Written Answers Nos. 61-80
61. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is tracking social and affordable commencements; and if there has been any drop-off in such commencements to date in 2022. [59801/22]
View answerMy Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity in all local authorities, including information on social housing build, acquisition and lease units broken down by local authority. 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/.
My Department also publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 2 2022 and is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/5a259-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q2-2022/.
A version of the CSR file can also be downloaded for analysis at the link below: data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q2-2022?package_type=dataset.
The details of whether a home may ultimately be made available under affordable purchase or cost rental schemes is not recorded on commencement data. Local authorities have been asked to begin collating information on delivery of affordable homes in their area in the same manner as is currently undertaken 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.
63. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review two specific cases (details supplied) to ensure that these multi-unit complexes are purchased by local authorities of AHBs, in order that no tenant is made homeless [59822/22]
View answerMy Department is focussed on ensuring that all measures possible are taken to ensure that no person enters homelessness. Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing 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 (AHB) and, with this, to reduce the numbers of social homes delivered through acquisition programmes.
However, acquisitions of second hand properties for social housing fall under a number of local authority and Approved Housing Body (AHB) acquisitions programmes.
To strengthen this process I have taken a number of measures, as follows:
On 19 January 2022 my Department issued a circular letter to local authorities advising that social housing acquisitions by local authorities and AHB CALF acquisitions in 2022 would be focussed on a number of priority areas including the prevention of homelessness.
On 20 April 2022, a further circular letter issued to local authorities in relation to social housing acquisitions. The key purpose of this circular was to advise local authorities that I had reinstated the delegated sanction to local authorities in respect of social housing acquisitions.
On 28 November 2022, I wrote to Local Authorities asking them to utilise this sanction fairly and effectively in their administrative areas to help address the extraordinary pressure on our housing system. I reminded Local Authorities that the emergency winter eviction ban was put in place to provide breathing space and alleviate the acute pressure on our homeless services resulting in a need for additional targeted interventions and that delegated sanction for acquisitions in appropriate cases helps make use of that breathing space while we continue to build up our social housing stock.
As housing authorities, local authorities are responsible for the identification of the social housing need in their area. It is a matter for the respective local authority, Dublin City Council and Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in these cases, to determine the most appropriate response to the need for social housing supports in their area.
With regard to St Helen’s Court Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council have advised my Department that they continue to engage with the three tenants all of whom are in receipt of HAP. They have access to Choice Based Letting (CBL) where available social housing properties are advertised on a weekly basis and the Place Finders support team have been engaging to assist in sourcing alternative accommodation.
With regard to Tathony House, Dublin City Council have advised my Department that they have met directly with representatives of the residents to discuss all options and have already completed the rehousing of an elderly tenant. Of the 35 units in the block, I understand that there are no tenants in receipt of social housing supports while three tenants have applied for and are qualified for social housing.
As you will be aware Section 35A of the Residential Tenancies Acts (known as the ‘Tyrrelstown amendment’) may be applicable in this case. This provides that where a landlord proposes to sell 10 or more units within a single development at the same time, that sale is subject to the existing tenants remaining in situ, other than in exceptional circumstances. The ‘Tyrrelstown amendment’ was carefully drafted to promote security of tenure in the interest of the common social good.
My Department understand that the representatives of the tenants at Tathony House have lodged an appeal of the Notices to Termination with the Residential Tenancy Board (RTB). The 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, including with regard to the validity or otherwise of a notice of termination. It would be inappropriate for me as Minister or my Department to provide legal advice, comment on, or to intervene in the specifics of any individual case.
With regard to 95-96 Rathmines Road, Dublin City Council have advised my Department that engagement with all stakeholders continues. It is completing a review of the property to fully establish the exact tenure of the tenants with regard to the numbers of current tenants eligible for Social Housing supports and in receipt of HAP.
This review will directly feed into the available options for Dublin City Council.
64. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has any plans to review the HAP band rate applicable to County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59844/22]
View answerUnder Housing for All, my Department was tasked with undertaking an analytical exercise to examine whether the level of discretion available to Local Authorities under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) was adequate. The Housing Agency carried out this analytical exercise, on behalf of my 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, 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.
A separate review of the discretion available to Homeless HAP tenancies in Dublin, which is up to 50% above the prescribed maximum rent limits, is currently being undertaken by my Department, in conjunction with the Housing Agency.
65. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to reports that homeowners are waiting six months in some instances to receive a response from engineers in relation to the presence of Mica in their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59870/22]
View answerFollowing on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) 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/.
Pending commencement of the Act and the enhanced DCB grant scheme, applications can continue to be made to local authorities and processed under the current DCB grant scheme, underpinned by the Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations, 2020 and the Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) (Amendment) Regulations 2022.
Regulation 5 of the 2022 Regulations waives the requirement for a Stage 1 confirmation of eligibility to be in place prior to recoupment of the cost of the engineer’s fees for homeowners whose applications under the current DCB grant scheme were received by the local authority before the 24 February, 2022.
However, it should be noted that, under the current DCB grant scheme, engineers who provide reports are appointed directly by homeowners. My Department therefore has no role in the matter of the time it takes for engineers to provide reports to their clients.
66. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the safeguards that he will put in place to ensure that croí cónaithe aligns with the town centres-first policy and approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59866/22]
View answerTown Centre First, jointly developed by my Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development, sets out 33 actions which provide a co-ordinated framework across established national policy objectives (in particular the National Planning Framework, Housing for All and Our Rural Future), to address the decline in the health of our towns and to regenerate and revitalise them.A key element of the Town Centre First policy is the development of Town Centre First Plans. These Town Centre First Plans will assist towns in accessing a range of potential funding programmes available for town regeneration across a number of government departments and agencies. This work will be supported by a network of Local Authority Town Regeneration Officers, which will be funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
The policy is underpinned by funding available through schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, the Croí Conaithe (Towns) Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
Pathway 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 grant was expanded to include eligible vacant properties in both cities and rural areas. Further details are available on the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/969fb-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-expanded-to-cities-and-remote-rural-areas/. This ensures that maximum use is made of existing dwellings for residential purposes.
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.
Local authorities will consider and prioritise applications under both schemes as part of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund based on the following criteria:
- the overall levels of vacancy and dereliction within their administrative areas;
- in line with considerations outlined in the Framework of Priorities in the scheme outline;
- alignment with policies of the relevant development plan including areas / objectives identified for regeneration;
- the role that schemes under the Fund might play as part of wider town regeneration particularly in the light of Town Centre First Plans and integration with other committed regeneration funding through the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Towns and Villages Renewal Scheme.
While interim reviews will be ongoing, a comprehensive review and evaluation of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund will be undertaken no later than mid-2024.
67. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to address child homelessness. [59573/22]
View answerReducing and preventing homelessness remains a top priority for the Government. ‘Housing for All’ recognises the particular challenges of homelessness for children and their families and sets out actions to support children and their families to exit homelessness. ‘Housing for All’ also recognises the criticality of inter-agency supports to address the complex combination of social, health and economic needs of those experiencing homelessness and at risk of homelessness, in addition to their specific housing need.
For those families and children in emergency accommodation, it is critical that appropriate supports are provided in order to secure pathways out of homelessness. Work is underway to identify families experiencing long-term homelessness that have complex support needs to provide them with enhanced tenancy sustainment supports to help them exit homelessness and maintain their homes.
In line with a commitment in ‘Housing for All’, the National Homeless Action Committee was established in December 2021 to ensure that a renewed emphasis is brought to collaborating across Government to implement actions in ‘Housing for All’, along with bringing better coherence and coordination of homeless-related services in delivering policy measures and actions to address homelessness. In Q2 2022, a number of subgroups were established under NHAC to specifically examine particular issues relating to homelessness prevention. One of these subgroups was tasked with considering ‘Housing for All’ action 3.16 “enhance family support and prevention and early intervention services for children and their families through a multi-agency and coordinated approach”. Membership of this subgroup consisted of representatives from Tusla, the HSE, the DRHE, the Department of Education, the National Travellers Women’s Forum and NGOs working in the area of homelessness. This subgroup made their final recommendations at the Q4 NHAC meeting. These recommendations are now being reviewed by my Department.
71. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses that will be completed by the local authority and by approved housing bodies; the number of affordable housing units that will be completed in County Monaghan in 2023; the corresponding figures for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59757/22]
View answerHousing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes 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. Monaghan County Council has a target to deliver 125 new build social homes in 2022 and 56 new build social homes in 2023.
A key action of Housing for All required local authorities to develop a Housing Delivery Action Plans to include details of social and affordable housing delivery. The Plans set out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. The Plans also include details of the locations and delivery streams for social housing schemes. Monaghan County Council’s plan is available on their website at this link: monaghan.ie/monaghan-county-councils-housing-delivery-action-plan-approved-by-department-and-published-online/.
My Department publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and pre-tender process. The most recent publication was for Q2 2022. The report is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/5a259-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q2-2022/.
This year represents the first year of a very ambitious programme of delivery of affordable housing and significant funding has been secured and is being made available to support delivery of affordable housing for purchase or for cost rental through the various delivery streams.
Local authorities have begun collating information on the delivery of affordable homes in their area in the same manner as is currently undertaken for social housing and my Department will shortly commence reporting on affordable delivery figures in national quarterly delivery statistics.
72. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on engagement between his Department and Mayo County Council regarding a scheme for the remediation of the 17 social houses that have tested positive for the existence of Pyrite in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59835/22]
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 ('the Act') 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 is ongoing and the Regulations will provide for all matters within the Act which are to be prescribed for the enhanced DCB grant scheme including but not limited to the grant rates, damage threshold, and the form and content of various reports, certificates, forms, and declarations.
Section 36 of the Act provides that the Government may make a further DCB scheme for the purposes of enabling a designated local authority or an approved housing body to remedy damage caused to dwellings by the use of defective concrete blocks in their construction. The grant rates for this local authority and approved housing body DCB scheme shall be the same as the enhanced DCB grant scheme.
In order to inform the necessary administrative and governance arrangements to be put in place prior to the roll out of this local authority and approved housing body scheme, my Department is developing a pilot scheme with Donegal County Council on local authority homes which are impacted. My Department is also in discussion with a Donegal based Approved Housing Body with a view to involving homes from that sector in the pilot.
73. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress that has been made to date in reforming the method of providing Exchequer funding from his Department of local authorities for the years from 2024, taking into account the abolishment of the equalisation fund and revaluation under the local property tax; the criteria that will be used to determine the allocation to each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59620/22]
View answer80. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the local government fund base which was set in 2014 and needs to be updated to factor in the different costs which have arisen over the past eight years; if he will ensure that adequate support is provided for the smaller local authorities which have a small rates base and a limited ability to raise their own revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59811/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 80 together.
Local Property Tax (LPT) was introduced to provide a stable and sustainable funding base for the local authority sector, and the underlying principle of the current distribution model is that every local authority should have a minimum level of funding, known as the baseline, available to it to support the provision of local services.The revaluation of Local Property Tax was undertaken by the Revenue Commissioners in November 2021. As committed to in the Programme for Government - Our Shared Future, the move to 100% retention of LPT will take place in 2023; providing for all money collected locally to be retained within the area. This will be done on the basis that those counties with a LPT yield lower than their baseline, continue to be supported via annual equalisation funding. This will ensure that all authorities continue to receive, at a minimum, an amount equivalent to their baseline. For 2023, equalisation funding of €118m will now be met by the Exchequer, an increase of nearly €84m from 2022.
In addition, a move to the 100% local retention model will lead to an increased surplus for those authorities with LPT income above their funding baseline. These authorities shall now retain a greater proportion of that surplus for their own use in 2023; an increase from 20% of the overall yield in 2022 to 22.5% next year. The remainder of the increased surplus will be used to self-fund housing, roads or other services in the local area.
My Department intends to commence a comprehensive review of the LPT allocation model shortly, and this review is expected to conclude in time for the 2024 LPT allocations. With a particular focus on the baseline funding of individual authorities, all potential criteria to determine allocations will be considered in the course of this review, which will involve consultation with relevant stakeholders.
74. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans in place to support tenants when the eviction ban ends in March 2023, given the stark increase in notices-to-quit issued. [59812/22]
View answerThe 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’ (30 October 2022 to 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.
To assist in managing demands on housing services after the winter period, the Act provides for deferred Notices of Termination to take effect on a phased basis over the period from 1 April to 18 June 2023, taking account of the specified termination date and the tenancy duration in accordance with the following table:
|
Period during which the termination date falls |
Tenancy duration |
Deferred termination date |
|
Beginning on the day after the date of the passing of Act and ending on 31 January 2023 |
Less than 6 months |
1 May 2023 |
|
Beginning on 1 February 2023 and ending on 31 March 2023 |
Less than 6 months |
18 June 2023 |
|
Beginning on the day after the date of the passing of Act and ending on 31 January 2023 |
Not less than 6 months but less than one year |
1 May 2023 |
|
Beginning on 1 February 2023 and ending on 31 March 2023 |
Not less than 6 months but less than one year |
1 June 2023 |
|
Beginning on the day after the date of the passing of Act and ending on 31 January 2023 |
Not less than one year but less than 7 years |
15 April 2023 |
|
Beginning on 1 February 2023 and ending on 31 March 2023 |
Not less than one year but less than 7 years |
1 May 2023 |
|
Beginning on the day after the date of the passing of Act and ending on 31 March 2023 |
Not less than 7 years |
1 April 2023 |
As a further emergency measure, I have also written to local authority Chief Executives, informing them of my decision to continue the delegated sanction, to purchase homes where the tenant is at risk of homelessness, for the duration of the emergency winter eviction ban and up to the end of the transition period in June 2023.
Ultimately of course, increased supply across all tenures is key to eradicating homelessness. Housing supply is increasing under Housing for All.
There is a strong pipeline, with 44,715 dwellings granted planning permission in the 12 months to the end of June 2022. 27,773 new homes were completed in the twelve months to end September 2022 - greater than the total for 2021 or any full year since the CSO completions series began. There were 26,608 units commenced in the year to October 2022 and we are on track to exceed the Housing for All target of 24,600 new build homes in 2022.
Record State investment of €4.5bn will be made available in 2023 to support the largest State home building programme ever, with 9,100 direct build social homes and 5,500 affordable homes.
77. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which he is in a position to augment and accelerate the housing for all programme with a view to making serious impact on the number of families seeking to avail of local authority or affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59779/22]
View answerHousing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes 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 (LDA) and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.
Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes, 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing and 28,500 new affordable homes in the period 2022-2026.
In 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. I have set individual five-year Housing delivery targets for local authorities. 18 local authorities with a strong and identified affordable housing need were also set affordable housing delivery targets and asked to include their planned affordable housing delivery in their Housing Delivery Action Plans.
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 housing delivery is in place and being developed by local authorities, by approved housing bodies and by the LDA.
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 social and affordable housing, the annual national delivery targets summarised above were published in Housing for All (Figure 3, page 32) for the year 2022 to 2030 inclusive. Overall targets for local authority delivery of social and affordable housing will be revised per the approach set out above.
Housing for All: A New Housing Plan for Ireland (September 2021) and the Housing for All Action Plan Update (November 2022) can be accessed on my Department’s website at the respective links:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/ef5ec-housing-for-all-a-new-housing-plan-for-ireland/.
www.gov.ie/en/publication/da0d1-action-plan-update-and-q3-2022-progress-report/.
79. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 10 May 2022, if he has concluded consultations with other Departments on Ireland's possible accession to the Antarctic Treaty system; if he has formulated a recommendation for consideration by Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48911/22]
View answerAs the Minister responsible for national and international marine environmental policy, my Department took over the policy lead role regarding Ireland's possible accession to the Antarctic Treaty System in July this year. My current priorities are to publish a General Scheme of a Marine Protected Areas Bill and to submit Ireland's Marine Strategy Framework Directive revised Programme of Measures to the European Commission.
In regard to the Antarctic Treaty System it is my intention to form an inter-departmental group at the start of 2023 to determine what level of participation is appropriate for Ireland as a developed Northern European State and to identify the structures and associated resource requirements for this participation. This group will look at how this ties in with Ireland’s vision for a healthy and sustainably used global ocean. The group's report to me will form the basis of a submission to Government for consideration.
