Written Answers Nos. 710-732
710. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown, by local authority, of the amounts collected under the vacant site levy, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16473/23]
View answerUnder the vacant site levy provisions in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 (the Act), planning authorities were empowered to apply a vacant site levy of 3% of the market valuation of relevant properties which were listed on local authority vacant site registers in 2018, which relevant owners were liable to pay in January 2019. The rate of the levy increased to 7% for sites listed on local authority vacant sites registers from 2019 onwards which site owners became liable to pay in January of the following year.
The most recent data available in relation to the collection of the levy is based on returns submitted to my Department further to the issuing of Circular Letter PL 03/2022 on 25 March 2022 requesting the submission of a progress report on the implementation and collection of the levy by each local authority. This information is provided in the attached Table.
My Department recently issued Circular Letter PL 03/2023 requesting the submission of a further progress report on the implementation and collection of the levy by local authorities, the returns to which are expected shortly.
It should be noted that under section 19 of the Act, unpaid levies due remain a charge on the land in question until they are paid. My Department will continue to engage proactively with local authorities to ensure that all vacant site levies due are paid.
711. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many approved housing bodies are currently in operation in Ireland at present; what is their combined number of housing units; and the combined amount in euros of these that are fixed assets. [16479/23]
View answer713. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many approved housing bodies have signed up to the code of practice that the State introduced. [16481/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 711 and 713 together.
As provided for in the Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019, the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) was formally established on 1 February 2021. AHBRA is an independent body tasked with providing the regulation of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the purposes of protecting housing assets provided or managed by such bodies. It is not clear what code of practice to which the Deputy refers.
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. AHBRA is responsible for maintaining the register and for registering organisations as AHBs. The register is published on AHBRA's website, available here: www.ahbregulator.ie/registration/the-register/. Currently, 450 organisations remain registered as AHBs.
Statistics on overall units owned, managed or leased by AHBs are captured as part of AHBRA's annual monitoring programme. The first monitoring programme took place in 2022 and statistics will be published by the Regulator over the coming months.
The Department does not keep information in relation to the monetary value of each AHBs fixed assets, this is a matter for each individual AHB.
712. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the State maintains any rights or agreements with the approved housing bodies when the term of the mortgage is finished. [16480/23]
View answerMy Department, through local authorities, makes a number of funding programmes, including the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), the Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme (CLSS – closed to new applications since 2011), leasing, P&A-CALF available to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the provision of housing for social housing use.
Once these units have reached the end of their mortgage/charge period, the terms of the funding agreements no longer apply, including rent setting, monitoring and reporting responsibilities and nominations from the local authority. In addition, some AHBs have acquired units without the assistance of State funding including from fundraising, donations and bequests and utilise these units for the provision of accommodation to those qualified for social housing support.
As we have moved to the statutory regulation of the AHB sector, an internal working group, the AHB Unencumbered Units Working Group, has been established to look at options on how to ensure the continued use of these units for social housing support use. Its membership comprises the relevant policy areas within my Department.
The work of this group aims to assist my Department and its delivery partners in meeting the objectives under Housing for All, to enable a sustainable housing system in Ireland with a supply of good quality housing to match long-term needs, to promote social inclusion in our communities, and to ensure that existing housing stock is utilised to its fullest extent possible.
714. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many legal disputes that the State has engaged in as a result of an approved housing body going out of business, or any other reason to dispute houses held in their care; and what, if any, are the associated legal costs. [16484/23]
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 providing the regulation of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the purposes of protecting housing assets provided or managed by such bodies.
A central aspect of the statutory framework is the requirement for AHBs to inform AHBRA of changes or events which may have a serious or significant impact on their organisation. These are known as ‘Notifiable Events’. A Notifiable Event is a material, significant, or exceptional issue, event, or change within an organisation. AHBRA has a regulatory interest in such changes or events, as they may have a serious or significant impact on an AHB. In particular circumstances, the Act sets out specific timeframes in which an AHB is required to notify AHBRA. Section 55(3) of the Act makes it an offence to fail to give notice to AHBRA of these events. AHBRA has provided a guidance document for AHBs in this regard which is also available on their website.
My Department has not been party to any legal disputes in relation to houses in the care of approved housing bodies.
715. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average amount, in support, given by the State to an approved housing body to secure a unit. [16485/23]
View answerThe relevant details are being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
716. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost to the State per annum of housing delivered by way of a lease agreement (details supplied); the breakdown of the number of new builds that Meath County Council built directly and the number of these units that were approved housing body builds; of the approved housing body builds, the amount this cost the State in both funding for the projects, and in lease payments or supplements paid by Meath County Council for the units; and if these homes are registered in the Land Registry as being fully-owned by either Meath County Council or the State. [16490/23]
View answerHousing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes 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.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including Meath. This data for 2021 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/.
Social housing construction is funded through a range of delivery streams such as local authority direct construction, Part V, turnkey developments, regeneration programmes and through direct construction and turnkey developments delivered by Approved Housing Bodies. My Department provided funding of €43.16 million in 2021 to Meath County Council in respect of social housing construction programmes.
Meath County Council delivered 74 social housing properties through various leasing initiatives in 2021, with an average cost of €14,263 per annum per property.
The National Land Register provides details of title to property in Ireland based on registered Folios. The information relating to the ownership of the Folio, and any burdens on the property, is recorded on the Register. However, the Register does not indicate whether the Folio includes a building of any kind or, where a building exists, if it is commercial or residential property.
717. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a local authority tenant hoping to purchase his or her home under the tenant incremental purchase scheme 2016 does not qualify to purchase under the ten-year housing supports criterion but qualifies under financial requirements, if time spent in receipt of rent supplement, as this is also a housing needs support, can be considered for the person to qualify under this new criterion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16493/23]
View answerThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, or joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme.
Applicants must meet certain criteria to qualify under the scheme, including a minimum 10 years in receipt of social housing supports. Such supports include social dwellings provided local authorities as well as assistance provided through the Rental Accommodation Scheme and Housing Assistance Payment. The requirement seeks to encourage long-term tenants to stay in their homes and support the development of socially sustainable communities.
Rent supplement is not a social housing support. It is a short-term income support for people living in private rented accommodation who cannot provide for the cost of their accommodation from their own resources. Accordingly, time spent in receipt of rent supplement does not count towards the time spent in receipt of social housing and is not reckonable for the purposes of meeting the 10-year criterion.
718. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to increase the housing assistance payment in response to rising rental costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16514/23]
View answerMaximum rent limits for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) were set for each housing authority area in 2016, in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection (DSP). In reviewing rent limits, my Department worked closely with DSP and monitored data gathered from the Residential Tenancies Board and the HAP Shared Services Centre. In prescribing these limits, household size and prevailing rents in the relevant areas are taken into consideration. The HAP rent limits were increased significantly in July 2016, in the order of 60% in some cases. Maximum rent limits for the HAP scheme are set out for each housing authority area by the Housing Assistance Payment (Amendment) Regulations 2017.
Under Housing for All, my Department was tasked with undertaking an analytical exercise to examine whether an increase in the level of discretion available to local authorities under HAP is required. The Housing Agency undertook to carry out this analytical exercise on behalf of my Department to better understand what level of discretion should be made available to local authorities under HAP to maintain adequate levels of support.
Since 11 July 2022 each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% above the prescribed maximum rent limit and for new tenancies to extend the couple’s rate to single persons households. It should be noted that it is a matter for the local authority to determine if the application of the discretion is warranted on a case by case basis and also the level of additional discretion applied in each case.
A separate review of the discretion available to Homeless HAP tenancies in Dublin, which is up to 50% above the prescribed maximum rent limits, is currently being undertaken by my Department, in conjunction with The Housing Agency.
My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review and closely monitors the level of discretion being used by local authorities, taking into account other sources of data, including Residential Tenancies Board rent data published on a quarterly basis.
I am committed to decreasing our reliance on the HAP scheme and central to that is significantly scaling up our social housing supply. Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of new homes 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. As new build supply of social and affordable housing ramps up, there will be reducing reliance on the HAP scheme.
719. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding proposed amendments to Part 9 judicial reviews under the current draft of the Planning and Development Bill; how they differ from the existing rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16541/23]
View answerThe draft Planning and Development Bill was approved by Government in December 2022 and is the culmination of a year and half long review of the Planning and Development Act 2000 by the Office of the Attorney General. The draft Bill aims to ensure that the major debate is focused on the plan-making rather than the application stage, to facilitate greater clarity and long-term visibility in planning outcomes. This will ensure that adequate account is taken of the needs of the future population of new and expanded communities, as well as the needs of existing communities. In doing so the Bill takes appropriate account of the nature of planning decisions, which require careful balancing of public policy, public participation and environmental issues.
The main changes to Judicial Review (JR) contained within the draft Bill include the introduction of timelines for various steps in the Judicial Review process. A planning authority or An Coimisiún Pleanála will be able to correct an error of fact or law in a decision, not material to the overall decision, and will be able to apply for a stay on the determination of JR proceedings whilst making such corrections.
The draft Bill also brings enhanced clarity to the role of different parties in accessing justice. In the future, a case can be taken either by an individual or an environmental NGO or association who have sufficient interest in the case and meet other government requirements, as is the case in other European jurisdictions. Groups such as Residents Associations will still be able to take a JR but must also comply with these requirements. If they do not comply, the members of the association can still take it either individually or collectively as the provisions in the draft Bill do not prevent this.
Lastly, the draft Bill includes a provision for costs protection for JR, providing that there will not be any order for costs in any such proceedings unless the Court considers that the proceedings are frivolous or vexatious or an abuse of process. A provision will be made in the Bill to bring forward an administrative scheme to deal with costs associated with initiating any proceedings relating to non-compliance with national law relating to the environment. Further details on this scheme will be included in the final Bill.
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has undertaken a significant pre-legislative scrutiny process on the draft Bill, over the past three months. I expect to receive their report shortly and will fully consider its recommendations, along with submissions on the Bill received from stakeholders, when preparing the final Bill.
720. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff within his Department who are based and working with the European Union in Brussels; their present roles and responsibilities; the posts and responsibilities presently vacant; the corresponding figures on 23 June 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16563/23]
View answerAt present my Department has one member of staff seconded to the Department of Foreign Affairs as an Attaché in the Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels. This official has responsibility for liaison with the European Commission and European Parliament and other EU Institutions in respect of the broad range of topics within my Department's remit. There are no vacancies in this area at present.
On 23 June 2016 the then Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government had two staff seconded to the Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels. These officials had responsibility for liaison with the European Commission and European Parliament and other EU institutions for all topics which fell within the remit of the Department at that time, particularly in respect of issues related to the Environment and Community briefs. Given the change in functions within my Department since 2016, posts are not directly comparable.
721. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022–2027 Implementation Plan will be published; the reason for the delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16662/23]
View answer722. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022 – 2027 Implementation Plan will be published; the reason for delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16679/23]
View answer726. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022 – 2027 Implementation Plan will be published; the reason for delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16713/23]
View answer742. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022 – 2027 Implementation Plan will be published; the reason for delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16787/23]
View answer765. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022 – 2027 Implementation Plan will be published; the reason for delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16898/23]
View answer766. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022 – 2027 Implementation Plan will be published; the reason for delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16907/23]
View answer783. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027 Implementation Plan will be published; the reason for delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17101/23]
View answer817. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027 Implementation Plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17527/23]
View answer820. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022 – 2027 Implementation Plan will be published; the reason for delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17571/23]
View answer830. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027 Implementation Plan will be published; the reason for delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17716/23]
View answer843. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the implementation plan for the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022–2027 will be published; the reason for the delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17861/23]
View answerI propose to takes Questions Nos. 721, 722, 726, 742, 765, 766, 783, 817, 820, 830 and 843 together.
My Department jointly published the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People (NHSDP) 2022-2027 with the Department of Health (DoH) and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) in January 2022. It may be accessed on the on my Department’s website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/1c6c5-new-national-housing-strategy-for-disabled-people-2022-2027-launched/
The Strategy sets out the vision for the cooperation and collaboration of Government Departments, state agencies and others in delivering housing and the related supports for disabled people over the next five years. The Strategy operates within the framework of Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland which is committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing with an appropriate mix of housing design types provided within social housing, including universally designed units, is available to everyone in Irish society, including those with disabilities and older people.
My Department has been developing the draft Implementation Plan further to ensure its up to date robustness in advance of providing it to me, having very recently assumed responsibility in this area including overseeing implementation. The finalisation of the Plan is a key priority and an urgent matter for me as Minister, and following which my Department will engage further with the DoH and DCEDIY, with the objective of publishing it in conjunction with the launch of an awareness campaign shortly. In parallel, The Housing Agency is developing a communication strategy on the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People and its accompanying Implementation Plan and is progressing much of the work contemplated in the Implementation Plan in advance of its finalisation.
723. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he met the Atlanta Fire Department Chief Fire Officer during his visit to Atlanta for the recent St. Patrick's Day events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16691/23]
View answerSt. Patrick's Day offers a unique opportunity to promote Ireland’s economic and political interests overseas, with levels of publicity and media attention unmatched by the national day of any other country. This year I travelled to the United States of America for the St. Patrick's Day period, where I undertook a comprehensive programme of political, economic and civic engagements in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia.
The programme of events for 2023 did not include a meeting with Atlanta's Fire Department Chief Fire Officer.
724. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what financial, personal assistant, administrative or other supports are available for persons with disabilities before, during and after an election campaign, and perhaps elected office at local Government level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16704/23]
View answerWith regard to individuals with a disability who wish to stand for election to local government, my Department is not aware that there are financial, personal assistant, administrative or other supports available before or during an election campaign. Such supports would tend to be a matter for the political parties on whose behalf individuals are standing as candidates or the individuals themselves. Notwithstanding that position, in the context of the nominations process for candidates, it should be noted that returning officers are officers of the Courts and as such must comply with requirements on disability access that apply across the civil and public service.
Once elected, members may avail of the Local Representation Allowance whereby Councillors can engage secretarial/administrative support under a contract of services on a vouched basis within the terms of that allowance.
It is the responsibility of the relevant local authority to ensure practical and appropriate access to its buildings and services under the Disability Act of 2005.
Following engagement with disability representative groups, my Department are currently considering how our initiatives promoting diversity in local government could potentially be expanded to meet the needs of people with disabilities. Additionally, officials from my Department have recently engaged with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in relation to a planned task force examining proposals for closer coordination and implementation structures regarding local government and the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Ireland.
725. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps being taken to ensure that a bank (details supplied) recognises the Croí Cónaithe grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16710/23]
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.
As part of the conditions associated with the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, there is a requirement that the applicant(s) will live in the qualifying property for a period of at least five years from the date of payment of the Grant. If at any time they sell the property or it ceases to be their principal private residence within ten years, they must reimburse the local authority an element of the full value of the Grant, as follows:
- Up to 5 Years – 100% of the monetary amount of the Grant;
- Over 5 Years and less than or equal to 10 years – 75% of the monetary amount of the Grant; and
- Over 10 Years – No Clawback.
An agreement must be concluded between the local authority and the applicant which contains the clawback agreement, including a charge on the property, which shall be binding on the applicant upon drawdown of the grant. The charge secures the local authority’s interest in the property. The charge document is not concluded until works are complete and prior to the grant issuing.
Where the applicant has a mortgage in relation to the property, the bank’s charge will always rank in priority.
My Department is engaging with the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland with regard to the operation of the grant and to ensure that there are no issues for applicants who are applying for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
728. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm the total spend via the social housing current expenditure programme in 2022 broken down by lease types, including: approved housing body, AHB, or capital advance leasing facility, CALF; mortgage-to-rent; Part V; private long-term lease; private enhanced lease; and any other type of lease providing expenditure for each category of leas type and the total number of leases funded in each category. [16728/23]
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.
The SHCEP budget funds the ongoing current costs of homes delivered using a variety of different delivery mechanisms under social housing leasing programmes, including:
• Leasing -Direct and Enhanced Leasing, AHB and Private Mortgage to Rent (MTR), the Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS);
• Build - Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) Build, CALF Part V, Part V Lease; and
• Acquisition - CALF Acquisition, Housing Agency Acquisitions (HAA).
Dwellings made available under the programme are used to accommodate households from local authority waiting lists.
A breakdown by lease type of the total number of leases funded by SHCEP in 2022 and the associated expenditure can be found in Table 1 below:
Table 1:
|
Category of Lease Type |
No. of leases funded* |
Expenditure per Lease Type |
|
AHB CALF & Housing Agency Acquisitions |
12,472 |
€164,889,985.00 |
|
CALF (P&A) Part V |
2,415 |
€44,091,832.00 |
|
NAMA SPV |
1,250 |
€12,523,648.00 |
|
AHB Private Leasing |
1,383 |
€18,013,531.00 |
|
Enhanced Leasing |
462 |
€8,723,022.00 |
|
LA Direct Long-term Leasing |
4,137 |
€60,239,847.00 |
|
LA Direct Short-term (RAS-Type) Leasing |
1,873 |
€17,072,172.00 |
|
Repair and Lease |
286 |
€2,232,515.00 |
|
Mortgage To Rent |
1,989 |
€23,840,386.00 |
|
LA Part V Leasing |
145 |
€2,399,948.00 |
|
Unsold Affordables |
1,727 |
€7,256,570.00 |
|
Congregated Settings |
12 |
€160,552.00 |
Note: Administration and amendment costs of €7,342,390.00 are not included in the above table.
*The number of leases funded is based on all operational units at the end of 2022.
The data provided includes properties leased by AHBs directly, Local Authorities from private owners under long term and short term agreements, Enhanced leasing, Mortgage to Rent, NARPS, the Repair and Leasing Scheme, Unsold Affordables, CALF, Housing Agency Acquisitions, Part V and Congregated Settings.
729. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm the total number of new mortgage-to-rent homes that were delivered in 2022. [16729/23]
View answerThe Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme was introduced in 2012 for borrowers of commercial lending institutions and is targeted at those households in mortgage arrears who have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP), who agree to the voluntary surrender of their home and who have very limited options, if any, to meet their long-term housing needs themselves. In addition, the household must be deemed eligible for social housing support. The concept of the scheme is that a household with an unsustainable mortgage goes from being a homeowner to being a social housing tenant.
Under the MTR scheme, the borrower surrenders their property to their lender and it will be then sold to an MTR provider who can be either an Approved Housing Body (AHB) or since 2018 a private company, Home for Life Ltd. The AHB or local authority (in the case where the property is sold to a private company) becomes the landlord and the borrower remains in the property as a tenant paying a differential rent to the landlord based on his or her income.
The Housing Agency publishes, on a quarterly basis, detailed statistical information on the operation of the MTR scheme, which can be accessed on The Housing Agency's website at the following link: www.housingagency.ie/housing-information/mortgage-rent-statistics
730. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm the total number of new repair and lease homes that were delivered in 2022. [16730/23]
View answerData on the repair and leasing scheme in respect of all local authorities to end Q4 2022 is published on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#repair-and-leasing-scheme-rls
731. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm the total number of new buy and renew homes delivered in 2022. [16731/23]
View answerLocal authorities are encouraged to acquire vacant/derelict properties to be upgraded as new, value-for-money social homes via the Buy & Renew Scheme. Since it was introduced in 2016, in excess of 800 properties have been delivered under this arrangement with 46 in 2022.
732. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of adaptation grants processed in Cork in each of the past five years for social housing, in tabular form. [16741/23]
View answer735. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the increase in adaptation grant allocation for social housing given construction inflation by local authority, in tabular form. [16744/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 732 and 735 together.
My Department provides funding to local authorities under the Disabled Persons Grants scheme to carry out works on social housing stock to address the needs of older people, people with a disability or overcrowded situations. Extensions to provide for ground floor bathrooms and bedrooms can also be supported. The detailed administration of this scheme including assessment, approval and prioritisation of applications is the responsibility of local authorities.
My Department's approach every year, in the first instance, is to allow local authorities complete works up to 65% of the previous year’s allocation in the absence of formal approval to keep this important work going. Following this, later this year, my Department will issue a single full year allocation to each local authority, so they can plan, prioritise and implement the programme to carry out the varying works necessary to meet the needs of their tenants in this year. The programme is 90% funded by my Department with a 10% contribution from the local authority.
Details on the allocation and drawdown of funding for each local authority, including Cork for the period 2011-2022 for the Disabled Persons Grant, which incorporates Improvement Works in Lieu, is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/061cd-disabled-persons-grant-and-improved-works-in-lieu-schemes-allocation-and-drawdown/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c472d-disabled-persons-grant-and-improved-works-in-lieu-schemes-allocation-and-drawdown-2011-2020/
Under the delegated sanction currently in place, the maximum cost of works in each individual case is €75,000. Where the total cost of works to a property is projected to exceed €75,000 and additional funding is sought by the local authority, prior approval from the Department is required. Once a technical review of the local authorities submission has been completed and the criteria of the programme has been met additional funding can be approved which would cover 90% of the costs above the delegated sanction limit.
My Department will continue to support local authorities in their work in this area. Funding allocations under the 2023 Programme will be announced shortly.
