Written Answers Nos. 215-226
215. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta ccathain a dheiseofar an dochar a rinneadh don reilig ag an Maoilinn (GA023-002) i bPáirc Náisiúnta Chonamara dhá bhliain ó shin; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [14385/23]
View answerLe linn gnáthobair chothabhála/athsholáthair fálta a dhéanamh laistigh de Pháirc Náisiúnta Chonamara, rinne conraitheoir rianú gairid ar chuadrothar ar fud rian a bhí ag suíomh reilig an Mhaoilinn (GA023-023002) cheana féin. Thug seandálaí a raibh taithí chuí aige/aici ó Sheirbhís na Séadchomharthaí Náisiúnta cuairt ar an suíomh ar an 25 Samhain 2021. Ba é tátal na tuarascála a d’eascair as seo ná go raibh loirg de rochtain feithicle ó chuadrothar le feiceáil feadh an riain ag suíomh na reilige. Cé nach raibh aon fhianaise infheicthe de shuaitheadh suntasach ann, tugadh faoi deara go raibh líon beag clocha curtha as a n-áit. Níl sé soiléir, áfach, má tharla sé sin fad a bhí an cuadrothar ag trasnú an riain nó an raibh tionchair eile i gceist. Tuigeann an tSeirbhís Páirceanna Náisiúnta agus Fiadhúlra (NPWS) go bhfuil siúlóirí cnoic, tréada beostoic agus caorach ag baint níos mó úsáide as limistéar an Mhaoilinn, go háirithe ar an rian a ritheann in aice le suíomh na reilige. Agus aird á tabhairt air sin, tá an NPWS ag smaoineamh ar athródú a dhéanamh ar an mbóthar atá ann cheana féin lena chinntiú go mbeidh an reilig faoi chosaint fós. Tá an NPWS i dteagmháil freisin le Seirbhís na Séadchomharthaí Náisiúnta i ndáil leis an ábhar sin agus déanann ball foirne i bPáirc Náisiúnta Chonamara monatóireacht rialta ar an suíomh.
216. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will agree to Donegal County Council's request for more families in County Donegal to be able to avail of the ancillary grants (details supplied) in advance of the commencement of the enhanced scheme on humanitarian grounds. [14408/23]
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, as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021, is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the current grant scheme.
The 2022 Act which contains the enhanced grant scheme will be commenced as soon as related Regulations are completed, which Regulations provide details for the enhanced scheme not included in the 2022 Act such as application forms and templates, per square metre grant rates and the definition of damage. Draft Regulations have been prepared, which are the subject of ongoing consultation with key stakeholders, including with homeowners’ action groups, which consultation must be concluded before the Regulations will be finalised and adopted in early 2023. I extended the consultation period on the draft Regulations, which commenced in February 2023, by an additional two weeks, to 14 March 2023, following receipt of requests for time extensions from Donegal County Council and Mayo County Council. The submissions received are now being reviewed and when that review is completed I will engage further with the homeowners' action groups before finalising the Regulations.
Grant rates, to be included in the final Regulations, will be based upon updated regional construction costs for 2023 provided by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI). The Expert Group on defective concrete blocks will make recommendations to operationalise the SCSI report figures for 2023 before they are incorporated into the Regulations.
My Department provided sanction to Donegal County Council in December 2022 to release ancillary funding grants of €15,000 for alternative accommodation and €5,000 for storage on an administrative basis to the cohort of householders in Donegal, as identified by the Council, whose houses had become uninhabitable due to use of DCB in their construction, in advance of the commencement of the 2022 Act.
Donegal County Council has made contact with my Department seeking sanction for additional payments to be made to another cohort of homeowners in advance of the commencement of the 2022 Act. This matter is being considered currently and Donegal County Council will be advised as soon as possible.
My Department has published an updated “Your Questions Answered” document on the Department’s website to ensure homeowners have the most up to date information available to them for the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks scheme. It can be accessed at www.gov.ie/en/publications/775c0-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme-your-questions-answered/.
217. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he and his Department will urgently find a solution to a serious problem (details supplied) that has arisen for some homeowners who have commenced the demolition and rebuild of their homes under the existing defective concrete block grant scheme. [14409/23]
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, as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021, is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the current grant scheme.
The 2022 Act which contains the enhanced grant scheme will be commenced as soon as related Regulations are completed, which Regulations provide details for the enhanced scheme not included in the 2022 Act such as application forms and templates, per square metre grant rates and the definition of damage. Draft Regulations have been prepared, which are the subject of ongoing consultation with key stakeholders, including with homeowners’ action groups, which consultation must be concluded before the Regulations will be finalised and adopted in early 2023. I extended the consultation period on the draft Regulations, which commenced in February 2023, by an additional two weeks, to 14 March 2023, following receipt of requests for time extensions from Donegal County Council and Mayo County Council. The submissions received are now being reviewed and when that review is completed I will engage further with the homeowners' action groups before finalising the Regulations.
Grant rates, to be included in the final Regulations, will be based upon updated regional construction costs for 2023 provided by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI). The Expert Group on defective concrete blocks will make recommendations to operationalise the SCSI report figures for 2023 before they are incorporated into the Regulations.
The 2022 Act provides for transitional arrangements from the Current to the Enhanced Grant Scheme. In respect of applicants who have received a confirmation of eligibility from the relevant local authority under the current scheme (stage 1 approval) and grant approval (stage 2), the designated local authority shall recalculate the grant rates provided for in the enhanced scheme and ensure that any amendment to the grant rates is notified to the homeowner and that the homeowner may then submit a remedial works plan to the designated local authority in line with the enhanced scheme. There may be instances where the remediation grant approval under the enhanced scheme is less than the grant rate approved under the current scheme, however the Act provides that the enhanced grant rate will not be amended if it was lower than the original/current grant rate.
A homeowner will now also be eligible to apply for ancillary grants for alternative accommodation and storage in accordance with Section 10(2) of the Act of 2022.
With respect to individual cases, each relevant designated local authority has responsibility for the detailed administration within its administrative area of the current DCB Grant scheme, and the Enhanced DCB Grant scheme upon its commencement. This includes the assessment of applications for validity and payment of grants, including stage payments, to successful applicants under the specific remediation option approved. Any queries relating to the scheme, and particularly relating to ongoing applications in the current scheme, should be addressed directly to the local authority in this regard.
My Department recently published a comprehensive and updated “Your Questions Answered” document on the Department’s website to ensure homeowners have the most up to date information available to them which can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/775c0-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme-your-questions-answered/
218. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether there is any obstacle to a local authority signing up to the Climate Perks Programme, which would involve certain commitments as an employer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14458/23]
View answerIn the local government sector, travel and subsistence policies and rates mirror those established centrally for the Civil and Public Sectors and, therefore, any consideration of initiatives such as that referenced will need to be informed by central policy. A key consideration is this regard is the requirement to limit travel, subsistence and related expenditure and the loss of official working time to travel to the minimum necessary for the fulfilment of employer-related duties. Therefore, the programme referenced may not be compatible with this consideration.
219. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of the new purchasing scheme (details supplied); when these details will be made available to public representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14494/23]
View answer226. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will publish the criteria local authorities must apply when evaluating to purchase properties under the NTQ scheme or if it is based on criteria set locally. [14568/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 226 together.
Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. 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 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 (AHBs).
Under Housing for All, there was provision for 200 social housing acquisitions each year. However, with increased pressures on housing and the exit of landlords from the market, I reinstated delegated sanction to local authorities in April 2022 to acquire social housing properties for a number of specific categories including properties that allow persons to exit or prevent homelessness.
For 2023, the Government has agreed that there will be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department will fund local authorities to acquire up to 1,500 social homes and my Department will keep this number under review. The additional acquisitions will be focused on properties where a tenant in receipt of social housing supports has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. A circular letter issued to all local authorities on 14 March, setting out details of these arrangements. I will arrange for a copy of this circular to be sent to the Deputy.
Local authorities have delegated sanction to deliver the 1,300 additional acquisitions, subject to those acquisitions being within Acquisition Cost Guidelines issued by my Department.
220. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will examine the impact that small social welfare increases have on rent costs for local authority tenants under the differential rent scheme given that vulnerable tenants, including those on disability allowance and the State pension, are seeing an increase in their payment being eaten up by an increase in rent, especially given the current cost-of-living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14505/23]
View answer221. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the protocols and or guidelines he has issued in respect of the use of personal social media accounts by officials in his Department; the number of sanctions imposed by his Department on its own officials in the past ten years to date in respect of social media output by its officials, verbal, written or otherwise; if social media platforms are restricted on his Department’s network; if an application (details supplied) is available to use and or download onto Departmental-issued mobile phones; and if not, if it is barred from use. [14516/23]
View answer222. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of overall units and number of complexes owned and managed by an approved housing body (details supplied); and the funding provided by his Department to this AHB, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14533/23]
View answerStatistics on overall units owned, managed or leased by AHBs are captured as part of the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority’s (AHBRA) annual monitoring programme. The first monitoring programme took place in 2022 and statistics will be published by the Regulator over the coming months.
Information in respect of funding for individual Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) is not readily available within my Department.
There are a broad range of funding and delivery mechanisms available to local authorities to deliver housing supports in partnership with AHBs. My Department does not fund AHBs directly, rather the funding is primarily provided to the local authorities, who in turn, advance the funding to the AHBs, as appropriate.
In 2022, almost €0.8 billion was provided by my Department to the local authorities in respect of a range of AHB capital and current funded schemes.
In addition, relevant information in respect of homeless expenditure is published on my Department’s website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/#local-authority-regional-financial-reports
According to the last annual report published by the AHB in Question (2021), a total of 2,704 properties are owned and managed by that organisation.
223. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of an approved housing body (details supplied); and if it held a management company annual general meeting in 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14534/23]
View answerAs provided for in the Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019 (the Act), the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) was formally established on 1 February 2021. AHBRA is an independent body tasked with the regulation of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the purposes of protecting housing assets provided or managed by such bodies.
The register of AHBs previously managed by my Department was officially transferred to AHBRA on 1 January 2022. On this date there were 450 AHBs that were deemed registered and are subject to all provisions in the Act. The AHB in question is listed as registered. The register is published on AHBRA's website, available here: www.ahbregulator.ie/registration/the-register/
The Governance standard includes the need to demonstrate that an effective governing body, or Board, of an AHB is in place. The Regulator is responsible for monitoring compliance by AHBs with the approved standards, and information regarding AGMs is collected as part of the yearly monitoring programme, the first of which took place in 2022. The Regulator has the power to carry out a standards assessment to determine if an AHB is complying or failing to comply with the standards. Anyone concerned that an AHB is not complying with the standards can submit a complain to AHBRA via email to concerns@ahbregulator.ie
224. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on a grant scheme for a property (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14543/23]
View answerAwaiting reply from Department.
225. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a person can be considered for a local authority home loan where exceptional circumstances pertain in relation to one of the conditions of the scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14554/23]
View answerThe Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage scheme for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.A ‘Fresh Start’ principle applies for applications to the Local Authority Home Loan. The following categories of persons are eligible to apply for the Local Authority Home Loan under the Fresh Start principle:- Applicant(s) that previously purchased or built a residential property, but is divorced/separated or otherwise and has left the property and divested themselves of their interest in the property are eligible.- Applicant(s) that previously purchased a residential property, but have been divested of this through insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, are eligible to apply. The applicant must be discharged from bankruptcy proceedings. It should be noted that a return to solvency should not be interpreted as a return to creditworthiness, which is a separate assessment.I currently have no plans to further expand the Local Authority Home Loan to include non-first time buyers or those not qualified under Fresh Start. Further details can be found on localauthorityhomeloan.ie/
