Written Answers Nos. 370-381
371. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of planning permissions awaiting decision by An Bord Pleanála, in quarterly date ranges from 2020 to date 2023; the expected timelines for decisions to be reached on outstanding application; and his views on the adequacy of these timelines. [21720/23]
View answerAn Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, 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 Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.
In order to be of assistance to the Deputy, my Department sought the information requested from the Board, who have provided the following information regarding the number of normal planning appeals over 18 weeks on hand with An Bord Pleanála.
Normal Planning Appeals over 18 weeks on hand with An Bord Pleanála
|
- |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
Year End Total |
|
2020 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
7 |
|
2021 |
3 |
14 |
15 |
72 |
104 |
|
2022 |
275 |
403 |
598 |
272 |
1548 |
|
2023 |
34 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
1582 (Year to date for 2023) |
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.
372. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will list the number of approved housing bodies as at 1 January in each of the years 2018 to 2022 and to date in 2023; the amount of grant aid paid to each of those bodies in each of those years; the number of staff employed by each of those bodies in each of those years; the number of housing units acquired by each of those bodies in each of those years; the total number of housing units owned by each of those bodies as of 1 January 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21722/23]
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.
The Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) was established on 1 February 2021 to regulate the sector and to monitor AHBs performance against approved standards provided for in the Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019. Part of AHBRA's function is to register organisations as AHBs and to maintain and publish the AHB register. There are currently 450 deemed AHBs on the register which can be accessed here: www.ahbregulator.ie/registration/the-register/
Prior to the establishment of AHBRA, the AHB register was maintained by my Department. The AHB register is a living document that is updated when necessary and historical copies of the register are not maintained by my Department. In 2020 prior to the transfer of the register to AHBRA, my Department undertook a project to confirm the number of active AHBs on the register. In March 2020 there were 555 AHBs registered with my Department.
Details on the funding provided to individual (AHBs) is not readily available within my Department. My Department does not fund AHBs directly, rather, the funding is primarily provided directly to local authorities, who in turn advance the funding to the AHBs, as appropriate. However, overall, for the last five years, over €2.7 billion was provided by my Department to the local authorities in respect of a range of AHB funded schemes as follows:
|
Year |
Funding €m |
|
2018 |
348 |
|
2019 |
430 |
|
2020 |
515 |
|
2021 |
633 |
|
2022 |
797 |
|
Total |
2,723 |
Additionally, in respect of homeless expenditure, financial reports from each of the homeless regions, setting out expenditure on homeless services are published on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/#local-authority-regional-financial-reports
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and (AHBs) in each local authority area. 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/
AHBs are independent organisations and as such my Department is not involved in their daily operations, and therefore does not maintain statistics regarding the number of units owned by, or the staffing levels of, AHBs. Certain information in this regard is collected by AHBRA as part of its annual monitoring programme. This information is published as part of its sectoral analysis report and the report for 2022 can be accessed on the AHBRA website at the following link: www.ahbregulator.ie/app/uploads/2023/05/AHBRA-Sectoral-Analysis.pdf
Data on the numbers of housing units owned by individual bodies would be available from the AHBs directly.
373. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will list the local authorities which received funding from his Department to acquire housing units; the amount paid to each authority; the number of units acquired in each year since 1 January 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21723/23]
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 provides funding to the local authorities to support a number of social housing acquisition programmes, including in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).
The funding provided to local authorities for the acquisition of housing units for the years 2018 to 2021 is set out in the table below. The details in relation to 2022 expenditure by local authority level is currently being finalised in my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy when completed.
|
Local Authority |
2018 €m |
2019 €m |
2020 €m |
2021 €m |
|
Carlow |
7.41 |
8.69 |
7.51 |
7.23 |
|
Cavan |
4.41 |
6.59 |
4.77 |
1.90 |
|
Clare |
15.84 |
9.65 |
6.86 |
13.33 |
|
Cork City |
17.01 |
20.10 |
13.87 |
18.49 |
|
Cork County |
14.22 |
17.33 |
11.76 |
10.94 |
|
Donegal |
6.73 |
8.71 |
3.15 |
3.16 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
7.27 |
8.32 |
6.70 |
7.51 |
|
Dublin City |
101.54 |
133.14 |
87.13 |
107.48 |
|
Fingal |
32.98 |
39.97 |
34.93 |
20.75 |
|
Galway City |
3.79 |
12.34 |
4.04 |
14.54 |
|
Galway County |
3.92 |
3.48 |
3.95 |
2.69 |
|
Kerry |
11.39 |
10.02 |
2.41 |
2.68 |
|
Kildare |
41.95 |
60.99 |
15.01 |
21.60 |
|
Kilkenny |
14.52 |
24.17 |
12.16 |
7.70 |
|
Laois |
3.54 |
6.60 |
4.19 |
5.84 |
|
Leitrim |
2.24 |
1.29 |
1.03 |
2.93 |
|
Limerick |
13.15 |
14.05 |
6.39 |
4.2 |
|
Longford |
2.45 |
4.17 |
3.03 |
5.37 |
|
Louth |
4.08 |
2.10 |
3.32 |
8.50 |
|
Mayo |
1.20 |
3.93 |
1.20 |
2.02 |
|
Meath |
12.36 |
22.99 |
3.42 |
11.15 |
|
Monaghan |
3.77 |
4.57 |
3.73 |
3.19 |
|
Offaly |
6.08 |
4.77 |
4.10 |
3.71 |
|
Roscommon |
2.22 |
3.77 |
1.20 |
2.49 |
|
Sligo |
2.41 |
1.77 |
1.07 |
1.32 |
|
South Dublin |
20.03 |
17.45 |
7.56 |
10.09 |
|
Tipperary |
20.22 |
8.80 |
9.52 |
6.16 |
|
Waterford |
6.23 |
4.51 |
5.07 |
3.45 |
|
Westmeath |
5.25 |
9.35 |
4.39 |
6.04 |
|
Wexford |
19.97 |
8.51 |
3.61 |
2.39 |
|
Wicklow |
8.41 |
12.97 |
2.67 |
8.33 |
|
Total |
416.59 |
495.1 |
279.75 |
327.18 |
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity, including acquisitions, by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority. 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/
374. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of internships and-or traineeships offered by each local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21726/23]
View answerUnder Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he/she is responsible.
My Department does not hold information on any internships or traineeships offered by local authorities. I am aware that the local government sector participates in the employer-led national apprenticeship programme which falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
375. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in instances in which his Department funded the purchase of lands via a local authority for its use; if he will outline the procedures in place to ensure there are no conflicts of interest in respect of a disposal transaction of that land at a later date; and if he will set out the due diligence his Department undertakes in respect of local authorities disposing of lands that were initially purchased with funds from his Department. [21737/23]
View answerAs independent corporate entities, local authorities have the power to acquire land for the purposes of performing any of their functions, including, for example, to facilitate the implementation of their development plan or housing strategy. A local authority may also dispose of land that it owns. Both the acquisition and disposal of land are functions of a local authority.
Part 15 of the Local Government Act 2001 (as amended) sets out the ethical framework for the local government service which applies to members of a local authority as well as to certain employees. Section 169 of the Act provides for the related Code of Conduct for Councillors and Code of Conduct for Local Authority Employees and sets out the role and responsibilities of the Ethics Registrar, as well as the responsibilities of members and certain employees to make an annual written declaration of their declarable interests. The 2011 Act and the codes of conduct set down clear instructions in relation to conflicts of interest. Legal responsibility for compliance with these requirements rests with each individual councillor. Section 174 of the 2001 Act also sets down the procedure to be followed within the local authority where the Ethics Registrar becomes aware of a possible contravention of the ethical framework, a process in which there is no role for the Minister.
In certain circumstances, where my Department has advanced funding to a local authority in relation to land for the delivery of housing, the funding has been conditional on the delivery of housing scheme. For example, in December 2022 the Government has agreed to the allocation of up to €100m to pay down loans which can deliver social housing projects linked to accelerated delivery. This funding was subject to a number of criteria; including:
• The immediate development of a proposal for social housing delivery;
• Commence construction in 2023 if possible and no later than 2024;
• Use of accelerated delivery models, principally off-site / Modern Methods of Construction.
376. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details relating to the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21738/23]
View answerFollowing on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on the 23 July, 2022.
The purpose of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 ('the 2022 Act'), as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021, is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the current grant scheme.
The 2022 Act which contains the enhanced grant scheme will be commenced as soon as related Regulations are completed, which Regulations provide details for the enhanced scheme not included in the 2022 Act such as application forms and templates, per square metre grant rates and the definition of damage.
The administrative areas of the following counties have been designated by the Act for the purposes of the enhanced grant scheme: Clare County Council; Donegal County Council; Limerick City and County Council; Mayo County Council. Draft Regulations were initially shared with these four local authorities included in the enhanced scheme in December, 2022 and I can confirm that the Council referred to responded with feedback.
The draft Regulations are also the subject of ongoing consultation with key stakeholders, including with homeowners’ action groups, which consultation must be concluded before the Regulations will be finalised and adopted. I extended the consultation period on the draft Regulations, which commenced in February 2023, by an additional two weeks, to 14 March 2023, following receipt of requests for time extensions from Donegal County Council and Mayo County Council. The submissions received are now being reviewed and when that review is completed I will engage further with the homeowners' action groups before finalising the Regulations which I expect to conclude this month.
My Department recently published an updated “Your Questions Answered” document on the Department’s website to ensure homeowners have the most up to date information available to them which can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link:www.gov.ie/en/publication/775c0-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme-your-questions-answered/
377. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will urgently intervene to ensure major issues are resolved at a housing agency development (details supplied). [21775/23]
View answerThe minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 and specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light, fire safety and the safety of gas, oil and electrical supplies. These Regulations apply to all properties let or available for let. All landlords, including local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with the standards set down in the Regulations.
In accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act, 1966 local authorities are legally responsible for the management and maintenance of their housing stock. Social housing tenants should report relevant maintenance issues to their local authority. Should it fail to resolve the issues, the tenant can make use of the local authority’s complaints handling system. If this does not resolve the matter, the tenant can submit a complaint to the Ombudsman.
Responsibility for the enforcement of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 in the private rental sector rests with the relevant local authority. Last year local authorities conducted circa 49,000 inspections of private rented dwellings, including AHB properties. Housing for All sets a target for the inspection of 25% of all private residential tenancies. A total of €9 million in Exchequer funding is being made available by my Department to local authorities this year to help them meet their private rental inspection targets.
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. It is an independent body tasked with the regulation of AHBs for the purposes of protecting housing assets provided or managed by such bodies.
All AHBs are required to adopt the standards for AHBs that are provided for in the 2019 Act and were developed in conjunction with the sector. These standards are available on the AHBRA’s website (www.ahbregulator.ie). The standards cover matters relating to corporate governance; financial management and reporting; property and asset management; and tenancy management.
AHBs are important partners for local authorities in the delivery of social housing. AHBs can lease properties from private property owners using a long term lease arrangement for a period from 10 to 25 years. This long term lease arrangement is negotiated between the AHB and the property owner. It is the AHB’s responsibility to ensure that the lease complies with the general leasing terms.
Under AHB Leasing arrangements; internal maintenance and repairs of social housing leased properties are the responsibility of the AHB entering into the lease, while structural maintenance of the property remains the responsibility of the property owner over the life of the lease agreement.
378. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will, as a matter of urgency, authorise the purchase by Kildare County Council of a number of apartments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21787/23]
View answerUnder Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).
Under Housing for All, there was provision for 200 social housing acquisitions each year. However, with increased pressures on housing and the exit of landlords from the market, my Department reinstated delegated sanction to local authorities in April 2022 to acquire social housing properties for a number of specific categories which included:
• One-bedroom units to deliver on Housing First and meet the short supply in this category;
• Other properties that allow persons/families to exit homelessness; and
• Specific housing required for/suitable for individuals with a disability or other particular priority needs.
For 2023, the Government has agreed that there will be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department will fund local authorities to acquire up to 1,500 social homes. 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. My Department issued a circular letter to all local authorities on 14 March, setting out details of these arrangements. The circular provided each local authority with a provisional allocation for the number of acquisitions, which will be kept under review.
I understand from Kildare County Council that the acquisition of the properties referred to was offered to them, however, following consideration, they declined as they already have a strong delivery pipeline in the area with some large housing developments in progress. I am satisfied that these individual situations are best judged by the respective local authority housing teams who have a better on the ground knowledge of each local situation.
379. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if support or a scheme is available for a self-employed person on €140,000 who does not qualify for a mortgage due to lack of savings and is facing homelessness due to eviction. [21805/23]
View answerAffordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of the Government’s housing policy. As detailed in the Housing for All strategy, the Government has introduced a number of measures to support households and individuals wishing to purchase a home, or those who wish to securely rent a home, as well as increasing the overall supply of new homes, with an ambitious target of 300,000 new homes up to 2030.
Under Pathway 1 of this strategy, “Pathways to Home Ownership and Increasing Affordability”, two new Affordable Purchase schemes have been established (the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme and the First Home shared equity scheme), an improved Local Authority Home Loan scheme, and the introduction of a new form of rental tenure in Cost Rental tenancies.
These schemes are primarily aimed at supporting affordability constrained middle income earners and first-time buyers, whilst also encouraging additional housing development to increase overall supply. The eligibility of an applicant for these schemes will be determined based on scheme specific selection criteria, application assessment, and terms and conditions as deemed appropriate by the respective scheme provider.
Other measures, such as the Help to Buy Scheme, are also nationally available to eligible first-time purchasers to make home ownership more affordable.
The new Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is also available nationwide and it provides for grants for refurbishment of vacant properties of up to €30,000 or €50,000 if the property is derelict. As recently agreed by Cabinet, the scheme will be extended in the near future, with the grants being increased from €30,000 to €50,000 for vacant properties and from €50,000 to €70,000 for derelict properties, extended to cover houses built up to 2007, and will be available for properties intended for rental as well as owner-occupied.
I also announced last year, a new Ready to Build serviced sites scheme under the Fund where local authorities will provide sites at a discount to people who want to build their own home. Information on both of these schemes is available directly from local authorities.
In addition the Government has agreed on a number of new measures to increase housing options. These include developing a legislative provision which may require a landlord selling a property to offer “First Right of Refusal” to a tenant. Furthermore, the Board of First Home Scheme Designated Active Company has agreed to extend eligibility of the scheme, making the scheme available to sitting tenants who have been issued a Notice of Termination and offered first right of refusal. The same eligibility criteria will apply and this element of the Scheme has been open for qualifying applicants since 17 April.
Full details of the First Home Scheme, including eligibility criteria, details of the revised price ceilings that came into effect 1 January this year, and how to apply are available on the scheme website:www.firsthomescheme.ie
Lastly, it is important to note that matters such as mortgage deposit requirements and mortgage borrowing ability come under the remit of the Central Bank of Ireland, which is an independent body. Relevant information is available at the following Central Bank link:
www.centralbank.ie/financial-system/financial-stability/macro-prudential-policy/mortgage-measures
380. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 807 of 18 April 2023, if rent supplement will be considered a housing support for the tenant purchase scheme for the period prior to the introduction of the housing assistance payment in 2014, given HAP was not available at the time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21845/23]
View answerThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants (including joint tenants) of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme.
Applicants must meet certain criteria to qualify for the scheme, including a minimum 10 years in receipt of social housing supports. Such supports include the Housing Assistance Payment, and also the Rental Accommodation Scheme which operated prior to 2014.
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.
381. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has studied the cost of construction review conducted by an organisation (details supplied) that compares the cost of construction across different countries; his views on the comparative costs of construction in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21873/23]
View answerThe Residential Construction Cost Study was conducted under Action 19.1 of the Housing for All Action Plan Update and is a joint initiative of the Construction Sector Group (CSG)/-and the-Government, facilitated by my Department. My Department carried out detailed reviews and analysis of the contents of the report throughout its development.
I have reviewed this study and submitted the report and its follow on actions to Government for approval.
The study identifies seven key cost reduction actions related to specifications and standardisation of dwellings . The study’s findings will also be used to inform future policy initiatives.
Arising from this report, the Government has agreed to implement these key actions. These will be implemented as priority actions, led by my Department and in collaboration with Government and Industry.
A copy of the report can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/2bf87-residential-construction-cost-study-report/
