Written Answers Nos. 349-372
349. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated capital expenditure cost of providing one staffed additional family refuge space; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26060/23]
View answer403. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total estimated cost to build a ten-room domestic violence refuge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26055/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 349 and 403 together.
My Department does not, as yet, have reliable estimates on the cost of developing new domestic violence refuge places pending the completion of a further round of such projects on which future development costs can be estimated. As part of Zero Tolerance: Ireland's Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV), the Government has committed to deliver new refuge places in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan and a number of other priority locations.
As with all construction projects, a range of factors can have a direct impact on the level of costs including, but not limited to, cost of the development sites, abnormal costs that might arise, the level of ancillary services that might be included in the development, tender costs applicable at the time, etc.
The Wexford Women's Refuge is currently under construction and received funding approval for an all-in cost of €6,457,789 for 12 family units plus a range of ancillary and support services, equating to a cost of €538,149 for each family accommodation unit. Other refuge projects are in various stages of planning and early stage design so costings are very preliminary at this point.
350. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the concerns of local authority tenants on the cost of air-to-water systems being installed in their homes as part of the National Retrofit Plan, given the rising cost of electricity; if any alternative heating systems could be considered by his Department to give tenants an alternative and more affordable option; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26119/23]
View answerIn 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP), designed around the Programme for Government's commitment led by the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent (BER) standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes, with grant funding provided by my Department for those local authority housing retrofits.
This new programme sets a BER performance requirement of “B2” or cost optimal level. The upscaling of the works included in the programme sees a substantial overall increase in funding being made available for insulation, windows and doors and heating upgrades, specifically the installation of a heat pump and associated works. The installation of gas/oil boilers are no longer supported under the EERP funded by my Department.
Heat pumps are extremely efficient and very economical to run offering lower energy costs as well as reduced carbon emissions. The National Heat Study, published in February 2022, found that in terms of reducing the carbon footprint of domestic heating, heat pumps are the optimal decarbonisation path for domestic heating systems, with district heating also identified as a competitive option that can be widely deployed. The Government has established a Heat and Built Environment Delivery Taskforce and will publish a new National Policy Statement on Heat to guide the Government’s overall response to the National Heat Study across all sectors.
The 2023 EERP budget provides an increase in funding support from €85 million allocated in 2022 to €87 million in 2023 which will allow approximately 2,400 local authority owned social homes to be upgraded to a B2 or cost optimal equivalent (BER).
In addition to the funding provided by my Department for energy efficiency upgrades, local authorities can and do in many cases carry out upgrades to homes within their housing stock using their own resources, to that end, the measures and nature of works to be implemented are a matter for each individual local authority.
351. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which his Department continues to endeavour to ensure the availability of suitable accommodation for families, including children who may be homeless or have other concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26390/23]
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, in their administrative area and the funding requirements will be considered in this context.
Families are accommodated in either Family Hubs or in appropriate hotel or other commercial accommodation and are not accommodated in congregated settings. The approach to supporting families and children experiencing homelessness involves a multi-agency approach and a number of other Departments and Agencies are responsible for the delivery of supports to these families. This includes the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Tusla, the HSE, and the Department of Education.
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.
352. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the actions he has taken to date arising from the report that he directed the management board of the NDFEM to prepare in 2021; the precise action taken relative to each of the recommendations made in the report; if the pay and conditions of those employed in the retained fire services will be substantially improved; if he will intervene immediately to ensure that the services are not disrupted by industrial action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26803/23]
View answer358. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department has taken to address the challenges of retaining part-time firefighters; when he will address the unsatisfactory employment terms and conditions for part-time firefighters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25563/23]
View answer359. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the most recent engagement/meeting of the Fire Service National Oversight and Implementation Group took place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25564/23]
View answer394. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if approval will be given for a review of the current conditions of retained firefighters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25923/23]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 446 of 23 May 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.
353. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the impact assessments that are being carried out in relation to the proposed EU Nature Restoration Regulation concerning the use of farmland and food production; if such assessments are being factored in to the overall national response regarding this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25212/23]
View answerThe proposed Nature Restoration Regulation provides an opportunity for transformative change in relation to achieving nature restoration in Ireland and the EU as a whole. While much of the recent focus has been on the use of farmland and agricultural impacts, the proposed Regulation covers a huge range of land and marine options - urban, agricultural, river, marine and forest environments.
Climate change and biodiversity loss pose significant threats to agricultural production and the communities associated with the sector. The restoration of nature acts as mitigation to ensure the EU’s long term food systems sustainability and resilience and the long term economic and social sustainability of the agricultural sector.
A whole of Government response to the Regulation will be required, and this will involve each Department carrying out a detailed impact assessment as part of the preparation of the nature restoration plan, to accurately calculate the investment needed to support the transformative change required to meet the proposed targets.
354. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a certain area (details supplied) is within a rent pressure zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25554/23]
View answerThe Local Electoral Area (LEA) referred to was designated as a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) on 20 September 2017 under section 24 of the Residential Tenancies Acts, as amended.
New LEAs and Municipal Districts were signed into law on 31 January 2019, for the County of Louth, for the May 2019 local elections.
The County of Louth Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 divided the old Drogheda LEA into two new LEAs, Drogheda Rural and Drogheda Urban. It also transferred Clogher electoral division from Ardee LEA (which was a non-RPZ at that time) to Drogheda Rural LEA, which was an RPZ at that time and remains so.
Section 24A(6) of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 states:
“(6) Where a local area is prescribed by order as a rent pressure zone and, subsequently, any local electoral areas are duly amended in a manner that affects the area of the local electoral area so prescribed, then the order shall continue to have effect as if the local electoral are concerned had not been so amended.”
Clogher electoral division did not fall within the boundary of Drogheda LEA when it was designated as an RPZ on 20 September 2017 nor within the boundary of the newly defined Ardee LEA when it was designated as an RPZ on 2 July 2019. Consequently, Clogher electoral area has not been designated as part of an RPZ.
355. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline his response to the Health Service Board report into deaths among people who were homeless at time of death in Ireland in 2019; and if he will set out what his Department’s response will be to the findings of the report. [25556/23]
View answerOn 17 May 2023, the Health Research Board published a report of premature deaths among people experiencing homelessness. This feasibility study was commissioned by the Department of Health to address the need to improve understanding of premature mortality among people who are homeless nationally, and to provide more complete and accurate national data to inform policy.
My colleague Minister Hildegarde Naughton and officials from her Department, accompanied by the authors of the report and officials from the HRB and HSE, presented the report at the Q2 meeting of the National Homeless Action Committee, which I chair. This report is the first Irish study to examine the number and cause of death in people who were homeless at the time of their death on a national basis. This report makes for very difficult reading. The report found that a total of 84 deaths occurred nationally in 2019 in people who were homeless at the time of their death. I extend my sympathies to the families and friends of the deceased and also acknowledge the important work carried out by those on the frontline. It is a priority of Government to assist people in vulnerable situations.
Housing for All commits Government to work towards ending homelessness by 2030. The Plan contains a number of actions to address homelessness including actions which support the health needs of people who are homeless.
The Housing First programme is one of the key responses in ending long-term homelessness among those with complex health and mental health needs. It provides the most vulnerable of our homeless population with a home for life as well as key wraparound health and social supports. Under the Housing First National Implementation Plan 2022-2026, an additional 1,319 supported tenancies are to be delivered nationally over the next five years. 871 individuals are currently in a Housing First tenancy.
My Department is committed to continuing to work closely with the Department of Health, the HSE and local authorities to continue to deliver the appropriate measures to support all individuals experiencing homelessness including those with complex needs.
356. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will detail what funding heads A14 and A18 within his Department's annual voted expenditure related to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25558/23]
View answerThe Gross Total allocations for my Department in 2023 is set out in the Revised Estimates for Public Services published by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and ‘Reform (DPENDR) and is available at www.gov.ie/en/collection/e20037-revised-estimates/#2023.
The Exchequer allocation for Subhead A.18 is for Private Housing Grants with capital funding of €67 million available in 2023. Subhead A.18 is primarily for the provision of payment to local authorities for expenditure incurred on the suite of Housing Adaptation grants for Older People and People with a Disability. The suite of grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability (max grant €30,000), the Mobility Aids Grant (max grant €6,000) and the Housing Aid for Older People (max grant €8,000). The grants are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority.
Subhead A.18 also makes provision for the Thatch Grants towards renewing or repairing the thatch of existing thatched houses that are structurally sound, are 10 or more years old and will be used on completion of the approved works as a normal place of residence. A grant of up to €3,810 or two thirds of the approved cost (whichever lesser) may be payable towards necessary works to renew or repair the thatched roofs of houses. A higher grant (up to €5,714) may be payable for houses on specified Islands. For owners of qualifying thatch properties, who are also Medical Card holders, the maximum grant available is €6,350, or up to 80% of the approved cost (€8,252 for Islands).
In addition, legacy schemes (such as the 1985 House Improvement Grants scheme and the New House Grant Scheme) may also be funded from the subhead in the event any payments arise for outstanding applications not previously progressed by an applicant.
The Exchequer allocation for Subead A.14 is for Housing for People with a Disability and Older People policy advancement with current funding of €1.8 million and capital funding of €1.3 million available in 2023. The Subhead provision primarily supports the Government’s National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027 and the 2019 Housing Options for our Ageing Population joint policy statement which now operates within the framework of Housing for All.
357. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the construction costs and the all-in development costs per square meter, for social housing projects delivered via SHIP construction, SHIP turnkey, CALF construction, CALF turnkey, Part V, CAS construction and CAS turnkey, in tabular form; and if he will provide a further breakdown of this information for each local authority. [25559/23]
View answerMy Department assesses, approves and records local authority social housing delivery on a project basis. My Department does not hold the details requested.
360. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of chief fire officers, senior assistant chiefs, fire officers, full-time firefighters and part-time firefighters in County Tipperary's fire service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25565/23]
View answerUnder section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of overall local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis. However, granular data, in terms of staff allocated to specific work areas within local authorities is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department.
The relevant information would be available from Tipperary County Council.
361. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will indicate for each local authority, the number of expressions of interest to his Department; the number of applications; the number of approvals under the Affordable Housing Fund made to date; and the average payment per development undertaken. [25589/23]
View answerFunding of over €249m has been approved to date under the Affordable Housing Fund to assist in the delivery of 3,164 affordable homes from 2022 to 2027 under 52 schemes across 15 Local Authorities. A further 14 applications for assistance under the Fund are currently under consideration.
With 2022 representing the first full year of delivery under the affordable housing schemes introduced in the Affordable Housing Act 2021, local authorities have begun to submit data returns and information on delivery of affordable homes in their area to my Department, in the same manner as is done for social housing.
Delivery of affordable units by local authorities with assistance under the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) during 2022 is set out in the statistical data based on local authority returns as published last month on my Department's website at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery
A total of 373 homes were delivered by local authorities with AHF assistance during 2022 as affordable homes for purchase or for cost rental by eligible applicants in 8 Local Authority areas.
Cost information on the delivery of affordable homes through the various construction streams, is collated at development/project level rather than at individual housing unit level.
The cost of delivering new homes is dependent on a range of variables, such as the location, the scale of the development and the size and type of the homes involved. In addition, the level of subvention provided under the AHF towards the capital cost of an affordable housing scheme varies having regard to factors such as density of affordable units per hectare achieved and the location of the development.
Subventions ranging from €50,000 to €150,000 are provided for under the AHF, with the Exchequer cost representing 95% of the subvention and the remaining 5% coming from a Local Authority contribution. Housing delivery being supported by funding approved originally under the earlier Serviced Sites Fund is also progressing with funding comprised of 89% Exchequer contribution matched by an 11% Local Authority contribution.
The average exchequer cost commitment per unit was €64,919 in 2022.
362. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will indicate the number of expressions of interest, applications and approvals under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund for the development of sites. [25590/23]
View answerPathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add real vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas. The Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund is a key initiative which underpins these policy objectives set out in Pathway Four of Housing for All.
Last September, I launched the Ready to Build Scheme, which is funded by 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 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.
All available sites will be advertised on the relevant local authority’s website and / or in relevant local publications along with a closing date for receipt of applications.
Applications for the Ready to Build Scheme are to be made to the Vacant Homes Officer in each local authority. They can provide further advice and information in respect of the fund and the application process.
My Department is currently engaging with local authorities in respect of the identification of potential sites to determine their suitability under the Ready to Build scheme.
363. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will indicate the number of expressions of interest, applications and approvals under the Croí Cónaithe Cities Fund. [25591/23]
View answerThe Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme supports building 5,000 apartments for sale to owner-occupiers up to 2026. The Scheme aims to bridge the current “viability gap” between the cost of building apartments and the market sale price (where the cost of building is greater). The Scheme is targeted principally at activating planning permissions already in place for such homes.
The Scheme launched in May 2022 with an Expressions of Interest process, which is being managed and administered by The Housing Agency on behalf of my Department. The Housing Agency is uniquely positioned to understand the needs of the Irish housing sector. The Agency has a team of dedicated housing professionals with the knowledge and expertise to administer the Scheme.
Since receipt of applications in June 2022, The Housing Agency has been undertaking the various appraisal stages which deal with the following:
1. Eligibility of proposals
2. Ranking of suitable proposals and
3. A detailed due diligence process leading to designation (current stage).
On 6 February 2023, my Department received notification from DG COMP that the Scheme has been deemed compatible with the internal market pursuant to Article 107 (3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. This positive decision enables The Housing Agency to actively progress matters on processing and concluding Stage 3 of the Scheme and will allow the building of designated apartments to get underway.
I can confirm that at stage 1, there were 26 proposals submitted by 16 different entities. These proposals included just over 3,800 units. Seven of those were ineligible. At stage 2, the number of units under consideration was 2,442. At stage 3, having assessed those proposals, there are currently 12 live proposals including 1,583 units in total.
Per the Housing for All Action Plan Update (November 2022), a second call under the Scheme is expected to be announced by end of Q2 2023.
364. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the progress to date on the projected affordable housing delivery of each local authority; and the number planned that remain to be developed. [25592/23]
View answerUnder Housing for All, the Government will 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 a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
With 2022 representing the first full year of affordable housing delivery under the schemes introduced in the Affordable Housing Act 2021, local authorities have completed data returns on delivery of affordable homes in their area and submitted to my Department, in the same manner as is done for social housing. The 2022 statistical data is published on the Department's website at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery .
Following the publication of Housing for All in September 2021, I asked all local authorities to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans. Each local authority was asked to assess the level of housing demand with affordability constraint projected for their area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment Tool and plan their provision accordingly. A copy of each Council’s Housing Delivery Action Plan is available on their individual websites. Local authorities with the highest levels of affordable housing need were set five-year Affordable Delivery Targets.
2022 represented the commencement of a very ambitious programme of delivery of affordable housing. This momentum will continue with delivery increasing this year. A strong pipeline of affordable housing delivery is in place and under continuous development by local authorities, by Approved Housing Bodies using the Cost Rental Equity Loan and by the Land Development Agency.
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, including the Q1 2023 Update Report, is available on the First Home Scheme dedicated website, www.firsthomescheme.ie .
365. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the plans for infill housing at locations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25636/23]
View answerMy 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 Dublin City Council. This data is available to the end of 2022, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
Specifically regarding the projects referenced, my Department has issued Stage 3 Pre-tender Approval for all three projects. However Dublin City Council has advised that they have recently met with Novas AHB to discuss the current status of these projects. Dublin City Council advise that they have not been successful in appointing a contractor to redevelop the three sites. The Council and Novas are currently reviewing the projects with a view to identifying the most effective way to progress them. My Department is available to assist the local authority and the AHB in this effort.
366. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that many successful applicants for the Croí Cónaithe fund schemes are unable to draw down the grant because one of the terms of the grant is that a legal charge be placed on the property (details supplied); if he will remove the legal charge stipulation or the clawback aspect from the grant eligibility criteria, as a significant percentage of the individuals hoping to avail of this scheme will require a mortgage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25649/23]
View answer377. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to concerns related to the Croí Cónaithe grant funding creating additional legal charges for the loan applicant (details supplied); if engagement is ongoing with the main lenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25783/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 366 and 377 together.
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.
As part of the conditions associated with the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, there is a requirement that the applicant(s) will live in the qualifying property or rent it for a period of at least five years from the date of payment of the Grant. If at any time they sell the property, it ceases to be their principal private residence or if the property is no longer available to rent within ten years, they must reimburse the local authority an element of the full value of the Grant, as follows:
• Up to 5 Years – 100% of the monetary amount of the Grant
• Over 5 Years and less than or equal to 10 years – 75% of the monetary amount of the Grant
• Over 10 Years – No Clawback
On completion of works and prior to the issuing of the Grant, an agreement must be concluded between the local authority and the applicant. This contains the clawback agreement, including a charge on the property, which shall be binding on the applicant upon drawdown of the grant. The charge secures the local authority’s interest in the property.
In cases where an applicant has a mortgage on the property for which the Grant has been applied for, this will be a second charge on the property. Where the applicant has a mortgage, it will always be the first or priority charge on the property.
My Department has engaged with Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) and agreement has been reached with the main lending banks to providing consent to a second charge on properties in respect of the Grant.
367. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the staffing levels for the National Building Control Office since 2020; if he will detail all requests for additional staff from the NBCO since 2020; the additional staffing that has been sanctioned and recruited since 2020; his views on the very significant concerns expressed by the NBCO to his Department officials regarding their ability to fulfil their functions in light of the ongoing understaffing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25685/23]
View answer420. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to address staff shortages in the National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office. [26284/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 367 and 420 together.
The National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office (NSCMSO) is a shared services hosted by Dublin City Council. It provides oversight, support and direction for the development, standardisation and implementation of building control as an effective shared service in the 31 Building Control Authorities, through the five pillars of training, inspections; compliance support; Information System - Building Control Management System (IS-BCMS); and market surveillance.
In 2020, I appointed Dublin City Council as a competent authority, under the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020 (Construction Products – Market Surveillance) Regulations 2020, for the carrying out of market surveillance functions under the European Union (Construction Products) Regulations 2013 for all related construction products on a nationwide basis.
My Department funded the establishment and initial operation of the national market surveillance unit with the NBCMSO/ Dublin City Council in 2020 and 2021 and has not received any requests for additional staffing from the NBCMSO since that period. From 2022, the funding of the office transitioned to local authorities in line with the shared services model.
Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he / she is responsible. As such further information on staffing and recruitment would be available from Dublin City Council.
My Department fully supports the work of the NBCMSO and considers it a key element of the Government’s ongoing building control reform agenda. In addition, work is underway to establish a building standards regulator to strengthen the oversight role of the State with the aim of further reducing the risk of building failures and enhancing public confidence in construction-related activity. The objective is to ensure that this regulator has sufficient breadth of scope, effective powers of inspection and enforcement, and an appropriate suite of sanctions.
368. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of money, both allocated and spent, on housing maintenance by each respective local authority for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [25692/23]
View answer369. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to increase the overall housing maintenance package allocated to local authorities in Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25693/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 368 and 369 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 also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 2019. Local authority officials 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 significant housing rental income available to them as part of the annual budgetary process.
Notwithstanding the legal obligations on local authorities to manage and maintain their housing stock, my Department does provide annual funding to local authorities under a number of focused programmes which include Voids, Energy Efficiency and the Disabled Persons Grant.
Since 2020 to the end of 2022, over €270 million of exchequer funding has been invested in these local authority housing stock improvement works and full details in relation to the funding provided and units returned are available on my Department’s website at the following links:
Voids Programme: www.gov.ie/en/collection/0906a-other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/#voids-programme
Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme-expenditure-output/
Midland Retrofit Pilot Programme www.gov.ie/en/publication/b86b3-midlands-energy-retrofit-programme-expenditure-and-units/
Disabled Persons Grants: www.gov.ie/en/publication/061cd-disabled-persons-grant-and-improved-works-in-lieu-schemes-allocation-and-drawdown/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c472d-disabled-persons-grant-and-improved-works-in-lieu-schemes-allocation-and-drawdown-2011-2020/
Work in relation to the 2023 Programmes is ongoing, however, it will be later this year before significant recoupment claims are lodged with my Department. Full details in relation to 2023 output and expenditure across the respective programmes will be published on my Department’s website in due course.
It will be later this year before funding requirements are identified for the 2024 Programmes, however, given the very significant investment into the Programmes over recent years local authorities should now be in a strong position to 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 Action 17.4 of the Housing for All Action Plan Update.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.
370. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff, both directly employed and contracted, to carry out repair work, categorised as housing maintenance, within each respective local authority, for the year 2022, in tabular form. [25694/23]
View answerUnder Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he/she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis.
However, granular data, in terms of the detailed breakdown of the numbers and grades of staff allocated to specific work areas within local authorities is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information would be available from each local authority.
371. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to amend paragraph 6 subsection (a) of Section 254, Planning and Development Act 2000 to include a requirement, in the event of an appeal against the granting of a licence for a telecommunication mast, that all works, granted by such a licence, cease until the appeal process is concluded by the Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25702/23]
View answerIt should be noted that the licence regime under section 254 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act) does not constitute planning permission. Section 254(7) provides that development carried out in accordance with a licence under this section shall be exempted development for the purposes of this Act. There is no time limit on taking an appeal under 254(6) of the Act, therefore a licence may have been in place for some time with infrastructure installed prior to the lodging of any appeal.
Under section 254(6)(a) of the Act, any person may, in relation to the granting, refusing, withdrawing or continuing of a licence under this section or to the conditions specified by the planning authority for such a licence, appeal to An Bord Pleanála.
With regard to the specific matter raised in the question, section 254(6)(b) of the Act provides that where an appeal under this section is allowed, the Board shall give such directions with respect to the withdrawing, granting or altering of a licence under this section as may be appropriate, and the planning authority shall comply therewith. Therefore, once an appeal is allowed, it is a matter for the Board to give direction to the planning authority with regard to the licence and any works permitted by such licence while the appeal is ongoing.
Where an appeal is ongoing, the Board must be allowed complete its deliberation on any appeals of licences on a case-by-case basis and give directions as appropriate without interference.
Following the decision of the Board on an appeal, the decision of the Board may then be subject to Judicial Review by the Courts in accordance with sections 50, 50A and 50B of the Act. It is a matter for the Courts, which are an independent body and where judicial reviews may be lodged regarding planning in accordance with the Act, to consider any issues raised on a case-by-case basis and give their judgement as appropriate.
While planning legislation is kept under constant review, I have no plans to make further legislative changes in this regard at this point in time.
Under section 30 of the Act, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.
372. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of vacancies within local authority veterinary services; his proposals to ensure an adequate service across all local authority areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25717/23]
View answer373. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of whole-time veterinary inspector positions; the number and duration of vacancies, by year 2017 to date, by local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25718/23]
View answer374. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will urgently address the failure of local authorities to maintain the local authority veterinary service over the past five years; the actions that will be taken to fill vacant whole-time local authority veterinary inspector posts to maintain standards in food safety, animal welfare, and public health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25719/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 372, 373 and 374 together.
Under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he/she is responsible.
My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of overall local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis. However, granular data, in terms of the detailed breakdown of the numbers and grades of the staff allocated to specific work areas within local authorities or the number of vacancies in specific work areas is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information would be available from each local authority.
