Written Answers Nos. 84-103
84. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what incentives are being considered to prevent landlords leaving the rental market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23674/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to increasing housing supply generally, including rental accommodation and to protect renters while retaining landlords in the system. In particular the Government is committed to the introduction of a meaningful and effective Budgetary package for the rental sector to include both taxation and expenditure measures. Over the coming months, my Department and I will work with our partners in Government in line with this commitment.
To inform this work and as set out in the Housing for All Action Plan Update (published in November, 2022), my Department has commenced a comprehensive review of the private rental sector. This review will take into account the significant regulatory changes over the past several years in the residential rental market, and will report on how our housing system can be enhanced to provide an efficient, affordable, viable, safe and secure framework for both landlords and tenants.
The review includes a public consultation process including targeted engagement with various stakeholders. The consultation will commence shortly and will continue for four weeks.
This review will be essential in properly planning future policy for the residential rented sector including implementing measures to support both landlords and tenants and will conclude as early as possible.
86. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to use new technologies/building techniques to increase the delivery and supply of modular housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23219/23]
View answerModern methods of construction (MMC) have the potential to increase productivity and efficiency, improve delivery, and reduce cost in construction.
Coordination of activities to promote MMC adoption is being led under Housing for All by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, which now chairs an interdepartmental MMC Leadership and Integration Group to drive government supported MMC-relevant initiatives.
These include:
• The ConstructInnovate construction technology research centre
• The National Demonstration Park for MMC
• The Build Digital project
• The Built to Innovate awareness campaign
• A public procurement roadmap for MMC
• Training for industry and procurers in MMC
My Department is also facilitating MMC adoption in public housing. Additional resources have been deployed to support local authority delivery. A specific focus for the Housing Agency is to incorporate MMC into the social housing build programme, and a guidance document now exists for the provision of “design and build” housing projects using MMC.
In December 2022, €94m was provided to local authorities to address legacy land debts. This was linked to a commitment to use MMC on projects to commence in 2023/2024. This will enable delivery of 1,500 social homes using MMC across approximately 30 sites.
These measures will support accelerated delivery of housing utilising MMC.
87. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects the planning reforms to be implemented; how these reforms will speed up the delivery of critical infrastructure; if he will facilitate conversion of over retail premises for residential accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23649/23]
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 the draft Bill. Their report contains more than 150 recommendations, which I am considering carefully. My Department continues to work closely with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to finalise the Bill, taking account of the pre-legislative scrutiny report and submissions from stakeholders more broadly. Once finalised, the Bill will be published and proceed before the Houses of the Oireachtas, subject to its schedule.
The draft Bill increases clarity, streamlines the legislation and improves coherence and usability for the public and practitioners. It also ensures alignment and consistency, both with European and environmental obligations and in relation to the various tiers of national, regional and local plan-making. Importantly, it provides greater certainty through the introduction of a range of statutory and mandatory timelines across the various consenting processes, including for An Bord Pleanála.
The Government, through the introduction of the Large-Scale Residential Developments process, continues to expedite the delivery of housing supply while also providing certainty and stability to the construction sector by retaining some of the positive elements of the SHD arrangements such as mandatory pre-application consultation, quality of applications submitted and decision timelines.
Finally, in keeping with the Government’s actions to bring more vacant and derelict properties back into use, the Planning and Development (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022 extended the exemption from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of the change of use of certain vacant commercial premises, including vacant or under-utilised areas over ground-floor shops and offices, to residential use until the end of 2025. These Regulations included a new and additional class of premises eligible to avail of the planning exemption, that of public houses capable of providing up to a maximum of 9 residential units.
88. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the Expert Group on Traveller accommodation. [23331/23]
View answerThe Traveller Accommodation Expert Review report was published in July 2019. The Report reviewed the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998, and other legislation that impacts on the provision and delivery of accommodation for Travellers.
The Expert Review report, which is intended to improve the effectiveness of the arrangements for providing accommodation for members of the Traveller community, has 32 recommendations across 4 categories which are aimed at:
• Addressing research deficiencies, including how information is gathered and used;
• Removing any potential delays and obstacles in the planning system in terms of delivery;
• Increasing resources and delivery capacity; and
• Strengthening governance arrangements.
A Programme Board was established in 2021 to drive implementation of the recommendations from the Expert Review report. It is independently chaired and includes representatives from Traveller organisations and from local authorities. The Board reports on progress on implementation of the recommendations on my Department's website.
The most recent progress report was published in January 2023 and provides an update on the work of the Programme Board, including on the 8 recommendations which are already completed, and the work which is advancing on the remaining recommendations. I understand that the next report is being finalised and will be published shortly.
89. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will advise his intended next steps regarding the recently published Citizen’s Assembly report on Biodiversity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18627/23]
View answerFollowing the declaration by the Dáil of a Biodiversity Emergency in 2019 and in recognition of the vital role that biodiversity plays in the continued health of our society, economy, species and planet, the Programme for Government included a commitment to hold a Citizen's Assembly on Biodiversity Loss.
Efforts to date to halt the loss of nature and biodiversity in Ireland have had limited success and we need to take action to ensure a healthy environment for future generations. Biodiversity is a core element of our natural heritage, and the Citizen's Assembly on Biodiversity Loss recognised that the response to conserving and restoring biodiversity should take into account the integral heritage and cultural values of our natural world. A whole of Government, whole of society approach is required to address the crisis.
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, if accepting some or all of the recommendations, will indicate the timeframe it envisages for implementing those recommendations.
90. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress to date since 2020 in bringing back to habitable use local authority housing stock that was vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23543/23]
View answer91. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline if any consideration is being given to the introduction of a higher payment of voids funding to local authorities where the refurbishment cost of the unit is well above the average €50k higher payment in order to ensure any and all empty units are brought back into use as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23389/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together.
The 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.
Since 2014, Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to supplement the local authority funding available for the preparation of vacant properties for re-letting. The funding was introduced originally to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted to support authorities to ensure minimal turnaround and re-let times for vacant stock.
The emphasis is on minimum refurbishment works to comply with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 to ensure quick turnaround and re-letting times. There is no upper cap on the amount that can be spent on an individual unit, providing the total amount averaged across all dwellings submitted by a local authority does not exceed €11,000.
From 2020 to the end of 2022, expenditure of some €117.5 million has been recouped to local authorities under the Voids Programme which funded the return to productive use of 8,339 social homes nationwide.
Full details since 2014 in relation to each local authority can be viewed on my Department's website.
Given the very significant investment into the Voids Programme over recent years, local authorities should now be in a strong position to begin the transition to a strategic and informed planned maintenance approach to stock management and maintenance.
To that end, 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 remediating Voids. 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.
92. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has plans to provide funding to Uisce Éireann to take in charge existing private wastewater treatment plants in private housing estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23345/23]
View answerHousing estates defined as having not being taken-in-charge by local authorities or do not have their water services connected to the public Uisce Éireann network, instead rely upon Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure, commonly referred to as "DPI".
Under the National Development Plan, for the period 2021-2025, funding of €68.5 million has been allocated to address legacy water services issues. This includes €56 million for the DPI Programme which was launched by my Department in 2019.
In September 2020, a first round of funding under the Multi-annual Developer Provided Infrastructure Resolution Programme was provided to local authorities to fund projects to resolve DPI in 26 housing estates across the country benefiting almost 950 households. Work is already completed on some, with estates now taken in charge by the local authorities concerned - work is ongoing on the remainder.
To build on the progress made under the programme, local authorities were asked to make further applications for funding for priority projects in their area. These applications have been received and were considered in detail by an independent Expert Panel. The Expert Panel was established and is in place, tasked with evaluating all applications for funding under the multi-annual programme
I expect to be a position to announce further funding for specific projects in the coming weeks.
93. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of cost-rental homes delivered in north county Dublin in 2022. [23558/23]
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.
2022 represented the first year of a very ambitious programme of delivery of affordable housing, including a total of 684 Cost Rental homes, of which 14 were delivered in Donabate, Fingal. These were a mixture of 1 bed apartments at €1,195 per month and 2-bed apartments at €1,494 per month, which are more than 25% below market rents for comparable homes on the open market. Information on delivery across all affordable housing streams in 2022 is available on my Department’s website and I will arrange for the relevant web link to be circulated with the official record.
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.
95. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on actions that are to be taken to address the recruitment and retention crisis in the retained fire service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23639/23]
View answer142. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to engage with the National Retained Firefighters Service to secure an agreement on pay and conditions in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23346/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 142 together.
My Department supports fire authorities by establishing policy, setting national standards for fire safety and fire service provision, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects and the procurement of essential frontline fire appliances, ancillary vehicles and equipment.
Fire services are provided in Ireland by local authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. Under this legislation, 31 local authorities provide fire prevention and fire protection services for communities through 27 service delivery structures. Local authority fire services are delivered by approximately 3,300 local authority staff engaged at 217 fire stations nationwide, with 16 of these stations staffed by full-time firefighters, a further 4 are mixed full-time and retained, and 197 are staffed by retained firefighters.
My Department is supporting the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) who are leading discussions with staff representatives on the implementation of recommendations contained within the review report of Retained fire services published in December 2022. I receive comprehensive reports of those engagements and I am fully aware of the implications of those discussions.
I am acutely aware of the significant challenges associated with recruitment and retention of retained fire service personnel. In the course of my duties, I regularly visit fire stations and take the time to meet with firefighters, senior management, and local authority figures and listen to their perspectives. In May 2021, I directed the Management Board of the NDFEM to review the delivery and sustainability of the local authority retained fire services, with a particular emphasis on recruitment and retention.
In December 2022, I approved that review report for publication, which builds on the progress made implementing the “Keeping Communities Safe” policy in setting the future strategic direction of the Retained Fire Services.
What is clear from the findings of the Retained review report is that the work-life balance of retained firefighters needs to be addressed to ensure the sustainability of retained fire services as an attractive employment option.
The report provides thirteen recommendations that aim to enhance the model of service delivery by maintaining the strengths of retained fire services, while addressing issues that act as a barrier to recruitment and retention.
Following the reports publication, I am aware that stakeholders began discussions promptly via the Fire Services National Oversight Implementation Group, chaired by Mr David Begg, on the implementation of the recommendations, meeting earlier this year on two occasions 27 January and 22 February. The group was established in 2015 was at the request of SIPTU - the union mandated to represent retained firefighters - following an agreement between the Department, local authorities, and fire service representatives to act as a consultative forum on service development and implementation. At the meeting of 27 January, the staff representative group accepted the finding of the reports as a fair reflection of the current state of retained fire services and agreed the need to pursue the implementation of the recommendations.
At a meeting of 22 February, staff representatives proposed moving discussions on priority IR issues to a third party facilitation forum and nominated, Mr Ultan Courtney, who was subsequently appointed by the LGMA, to chair those discussions.
The key deliverable, agreed by both sides, was a revised composite agreement to standardise future employment terms and conditions across all local authorities reflecting the Retained review recommendations. Two plenary sessions of those facilitation discussions have taken place and I understand substantial progress was made on the provision of a revised model that would provide for both an effective service delivery, and a suitable work / life balance for retained firefighters, including structured time off.
While a positive conclusion to the process to the satisfaction of all parties has not yet been reached, I would encourage all parties to continue to engage constructively on resolving the outstanding IR issues within the established forum. Changes are necessary to the existing model of retained fire service provision to ensure the future sustainability of the services. Those changes are only possible when all parties work together to achieve an equitable resolution of the issues identified.
The report makes clear that there is no single ‘silver bullet’ solution to resolve the issues of recruitment and retention facing retained fire services. Those issues can only be addressed through the aggregated full implementation of each of the report’s recommendations.
96. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many homes will be delivered by the LDA this year under the project tosaigh scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23647/23]
View answerUnder Housing for All, the Government aims to deliver 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through the First Home Scheme.
The LDA is tasked with managing the State’s own lands to develop new homes, and regenerate under-utilised sites. In the longer-term, it will assemble strategic land-banks from a mix of public and private lands, which is expected to bring essential more long-term stability to the Irish housing market.
It is also tasked with unlocking stalled private, planning-consented developments in the shorter-term through its market engagement initiative, Project Tosaigh, from which the LDA is targeting delivery of 5,000 affordable homes by 2026 .
Following two calls for proposals and ongoing engagement with proposers, a delivery pipeline is being advanced. The first households are in their Project Tosaigh sourced homes. 164 new homes were offered in 2022 for cost rental tenanting by eligible households in Wicklow and Dublin. 78 affordable purchase homes in Cork and Waterford were also delivered in 2022. I understand that a significant step-up in delivery is expected in 2023.
While keeping the momentum of that call for proposals engagement going, the LDA is proceeding in tandem with the more structured phase of Project Tosaigh engagement, procuring framework agreements with preferred delivery partners. I expect that a request for tenders to advance Phase 2 will issue next month.
97. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which the provision of accommodation for persons on local authority housing lists as well as those seeking affordable housing can be accommodated in the short term alongside the competing equally valid requirements of refugees and the aforementioned numbers on the housing lists; if modular housing or wooden chalet-type housing can be urgently provided to meet the need; if manufacturers of modular or wooden housing in this country are exporting their products while this serious crisis exists; if it is possible to quantify the number of potential such units that could be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23507/23]
View answer133. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how he is promoting innovation in social home delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23656/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 133 together.
Housing 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.
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. All homes delivered using MMC must comply with the Building Regulations, the aim of which is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and about buildings, and in addition achieve a 60-year durability for all key elements. For new innovative products or systems, not covered by existing standards, compliance with the Building Regulations can be demonstrated by 3rd party certification by an independent approval body, such as National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI).
The development of MMC will improve productivity in construction and increase efficiency in residential construction. The development of MMC is being led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment which has established a MMC Leadership and Integration Group and my Department is represented on this Group. This Group is ensuring the cohesive integration and coordination of the various Government supported MMC initiatives. These initiatives include:
• The establishment of a multi-location Construction Technology Centre, consortium led by the University of Galway;
• A new Demonstration Park for MMC at Mount Lucas, operated by Laois Offaly Enterprise and Training Board; and
• The National Construction Training Centre at Mount Lucas.
The Housing for All Action Plan Update, which was published on 2 November 2022, includes a new action to develop a roadmap with targets for increased use of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in public housing. My Department is working closely with the local authorities to increase the use of MMC in public housing delivery.
98. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is considering supports for the construction of affordable homes for purchase along the lines of the supports recently announced for cost rental. [23561/23]
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.
My Department has introduced a number of initiatives to support the delivery of affordable homes for purchase.
Firstly, under the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) up to €150,000 per unit in funding is available to Local Authorities to support affordable housing purchase under a local authority administered scheme in housing developments located in large or key towns where an affordable housing need is evidenced.
Additionally, the Land Development Agency is also tasked with unlocking stalled private, planning-consented developments in the short-medium term through its market engagement initiative - Project Tosaigh. The LDA has brought the first affordable purchase homes sourced via this initiative to market in conjunction with Cork County Council and Waterford City and County Councils and has a pipeline of further projects anticipated to deliver affordable for sale and cost rental homes.
The First Home Scheme, launched in July 2022, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model, similar to that employed in the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme. The key policy objective behind the First Home Scheme is (1) Making homes more affordable for first-time buyers, allowing them to exit the rental market and achieve the stability and security of home ownership, and thereby creating a realisable demand for such homes to be met by the construction industry, and (2) Addressing viability by supporting realisable demand for homes and thereby alleviating builder hesitance, particularly in relation to projects with more marginal viability. At the time of inception of a shared equity scheme, there were approximately 80,000 un-commenced planning permissions, most of which were in urban areas with the highest housing demand to new supply.
Last September, I launched the Ready to Build Scheme as part of the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund. Under this scheme, local authorities will make serviced sites in towns and villages available at a discounted rate to individual purchasers who will self-build their own home and live in it as their principal private residence.
It is intended that the local authority will either supply existing sites in their control or purchase sites and make them available for development by providing services and access to the sites concerned. The level of discount to the individual will depend on the level of servicing cost incurred by the local authority before the sale of the site but will not exceed €30,000. The amount of such discount will be reflected in the sale price of the site to the purchaser.
When the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund was launched, a commitment was given that the schemes funded by it would be kept under ongoing review and it is intended that a comprehensive review and evaluation of the Ready to Build Scheme will be undertaken by mid-2024 as part of this.
99. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what he intends to do to ensure emergency accommodation is available for those who need it in their local particularly appropriate door accommodation for families and pensioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23568/23]
View answerMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities.
Specifically under Section 10 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 local authorities are responsible for the provision of housing supports to households for the purposes of meeting their accommodation needs, including services provided to homeless persons under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988.
Furthermore, a homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. Decisions on the range of emergency accommodation services and funding required in each region are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum. It is a matter for the Management Group to bring forward proposals to my Department that meet the needs of homeless individuals, including families and pensioners, in their administrative area and the funding requirements will be considered in this context.
My Department is fully committed to supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The budget for 2023 makes provision for €215m in funding for homeless services, an increase from €194m in 2022. The extra funding for Homelessness reflects the priority that this Government is giving to Homelessness. This funding will ensure that the local authorities can provide the best possible supports to those individuals and families experiencing homelessness, until they can be assisted to secure a more sustainable housing solution to their needs.
My Department will continue to work with local authorities to ensure sufficient funding is made available for all required homeless services, including the provision of emergency accommodation, to support those at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
100. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social and affordable homes to be delivered in Waterford in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23593/23]
View answer178. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social and affordable homes delivered in Waterford in 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23591/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 178 together.
Housing 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.
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 Waterford. With 2022 representing the first full year of affordable housing delivery under the schemes introduced in the Affordable Housing Act 2021, local authorities have submitted data returns detailing information on delivery of affordable homes in their area to my Department, in the same manner as is done for social housing. 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/
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
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 Waterford City and County Council’s Housing Delivery Action Plan is available on its website at the following link: www.waterfordcouncil.ie/media/plans_strategies/housing/index.htm
In addition, the First Home Scheme, which was launched in July 2022, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. The Scheme aims to support in the region of 8,000 households in acquiring new homes in the private market in the years 2022 to 2026 with an overall budget of €400 million. The scheme is available nationwide. Full information on the scheme is available on the First Home Scheme dedicated website, www.firsthomescheme.ie.
Other measures, such as the Help to Buy Scheme and the Local Authority Home Loan, are also nationally available to eligible first-time purchasers to make home ownership more affordable.
101. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the appeal process, if any, that is in place for farmers who unsuccessfully applied to local authorities to have lands zoned for residential or mixed use but is currently in agricultural use rezoned for agricultural use as part of their submission to the relevant local authority on the draft map published in November 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21855/23]
View answerIt is important to note that, to fall within the scope of Residential Zoned Land Tax, farmland must be both zoned for residential use and be serviced or have access to services. Farmland that is zoned for residential use, but which is not currently serviced, is not within the scope of the tax and will only come within the scope of the tax should the land become serviced at some point in the future.
Land will be considered to be serviced for the purposes of the tax where it is reasonable to consider that the land has access to, or may be connected to, public infrastructure and facilities, including roads and footpaths, public lighting, foul sewer drainage, surface water drainage and water supply, necessary for dwellings to be developed on the land and with sufficient service capacity available for such development.
Agricultural land which is zoned solely or primarily for residential use and is serviced meets the criteria set out within the legislation and therefore falls within the scope of the tax. Agricultural land that is zoned for a mixture of uses including residential and is being actively farmed is not in scope as farming is a trade or profession benefitting from an exemption in the legislation within mixed use zonings.
These residential zonings, which form part of the development plan or local area plan adopted by elected members following public consultation, are considered to reflect the housing need set out within the core strategy for the relevant local authority area and landowners within such zonings may fall within the scope of the tax, in the interests of ensuring an appropriate supply of housing on zoned lands.
Owners of land identified on the draft maps published on 01 November 2022 had the opportunity to request a change in zoning from the relevant planning authority to remove them from the scope of the tax, and such requests are to be considered by the planning authority having regard to national, regional and local policy, including the need to ensure sufficient land is zoned to meet housing need.
The consideration of these rezoning requests is solely a matter for the respective planning authorities. Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) precludes me from commenting on individual decisions in this regard. There is no appeal provision in relation to zoning requests. The appeal provisions set out within the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (as amended) relating to the Residential Zoned Land Tax relate only to submissions made in relation to whether or not the land meets the criteria for falling into scope, as set out within the legislation.
It is acknowledged that the tax will impact on landowners, however if the land in question is zoned for a particular purpose under a plan adopted by the local authority and has been subject to investment by the local authority and the State in the services necessary to enable development for housing to accommodate increased population, it is intended that the land should be used for housing. This tax measure is a key pillar of the Government’s response to address the urgent need to increase housing supply in suitable locations.
102. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to the expansion of the croí cónaíthe scheme, if any consideration would be given to allow commercial properties to be included in future rounds in order to generate investment and business opportunities in areas vacancy and dereliction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23390/23]
View answer147. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how he proposes to increase the pace at which vacant and derelict properties are renovated for new housing measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23646/23]
View answer153. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether it is intended to pay a higher grant rate under the croí cónaithe scheme to residents of islands who are renovating a house on our offshore islands, in view of the extra building costs on islands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23199/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 102, 147 and 153 together.
Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government and a suite of measures has been introduced to address vacancy and increase the pace at which properties are brought back into use. Significant progress is being made in the following areas:
• The government launched the Town Centre First policy, a major new policy initiative that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres.
• A €150 million Urban Regeneration Development Fund is being made available for local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties and sites for re-use or sale.
• Full-time Vacant Homes Officers are now in place across 30 local authorities.
• Planning regulations that exempt certain vacant commercial premises from requiring planning permission to change of use for residential purposes have been extended.
The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which I launched in January, outlines all of the progress that has been made in addressing vacancy along with the actions that are being pursued to return as many vacant properties back into use as possible.
As part of the Plan, my Department launched a new CPO Activation Programme, which provides for a planned, proactive and systematic approach by local authorities to bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use, with targets set for each local authority. This Programme includes guidance and supports for local authorities to actively use their legislative powers to compulsorily acquire vacant and derelict properties, where engagement with owners has been unsuccessful.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is being expanded from 1 May to build on the success of the scheme to date and further increase the support being provided to bring vacant and derelict properties brought back into use. Details of the expansion are as follows:
i. The inclusion of one property which will be made available for rent, by the owner, in addition to one grant for a property which will be a principal private residence of the applicant i.e. a maximum of two applications for a grant will be available;
ii. Changing the eligibility date, which is currently 1993 for the build date, to include vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007; and
iii. Increase of the current maximum grant rates from €30,000 to €50,000 for vacant properties and from €50,000 to €70,000 for derelict properties.
From 1 May 2023, a grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent, including the conversion of a property which has not been used as residential heretofore, subject to appropriate planning permission being in place.
Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict or if the property is already on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000.
In order to be eligible, properties must be built up to and including 2007 and the property must be vacant for two years or more at the time of grant approval. As part of the scheme, properties considered for inclusion must be for residential occupation as a principal private residence or made available for rent. It is not currently available for commercial purposes.
Applications for grant funding may be made in respect of over the shop units. Applications may be made in respect of one unit which will be made available for rent, by the owner, in addition to one grant for a unit which will be the principal private residence of the applicant. The property owner may also apply for the Repair and Leasing scheme to bring additional units into residential use, as appropriate.
The Government is committed to publishing an islands policy in line with the Programme for Government and commitments made in Our Rural Future. Officials in my Department are currently engaging with colleagues in the Department of Rural and Community Development to discuss a range of actions in the context of the islands policy including further support to bring back into use vacant and derelict properties on our islands.
103. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the review of Part B of the building regulations and related technical guidance documents. [23333/23]
View answerThe public consultation on proposed amendments to Part B of the Building Regulations and the associated Technical Guidance Document relating to fire safety closed on 21 April 2023. 163 submissions were received and these are currently being examined by my Department. In line with Action 21.1 of the Housing for All Action Plan Update, the review of Part B of the Building Regulations (Fire Safety) is due to be completed and published in Q4 2023.
