Written Answers Nos. 144-163
144. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the provision of modular housing in Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23203/23]
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 an average of 10,000 new build social homes each year in the period to 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.
Modern methods of construction (MMC) has been identified as a key measure to address increased housing delivery and methods to support increased use of MMC are set out in Pathway 5 of Housing for All. The development of MMC will improve productivity in construction and increase efficiency in residential construction.
The Housing for All Action Plan Update and Quarter 3 2022 Progress Report, which was published on 2 November, includes a new action to develop a roadmap with targets for increased use of MMC in public housing. My Department is now working closely with the local authorities, including Carlow County Council, to increase the use of MMC in social and affordable housing.
Modern Methods of Construction is used to describe a range of offsite manufacturing and innovative onsite techniques that provide alternatives to traditional house building. Modern Methods of Construction can be completed dwelling units manufactured in a factory setting and transported to site, or panelised components manufactured in a factory and assembled on site. All Modern Methods of Construction systems must be of a high quality, comply with all requirements of the Building Regulations and have a 60-year durability.
146. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the waiver of water connection charges for new properties will take effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23070/23]
View answerOn 25 April 2023, the Government approved additional measures under the Housing for All Action Plan to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and assist the achievement of the housing delivery targets set in Housing for All, while also addressing cost and viability issues faced by the construction sector. These measures included the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority “section 48” development contributions, and the refunding of Uisce Éireann water and wastewater connection charges.
It should be noted that the Uisce Éireann standard water and waste water connection charges referenced in the new Government support package will still have to be paid upfront by developers in the normal manner, with the monies being subsequently refunded by Uisce Éireann on notification of the commencement of works i.e. in effect it is a rebate rather than a waiver arrangement.
The new schemes apply for 1 year to all permitted residential development:
• that commences on site between 25 April 2023 (the date of the Government Decision approving the measure) and 24 April 2024, and
• is completed not later than 31 December 2025.
This end date is to facilitate large schemes to be speedily brought forward and progressed, while also incentivising their completion as quickly as possible within a reasonable timeframe and delivering urgent housing supply.
In line with the Government decision, the arrangements cannot be applied retrospectively in respect of housing development that had already commenced on site prior to 25 April 2023.
My officials are currently working on the detailed arrangements in relation to the operation and administration of both the waiver and refund schemes. These arrangements will be communicated to local authorities and Uisce Éireann as soon as possible.
148. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to increase funding to Uisce Éireann for the upgrade of wastewater treatment plants that are currently preventing progress on housing developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23661/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to funding Uisce Éireann’s capital investment plan for water and wastewater infrastructure on a multi-annual basis. The National Development Plan 2021-2030 commits to almost €6 billion in capital investment by Uisce Éireann in the period 2021-2025, of which over €4.5 billion will be Voted Exchequer funding for domestic water services. This commitment is reflected in Budget 2023, with almost €1.6 billion of funding available to Uisce Éireann in 2023.
Uisce Éireann’s capital investment plan, which is fully funded, sets out a clearly defined set of priorities to deliver improvements to water and wastewater services throughout Ireland where they are needed most urgently to meeting our EU drinking water and wastewater service obligations while supporting balanced urban and rural development.
This investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and wastewater services, support improved water supplies right across urban and rural Ireland, and support a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine area.
Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for Uisce Éireann and is approved through its own internal governance structures.
Uisce Éireann is committed to supporting the delivery of housing including under Housing for All through a number of actions including the timely delivery of new connections, Self-Lay accreditation scheme, publishing capacity registers and developing a first mover disadvantage scheme.
On 25 April 2023, the Government approved additional measures under the Housing for All Action Plan to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and help reduce housing construction costs, including the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority “Section 48” development contributions, and the refunding of Uisce Éireann standard water and wastewater connection charges.
My Department is currently working on the detailed arrangements in relation to the operation and administration of both the waiver and refund schemes. The water connection charge refund scheme will apply to standard water and waste water connection charges payable to Uisce Éireann.
Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 0818 578 578.
149. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider pre-purchasing affordable housing units similar to social housing, and a mechanism to speed up their delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23648/23]
View answerHousing for All, the Government’s housing plan, puts affordability at the heart of the housing system and commits to the delivery of 54,000 affordable homes by 2030. The plan can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/ef5ec-housing-for-all-a-new-housing-plan-for-ireland/#view-the-plan.
In terms of arrangements for the pre-purchase of affordable housing units, the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) subsidy already enables local authorities to arrange for the advance purchase of housing units from private developers with a view to making these available as affordable homes for purchase or rent by eligible applicants with a demonstrable need for affordable housing. The level of subsidy available to local authorities ranges from €50,000 to €150,000 per affordable unit depending on the density of affordable units per hectare on the development and its location. In return for the subsidy, the local authority must make the homes available at a purchase price at least 15% below the market value on a shared equity basis, or at a rent targeted at 25% below the market rent.
The LDA is also deploying advance purchase arrangements to deliver affordable homes under the Project Tosaigh initiative to unlock land with full planning permission that is not being developed by private sector owners. Detailed information on its affordable homes programme can be found on the LDA’s website at: lda.ie/affordable-homes .
A strong pipeline of affordable housing delivery is in place and is under continuous development by local authorities, by Approved Housing Bodies and by the Land Development Agency.
150. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has undertaken a study to determine the impact building cost inflation is having on the construction of houses. [22656/23]
View answerConstruction costs have risen considerably over recent years. The CSO Wholesale Price Index shows a 12-month increase in price of construction materials of 13.5% to March 2023. The Building and Construction Index (i.e. Materials and Wages) fell by 0.1% in the month but rose by 8.5% in the 12 months to March 2023.
My Department actively monitors the housing market at all times. The impact of inflation and the uncertainties which arose as a result of Covid and then the war in Ukraine has had a real impact on housing output. This is reflected in the housing commencement figures which are published every month. My Department has also been working with all partners in dealing with the impact on inflation on social and affordable housing output to ensure that housing programmes continue to deliver.
Separately, in relation to the cost of construction more generally, on 4 May, I published the Residential Construction Cost Study report. The study found that overall construction costs using Irish specifications on a cost-per-square-metre rate for the same apartment building are broadly in line with construction costs in the four European comparator locations. 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/
Housing for All and the Residential Construction Cost Study have recommended a series of actions related to modern methods of construction (MMC), standardisation and promoting MMC through public procurement which are aimed at reducing the cost of residential construction.
Government is working hard to implement these measures as priority actions, led by my Department and in collaboration with Government and Industry to help reduce the cost of construction.
152. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what actions he intends to take to reduce rents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23567/23]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 introduced measures in July 2021 to extend the operation of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) until the end of 2024. The designation of all existing RPZs has also been extended until 31 December 2024. The Act provides that rent reviews outside of RPZs can, until 2025, occur no more frequently than bi-annually. This provides rent certainty for tenants outside of RPZs for a minimum 2 year period at a time.
The Act also introduced measures to better protect tenants with regard to affordability of rent by prohibiting any necessary rent increase in an RPZ from exceeding general inflation, as recorded by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP).
To address the rent affordability challenges building on foot of the unexpectedly fast rising inflation rate, as recorded by HICP , the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2021 provides, from 11 December 2021, a cap of 2% per annum pro rata on rent increases in RPZs, where the inflation rate is higher. In effect, this will mean that rents in RPZs may only increase by a maximum of 2% per annum pro rata during times of higher inflation.
In all cases, section 19(1) of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 prohibits the setting of a rent that exceeds market rent.
The Government’s Housing for All plan is focused on tackling supply and affordability issues in the rental market. The plan contains targets, actions and guaranteed State investment of over €4 billion a year in housing aimed at increasing supply, which in turn will help increase access to affordable rental housing. Budget 2023 allocates €4.5 billion of funding to continue the vital work in progress under Housing for All and supports extra supply coming on stream.
154. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many cost rental homes are to be delivered in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23644/23]
View answerHousing for All aims to deliver 18,000 Cost Rental homes by 2030, to be facilitated by Approved Housing Bodies, Local Authorities, and the Land Development Agency. The goal for Cost Rental is to support those on moderate incomes for whom market rents are unaffordable and who do not qualify for social housing.
AHBs are supported in this work by the Cost Rental Equity Loan, and Local Authorities by grant funding from the Affordable Housing Fund. The LDA is also delivering Cost Rental through acquisitions under Project Tosaigh and developments on its own sites.
Local authorities now submit data returns and information on delivery of affordable homes in their area to my Department, in the same manner as is done for social housing. The 2022 process is now complete and statistical data on delivery across all delivery streams has been validated and published on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery.
2022 represented the first year of a very ambitious programme of delivery of affordable housing, including a total of 684 Cost Rental homes. It is anticipated that the momentum created by this initial delivery will be maintained this year, and will continue to ramp up into 2024. A pipeline of Cost Rental housing delivery is in place and is under continuous development by AHBs, Local Authorities, and the LDA.
156. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he intends to provide additional funding to local authorities to provide for the proper management of their existing and future social housing stock in view of the increase in the numbers of social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23348/23]
View answerThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.
Local authorities and elected members have a very important role to play in this regard by making adequate budgetary provision for housing repairs and cyclical maintenance utilising the housing rental income available to them as part of the annual budgetary process. This income will increase in consequence of an increase in social housing supply.
Notwithstanding the legal responsibility on local authorities to manage and maintain their housing stock, my Department and local authorities are working to transition from a largely response and voids-based approach to housing stock management and maintenance, to a planned maintenance approach as referenced in Housing for All, policy objective 20.6. This will require the completion of stock condition surveys by all local authorities and the subsequent development of strategic and informed work programmes in response.
My Department will continue to support local authorities in their work in this area. The 2023 Programme will provide funding of €31 million to Local Authorities to support the refurbishment and re-letting of a minimum of 2,300 vacant homes, and continue the transition from a reactive Voids approach to stock management, to a Planned Maintenance approach.
157. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on how Ireland intends to implement the EU Biodiversity Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18616/23]
View answer158. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that all communities without water are supported and fast-tracked in joining group water schemes as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23460/23]
View answerThe Government’s vision for water services – whether publicly supplied by Uisce Éireann or otherwise delivered under the Rural Water Programme - is set out in the Water Services Policy Statement 2018 to 2025 and is based on the delivery and development of water services in line with the needs and expectations of citizens and users; in compliance with legal obligations; in a fair and cost-effective manner, and in keeping with the principles of social, economic and environmental sustainability. A copy of the Water Services Policy Statement 2018 to 2025 can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/49364-water-services-policy-statement-2018-2025/
Factors such as distance and geography mean that connection to a mains water supply is unlikely to be a technically feasible or economically viable solution for all households. Almost 85% of households are supplied by water through the public water system operated by Uisce Éireann. In addition, approximately 6% of the population have their drinking water supplied by group water schemes.
Group water schemes (GWS) are community-owned and community run enterprises. My Department funds a range of measures to GWS to deliver infrastructural improvements to rural water supplies.
Under the National Development Plan, funding has been allocated over the period 2021 to 2025 for investment in rural water infrastructure. This includes €175 million for the Rural Water Programme, which is administered through the local authorities. Additionally, the funding provided under the Programme includes an annual subsidy available to all GWS.
Further information is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/a524a-group-water-schemes-and-rural-water-issues/
159. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide interim funding for individuals living in defective apartments to carry out remedial works in advance of the general departmental scheme being implemented. [23667/23]
View answerSince the receipt of Government approval in January to draft legislation to establish supports for the remediation of fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013, I have been working to progress the various programmes of work that are required to place the remediation scheme on a statutory footing. A key aspect of this work is developing a Code of Practice in the context of the Fire Services Acts, to provide guidance to relevant professionals, including guidance on interim safety measures.
In order to ensure that important life-safety works are not paused, remediation works related to fire safety defects, entered into or commenced from 18 January 2023, will form part of the remediation scheme, subject to terms and conditions. The details of this process are being worked out as a priority in parallel with the Code of Practice.
In addition, work is underway to draft the required legislation, which will include the scope, eligibility and conditions of the remediation scheme. While I am working on the development of the scheme as a matter of priority, sufficient time is required to draft the legislation to ensure that the scheme is fit for purpose, provides value for tax payer’s money and contains appropriate oversight and governance measures.
160. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has received a funding request from Cork County Council to support the appointment of additional vacant homes officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23077/23]
View answerAddressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a a key priority for Government, as set out in Pathway 4 of Housing for All.
To support local authorities in addressing vacancy, my Department increased funding made available since 2018 to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office including a Vacant Homes Officer (VHO), from €50,000 to €60,000 per annum, from mid-2022.
This supports the commitment in Housing for All to ensure that VHOs are 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 with a view to increasing the opportunities for residential development. 30 out of 31 local authorities now have a full time VHO in place including Cork County Council who have received €60,000 to support their Vacant Homes Office.
The role of the VHO in each local authority is:
• To actively promote and lead the uptake within the local authority of various initiatives, schemes and funding programmes incuding the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and Ready to Build Scheme to address vacancy and bring vacant properties into residential use;
• To actively engage with owners of vacant properties and other relevant stakeholders and promote use of relevant schemes and supports to bring vacant properties into use;
• To collect, monitor and assess vacancy data locally and use that data to actively engage with property owners and promote schemes to encourage activation of properties; and
• Play a communication, promotion and advisory role both internally within the local authority and externally as a contact point for members of the public and key interested parties on vacant homes/properties.
In acknowledgement of the administrative overheads local authorities experience in managing the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Ready to Build Scheme, my Department is providing initial support to each local authority in respect of processing applications. This support is linked to the number of applications received with €60,000 provided where up to 50 applications have been received; an additional €60,000 where 51 to 100 applications are received and an additional €60,000 where over 100 applications are received by the local authority. As part of this funding, Cork County Council have received €120,000 to date.
I understand Cork County Council have made a submission to my Department in relation to the appointment of additional staff to address vacancy and this is currently under consideration.
161. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing units delivered in Galway city in 2022; the number of same that were new builds; the number of social housing units delivered in Galway city to date in 2023; the number of same that are new builds; if he will provide details of any analysis carried out by his Department into delays in the building of social houses in Galway city in 2022, and into any projected shortfall in the building of social houses in Galway City in 2023; if he will provide details of any engagement his Department has had with Galway City Council in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23455/23]
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 Galway City. 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/
Data for Q1 2023 is currently being collated and will be published in due course.
My Department also publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 4 2022. All Construction Status Reports are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/.
A version of the CSR file can also be downloaded for analysis at the link below: data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q4-2022?package_type=dataset
In September 2021, I issued social housing targets to each local authority for the period 2022-2026. Galway City Council has a target to deliver 219 new build social homes in 2023.
A key action of Housing for All required local authorities to develop Housing Delivery Action Plans to include details of social and affordable housing delivery. The Plans set out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. A copy of Galway City Council’s Housing Delivery Action Plan is available on its website at the following link: www.galwaycity.ie/gccfiles/?r=/download&path=L0RlcGFydG1lbnRzL0hvdXNpbmcvSG91c2luZyBBY3Rpb24gUGxhbiAyMDIyL0hvdXNpbmcgRGVsaXZlcnkgQWN0aW9uIFBsYW4gMjAyMi0yMDI2IEVuZ2xpc2gucGRm - Galway City Council - Housing Delivery Action Plan 2022-2026
The Galway Housing Task Force is continuing to provide a strong focus on social and affordable housing delivery and related areas across the two Galway local authorities. The Task Force meets on a quarterly basis to support progress on the delivery of social and affordable housing as well as dealing with related challenges such as homelessness.
162. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he or his Department have yet approved the method statements for the upgrade of the N59 road from Oughterard to Bun a’Choill in County Galway, which were last submitted to his Department in September 2022; the reason for the delay in doing this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23200/23]
View answerI refer to my recent response in this matter. Staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department have been working with Galway County Council in relation to this project. It is a condition of the planning permission given by An Bord Pleanala that NPWS must agree to method statements relating to the Construction Stage prepared by Galway County Council.
Two method statements prepared by Galway County Council, which outlined the methodology for the ground investigation and archaeological investigations along the N59 (Bunnakill to Oughterard) as part of the overall N59 Maam Cross-Oughterard Project, were submitted in September 2022.
These method statements are being considered by the NPWS. This is a complex case in a designated area. Accordingly, great care is being exercised in giving the matter full and due consideration. The NPWS will revert to Galway County Council as soon as possible.
163. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homeless people in north county Dublin; and the number of people on the social housing waiting list in north county Dublin. [23559/23]
View answerMy Department currently publishes data on a monthly basis on the number of homeless persons accommodated in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by housing authorities. These reports are based on data provided by housing authorities, produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). The monthly homelessness report includes details of individuals, families and the dependants of these families who accessed emergency accommodation during the relevant count week of the month in question on a regional basis. Data is not collected for the specific area North County Dublin, however, in the Dublin region there were 8,775 individuals in emergency accommodation during the March count week.
The most recently published data is in respect of March 2023 and the reports are collated on a regional basis and are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/ and are also published to the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform's open data portal data.gov.ie/.
Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recent summary for 2022, published 24 March 2023, is available at:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/62486-summary-of-social-housing-assessments/.
Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support is not collected for North County Dublin. However, the annual SSHA, conducted in November 2022, shows that 5,789 households qualified for social housing whose need was unmet in Fingal County Council.
