agency is set out in the following table:
|
STATE BODY |
CONTACT E-MAIL |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie |
|
An Fóram Uisce (the Water Forum) |
info@nationalwaterforum.ie |
|
Approved Housing Body Regulatory Authority |
oireachtasqueries@ahbregulator.ie |
|
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum |
infodocklands@dublincity.ie |
|
Ervia |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Gas Networks Ireland |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Heritage Council |
oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
publicreps@housingagency.ie |
|
Irish Water |
oireachtasmembers@water.ie |
|
Land Development Agency |
oireachtas@lda.ie |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
corporate@lgma.ie |
|
National Oversight and Audit Commission |
info@noac.ie |
|
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee |
ntacc@housing.gov.ie |
|
Office of the Planning Regulator |
oireachtas@opr.ie |
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland |
Oireachtas@osi.ie |
|
Property Registration Authority |
reps@prai.ie |
|
Pyrite Resolution Board |
oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie |
|
Valuation Office |
oireachtas.enquiries@VALOFF.ie |
|
Valuation Tribunal |
info@valuationtribunal.ie |
|
Water Advisory Body |
info@wab.gov.ie |
|
Waterways Ireland |
ceoffice@waterwaysireland.org |
275. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if current and future residents in accommodation provided by the International Protection and Accommodation Service are included in the data informing the housing needs demand assessment both for the State-wide targets and the local authority specific targets; and if so, the way in which this data in included. [57331/22]
View answerThe Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) tool is key to estimating likely future housing need across the State by tenure type, including private ownership, private rental, social and affordable homes. The tool is underpinned by independent research undertaken by the ESRI on behalf of my Department. Drawing on Census 2016 population data, and incorporating CSO estimates on net international migration for 2017-2019 and modelled projections/ scenarios from 2020 onwards, it provides an estimate of structural housing demand at national and county level to 2030.
Actual population increases reflected in the Census 2022 data above the underlying projections/ scenarios in the HNDA tool, arising inter alia from inward migration, are not included in the estimated housing need. That said, in line with commitments in Housing for All, the HNDA framework and housing targets will be updated having regard to the detailed Census 2022 data. This data will be available from June 2023. The revised targets will also take account of projected population increases in coming years, including from net inward migration.
As per my Department's HNDA guidance, local authorities are required, when preparing their respective HNDAs, to estimate the level of specialist housing needed, including temporary housing for international protection applicants.
276. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria which a SHIP and CALF construction and a SHIP and CALF turn-key social homes are considered delivered, in order for such units to be included in the social housing output figures in a given year. [57332/22]
View answerThe process of gathering and collating social housing delivery statistics is managed by the Department’s Statistics and Data Analytics Unit (SDAU). A circular is issued to local authorities each quarter requesting social housing delivery details and returns submitted by the local authorities are collated for publication.
For local authority new build, completion is when the keys have been handed over the local authority and the ESB meter has been connected. For a local authority Turnkey, completion is the date the contract to purchase is signed.
CALF projects, both construction and turnkey, are typically considered delivered having regard of the effective date of the Payment and Availability Agreement, although in some instances the units will have been completed in advance of the agreement being signed.
The published output figures by my Department are based on the social housing units confirmed as completed on the Statistical Returns received from each local authority on a quarterly basis. The Department keeps this matter under regular review.
277. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on grants and assistance for owners of thatched properties including any proposed assistance to defray the costs of thatching and insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57361/22]
View answerMy Department operates a grant scheme for rethatching houses that are more than ten years old and that are normal places of residence. The current maximum grant is €3,810; a higher grant (up to €5,714) may be payable for houses on specified Islands; for Medical Card holders, the maximum grant is €6,350, or up to 80% of the approved cost (€8,252 for specified islands).
On 16 November last, I announced the 2023 Built Heritage Investment Scheme, which for the first time will include ring-fenced funding of €500,000 for conservation repairs to eligible thatched structures. Owners of historic thatched buildings may also apply to the Historic Structures Fund for conservation grants.
My Department will review the operation of these grant programmes early next year. While the State cannot directly intervene to subsidise insurance, my Department’s increased funding will provide greater assistance to owners with the costs of caring for their thatched properties, helping them to offset other costs.
My Department has been working steadfastly, under Action 6 of our strategy for built vernacular heritage launched in December 2021, to assist with resolving the difficulties that thatched property owners have in relation to accessibility and affordability of insurance. We have engaged extensively with the insurance industry, here and abroad, the various regulatory bodies, local authorities, fire services and others, to get a full picture of the situation. We have engaged a specialist to study the matter, whose report is expected shortly. We will be acting urgently on the basis of this research, in particular to assist owners in reducing the risk of fire in their properties, which is expected to result in reduced insurance premiums.
278. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will reissue correspondence to a person (details supplied) on the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme with a larger picture to identify the land in question as referred to. [57375/22]
View answerAn application for compensation under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s question.
Correspondence issued on 2nd November 2022 and larger maps have now been issued to the individual as requested.
279. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the new local authority-led pledge call for vacant properties and holiday homes for the temporary housing of refugees will be made. [57391/22]
View answerMy Department and local government are collaborating in a call to property owners with unoccupied properties to offer them as temporary homes to accommodate beneficiaries of temporary protection.
Under this programme, local authorities will accept offers of houses, apartments or holiday homes for temporary accommodation, liaise with owners to assess suitability, and arrange for their use by Ukrainian people and families. A tax-free recognition payment of €800 per month will be available from the Department of Social Protection for properties used to house those arriving from Ukraine.
More than 60,000 people have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine seeking safety and the vast majority need accommodation.
Details of this call, which is being undertaken by the local government sector with support from my Department, on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Integration, Disability and Youth, are currently being finalised.
280. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the income thresholds for County Longford will be revised upwards. [57405/22]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 234 of 10 November 2022 which sets out the position in the matter.
281. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the scheme that is in place for the return of long-term voids by local authorities. [57406/22]
View answer283. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of voids to be returned by each local authority under the voids return scheme in 2022, in tabular form. [57408/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 281 and 283 together.
The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.
Since 2014, Exchequer funding has been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. This funding was initially introduced to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted at ensuring minimal turnaround and re-let times for local authority vacant stock.
Under the 2022 Voids Programme, funding of €25 million has been made available across the local authorities for the remediation of 2,273 properties. The allocation per local authority is outlined in the following table.
|
Local Authority |
Number of Properties allocated |
|
Carlow |
37 |
|
Cavan |
54 |
|
Clare |
50 |
|
Cork City |
144 |
|
Cork County |
117 |
|
Donegal |
94 |
|
Dublin City |
359 |
|
DLR |
68 |
|
Fingal |
76 |
|
Galway City |
37 |
|
Galway County |
39 |
|
Kerry |
66 |
|
Kildare |
90 |
|
Kilkenny |
48 |
|
Laois |
42 |
|
Leitrim |
19 |
|
Limerick |
99 |
|
Longford |
55 |
|
Louth |
72 |
|
Mayo |
35 |
|
Meath |
57 |
|
Monaghan |
30 |
|
Offaly |
28 |
|
Roscommon |
30 |
|
Sligo |
39 |
|
South Dublin |
105 |
|
Tipperary |
108 |
|
Waterford |
92 |
|
Westmeath |
45 |
|
Wexford |
53 |
|
Wicklow |
85 |
|
|
|
|
Total |
2,273 |
Given the very significant investment into the Voids Programme over recent years, it is expected that local authorities should have dealt with legacy vacancy and should now be in a strong position to begin the transition to a strategic and informed planned maintenance approach to stock management and maintenance.
To that end, my Department and local authorities are working to transition from a largely response and voids based approach to housing stock management and maintenance, to a planned maintenance approach as referenced in Housing for All, policy objective 20.6. This will require the completion of stock condition surveys by all local authorities and the subsequent development of strategic and informed work programmes in response. My Department will support these work programmes by ensuring that the funding available under the various stock improvement programmes is aligned with this approach. In this regard, €5 million in funding has been ring-fenced for Planned Maintenance under this years Planned Maintenance/Voids Programme to support the implementation of an ICT asset management system for the local authority sector and to provide a funding contribution for the commencement of stock condition surveys.
282. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities can apply for the croí cónaithe towns fund for long-term voids. [57407/22]
View answerPathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add real vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas. The Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund is a key initiative which underpins these policy objectives set out in Pathway Four of Housing for All.
Schemes under the Fund, which are delivered by local authorities, provide new choices for people to live in towns and villages in Ireland, through the provision of a grant to support the refurbishment of vacant properties and by providing serviced sites in towns and villages to people in order to build their own homes.
In July, I launched the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant as part of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. The grant benefits those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence. The grant was initially launched in respect of vacant properties in towns and villages but I am pleased to say that as of the 15 November, the expanded grant also includes eligible vacant properties in both cities and rural areas (in addition to those in towns and villages, which have been eligible since July). www.gov.ie/en/press-release/969fb-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-expanded-to-cities-and-remote-rural-areas/.
A grant of up to a maximum of €30,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence, including the conversion of a property which has not previously been used as residential. 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 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €50,000.
In September, I launched the Ready to Build Scheme, also funded by the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. Under the Ready to Build Scheme, local authorities will make serviced sites in towns and villages available to potential individual purchasers to build their homes. These sites will be available at a discount on the market value of the site for the building of a property for occupation as the principal private residence of the purchaser.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant does not apply to local authority housing stock. The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.
Since 2014, Exchequer funding has been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. This funding was initially introduced to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted at ensuring minimal turnaround and re-let times for local authority vacant stock.
Under the 2022 Voids Programme, funding of €25 million has been made available across the local authorities for the remediation of 2,273 properties.
