Tuesday, 9 May 2023

Written Answers Nos. 351-369

Housing Provision

Questions (351, 352)

Duncan Smith

Question:

351. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 50 local authority housing units approved for construction in Racecourse Commons, Lusk, Phase 2 in May 2015 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reason for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21622/23]

Duncan Smith

Question:

352. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 25 local authority housing units approved for construction in Rathbeale Road, Swords, Fingal in May 2015 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reason for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21623/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 351 and 352 together.

In 2015, my Department granted Stage 1 Capital Appraisal approval to Fingal County Council for the Rathbeale Road, Swords project and the Racecourse Commons, Lusk project, following which the projects were progressed through the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF) 4 Stage Preconstruction process. Both projects are delivered and further details are set out in the following table.

Scheme	Total Units Delivered	Date Completed	Cost
Rathbeale Road, Swords	24	Q2 2020	€6.1m*
Racecourse Commons, Lusk	74	On phased basis over Q4 2017 and Q3 2018	€11.9m

*Fingal County Council has submitted final costs for the project which were assessed by the Department's Technical Advisors. On foot of this assessment, further information has been sought from the Council and on receipt of the outstanding information a final account budget will be determined.

The projects were not officially opened by a Minister.

My Department publishes quarterly Social Housing Construction Status Reports (CSR), which provide details of social housing developments that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of design and tender processes. The CSR for Q3 2018 and Q2 2020 can be found on my Department’s website at the following links:

opendata.housing.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q3-2018/resource/88ae3bd8-b566-44e3-a4c4-be29ae889785

data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q2-2020

The full set of published CSR reports can be found at this link:

www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/

Question No. 352 answered with Question No. 351.

Question No. 353 answered with Question No. 350.

Housing Provision

Questions (354)

Alan Kelly

Question:

354. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 20 local authority housing units approved for construction at Glenconnor, Clonmel, County Tipperary in May 2015 have finished construction; if so, the project completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; and when; and if not, the reason for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21625/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

Tipperary County Council reported this phase of the project as completed in Q3 2020 for 26 new social homes.

This project received funding of approximately €6 million from my Department.

I officially opened this development on 20 February 2023.

My Department publishes quarterly Social Housing Construction Projects Status Reports (CSR), which provide details of social housing developments that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of design and tender processes. The CSR setting out the position at end Q3 2020 can be found on my Department’s website at the following link:

data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q3-2020

The full set of published CSR reports can be found at this link:

www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/

Housing Provision

Questions (355)

Alan Kelly

Question:

355. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the ten local authority housing units approved for construction at Wallers Lot, Cashel, County Tipperary in May 2015 have finished construction; if so, the project completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; and; and if not, the reason for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21626/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Following initial approval in principle for this project to proceed in May 2015, Tipperary County Council subsequently reported that due to difficulties with groundwater discharge from the site, it was not possible for them to bring the project forward.

Wildlife Protection

Questions (356)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

356. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will rectify a date issue impacting on a derogation on game control (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21627/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I extended the General and Air Safety Wild Birds Declarations to 31 December 2023. They are available on the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) website:

www.npws.ie/legislation/eu-directives/birds-directive/eu-birds-directive-article-9-derogations

Housing Schemes

Questions (357, 358)

John Lahart

Question:

357. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the rules that govern the movement of housing assistance payment tenants from one local authority area to another; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21657/23]

John Lahart

Question:

358. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a local authority can reject a housing assistance payment application for a tenant whose HAP application has been approved and processed by another local authority due to their income threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21658/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 357 and 358 together.

Section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended, set down a standard procedure for assessing applicants for social housing support.  Under this procedure, a household may apply for support to one housing authority only, which may be the authority for the area in which the household normally resides or with which it has a local connection, or the authority that agrees, at its discretion, to assess the household for support.

The flexibility of Housing Assistance Programme (HAP) as a social housing support is one of the scheme's key characteristics and was one of the primary benefits envisaged at the outset of the scheme. With this in mind, my Department issued circulars relating to inter-authority movement in 2017 and 2019, with the aim of facilitating movement of HAP households from one local authority area to another in cases where a HAP tenant wishes to access rented accommodation with HAP support in another local authority area.

Inter-authority movement is, however, subject to certain conditions, such as the relevant Social Housing Income Eligibility Bands and confirmation that the applicant's income is below the threshold in the new local authority.

HAP tenants that avail of inter-authority movement continue to be dealt with by their originating local authority. However, the rent limits applicable are those that apply in the local authority where the property is situated. The originating local authority will engage with the relevant new local authority to facilitate eligible requests for inter-authority movement.

HAP tenants who avail of inter-authority movement, can only be offered access to the housing transfer list of the originating local authority.  The practical operation of transfer lists is a matter for each local authority to manage, on the basis of their own scheme of letting priorities. The making of such schemes is a reserved function of the local authority and as such is a matter for the elected members.

Question No. 358 answered with Question No. 357.

Housing Schemes

Questions (359)

John Lahart

Question:

359. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities outside of the four Dublin local authorities can grant homeless persons the housing assistance payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21659/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. Under HAP, tenants source their own accommodation in the private rented market.

Additional supports are available under HAP for homeless households or households at risk of homelessness nationwide. While eligible households or individuals may source accommodation for themselves under the Homeless HAP scheme, a dedicated resource, the Place Finder Service, has been established nationwide to provide assistance.

The Place Finder service assists households in or at immediate risk of homelessness primarily by providing access to deposits and advance rental payments. These elements are the core financial supports and are available to prospective tenants in all local authority areas.

To qualify for specific additional supports available to homeless households, a household must have been determined by the relevant local authority to be homeless within the meaning of section 2 of the Housing Act 1988. The operation of local homeless services, including the Place Finder Service, is a matter for each local authority.

Each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% above the prescribed maximum rent limit to secure appropriate accommodation for a household that requires it, or up to 50% in the case of homeless households in the Dublin region. 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.

My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review.

Housing Provision

Questions (360)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

360. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of housing units (details supplied) in Limerick that have been completed since December 2022 but have yet to be occupied; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21662/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The tenanting of units is a matter for the local authority and the relevant Approved Housing Body (AHB) in the first instance.

Notwithstanding this, I am informed by the local authority that they have made tenant nominations to the AHB and the AHB are awaiting certification documentation before the units can be occupied.

Question No. 361 answered with Question No. 350.

Housing Provision

Questions (362)

Ged Nash

Question:

362. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 35 local authority housing units approved for construction in Coxes Demesne, County Louth in May 2015 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; and if not, the reason for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21664/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

In 2015, my Department granted Final approval to Louth County Council for the Cox's Demesne Phase 2a project, and Final approval for Phase 2b in 2019. Both phases are delivered and further details are set out in the following table.

Scheme	Total Units Delivered	Date Completed	Cost
Cox's Demesne Phase 2a	14	Q4 2016	2.5m
Cox's Demesne Phase 2b	22	Q3 2022	6.0m*

Final costs for Phase 2b are subject to change following receipt of a post project review and all in cost report in due course.

I officially opened Cox's Demesne Phase 2b on Monday 24 April 2023.

My Department publishes quarterly Social Housing Construction Projects Status Reports (CSR), which provide details of social housing developments that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of design and tender processes. The CSR setting out the position at end Q3 2022 can be found on my Department’s website at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/2b4cd-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q3-2022/

The full set of published CSR reports can be found at this link:

www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/

Housing Provision

Questions (363)

Ged Nash

Question:

363. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 20 local authority housing units approved for construction in Father Finn Park, Louth Village, County Louth in May 2015 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; and if not, the reason for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21665/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

In 2017, my Department granted Stage 1 Capital Appraisal approval to Louth County Council for the Father Finn Park, Louth Village, County Louth, following which the project was progressed through the CWMF 4 Preconstruction process. The Units have been delivered and further details are set out in the following table.

Scheme	Total Units Delivered	Date Completed	Cost
Father Finn Park	17	Q2 2021	3.6m

The project was not officially opened by a Minister.

My Department publishes quarterly Social Housing Construction Projects Status Reports (CSR), which provide details of social housing developments that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of design and tender processes. The CSR setting out the position at end Q2 2021 can be found on my Department’s website at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/d7709-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q2-2021/

The full set of published CSR reports can be found at this link:

www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/

Departmental Bodies

Questions (364)

Holly Cairns

Question:

364. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the National Coastal Change Management Strategy Steering Group, including the expected date for the publishing of its report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21681/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Government established an Inter-Departmental Group on National Coastal Change Management Strategy to scope out an approach for the development of a national co-ordinated and integrated strategy to manage the projected impact of coastal change to our coastal communities. The Inter-Departmental Group is jointly chaired by my Department and the OPW and is supported by a Technical Working Group. 

The scoping report on Managing Coastal Change has now been finalised. It will be submitted to Government for consideration and approval shortly and this will include publication of the report.

Rental Sector

Questions (365)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

365. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will submit a new request to the Rental Tenancy Board, RTB, to designate Athlone, County Westmeath, as a rent pressure zone given rents have increased significantly since this issue was last examined in June 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21692/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Athlone, County Westmeath was designated as a RPZ on July 2nd 2019 and therefore the controls on rent increases already apply in the area.

Planning Issues

Questions (366, 368, 369, 370)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

366. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a detailed explanation on how An Bord Pleanála is prioritising its backlog of planning permissions awaiting decision. [21715/23]

Ivana Bacik

Question:

368. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in respect of the backlog of planning permissions decisions at An Bord Pleanála, the priority, if any, being given to strategic housing development applications. [21717/23]

Ivana Bacik

Question:

369. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in respect of the backlog of planning permissions decisions at An Bord Pleanála, the priority, if any, being given to applications based on their geographical profile. [21718/23]

Ivana Bacik

Question:

370. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in respect of the backlog of planning permissions decisions at An Bord Pleanála, the priority, if any, being given to applications based on time since initial lodgement. [21719/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 366 and 368 to 370, inclusive, together.

An 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, as amended, and certain other Acts.

Section 126 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, 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.

It is important to acknowledge that a certain percentage of cases, due to particular circumstance such as complexity, requests for further information from applicants for permission, or further submissions from other participants including third parties, may not meet the 18 week target.

Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is [e-mail].

In order to be of assistance to the Deputy, my Department sought the information requested from the Board, who advised that; there are a number of different types of case before the Board for determination. The Board will be applying different prioritisation to those cases and will therefore not deal with cases in chronological order. The Board has decided that this is the best way to manage its caseload and backlog in the most effective way possible.

Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended, as Minister I am specifically precluded from exercising power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.

Planning Issues

Questions (367)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

367. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in respect of the backlog of planning permissions decisions at An Bord Pleanála, the priority, if any, being given to local authority Part 10 applications for housing, which come under strategic infrastructure development applications that includes major transport and other infrastructure projects. [21716/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

An 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, as amended, and certain other Acts.

Section 126 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, 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.

It is important to acknowledge that a certain percentage of cases, due to particular circumstance such as complexity, requests for further information from applicants for permission, or further submissions from other participants including third parties, may not meet the 18 week target.

Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is [e-mail].

In order to be of assistance to the Deputy, my Department sought the information requested from the Board, who advised that; as of the 8 May 2023 there are two local authority part 10 housing applications on hand with An Bord Pleanála. The Board will be determining these cases in the context of the overall prioritisation of all types of case before them, which may not necessarily be in chronological order, in order to manage its caseload and clear the backlog in the most effective way possible.

Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended, as Minister I am specifically precluded from exercising power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.

Question No. 368 answered with Question No. 366.

Question No. 369 answered with Question No. 366.