Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:391. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on a matter (details supplied). [24072/23]
View answerDepartmental Correspondence
Questions (391)
Written answers
The 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.
Where a landlord has issued a notice of termination to a tenant, a number of measures have been introduced to support the acquisition of the property by the tenant or the local authority.
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 at least 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. A landlord who has issued a Notice of Termination to a tenant in and is interested in selling the property to a local authority should contact the relevant local authority.
The Government has developed the ‘Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ’ scheme for tenants in private rental homes who are at risk of homelessness because a landlord intends to sell the property, but who are not in receipt of social housing supports and have net household income of no more than €53,000. Local Authorities refer those at risk to homelessness to the Housing Agency, which may acquire these homes with tenants in place using designated capital funding. This scheme has been established on a temporary administrative basis from 1 April, pending further policy development over the longer term with the intention of transitioning these tenants and homes to the standard Cost Rental model, potentially in partnership with Local Authorities or Approved Housing Bodies.
If a household wishes to purchase the property in which they are residing, the housing officer in the local authority can advise of the potential availability of the First Home Scheme. The First Home Scheme is a shared equity scheme designed to help bridge the gap between the applicant’s deposit and mortgage, and the price of the home. Further details can be found at www.firsthomescheme.ie.
Or it may be appropriate in relevant cases to avail of the Local Authority Home Loan which is available for second-hand properties. It should be noted that the Home Loan and First Home Scheme are two distinct schemes and cannot be combined.
National Parks and Wildlife Service
Questions (392)
Martin Browne
Question:392. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he has taken to ensure full, public visibility of the "available data" that the NPWS is using in order to inform decisions on the review of the Open Seasons Order and transparency as to whom the "stakeholders" are that NPWS is engaging with as part of this public consultation. [24092/23]
View answerWritten answers
The public consultation for the review of the Open Seasons Order was published on the 22nd March and was open to everyone to put their views forward on an individual or organisational basis until 3rd May 2023. A productive stakeholder engagement meeting was held in Dublin on Friday 21st April with stakeholder groups invited across various interests such as hunting, farming, eNGOs & Heritage. All of these interests were represented at the meeting.
Datasets that informed the review of the Open Seasons Order include those listed below:
Ireland’s Article 12 Report for the period 2013 – 2018
The status of Red Grouse in Ireland and the effects of land use, habitat and habitat quality on their distribution. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 50. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin, Ireland.
Countryside Bird Survey: Status and trends of common and widespread breeding birds 1998-2016 . Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 115. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Ireland.
Irish Wetland Bird Survey: Waterbird Status and Distribution 2009/10-2015/16 . Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 106. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Ireland.
Irish Wetland Bird Survey (I-WeBS)
Bird Atlas 2007-11: the breeding and wintering birds of Britain and Ireland . Thetford: BTO; 2013.
The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland: 1988-1991 . Author(s): Gibbons, D.W., Reid, J.B. & Chapman, R.A.. Published: January 1993 Burke B, Lewis LJ, Fitzgerald N, Frost T, Austin G, Tierney TD.
Estimates of waterbird numbers wintering in Ireland, 2011/12–2015/16. Irish Birds. 2018;11:1-2. Gilbert, Gillian, Andrew Stanbury, and Lesley Lewis.
Birds of conservation concern in Ireland 4: 2020–2026 ."Irish Birds 43 (2021): 1-22.
birdwatchireland.ie/app/uploads/2021/04/BOCCI-2020-2026.pdf
Further information on Ireland's Open Seasons Order and the public consultation can be found on my Department’s website and that of the National Parks and Wildlife Service at the respective links:
www.gov.ie/en/consultation/c98d4-public-consultation-on-amending-the-open-seasons-order-for-birds/
www.npws.ie/legislation/irish-law/open-seasons-order.
Housing Provision
Questions (393)
Francis Noel Duffy
Question:393. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the situation regarding a number of vacant units owned by a corporation (details supplied); and if there is a plan to bring them back into use. [24116/23]
View answerWritten answers
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.
• The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launch in July 2022.
• 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 the significant 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.
The Vacant Homes Officer in each local authority carries out an important role in administering and raising awareness of the various supports and schemes to support the activation of vacant and derelict properties
My Department recently 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.
With regards the units referred to by the Deputy, I understand that there is ongoing engagement between the relevant local authorities and the property owners regarding bringing these properties into use.
Housing Schemes
Questions (394)
Colm Burke
Question:394. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will confirm that the regulations and mechanisms are now in place to allow builders to build residential accommodation and receive the subsidy under the recently announced cost-rental scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24132/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Government recently approved the development of a new Cost Rental Subvention Scheme with the objective of further improving the viability and increasing the supply of Cost Rental homes at scale, targeting rents which are at least 25% below prevailing market rates. In this regard, the Government has agreed to commit, subject to further discussion with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, between €500 million and €750 million as part of this initiative to complete 4,000 to 6,000 additional apartments under the Cost Rental system. My Department is currently working on the design of the Scheme and further details will be available when that work concludes.
Housing Schemes
Questions (395)
Colm Burke
Question:395. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will confirm that his Department has communicated with all of the relevant stakeholders, setting out in detail the regulations which will apply for those who wish to build residential accommodation under the recently announced cost-rental scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24133/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Government recently approved the development of a new Cost Rental Subvention Scheme with the objective of further improving the viability and increasing the supply of Cost Rental homes at scale, targeting rents which are at least 25% below prevailing market rates. In this regard, the Government has agreed to commit, subject to further discussion with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, between €500 million and €750 million as part of this initiative to complete 4,000 to 6,000 additional apartments under the Cost Rental system. My Department is currently working on the design of the Scheme and further details will be available when that work concludes. My Department will also consult with the relevant stakeholders before the Scheme is finalised.
Housing Schemes
Questions (396)
Michael McNamara
Question:396. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if properties, the upper floors of which are vacant but the ground floor is and has been in use, are eligible to apply for the croí cónaithe (towns) fund scheme in respect of the upper floors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24145/23]
View answerWritten answers
Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock.
In July 2022 the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use.
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 where 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.
The grant is available in respect of vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007, in towns, villages, cities and rural areas.
A maximum of two grants are available to any applicant, of which one must be in respect of a home they intend to occupy as their principal private residence and the other may be in respect of a property which will be made available for rent.
Upper floors of commercial buildings, which have been vacant for two years or more and built up and including 2007 are eligible for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, regardless of whether the ground floor is currently vacant or derelict.
Wastewater Treatment
Questions (397)
Johnny Guirke
Question:397. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide any independent peer-reviewed scientific and/or industry-based evidence as to how the installation of a fine bubble-diffused aeration system can increase a waste-water treatment plants' physical PE load capacity by more than 20% (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24146/23]
View answerWritten answers
Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels and as Minister I have no function in relation to this matter, under section 7 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013.
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, 0818-578578.
Defective Building Materials
Questions (398)
Cathal Crowe
Question:398. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update as to where the new scheme for homes impacted by defective blocks and pyrite is currently at (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24148/23]
View answerWritten answers
Following 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. The Regulations will 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. Draft Regulations have been prepared, which are the subject of ongoing consultation with key stakeholders, including with homeowners’ action groups. The 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.
I met with the Chairs of the Homeowner Action Groups on 10 May 2023 and set out a number of amendments to the draft Defective Concrete Blocks Regulations, proposed by stakeholders through the consultation process, and agreed a further week for the representatives to consider these amendments.
I expect to finalise the Regulations shortly, upon which the 2022 Act will commence and the Regulations will be adopted.
Tax Code
Questions (399)
Danny Healy-Rae
Question:399. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify a matter relating to the residential zoned land tax (details supplied). [24195/23]
View answerWritten answers
I refer to the reply to Question No.101 of 18 May 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.
Grant Payments
Questions (400)
Jackie Cahill
Question:400. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are grants available for private, not-for-profit organisations to install or renovate publicly accessible toilets on their properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24200/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2022 will greatly improve community participation and social inclusion for people with complex care needs.
The key objectives of the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2022 are to increase the provision of changing places toilets in certain new buildings, and to improve the accessibility and usability of existing building stock by making provision for a changing places toilet, where there is a significant extension or material change of use.
The types of buildings to which the regulations apply are listed in Table 1 of Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use 2022 (TGD M) and include locations such as shopping centres, museums, galleries, cinemas, hotels, roadside service stations and heritage sites.
The number of new Changing Places Toilets provided in any county will be determined by construction activity commenced in that county and the number of buildings or works that meet the use and size criteria listed in Table 1 of TGD M.
The operative date of the Regulations is 1 January, 2023. It should be noted that subject to the transitional periods cited in the Regulation, the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2022 will apply to buildings or works commenced after the 1st of January 2024.
My Department does not provide any specific grants to install or renovate publicly accessible toilets for the organisations referenced.
Local Authorities
Questions (401)
Seán Sherlock
Question:401. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific plans and timelines he has received from a local authority on a project (details supplied). [24205/23]
View answerWritten answers
In line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan (NDP), the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) provides part-funding to applicant-led projects, enabling more compact and sustainable development within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and large towns, while also ensuring that more parts of our urban areas can become attractive and vibrant places in which people choose to live and work, as well as to invest and to visit.
To this end, the URDF has already allocated in excess of €1.6 billion under two separate calls for proposals since its inception in 2018. Providing assistance to 132 proposals, comprising of almost 400 sub-projects, URDF projects are now active in every local authority area in the country.
In 2021, following the second call for proposals under the URDF, I announced a provisional allocation of €353,407,500 in URDF support for Cork City Council's 'Cork City Docklands' proposal. This project will unlock Cork City Docklands potential to develop as a vibrant, high quality district that will attract investment in relation to mixed use development, leisure and cultural facilities. The development of Cork City Docklands is a key element of Cork City’s ambitious plans to achieve compact urban growth as part of Project Ireland 2040.
The URDF proposal for Cork City Docklands comprises several projects comprising (a) Public Realm (b) Drainage and Flooding (c) Amenities, community infrastructure and transport including the Kent Station Bridge and the Eastern Gateway Bridge. The Preliminary Business Case for Marina Park Phase 2 is scheduled to be submitted in Q2, 2023. The final phase of the 70-acre Marina Park master plan will see the creation of an 'eco-park', providing amenities and protecting the natural heritage and biodiversity of the area.
Tenders for the procurement of a multidisciplinary design team for the North Docks will be invited in Q2, 2023 with a full team expected to be appointed by the end of Q3, 2023. This project includes the realignment of Horgan’s Road, significant quayside public realm and integration of greenway infrastructure. Once complete this sub-project will unlock significant public lands for residential development directly adjacent to Kent Station with excellent access to the wider public transport network.
A multidisciplinary design team, led by Hawkins Brown have been appointed to complete the Framework Master plan for the Cork City Docklands combining existing transport, public realm, amenity, heritage, drainage and flood protection studies into a single cohesive strategy. The Preliminary Business Case is advancing for the Cork City Docklands with a view to developing coherent infrastructure bundles, which will be sequenced to support optimal regeneration while also accounting for significant interdependencies such as the removal of Seveso activities and relocation of Port Activities to the lower harbour.
Finally, it should be noted that while my Department works closely and communicates regularly with Cork City Council in respect of project funding, responsibility for the advancement of their URDF supported projects through the various stages of planning, development and completion is, in the first instance, a matter for Cork City Council. Accordingly, detailed queries regarding the projects should be directed to the Council.
Local Authorities
Questions (402)
Seán Sherlock
Question:402. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific plans and timelines he has received from a local authority on a project (details supplied). [24206/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Cork Events Centre was included as a commitment under Project Ireland 2040. This underlines the Government’s objectives for urban regeneration, enhanced amenity and heritage, associated quality of life standards, balanced regional development, and the regeneration and development of Cork City Centre.
It was agreed by Government in the context of Budget 2020 that responsibility for making the grant funding available for the project would transfer to my Department. However, responsibility for the advancement of proposals for the development of the Events Centre remains, in the first instance, a matter for Cork City Council.
Engagement between my Department and Cork City Council have continued this year with recent meetings to determine progress and next steps.
The Council has advised my Department that detailed design of the Events Centre will be completed in Q2, 2023, following which Cork City Council will engage with the consortium in respect of the updated costs of the project and engage also with my Department as required.
Tax Code
Questions (403, 404)
Brian Stanley
Question:403. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when we can expect to see the residential zoned land tax imposed. [24235/23]
View answerBrian Stanley
Question:404. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the significant number of property developers that are seeking to delist property to avoid the residential zoned land tax being imposed upon their vacant lands; his plans to provide oversight to ensure the tax is properly and efficiently imposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24236/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 403 and 404 together.
In relation to the Residential Zoned Land Tax, only land that has been zoned for residential use or for a mixture of uses including residential within a local authority development plan or local area plan, as adopted by the elected members of the local authority, and that is serviced, will potentially fall into scope for the tax. Zoned land that is within the scope of RZLT will be identified on a map prepared by the relevant local authority. Draft and supplemental maps have been prepared and published by local authorities during 2022 and 2023. Each local authority will prepare and publish a final map by 1 December 2023.
According to the figures provided to my Department by local authorities, 1,687 submissions, including approximately 210 requests to amend zoning were made to local authorities by the end of the public display period for the draft maps on 1 January 2023. It should also be noted that some submissions may relate to more than one site. The level of submissions is reflective of the significant degree of effort put into communicating the publication and public display period for the maps, by my Department, the Department of Finance, each of the 31 Local Authorities and by other key stakeholders in the process.
The consideration of the 210 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. The Planning and Development Act does not provide an appeal mechanism in relation to zoning requests.
As landowners may make submissions to the relevant local authority in respect of lands included on the supplemental maps by 1 June 2023, no final figure is available with regard to the number of submissions that have been received by local authorities with regard to the supplemental maps.
The first liability date for the tax is 1 February 2024; owners of land within scope will be able to register for the tax from late 2023. The tax is self-assessed. This means that, as is the case with other taxes, the owners of land that is within the scope of the tax must self-assess, return and pay any tax due.
Owners of land within scope will, from 2024 onwards, have to pay and file with Revenue in May of each year. Revenue is currently in the process of developing IT systems and a compliance policy and programme to underpin the administration of the tax from 2024 onwards.
Question No. 404 answered with Question No. 403.
Departmental Budgets
Questions (405)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:405. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details on how the capital carryover from the 2022 housing budget has been allocated for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24244/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Gross Total allocations for my Department in the years 2022 to 2023 are set out in the Revised Estimates for Public Services published by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) and are available at gov.ie - The Revised Estimates Volumes for the Public Service (www.gov.ie)
Under Section 91 of the Finance Act, 2004, all or part of any unspent appropriations for capital supply services may be carried over for spending in the following year. This provides for the carryover of up to 10% of the REV allocation (Capital) from one year to the next. This must be expended in the following year- i.e. it is not permissible to further defer any surplus.
Continued impact of Covid-19 on the construction sector, compounded by supply chain issues and then in early 2022 the onset of war in Ukraine with resulting further detrimental impact for the sector had a substantial impact on drawdown of capital investment for the programme areas identified back in 2021. Capital expenditure in 2022 was lower than profiled resulting in surplus balances on the capital elements of Programmes A (Housing), B (Water), D (Planning) and F (Heritage).
Despite the very challenging context my Department continued to engage proactively on a range of measures to manage, mitigate and expedite where possible throughout 2022. In the case of significant capital projects, it is important to note that the aforementioned impacts push a project out rather than cancelling it and therefore Capital Carryover ensures that where delivery arises beyond the calendar year in which initially anticipated, the capital can transfer to meet the commitment up to a maximum of 10%. My Department sought and obtained approval to carry the maximum permissible limit into 2023, some €340m. The below table sets out the Capital Carryover allocations for Vote 34 in 2023:
|
2023 Capital Carryover Allocations |
|
|
Vote 34 – DHLGH Programmes |
Capital Carryover Allocation |
|
A.3 - Local Authority Housing |
€240m |
|
B.5 - Uisce Éireann |
€95.8m |
|
F.8 – Peatlands |
€4.2m |
|
Total Allocation |
€340m |