Written Answers Nos. 305-326
306. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the provision that is being made within the tenant-in-situ scheme for tenants who are renting a property with a HAP in one local authority area but receive the HAP and are therefore on the housing list of a different local authority. [15085/23]
View answer307. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a report on the operation of the tenant in-situ purchase scheme across the four Dublin local authorities, by month; the number of applications received, accepted and rejected by each local authority during the months April 2022 to February 2023; the funding available to each local authority in Dublin under the scheme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15086/23]
View answer310. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the provision that is being made within the tenant-in-situ scheme for tenants who are renting a HAP property in one local authority area but receive HAP from and are therefore on the social housing transfer list with a different local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15205/23]
View answer323. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline how the tenant-in-situ scheme will work when a tenant’s home is in a different local authority area to where they are on the housing list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15364/23]
View answer324. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how the targets for tenant-in-situ purchases were assigned, and in particular to explain why there has only been a target of 50 homes assigned to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15365/23]
View answer325. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a comprehensive list of any regulations or guidelines for the tenant-in-situ scheme, and also for the tenant in-situ-scheme where people are above the housing income limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15366/23]
View answer327. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline and publish the additional funds that have been designated for local authorities for tenants in-situ purchase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15415/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 306, 307, 310, 323, 324, 325 and 327 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, my Department reinstated delegated sanction to local authorities in April 2022 to acquire social housing properties for a number of specific categories which included:
- One-bedroom units to deliver on Housing First and meet the short supply in this category;
- Other properties that allow persons/families to exit homelessness; and
- Specific housing required for/suitable for individuals with a disability or other particular priority needs.
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. 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. The circular provided each local authority with a provisional allocation for the number of acquisitions, which will be kept under review.
Local authorities have delegated sanction to deliver the 1,300 additional acquisitions, subject to those acquisitions being within Acquisition Cost Guidelines issued by the Department. However, my Department will also consider proposals for acquisitions where the cost exceeds the costs set out in the Guidelines. The associated funding to support the delivery of additional homes through increased social housing acquisitions in 2023 will come from within the Department’s overall capital envelope assigned under the National Development Plan (NDP). No specific financial allocation has been made to individual local authorities.
Where a household is on the housing list in one local authority but has secured a HAP tenancy in another local authority area, the arrangements in place will support the acquisition of the property, where appropriate. The City and County Management Association (CCMA) has assured me that local authorities are collaborating on such situations and my Department will work closely with local authorities on this measure.
My Department is also developing proposals for a bespoke cost rental model which would see a nominated provider avail of this First Right of Refusal to purchase the property and allow tenants who have received a notice of termination and who are at risk of homelessness, but are not eligible for social housing supports, to continue to reside in the property.
In the meantime, the cost rental tenant in situ backstop will be applied on a temporary administrative basis from 1 April 2023, prior to legislative enactment, with a view to supporting households at risk of homelessness. Further details on this measure will be announced shortly.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity in all local authorities, including information on social housing acquisitions. This data is available until the end of Quarter 3 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/.
Data for Quarter 4 is currently being collated and will be published shortly. Data published to date does not include a breakdown of properties acquired where a tenant has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. For 2023, an amendment is being made to my Department's statistical returns to collect information in this regard.
309. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if rent allowance is considered reckonable income for the purposes of social housing eligibility by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15103/23]
View answerRent Supplement is a short-term housing payment, for eligible people living in private rented accommodation, which would be discontinued where an applicant receives long-term social housing support. Therefore, local authorities may disregard rent supplement when assessing a social housing application.
311. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the emergency measures he will take to address the significant backlog of applications to An Bord Pleanála, which has resulted in the agency failing to decide on nearly two-thirds of current applications within the statutory timeframe. [15227/23]
View answerAn Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (the Act), as amended, and certain other Acts.
Section 126 of the Act provides that it shall be the duty and objective of the Board to decide appeals as expeditiously as may be and, for that purpose, to take all such steps as are open to it to ensure that, insofar as is practicable, there are no avoidable delays at any stage in the determination of appeals.
Section 126 also provides that it shall be an objective of the Board to ensure that every appeal is determined within 18 weeks beginning on the date of receipt of an appeal. It is important to acknowledge that a certain percentage of cases, due to particular circumstances, such as complexity, requests for further information from applicants for permission or further submissions from other participants including third parties, will not meet the 18 week target.
The Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Act 2022, which was signed into law in December 2022, addressed certain initial matters which required immediate action on foot of the Action Plan for An Bord Pleanála , Phase 1 of the Office of the Planning Regulator Review of An Bord Pleanála and other matters relating to addressing board vacancies and the board’s case load in light of its new marine functions, including:
- Providing for a suitable, independent, objective and transparent procedure by which recommendations may be made to the Minister in relation to the recruitment and appointment of ordinary members of the Board through an open competitive process,
- Increasing the limit on the maximum number of members of the Board from 10 to 15, so as to ensure that the increasing caseload can be managed, and the appropriate quorums and suitable allocation of casefiles can be assured, and
- Expanding the provision to appoint temporary ordinary board members to allow for the appointment of serving or former civil servants, public servants, or employees of the Board for a term of up to a year.
Arrangements are being put in place for the new Board member appointment process, and in the interim temporary board members are being assigned. Since early January I have appointed five temporary ordinary board members to the Board of An Bord Pleanála, bringing its current membership to 9 (as at 28 March 2023), and five further temporary appointments are in the process of being made. In addition, a full term Board appointment will be made shortly following a recent competition managed by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) to recruit an ordinary board member with marine and environment experience. These six new appointments will join the Board in April 2023.
In November 2022, following an updated assessment by the Board of resourcing issues likely to emerge as a result of planning applications for the National Development Plan and other infrastructure projects, the Boards new marine functions, as well as a number of senior positions approved under the Action Plan for An Bord Pleanála , and in accordance with the 2022-2023 Workforce Plan, the Board sought sanction for 34 additional posts. My Department provided sanction for these additional 34 posts in December 2022 and An Bord Pleanála is in the process of filling these positions.
The Board have received an exchequer allocation of €26.9 million for 2023, which is an increase of €4.7million on the 2022 allocation.
Finally, “Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland” sets out a number of objectives with the aim of improving the functioning of the planning system including the comprehensive review and consolidation of planning legislation. This review, which was led by the Attorney General, contained a number of key proposals in relation to An Bord Pleanála. In this regard, the new draft Planning and Development Bill was agreed by Government on 13 December 2022 and was published on my Departments website on the 26 January 2023. The draft Bill has undergone pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing who will now compile a report for my consideration.
The draft Bill provides for the introduction of statutory mandatory timelines for all consent processes, including appeals and consent applications made to An Bord Pleanála. It is intended that the timelines for the Board will be introduced on a phased basis, starting with those for Strategic Infrastructure Developments (including energy projects). Where the Board fails to make decisions with these timelines, it will be subject to fines. It is intended that the timelines for the Board will be introduced on a phased basis, starting with those for Strategic Infrastructure Developments (including energy projects).
313. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the €5 million allocated from NAMA in 2014 for the development of a heritage and visitor attraction at 14 -17 Moore Street. [15272/23]
View answerAll funding allocated and spent to date on the acquisition of and works at the national monument at 14-17 Moore Street has come from the Exchequer and the Vote of the relevant Department at the time. All and any involvement by NAMA ended when the buildings were acquired from the Agency in 2015.
314. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the €12.7 million in funding allocated by his Department for the interpretation stage for the heritage and visitor attraction at 14 -17 Moore Street. [15273/23]
View answerThe project for the national monument at numbers 14-17 Moore Street was awarded €12.17 million in funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund in 2021. The current focus is on phase 1 conservation works as a priority and the OPW will move to consider phase 2 interpretation works in the near future.
315. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an expected timeline for the submission made to his Department by Galway City Council requesting sanction for the recruitment of general operatives in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15283/23]
View answerThe recruitment and filling of posts in the local authority sector is undertaken both by individual local authorities and the Public Appointments Service. Following the approval of a staffing sanction request by my Department where such is required it is then a matter for the Chief Executive, who is responsible under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001 for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible, to progress the appointment as appropriate.
Staff sanction requests are considered in light of Government priorities and other requirements when received and consideration is also given to the overall staffing levels of the local authority and its ability to meet the ongoing costs involved.
Galway City Council sought formal sanction from my Department for a number of general operative posts on 10 February 2023. Sanction for these posts has issued to Galway City Council from my Department.
316. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with regards to those families and individuals who were removed from the council housing lists as a result of income limits but who found themselves back under the limits in January when the limits were increased; the exact dates that apply for applicants getting their time back when they are put back on the list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15306/23]
View answerGovernment increased the baseline social housing income thresholds by €5,000 for all local authorities with effect from 1 January 2023. The thresholds increased to €40,000, €35,000 and €30,000 for bands 1, 2 and 3 respectively.
Applications assessed and decided upon prior to 1 January 2023 but which were deemed to exceed the thresholds in place prior to 1 January but which may meet the new income thresholds, can be resubmitted by applicants.
In the interests of fairness and equity, applicants who may have been removed from the local authority waiting list between 18 November 2021 and 31 December 2022, but who qualify under the new thresholds, can retain the time already accrued and which would subsequently have accrued on the social housing waiting list. Formal direction on this matter was issued by my Department to local authorities in Ministerial Guidelines in December 2022.
These arrangements will remain in place until 30 June 2023. The six-month period will give sufficient time for affected households to reapply.
317. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing first tenancies delivered and sustained in 2022; and the target number of housing first tenancies for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15313/23]
View answerHousing First recognises that a stable home provides the basis for recovery in other areas. With Housing First, the priority is to support a person who has experienced homelessness into permanent housing as quickly as possible, without any preconditions around addiction or mental health treatment. Then, intensive work continues on these issues once they are housed. Housing First has been a key element of Government homelessness policy.The Housing First approach to addressing homelessness places direct access to housing first and foremost for vulnerable individuals using homeless services consistently or intermittently over long periods of time, and those unable or resistant to accessing homeless services and who may then become habitual rough sleepers. These individuals often have complex high support needs such as mental or physical health problems, addiction issues or dual diagnosis (the presence of mental ill health and a substance addiction).Data on the number of Housing First tenancies created are published every three months as part of my Department's Homeless Quarterly Progress Reports. The most recent report, for Q4 2022, can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/246916/5ec94637-935d-4c63-8f8f-0240542ef8fb.pdf#page=null.
Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland committed to the further expansion of Housing First. A new National Implementation Plan, which provides for a further 1,319 tenancies covering the period 2022-2026, was published in December 2021. The new Plan outlines the targets for each region and in each year. In 2023, it is aimed to create a total of 269 Housing First tenancies.
The Housing First programme had an overall sustainment rate of 86% during the 2018-2021 Implementation Plan period, and most recent figures show that this rate has been maintained during the first year of the 2022-2026 plan.
318. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the State expenditure on housing assistance payment and rent supplement in each of the years 2015 to 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15314/23]
View answerMy Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on social housing delivery activity in all local authority areas on the statistics page of its website. The data requested in the Question in relation to funding provided by the State for HAP tenancies in 2019?2021, broken down by local authority area, can be found on my Department’s website at this link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#housing-assistance-payment.
2022 data is currently being collated and will be published when available.
This funding represents the portion paid by my Department after receipt of the differential rent which is paid by the tenant to the local authority. It does not include administration costs related to the Scheme.
The Department of Social Protection operates the Rent Supplement scheme which continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation. This scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation. Further data in relation to this scheme is available from the Department of Social Protection.
319. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the State expenditure on long-term leasing in each of the years 2015 to 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15315/23]
View answer320. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of dwellings leased by each local authority, broken down by new and second-hand dwellings in each of the years from 2016 to 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15316/23]
View answerThe Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities for the leasing of houses and apartments.
Leasing delivery figures include social homes secured under local authority long term leasing, enhanced leasing, approved housing body long term leasing, short term rent availability agreements, mortgage to rent (MTR) and the repair and leasing scheme (RLS).
Data on social housing leasing delivery can be found in the overview section of my Department's website, linked below. The annual social housing activity reports give a breakdown of the total leasing delivery by local authority for each individual year.
www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#overview.
Delivery data for Q4 2022 is being collated at present and will be published as soon as that process is finalised.
Details regarding the new or second hand status of leased units are not held by my Department.
322. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the Multi Annual Rural Water Programme for 2023 will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15346/23]
View answerI can confirm that my Department are at the final stages of drafting the Framework for the upcoming Multi-annual Rural Water Programme. I expect to receive a submission on the Framework in the coming weeks for my consideration with, subject to my approval, the bids process for the programme to take place in the coming months.
The purpose of the Programme is to continue to fund delivery of improvements to water services in areas of rural Ireland where there are no public water services and to build on the success and achievements of previous programmes.
I can also confirm that in 2022, I launched an advanced measure of the new Programme. Under this Measure, funding of €50 million has been made available for improvements for the Waste Water Collection and Treatment needs of Villages and Settlements without access to public waste water services. Local authorities were given the opportunity to submit requests for funding for specific priority projects in their areas. An independent Expert Panel has evaluated each project and request and I expect to be in a position to announce successful projects soon.
326. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will liaise with the Minister for Justice to make the probate system as fast and efficient as possible, given the number of properties removed from availability to tenants or purchasers by delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15414/23]
View answerAddressing vacancy and maximising the use of existing housing stock is a primary objective of Government. Housing for All (September, 2021) and the Housing for All Action Plan Update (November, 2022) have the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes. Addressing vacancy is a key part of the strategy and and I work with my ministerial colleagues in delivering the actions set out in Pathway 4 on Addressing Vacancy and Efficient Use of Existing Stock, and in the Vacant Homes Action Plan (January, 2023).
A whole of Government approach has been adopted to the implementation of Housing for All, and in this regard, Action 21.3 of the Housing for All Action Plan Update provides that the Department of Justice will examine whether the probate process is causing delays to releasing supply of residential property and identify actions to address this, as appropriate. This action falls due for completion in Quarter 2 2023. Housing for All Progress Reports are published on a quarterly basis and are available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/9d2ee-housing-for-all-quarterly-progress-reports/.
