Wednesday, 18 Jan 2023

Written Answers Nos. 521-540

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Questions (521)

Matt Carthy

Question:

521. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views following the conclusion of an investigation by the Charities Regulator which detailed failings in financial oversight at an organisation (details supplied) and instances of inappropriate spending of public funding; if he will ensure that any public funding that was not expended appropriately is returned to his Department; his proposals to ensure improved financial management of public funding to this organisation in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63926/22]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I have no statutory function in relation to the management of the organisation in question nor in relation to the work of the Charities Regulator.

It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on the matter.

Construction Industry

Questions (522)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

522. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria that were applied to select members of the Interdepartmental and Agency Group tasked with preparing the Options Paper on a possible remediation scheme in respect of construction defects; if any members of the group live in a multi-unit development or have lived in one in the past ten years; if any members of the group are or have been directors of an owners’ management company in the past ten years; and if any members of the group have provided professional services to an owners’ management company in the past ten years. [63939/22]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Following receipt of the report of the Working Group I established to examine defects in housing, I brought a Memorandum for Information to the Government meeting on 27 September 2022.

In this context, I committed to the establishment of an inter-departmental and agency group to develop an options paper with a view to providing support to homeowners who find themselves in a difficult financial situation through no fault of their own.

The Secretary General of my Department wrote to colleagues in the Department of Finance, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Justice, The Housing Agency, the Office of the Attorney General and the County and City Management Association seeking the nomination of a representative from these bodies to sit on the group.

Members of the group were not required to provide the information referred to in the Question.

The Group held 3 meetings between 18 October and 6 December and I received its final report on 14 December 2022.

Housing Schemes

Questions (523)

Bríd Smith

Question:

523. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify the way accommodation standards in tenancies that are supported by HAP/RAS payments are enforced; the number of payments to landlords that have been stopped in the past two years due to the accommodation being judged as not suitable for the tenant; the number of tenants who were refused HAP/RAS support prior to commencing a tenancy due to the accommodation being judged as inadequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63966/22]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

A key principle of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is that eligible households source their own accommodation in the private rented sector, which best suits their needs, in their area of choice

The minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 and apply to all dwellings that are let or available to let, including those where the tenancy is supported by HAP or the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these Regulations. Responsibility for enforcement of the Regulations rests with the relevant local authority.

The HAP scheme is underpinned by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. Under section 41 of the 2014 Act, local authorities are required to commence the inspection process within 8 months of HAP support being provided in relation to a particular dwelling, if the dwelling was not already inspected within the previous 12 months. Local authorities carry out HAP inspections as part of their overall private rented inspections programme.

The HAP legislation provides a very structured, time bound system where serious lack of compliance exists and can result in termination of HAP payment.

Failure to comply with the minimum standards can result in penalties and prosecution. Local authorities can issue Improvement Notices and Prohibition Notices to landlords who breach the minimum standards regulations. An Improvement Notice sets out the works that the landlord must carry out to remedy a breach of the regulations.

In the case of a Prohibition Notice being enforced, a local authority may provide, or continue to provide, HAP in respect of that property for a period of 13 weeks, to enable the household to find an alternative dwelling.

The RAS scheme is delivered by local authorities who source accommodation from both the private market and Approved Housing Bodies.

Where a RAS contract is being set-up, a property inspection must take place prior to a contract being entered into with a new landlord. However, as many RAS properties are occupied while a contract is being negotiated, guidance has been provided to local authorities to assist in the practical implementation and effective enforcement of the prescribed legislation.

Comprehensive data in respect of the number of inspections of all private rental properties, Improvement Letters and Improvement Notices issued, and the legal actions initiated by local authorities in the period 2005 to 2021 is available on my Department's website at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/da3fe-private-housing-market-statistics/.

Local Authorities

Questions (524)

Joe Carey

Question:

524. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans that are in place to assist Clare County Council in recruiting marine planners to deal with planning applications for offshore renewable energy projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63992/22]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Section 279 of the Maritime Area Planning (MAP) Act 2021 extends the functional area of the coastal planning authorities to include the nearshore, that is the area between the high water mark and 3 nautical miles. Applications for development, excluding development listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Planning and Development Act, will be submitted to the coastal planning authorities.

The MAP Act specifies classes of development, an application for which shall be submitted directly to An Bord Pleanála. This is in accordance with Section 285 and Schedule 10 of the Act. The classes of development identified in Schedule 10 (which inserts the Eighth Schedule into the Planning and Development Act) include:

- an installation for the production of energy by harnessing the power of wind that has – (a) more than 5 turbines, or (b) a total output of more than 5 megawatts;

- any floating or fixed installation (either temporary or permanent) for the production of energy by harnessing the power of the sun;

- an installation for the production of energy by harnessing wave or tidal power that has a total output greater than 5 generating units or 5 megawatts.

The number of offshore renewable energy projects that will be submitted to coastal planning authorities for assessment is, therefore, limited.

Under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. However, with regard to the implementation of the new maritime area planning regime, my Department has engaged in meetings with coastal planning authorities during 2022, most recently in November last. My Department has also had an initial discussion with the Irish Planning Institute and third-level bodies on the broader topic of addressing the growing demand for marine planners.

I understand that the County and City Management Association (CCMA) is setting up a Coastal Planning Authority sub-group to deal directly with marine issues. My Department will be working closely with that sub-group over the coming months.

Housing Provision

Questions (525)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

525. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of affordable homes delivered through the Affordable Housing Fund in 2022 that went sale closed in 2022. [63995/22]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

2022 represented 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 (AHBs) and by the LDA.

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 in Q1 2023.

Specifically with regard to closing of the sale of each affordable home after the unit is completed and delivered, conveyancing timelines are very much dependent on individual purchasers' arrangements with their mortgage provider and the local authority in question.

To support this new process, pro forma legal and conveyancing material has been issued by my Department to all local authorities, having been agreed across stakeholders including the Law Society, all participating banks, local authorities, the Property Registration Authority and others. The sale of an affordable home is expected to be completed shortly after the home is advertised and available for transfer to the purchaser.

Question No. 526 answered with Question No. 503.

Departmental Reports

Questions (527)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

527. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that wording (details supplied) was removed from the final Donegal quarry inspection report from the National Building Control Office published by his Department in December 2022; and the person or body that took the decision to remove this sentence from the report. [63997/22]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

In October 2021, I requested the National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office, in partnership with Donegal County Council and Geological Survey Ireland, to carry out an audit of quarries in Donegal to evaluate relevant economic operators’ compliance with the Construction Products Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 when placing relevant construction products (aggregate concrete blocks and/or aggregates for use in concrete products) on the market.

I received a draft report of this audit in June 2022. On examination, my Department raised queries and sought clarification on the content of the draft report, focusing mainly on the work carried out and results of the audit, which was requested in my original request. This additional information was sought from the authors of the report.

On 30 November 2022, the National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office submitted a final report which was published on 6 December 2022. The authors of the report were responsible for the final text and the Deputy will appreciate that there were significant changes in the final report from the draft submitted in June as it was updated to include significant additional information arising from the audit.

Housing Policy

Questions (528)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

528. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to contract restrictions on apartment owners selling their apartments to local authorities or approved housing bodies for social housing; if so, if he will discuss the matter with the Minister for Justice to examine if this restriction can be overcome by way of legislation or regulation in order to allow such properties be acquired for social or affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1008/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

My Department is not aware of any instances where a local authority or Approved Housing Body has been prevented by contract restrictions from acquiring apartments for social housing.

For example, The Housing Agency has purchased hundreds of apartments over several years, in its own capacity and on trust for local authorities, and the Agency has informed my Department that it not been prevented from acquiring an apartment by a contract restriction preventing the owner from selling their apartment for social housing use.

I understand certain planning permission restrictions may prevent the sale, for example, of build-to-rent units for a period of 15 years. Similarly, the head lease for some holiday home developments may include provisions requiring the pooling of rental income from properties and this may also prevent an apartment being successfully acquired for social housing. However, these restrictions are not specifically intended to prevent a sale of a unit for social housing and apply irrespective of the intended use.

Housing Policy

Questions (529, 530)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

529. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to revise the headline targets underpinning his housing plan; if so, the breakdown of those targets by tenure type; and when he intends to publish the revised targets. [1009/23]

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

530. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the inputs that are used by his Department when using the housing need and demand assessment to determine the annual social and affordable housing targets as set out in the housing plan. [1010/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 529 and 530 together.

The Housing Demand and Need Assessment (HNDA) framework and tool assists local authorities develop long-term views of housing demand and need and provide a robust evidence-base to support decisions about new housing supply, wider investment and housing related services that inform an overall national housing profile.

The HNDA tool helps project housing demand estimates across four tenures, namely social, affordable, private rental and private ownership. Generally, it does this by projecting population growth and distribution across and within local authorities, as well as forecasting house prices, rent prices and incomes to make an assessment of the future affordability of the different housing tenures. The tool is populated by a range of different demographic, income, and house and rental price scenarios and assumptions for this purpose.

Using the ESRI's household projections and deploying the tool's Convergence Scenario, the HNDA methodology produced an estimated housing need across the four tenures for the period to 2030. This estimate underpinned the annual average target of 33,000 homes per year in Housing for All and informed local authority housing supply targets to 2030, including social and affordable housing.

It is intended to review the HNDA framework, including the tool and underlying demographic, income, house and rental price scenarios and assumptions this year when the detailed Census data are available in Q2 2023.

As a critical element of this work, the ESRI will update its research on structural housing demand. I expect this work to be completed towards end-2023.

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. The Housing for All Action Plan Update can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/da0d1-action-plan-update-and-q3-2022-progress-report/.

The HNDA tool and guidelines for use and its data sources are available to view on www.gov.ie/en/publication/eaa99-housing-need-and-demand-assessment-hnda/

Question No. 530 answered with Question No. 529.

Local Government Reform

Questions (531)

Neale Richmond

Question:

531. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the local government education and mentoring programme currently under way in Fingal County Council will be taken up by all local authorities; if so, if he will provide a timeline of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1034/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

It is an important priority of mine and of my Department to support key activities and stakeholders in their endeavours to advance the agenda of encouraging the participation of women in local government and promote wider inclusivity and diversity in local government and local decision-making structures.

In June 2022, my Department issued its fourth annual call for funding to local authorities for the funding of activities at local level that specifically work towards encouraging candidates for the local elections in 2024. While it is appreciated that local authorities do not have a specific role regarding political candidacy for local elections, proposals made by individual local authorities for initiatives that support and encourage the increased participation of women and people of diversity in the 2024 local elections were considered.

Under the 2022 scheme, funding of €3,000 was approved for Fingal County Council for their Local Government Education and Mentoring Programme, which sees the Council partnering with the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University, See Her Elected and political parties to develop a two-phase programme geared towards raising the number of female candidates and those of diverse backgrounds contesting seats on Fingal County Council at the 2024 local elections.

While this is a Fingal County Council initiative, learnings from this programme can be examined and good practice shared with other local authorities, as is the case with the range of initiatives receiving funding from my Department to support diversity in those seeking local government office.

Property Registration

Questions (532)

Neale Richmond

Question:

532. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to severe customer service delays in the Property Registration Authority; his views on whether the current customer service delays in relation to contacting the PRA are acceptable; if he has discussed these with the PRA; the steps that are being taken to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1029/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

In common with many other public service organisations, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) continues to deal with the adverse impact that COVID-19 has had on service delivery. Despite the PRA implementing innovative ways to deliver its registration services throughout the period of restrictions, an accumulation of applications for registration inevitably arose.

Conversely, the level of property transactions has remained strong and the PRA has experienced a significant uptake in applications received. In 2022, for example, intake of all applications increased by 10% when measured against 2021 and 2.5% against intake in 2019. Despite staffing shortages in 2022, overall registrations exceeded 2021 by 12% which was broadly similar to the level achieved in 2019. Notwithstanding this level of output, there has been an increase of applications on hand in certain areas.

Similar to other organisations, the PRA has experienced significant challenges in recruitment and continues to engage with the Public Appointments Service to fulfill its staffing requirements. These challenges are ongoing in a tight labour market environment and the PRA is very keenly aware that customers are experiencing consequent delays in some areas whilst it awaits the appointment of new staff members.

Every effort is being made by the PRA to reduce application processing times under a targeted service delivery programme. Improvements have been made in throughput times, in particular in relation to cases not requiring mapping. I am confident that as the required staff are successfully on-boarded, the PRA will be in a position to achieve its goal of reducing waiting times across all registration services.

Progress continues to be made also on the uptake of e-Registration services, including digital transfers (sales) and charges (mortgages). The pre-lodgement of some information on e-Registration means the processing of the application can be carried out more efficiently with fewer errors in documentation lodged. The PRA continues to promote digital first services as the preferred registration method to all its stakeholders as a means of further enhancing service delivery.

The PRA is always willing to expedite cases where valid grounds exist, such as a pending sale or financial hardship. Lodging parties may contact the PRA in relation to a specific case by email at [e-mail].

In addition to this, arrangements are in place to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. Information in relation to a specific application may be obtained by emailing [e-mail].

Departmental Policies

Questions (533)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

533. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the new rural planning guidelines. [1072/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Updated Rural Housing Planning Guidelines are currently being prepared by my Department. The updated guidelines will expand on the high level spatial planning policy of the National Planning Framework (NPF), in particular on National Policy Objective (NPO) 19 which relates to rural housing. This objective makes a clear policy distinction between rural areas under urban influence (i.e. areas within the commuter catchment of cities, towns and centres of employment) on the one hand, and structurally weaker rural areas where population levels may be low or declining, on the other. NPO 19 is also aligned with the established approach whereby considerations of social (intrinsic part of the community) or economic (persons working full or part time) need are to be applied by planning authorities in rural areas under urban influence.

The proposed Draft Rural Housing Guidelines will set out relevant planning criteria to be applied in local authority development plans for rural housing, based on the high level policy framework set by the NPF. The guidelines will continue to allow county development plans to provide for housing in the countryside based on the considerations detailed in NPO 19 of the NPF, and will also highlight the need to manage development in certain areas, such as the areas around cities and larger towns and environmentally sensitive areas, in order to avoid over-development.

The guidelines are at an advanced stage of drafting and environmental assessments (AA and SEA) are nearing completion. It is intended to publish the draft guidelines for a period of public consultation when the environmental assessments are competed, in Q1 2023.

Following the period of consultation, and with any subsequent changes made, the guidelines will be submitted to the Minister for approval to publish. Once issued, Planning Authorities and An Bord Pleanála will be required to have regard to the guidelines in carrying out their functions.

Regeneration Projects

Questions (534)

Chris Andrews

Question:

534. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the application from Dublin City Council regarding the regeneration of a building (details supplied). [1090/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

As part of Dublin City Council's (DCC) continuous redevelopment work and building on their reviews of the conditions of its older flat complexes, they have advised my Department that they are developing a long term strategy for the redevelopment and/or refurbishment of many of these complexes. This is a matter for DCC in the first instance.

With regards to Pearse House, due to the large size and scope of the complex, the regeneration of the complex will be carried out on a phased basis over a number of years.

In April 2021, my Department issued Stage 1 Approval for the first phase of the regeneration of Pearse House, Dublin 2. The approved regeneration proposal involves the full deep retrofit and amalgamation of existing flats in Blocks L, M, N and P also known as the “small flats”. As Pearse House is a protected structure, the integrated design team includes a conservation architect.

DCC has advised that the tender assessment for the procurement of an integrated design team is complete and appointment of the successful tenderer is expected shortly. Once the design team is appointed, they will develop and finalise a design to bring through planning.

They have also advised that consultation with the local community and elected members will involve the design team sharing their design proposals as they progress.

Departmental Reviews

Questions (535)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

535. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on his planned comprehensive review of the local property tax baselines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1105/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Each local authority’s situation is complex and it is important that sufficient time is taken to analyse and assess potential options in that respect. A comprehensive review of the baselines could not commence in time for the 2023 Local Property Tax (LPT) allocation process without reliable and up-to-date data; such as preliminary census data and updated LPT yield data, following re-valuation.

An examination of the current LPT baselines has commenced and is expected to conclude in advance of the local authority budget process for 2024. The process will include consultation with the sector and relevant stakeholders, and previous reviews and studies of local authority baseline funding will also be assessed and considered.

This review will take into account the overall funding position of all local authorities. Any proposed changes to the current model will need to take into account the needs and resources of all local authorities, including those who have less ability to raise income locally. Any change to the current model will need to be considered within the parameters of the national fiscal and budgetary situation, and the competing priorities presenting themselves at a national level.

Local Authorities

Questions (536)

Neale Richmond

Question:

536. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown of the playing pitches available to book through the local authority for use by the public by local authority in each of the years 2017 to 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1141/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I have no function in relation to the matters raised in the question and the information requested is not available in my Department.

Local authorities are entirely independent corporate entities, having full responsibility under law for the performance of their functions and the discharge of their governance and other responsibilities. While my Department has responsibility at central government level in relation to the framework and structures of the local government system generally and certain specific functional or service areas; responsibility in relation to policy, funding, and general oversight and accountability at national level in respect of sporting and recreational facilities rest with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. A breakdown of the public playing pitches per local authority area as outlined in the Question are matters for each local authority. Details in that regard may be obtained directly from individual authorities.

Departmental Projects

Questions (537)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

537. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an updated version of the Rebuilding Ireland housing land map (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1175/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Housing for All, is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes by 2030. 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 the Land Development Act 2021, the Land Development Agency is required to establish and maintain a register of all relevant public land and land owned by the agency or a subsidiary DAC, to be known as the Register of Relevant Public Lands. Relevant public land is defined in the Act, as all land within a census town owned by a relevant public body. A census town is any urban area with a population over 10,000 accurate to the latest census information. The map can be found on the Land Development Agency at the following link: lda.ie/register-of-relevant-lands/map.

The Land Development Agency (LDA) has an immediate focus on managing the State’s owned 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, to bring essential long-term stability to the Irish housing market.

Under Housing for All, each local authority was required to prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan, setting out details of social housing delivery from 2022-2026. In preparing the Plans, local authorities were required to include details of land available to delivery housing and details of land acquisition requirements. Housing Delivery Action Plans for each local authority are available on the websites of the relevant local authorities.

I have no plans to publish an updated version of the Rebuilding Ireland land map.

Regeneration Projects

Questions (538)

David Stanton

Question:

538. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has received a request from Cork County Council for funding support to enable the upgrade of the public realm and, in particular, the completion of the upgrade of footpaths on the Main Street of Midleton, County Cork; if so, the amount requested; if he will be in a position to accede to this request in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1224/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

In 2019, under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund’s (URDF) first call for proposals, a preliminary allocation of €1,921,985 in URDF support was issued to Cork County Council in respect of the Midleton Main Street Public Realm Improvements project.

It should be noted, while my Department works closely with the successful applicants in respect of project funding, responsibility for the advancement of URDF supported projects through the various stages of planning, development and completion is, in the first instance, a matter for the Sponsoring Agency, in this case Cork County Council.

On the 10 January 2023, following completion of the final design and prior to proceeding to tender, Cork County Council submitted a request for an additional €2,134,864 in URDF support for this project. My Department has requested further information from Cork County Council to support their application and will give further consideration to the request once this information is received.

Wastewater Treatment

Questions (539)

David Stanton

Question:

539. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on wastewater treatment plants servicing private housing estates on a temporary basis; the number of such wastewater treatment plants in operation in County Cork; his plans, if any, to connect such estates to the Irish Water wastewater treatment system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1225/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I understand that the Question refers to housing estates that are dependent on developer provided water services infrastructure for the provision of their water services.

Under the National Development Plan, for the period 2021-2025, funding of €68.5 million has been allocated to address legacy water services issues including the Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme (DPI), run by my Department.

The programme provides funding for the progressive resolution of DPI. It is focused on housing estates which do not have their water services connected to the public (Uisce Éireann) network and are not in the charge of local authorities but rely instead on infrastructure provided by developers.

The focus of the first tranches of funding is on estates where the resolution is to connect their water services to the public networks. Additionally, a study completed by Uisce Éireann in 2022, will inform and assist in developing further policy solutions for estates that, due to distance, it is not viable to connect them to the public network.

Local authorities can provide the current number of estates with temporary waste water treatment plants. However, in 2019 my Department working in partnership with Uisce Éireann conducted a high-level survey of all local authorities in which Cork County Council reported 45 estates with DPI.

Although it will take a number of funding programmes, my Department and I are committed to fully resolving all DPI issues.

Housing Schemes

Questions (540)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

540. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a scheme to utilise lands owned by our local authorities (details supplied) could be reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1268/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

In September 2022, I launched the Ready to Build Scheme as part of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. Under this scheme, local authorities will make serviced sites in towns and villages available at a discounted rate to individual purchasers to build a home and live in it as their principal private residence. It is intended that the local authority will either supply existing sites in their control, or purchase sites and make them available for development by providing services and access to the sites concerned.The level of discount to the individual will depend on the level of servicing cost incurred by the local authority before the sale of the site, but will not exceed €30,000. The amount of such discount will be reflected in the sale price of the site to the purchaser. All available sites will be advertised on the relevant local authority’s website and/or in relevant local publications along with a closing date for receipt of applications. As the scheme has recently launched, each local authority has been asked to identify suitable sites for the scheme. Applications for the Ready to Build Scheme are to be made to the Vacant Homes Officer in each local authority who can provide further advice and information in respect of the scheme and the application process. Further information with regard to the scheme is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/33209-ready-to-build-scheme-serviced-sites-for-new-homes/