Written Answers Nos. 733-752
733. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of adaptation grants processed in Cork in each of the last five years for private housing, in tabular form. [16742/23]
View answer734. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of people currently approved but awaiting an adaptation grant in Cork. [16743/23]
View answer831. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown, per county of the amounts paid to each local authority for the Housing Aid For Older Persons grant for the years 2019-2022. [17726/23]
View answer832. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown, per county, of the amounts paid to each local authority for the disabled persons grant for the years 2019-2022. [17727/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 733, 734, 831 and 832 together.
My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability (max grant €30,000), the Mobility Aids Grant (max grant €6,000) and the Housing Aid for Older People (max grant €8,000). The detailed administration of the grants including their assessment, approval and prioritisation, is the responsibility of each local authority.
Details of the number of grants paid and the amount spent by each local authority, including by Cork City Council and Cork County Council, for the last 5 years are available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/social-and-affordble/other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics.
Details in relation to the number of applicants with a grant approval which are awaiting grant payment are not collated by my Department. This information may be available directly from local authorities.
My Department also 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.
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/
736. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether local authorities can apply for funding to build extensions to social housing due to overcrowding. [16745/23]
View answerMy 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. Typical works include adaptations such as stair-lifts, level deck showers, ramps and grab rails, widening door opening widths and improving circulation spaces. 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.
737. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the 100 homes due for retrofitting in Churchfield, Cork and the addresses of these homes. [16746/23]
View answerMy Department launched the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme (EERP) in 2013 with the aim of funding retrofit 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 for the Environment, Climate and Communications that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent (BER) standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes, with grant funding provided by my Department for those local authority housing retrofits.
Works eligible under my Department's revised EERP include attic/cavity wall insulation or external wall insulation where required, windows and doors replacement, heat pump installation and ancillary and associated works. Works are typically carried out in this order. The installation of gas/oil boilers or solid fuel/inset stoves including wood pellet stoves are not supported by the Department under the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme.
The 2023 EERP budget provides an increase in funding support from €85 million allocated in 2022 to €87 million in 2023 with details of this year’s programme including funding allocations on a per county basis being finalised.
The selection of properties to be retrofitted through funding available from the EERP and included in this year’s programme is a matter for each individual local authority. Consequently, information in relation to the properties to be put forward for inclusion in this year’s programme should be requested directly from the relevant local authority.
738. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount that was spent on the affordable rental scheme in the 2022 calendar year; if he would provide the locations where this scheme is active; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16751/23]
View answerHousing for All delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system, with an ambitious target of 300,000 homes by 2030 for social, affordable and cost rental, private rental and private ownership housing. As part of this plan, 18,000 Cost Rental homes will be delivered between now and 2030, to be facilitated by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), local authorities, and the Land Development Agency (LDA).
AHBs are supported by Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) funding, and local authorities are able to avail of funding for Cost Rental delivery through the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF). The LDA is also delivering Cost Rental on its own portfolio of sites and through acquisitions under Project Tosaigh.
2022 saw a significant increase in the delivery of homes in this entirely new form of tenure, with AHBs delivering the majority of these homes. A total of €50.8 million was spent under CREL in 2022, which allowed for the delivery of eleven developments across four counties: Dublin, Cork, Kildare, and Meath.
In addition to homes funded through the CREL scheme, Cost Rental homes are also being developed by local authorities. The central Exchequer funding through the AHF will help to facilitate a local authority-led financing structure for Cost Rental, which will provide important opportunities for local authorities to directly deliver Cost Rental homes on their own lands, such as at the Emmet Road scheme in Dublin City.
In respect of the LDA, details of the housing projects that the LDA is progressing on public lands that will deliver affordable purchase and Cost Rental homes can be found on the LDA’s website at: lda.ie/projects-schemes/
The LDA is also delivering Cost Rental under Project Tosaigh, which is a market engagement initiative to unlock land with full planning permission that is not being developed by private sector owners. Homes have been advertised so far in South Dublin and Wicklow. Full details of the initiative can be found on the LDA’s website at: lda.ie/affordable-homes/lda-cost-rental
2022 represented the first year of a very ambitious programme of delivery of affordable housing. This momentum will continue with delivery stepping up this year. A pipeline of housing delivery is in place and under continuous development by local authorities, AHBs and the LDA. Data on delivery across all affordable housing streams during 2022 is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery.
739. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the promised constitutional referendum to keep Irish Water in public ownership will be held in November along with the gender equality referendum and if not, why not. [16760/23]
View answer793. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to ‘refer the issue of the environment, including water, and its place in the Constitution to a relevant Joint Oireachtas Committee for consideration.’ [17264/23]
View answer794. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on running a referendum on the public ownership of water concurrently with the announced referendum on Article 41.2 of the Constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17265/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 739, 793 and 794 together.
Public ownership is a core principle governing the development of water services and the Government has given its full commitment to holding a referendum on water ownership. It is important to note that the establishment of Uisce Éireann in public ownership is already firmly secured under the Water Services Acts 2007 to 2022.
I have previously committed to bringing forward a referendum proposal on public ownership of water for consideration by Government in conjunction with the anticipated recommendation of a proposed referendum on housing, once the Commission has reported to me on that matter. In this way, it is intended that definitive proposals, including timelines, for referenda on water and housing will be considered by Government in due course.
740. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many homes built by local authorities since 8 February 2020 are fully carbon neutral; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16762/23]
View answerA Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) is a dwelling where the nearly zero or very low amount of energy required is covered to a very significant extent by energy from renewable sources, including energy from renewable sources produced on-site or nearby.
Where social housing commenced construction after 31 October 2019 and where substantial work was completed after 31 October 2020 it is required to be an NZEB Dwelling-typically a BER of A2. Where dwellings commenced work after 8 February 2020 and achieved substantial completion after 31 October 2020 they are required to be NZEB Dwellings.
Statistics on commencement notices for residential units is available on my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/a5cb1-construction-activity-starts/
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity. This data is collated on the basis of units reaching completion. This data is available to the end of 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/.
741. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a tenant with a notice to quit who is looking to avail of the tenant-in-situ scheme, who is living in a HAP property in one council area but is on another council’s housing list and the landlord wants to sell the home to the council; which council should the landlord contact and can the council buy the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16763/23]
View answer747. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the process, in cases in which the NTQ period of a person has lapsed but the council is still processing the expression of interest from the landlord to sell the home to the council, if the tenant still has to vacate the property; if so, if the council will cease the process of acquiring the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16070/23]
View answer762. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes which have been purchased through the tenant in situ scheme to date, broken down by local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16838/23]
View answer806. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if councils can approach landlords to sell as part of his plans to expand the tenant-in-situ scheme; and what valuation will be paid on a home. [17388/23]
View answer816. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a copy of the acquisition plans submitted to his Department by each of the local authorities. [17526/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 741, 747, 762, 806 and 816 together.
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).
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. 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. The issue of a lawful Notice of Termination would not be effected by an expression of interest in the sale of the property by the landlord, nor would the council be required to cease the process of acquiring a home where a Notice of Termination has issued.
My Department issued a circular letter to all local authorities in March, setting out details of these arrangements and each local authority was provided with a provisional allocation for social housing acquisitions in 2023. This allocation will be kept under review. It will be matter for individual local authorities to determine whether a property is suitable for acquisition. 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.
Local authorities have not been requested to provide my Department with specific acquisition plans. Details of social housing acquisitions will be published as part of the comprehensive programme level statistics published by my Department on a quarterly basis. This data is available for all local authorities to the end of Quarter 4 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/. While 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, from Q1 2023 an amendment has been made to my Department's statistical returns to collect information in this regard.
743. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 233 of 13 July 2022, if his Department is considering any changes to the tenant (incremental) purchase scheme to allow part V local authority properties to be purchased by tenants-in-situ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16824/23]
View answer758. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any exceptions for council tenants wishing to purchase their home from the council where they have been refused under Part V rules; if this could be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16621/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 743 and 758 together.
The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme.
The scheme is governed by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015. The regulations provide for specified classes of houses to be excluded from sale, including those provided to local authorities under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
The Part V provisions seek to promote social integration and secure mixed tenure, sustainable communities. Accordingly, Part V properties are excluded from the scheme to ensure the original policy goals of the legislation are not eroded over time and the properties remain available for people most in need of social housing support.
While the sale of dwellings under the scheme are generally matters for local authorities, such sales must meet the criteria set down in the 2014 Act and associated Regulations and local authorities have no scope to derogate from these legislative requirements.
While there are no plans to amend this requirement at this time, potential changes to the scheme are currently being examined as part of the work on the broader social housing reform agenda.
744. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason landowners have to pay the 3% tax on lands that are being actively farmed and whose lands have no residential access or access to services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17173/23]
View answer745. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will make a statement on recommendations No. 22 and No. 13 of the Report of the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss. [18093/23]
View answerI strongly welcome the publication of the report of this Assembly and am grateful to members of the Assembly for their dedication and commitment to the process. The Assembly agreed 159 recommendations, including 73 high level and 86 sectoral specific recommendations, reflecting the depth and breadth of the topics discussed.
The recommendations of the assembly will now be deliberated by the relevant committee in the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Committee will, in turn, bring its conclusions to the Houses for debate. The Government will provide, in the Houses of the Oireachtas, a response to each recommendation of the Assembly and, in accepting some or all of the recommendations, will indicate the timeframe it envisages for implementing those recommendations.
746. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if steps are being taken to increase the staffing budget for local authorities to enable them to react in a timely manner to the increased demand for housing schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18311/23]
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 and 54,000 affordable 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.
Housing for All includes a commitment to strengthen the capacity of local authorities to initiate, design, plan, develop and manage housing projects. Extensive work was undertaken in 2021 to identify the additional staff resources required by local authorities to deliver the social housing targets set out in Housing for All. In December 2021, I approved funding for 250 housing posts in local authorities nationally to support in social housing delivery.
In October 2022, I also approved funding for an initial tranche of 69 affordable housing staff posts for local authorities with an affordability constraint. My Department and the Housing Delivery Coordination Office in the Local Government Management Agency will be monitoring this programme further to a review of any additional supports being examined in 2023.
In addition, in January 2022, my Department communicated with local authorities outlining that funding, made available since 2018 to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office including a Vacant Homes Officer (VHO), would be increased from €50,000 to €60,000 per annum, from mid-2022. This supports the commitment in Housing for All to ensure that the VHO role in each local authority is full-time. The provision of central funding reinforces the capacity of local authorities, including through the important role of VHOs, to ensure a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction. 30 out of 31 local authorities now have a full time VHO in place and I understand that recruitment is ongoing for the remaining post in Donegal County Council.
Finally, The Housing Agency has been resourced to act as a centre of expertise to support local authority housing delivery. It provides technical expertise including training programmes, advisory services on contract and project management, mixed-tenure procurement and modern methods of construction, as well as supporting effective interaction and collaboration between local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies and other State agencies, including infrastructure utilities.
748. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses registered in the name of each local authority as full owners in Ireland with the land registry in each year for the past 15 years, by local authority, and amounts added each year. [16085/23]
View answer749. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if any further recommendations will be put in place to make sure that approved housing bodies are not in competition with one another (details supplied); and if the State has carried out research in relation to same. [16327/23]
View answerApproved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are independent, not-for-profit organisations. They provide affordable rented housing for people who cannot afford to pay private sector rents or buy their own homes; or for particular groups, such as older people or homeless people.
Local authorities are the statutory housing authorities for their respective areas and, as such, are responsible for coordinating local social housing activity. This includes responsibility for ensuring that competition for the acquisition of new social housing by the various delivery bodies, including between AHBs, does not arise.
Neither myself as Minister, nor my Department, is aware of the situation described being reported by local authorities or AHBs. Furthermore, it is my belief that good cooperation exists locally between AHBs regarding the acquisition, and provision, of social housing.
Cooperation in this regard is assisted by the AHB Forum, which is chaired by The Housing Agency and brings together representatives from my Department, local authorities and AHBs. The AHB Forum exists to contribute to the delivery of social housing and it's work includes issuing communications locally to avoid competitions between all delivery bodies, including AHBs.
Under Housing for All, AHBs are tasked with the delivery of 40% of the new social homes targeted for delivery in the period 2022-2026. I am confident that AHBs will continue to work together locally, and with the relevant local authorities, to continue to supply good quality social homes and ensure this target is met.
750. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding an explanatory memo to be provided to the Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to the Planning and Development Bill 2022, broken down by section; the timeline for its completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16363/23]
View answerThe draft Planning and Development Bill 2022 was published in January and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has undertaken a significant pre-legislative scrutiny process on it, 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.
An Explanatory Memorandum is currently being prepared and will be published with the final Bill. It will provide information on the provisions in the Bill and will highlight the rationale for any substantial changes made to the current Act.
