Written Answers Nos. 327-335
328. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the grant available to owner-occupiers to renovate a vacant property could also be made available to owners who wish to rent out a vacant property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15429/23]
View answerPathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund is a key initiative which underpins the policy objectives set out in Pathway Four of Housing for All.
In July 2022, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched 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, which was initially launched in respect of vacant properties in towns and villages, was expanded to include eligible vacant properties in both cities and rural areas from 15 November, 2022.
A grant of up to a maximum of €30,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence, including the conversion of a property which has not previously been used as residential.
Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €30,000, a top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict or if the property is on the Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €50,000.
Properties considered for inclusion must be vacant for two years or more and built before 1993. Proof of both vacancy and ownership are required to support the grant payment.
The scheme has been kept under ongoing review since its launch and Government has decided to further expand the Grant eligibility to increase the number of vacant and derelict properties being brought back into use. This includes changing the eligibility date for properties to include properties built prior to 2007, and expanding the grant to include properties which are made available for rent and not solely for owner occupation. My Department is currently working on details of this expansion and I will make a further announcement on the changes to the scheme when this work has concluded.
329. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the organisations and stakeholders he and his Department officials met with as part of deliberations regarding the lifting of the eviction ban. [15456/23]
View answerThe Government agreed on 7 March that the ‘Winter Emergency Period’ under the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 would come to an end on 31 March 2023, with deferred tenancy terminations taking effect over a staggered period from 1 April to 18 June 2023 as planned and legislated for under that Act.
In advance of this, I considered a number of courses of action and consulted with colleagues across Government who have agreed, taking account of the advices of the Office of Attorney General and our collective knowledge and interaction with the residential sector, that a focus on additional new supply was the best way forward in dealing with the end of the winter eviction ban in a manner which best protects tenants.
In advance of the deferred tenancy arrangements being agreed by Government last October I held a stakeholder event with representatives of homeless agencies and property owners which helped inform the parameters of the legislative arrangements. As the legislation itself provided for the staggered end of the pause no specific meeting was held between my Department nor I with any organisation in relation to the ending of the pause. However, key stakeholders and the wider public continually engage with Government in relation to the operation of the rental market and of tenancy protections. This engagement also informed the Government's decision not to amend the provisions enacted last October.
Under Housing for All the Government is committed to increase supply and protect renters while trying to keep small landlords in the system. In this regard my Department has commenced a review of the Private Rental Sector which will inform Government on the measures which need to be taken to ensure a well-functioning private rental sector in Ireland that works for all.
330. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to conduct modelling on the effect of the lifting of the eviction ban; and if this modelling will inform the development of contingency plans to mitigate the risk of increased pressure on homeless services. [15457/23]
View answerAs set out in the Housing for All Action Plan Update (published in November, 2022), my Department has commenced a comprehensive review of the private rental sector. This review will take into account the significant regulatory changes over the past several years in the residential rental market, and will report on how our housing system can be enhanced to provide an efficient, affordable, viable, safe and secure framework for both landlords and tenants.
This review will include a thematic review of the principal and relevant elements of the rental market to ensure that Ireland has a sector which meets the needs of tenants, both short-term and long-term, while providing a supportive environment for the maintenance of the existing stock and provision of new units. The review conclusions will draw on international practice. The review is underway and will conclude as early as possible, with the benefit of public consultation and targeted engagement with various stakeholders. My Department is engaging with the Departments of Finance; and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in carrying out the review and implementing relevant recommendations.
This review will be essential in properly planning future policy for the residential rented sector including implementing measures to support both landlords and tenants.
My Department will be closely monitoring the impact of the ending of the ‘winter emergency period’ over the coming months together and will also be working closely with local authorities and homelessness agencies to alleviate any consequential pressures on homeless services. This will inform any future modeling exercises and will be considered in the context of the overall review.
The Government is committed to increasing housing supply generally, including rental accommodation, and to protect renters while retaining landlords in the system. Over the coming months, my Department and I will work with our partners in Government to put together a comprehensive new package of effective measures for both tenants and landlords.
331. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if plans to give tenants first refusal of their landlord's property will fix the sale price at the market rate. [15458/23]
View answerOn 7 March last the Government decided that the “Winter Emergency Period”, under the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022, will cease on the 31 March 2023. This will see deferred tenancy terminations taking effect over a staggered period from 1 April to 18 June 2023.
In addition to the on-going and extra measures taken to put in place increased options, including the tenant in situ scheme, to mitigate the impact of the end of the emergency period, Government has now also agreed on a number of new measures.
This includes developing a legislative provision which may require a landlord selling a property to offer “First Right of Refusal” to a tenant. This would require a landlord selling a property to first offer it to the tenant on an independent valuation basis for sale.
If a tenant is unable to access a sufficient mortgage from a financial provider, eligible tenants may access the Local Authority Home Loan scheme which already applies to second hand homes.
In order that tenants would have as full an opportunity as possible to purchase the home, I have issued a request to the First Home scheme Designated Activity Company to expand its eligibility so that in instances where tenants have received a notice of termination they would be eligible for support under that scheme.
Details of these measures are in the process of being advanced and full information will be available in due course.
332. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social houses that were retrofitted in 2020, 2021 and 2022; and the projected figure for 2023. [15471/23]
View answer333. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of approved housing body units that were retrofitted in 2020, 2021 and 2022; and the projected figure for 2023. [15472/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 together.
My Department launched the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme (EERP) in 2013 with the aim of funding the retrofitting of social homes requiring insulation and energy upgrade works. Since the programme commenced in 2013 to the end of 2022, over 77,500 local authority social housing dwellings have been retrofitted with a total exchequer spend of over €251 million.
In 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the programme, designed around the Programme for Government's commitment led by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a BER (building energy rating) of B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes.
A breakdown of the funding provided for retrofitting social homes and the output per local authority since 2013 can be found on the Department's website below:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme-expenditure-output/
My Department also introduced a pilot Midlands Energy Retrofit Programme in 2020, the details of which are found on the Department's website below. A further 481 properties were retrofitted to a BER of B2/ Cost Optimal Equivalent and these figures are in addition to the National Retrofit Programme.
www.gov.ie/en/publication/b86b3-midlands-energy-retrofit-programme-expenditure-and-units/
The 2023 EERP national budget provides an increase in funding support from €85 million allocated in 2022 to €87 million this year. Details of this year’s programme, including target allocations, are being finalised, however, local authorities have been advised they can complete works up to 65% of the previous year’s allocation in the absence of formal approval to keep this important work going.
Separately, the number of dwellings retrofitted by AHBs is not collated by my Department but funding is available for same from the Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland.
334. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to establish a dedicated retrofit fund for approved housing bodies. [15473/23]
View answerHousing for All includes an action (21.7) to introduce a targeted energy efficiency retrofit scheme for Approved Housing Bodies. In this regard, the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, launched on 8 February 2022, includes enhanced grant levels for certain measures, specifically for Approved Housing Bodies. Responsibility for the implementation of this Action rests with my colleague, the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications.
335. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current position in relation to the registration process for approved housing bodies. [15474/23]
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.
As provided for under Section 27 of the Act, AHBs who meet the eligibility criteria detailed in Section 25 of the Act, shall apply to the Regulator for registration. Under Section 28 of the Act, the Regulator shall grant an application for registration provided certain conditions are met. The registration programme is active and organisations considering making an application for registration should contact AHBRA, via email, at: registration@ahbregulator.ie
An issue that has arisen with the implementation of Section 25 of the Act is being examined. Further legislative amendments around this issue are currently being considered by my Department.
