Written Answers Nos. 421-435
421. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the Government schemes and grants that are available to support companies that wish to refurbish multiple derelict or vacant properties within towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24484/23]
View answerThe Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) is available to support the refurbishment of multiple derelict or vacant properties that have been vacant for more than one year.
Where the owner of a vacant property cannot afford or cannot access funding required to bring the property up to the standard for rental property, the local authority (or an approved housing body (AHB)) can fund repairs, up to a maximum of €60,000 including VAT per unit. In return, the property is leased to the local authority (or AHB) for use as social housing for between 5 and 25 years. The cost of the repairs funded by the local authority (or AHB) is repaid by the property owner as a reduction in the lease payments over an agreed time period.
In June 2022, the expanded RLS scheme opened the scheme to a wider range of owners, by removing the criteria that a property owner must be unable to fund or access funding to bring vacant units up to rental standards. This modification is limited to the conversion of the following types of properties to residential use:
• vacant commercial properties;
• vacant units associated with commercial property, e.g. over the shop;
• vacant institutional buildings; and
• unfinished developments, vacant for a significant period of time.
Local authorities are responsible for determining eligibility for the scheme by taking account of local need, the suitability of dwellings, sustainable community considerations and value for money.
422. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider including houses built as part of multi-unit developments that are currently included in the defective apartments and duplexes redress scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24486/23]
View answerI received Government approval on 18 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. This legislation will provide a statutory basis for the establishment of a remediation scheme aimed at protecting the safety and welfare of those living in apartments or duplexes with such defects.
Work is underway to draft the required legislation which will include the scope, eligibility and conditions of the remediation scheme which will become operational following implementation of the required legislation. Subject to the legislative process, it is intended that a scheme would be in place in 2024.
There are no plans to include houses in this scheme.
Separately, however, in response to the difficulties that homeowners are facing due to the presence of deleterious material in their houses, my Department has put other measures in place to support homeowners including providing considerable financial assistance to remediate their homes. In this regard, the Pyrite Remediation Scheme and the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme are both underpinned by legislation.
423. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funds or grants available to housing estates that wish to upgrade their sewerage treatment plant or percolation area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24489/23]
View answerI understand that the Question refers to Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure in housing estates.
These housing estates have not been taken in charge by local authorities or do not have their water services connected to the public Uisce Éireann network, instead relying upon Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure, commonly referred to as "DPI".
It is important to say that DPI is privately owned infrastructure built by the original developer of the estate. DPI is predominantly a legacy issue, mostly built between the 1990s and mid-2000s.
Before responsibility for the maintenance of housing estates is handed over to public authorities (local authorities and Uisce Éireann), it is expected that the developments are completed as set out in the planning permission granted including that all infrastructure (roads, lighting, water services etc) is at an acceptable standard.
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 Multi-annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme which was launched by my Department in 2019.
In September 2020, a first round of funding under the 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, with work 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 Panel was established and is in place, tasked with evaluating all applications for funding under the programme.
I expect to be a position to announce further funding for specific projects shortly.
424. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many local authority homes were retrofitted in 2022, and in Q1 2023, by area, in tabular form. [24491/23]
View answer425. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the post-retrofit BER status of local authority homes retrofitted in 2022, and in Q1 2023, by area, in tabular form. [24492/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 424 and 425 together.
The Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) aims to retrofit a local authority home to a BER of B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent. It is expected that 36,500 local authority owned homes will be retrofitted under this programme out to 2030. €85 million of Exchequer funding was made available to local authorities in 2022, which provided a significant increase in funding available under the Programme of €20 million when compared with 2021.
In 2022, 1,948 properties were retrofitted under the EERP and an additional 335 properties were retrofitted under the Midlands Retrofit Pilot Programme (MRP), giving a total of 2,283 properties retrofitted to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent BER and a total exchequer spend across both programmes of over €64 million. Details in relation to an individual dwellings post works BER may be available from a relevant Local Authority. A breakdown of the funding provided and the output per local authority is also available on my Department’s website at the following links:
EERP: www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme-expenditure-output/#
MRP: www.gov.ie/en/publication/b86b3-midlands-energy-retrofit-programme-expenditure-and-units/
Work in relation to the 2023 programme is ongoing, however, it will be later this year before significant recoupment claims are lodged with my Department. Full details in relation to the 2023 Energy Efficiency Programme will be published on my Department’s website in due course.
426. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the guidance on improving energy efficiency in traditional buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24493/23]
View answerMy Department is preparing a guidance document on Improving Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings. A Project Steering Group, chaired by Built Heritage Policy, was established to oversee the preparation of the guidance and includes representatives from:
- The Built Heritage Policy and Climate Action Policy sections of my Department
- The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
- The Department of Education and Skills
- The Heritage Council
- SEAI
- The Office of Public Works
The guidance document is well-advanced and closing comments are being sought from the Steering Group prior to the preparation of the final draft. It is expected that the Improving Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings guidance document will be ready for publication before the end of 2023.
427. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a list of all external assurance process reviews tendered for to date; the value of the contract; and the name of the successful company, in tabular form. [24506/23]
View answerDetails of all External Assurance Process reviews tendered for to date are set out in the attached table, including the name of the company contracted to conduct the review and the value of the contract.
428. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 25 AHB housing units under Respond, approved for construction in (details supplied) have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister, and when; if not, the reason for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24538/23]
View answerMy Department publishes quarterly Social Housing Construction Status Reports (CSR), which provide details of social housing developments that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of design and tender processes.
The full set of published CSRs, can be found on my Department's website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/
In 2016, my Department granted Stage 1 Approval to Cork City Council and Respond Approved Housing Body for this project. It sought to deliver 25 social housing units. Cork City Council advise that there were a number of issues with the site ranging from site issues to conveyancing delays due to title. Continued engagement happened between Cork City Council and the Approved Housing Body between 2020 and 2022.
However Cork City Council advise that it would not be in a position to progress this project and accordingly should be marked as withdrawn in July 2022.
429. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 12 local authority housing units approved for construction in (details supplied) have finished construction; if so, their completion date, the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister, and when; if not, the reason for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24539/23]
View answerMy Department publishes quarterly Social Housing Construction Status Reports (CSR), which provide details of social housing developments that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of design and tender processes.
The full set of published CSRs, can be found on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/
The project, comprising of 14 units, is on-site and due for delivery in 2023 at a cost of €4.8m.
430. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 4 AHB housing units, under Society of St. Vincent de Paul, approved for construction in (details supplied) have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister and when; and if not, the reason for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24540/23]
View answerMy Department publishes quarterly Social Housing Construction Status Reports (CSR), which provide details of social housing developments that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of design and tender processes.
The full set of published CSRs can be found at this link:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/
In 2015, my Department granted Stage 1 approval to Cork City Council and the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (AHB) for a project. Cork City Council advised that due to various issues with site the project was deferred.
In 2023 the project was re-submitted with an increased numbers of units and my Department granted Stage 1 approval to Cork City Council and Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in February 2023.
This project will result in the delivery of 8 Units under the CAS Construction scheme and is planned to see substantial completion in 2025.
431. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there have been any applications or approvals to the new home scheme in Kerry, Limerick or Tipperary since the scheme was first set up; the number for each of these counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24558/23]
View answerThe First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. Full details of the First Home Scheme are available at: www.firsthomescheme.ie
The Scheme is overseen and managed by the First Home Scheme Ireland Designated Activity Company (First Home DAC), on behalf of scheme founders (the State and participating mortgage lenders). This body is responsible for collating and issuing statistical information as it pertains to the scheme. The First Home DAC has published its Q1 2023 Public Update covering the period from 7 July to 31 March, which can be found on its website at: www.firsthomescheme.ie/about-the-company/quarterly-updates/.
432. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding spent on An Chomhairle Oidhreachta every year since 2003; and a breakdown by current and capital spending. [24575/23]
View answer433. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of increasing the annual expenditure on An Chomhairle Oidhreachta by 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%. [24576/23]
View answerMy Department currently provides the primary source of Exchequer funding to the Heritage Council to enable them to undertake their wide-ranging remit of heritage programmes.
Were the funding made available by my Department to the Heritage Council for 2023 to be increased by the proportions suggested by the Deputy, the allocations would be as follows:
|
2023 Allocation |
+5% |
+10% |
|
|
Current Funding |
€ 7,141,000 |
€ 7,498,050 |
€ 7,855,100 |
|
Capital Funding |
€ 7,200,000 |
€ 7,560,000 |
€ 7,920,000 |
|
Total Funding |
€ 14,341,000 |
€ 15,058,050 |
€ 15,775,100 |
However, it should be noted that the Heritage Council receives separate funding from other Departments for specific aspects of their remit, such as the Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme which receives funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The Heritage Council itself is best placed to provide a full account of funding received from the relevant Votes since 2003. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department, which includes the Heritage Council, to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for the Heritage Council is oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie .
434. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of purchasing each of the remaining houses on the terrace of the historic Moore Street battle site at the same cost per house as those already purchased by the State. [24582/23]
View answerThe State acquired the national monument at no's 14 to 17 Moore Street as well as part of number 18 from NAMA in 2015 in order to create a 1916 Rising commemorative centre at a cost of €4 million. Further funding has been secured to carry out the necessary works to have the buildings stabilised, refurbished and ready for public tours. The Department is not in a position to estimate the cost of the remaining buildings on the street, most of which are in private ownership. The cost of purchasing further buildings would be influenced by factors such as market value as well as a willingness of the owners to sell.
435. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding spent by his Department on Traveller Culture, Heritage and Identity annually in 2022 and 2023; and a breakdown by current and capital spending. [24587/23]
View answerMy Department has no specific remit in relation to Traveller Culture, Heritage and Identity.
In relation to Traveller accommodation, the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
The capital funding provision in 2022 was €18 million, however actual expenditure for Traveller-specific accommodation in 2022 was €20.6 million. The capital funding provision for 2023 is €20 million. The current funding provision for 2022 was €6.5 million with actual expenditure of €6.3 million and the current funding provision for 2023 is €6.7 million.
