Written Answers Nos. 99-110
99. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the capital expenditure cost of providing one staffed additional family refuge space; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28773/23]
View answerAs 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.
Regarding staffing and operational costs, these are not part of the capital funding which my Department provides; funding for operational purposes for refuges is provided by Tusla.
100. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the scope under the National Islands Policy 2023-2033 to enable the construction of clusters of houses on offshore islands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28807/23]
View answer101. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to engage with an organisation concerning the provision of housing on an off-shore island (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28808/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 101 together.
The Government’s housing plan to 2030, Housing for All, supports the need to fully consider the housing needs of island communities as part of the objective to drive social sustainability and foster sustainable communities. In concert, our national planning policy in the National Planning Framework (NPF) identifies the need to have vibrant rural communities on our offshore islands and recognises that they are an integral part of our heritage with a special significance in Irish Culture. It is a National Policy Objective of the NPF to encourage sustainable growth in rural areas experiencing population decline such as many of our island communities.
The statutory county development plan, and its related housing strategy, prepared and adopted by each local authority provides the strategic policy context at a local level for planned new housing development. These documents provide the specific planning policy and objectives for the consideration of new proposals for housing development and the basis for meeting the identified housing needs of the local authority area. From a planning perspective, as Minister, I am precluded from commenting on any specific proposal with which a planning authority may be concerned by virtue of Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
The recent publication of the National Islands Policy 2023-2033 provides an appropriate framework for engagement and further development of housing policy on our off-shore islands in conjunction with the local authorities and other stakeholders. In this regard, The Housing Agency will work in partnership with these stakeholders to examine the potential for island-focused housing organisations and housing structures in support of housing provision across a range of accommodation types and formats appropriate to island communities.
Furthermore, in relation to the future development of a new housing project by an organisation, the relevant local authority, as the statutory housing authority and planning authority, is the appropriate body with which an organisation should engage with in the first instance in order to advise on the subject proposal.
102. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the full estimated cost of implementing the Youth Homelessness Strategy over its three-year life course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28676/23]
View answer103. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of the Supported Housing for Youth pilot project per young person, per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28677/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 103 together.
In line with commitments made in both the Programme for Government and Housing for All, a national Youth Homelessness Strategy was published in November 2022. The Strategy aims to help young people aged 18 - 24 who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. It sets out 27 key actions to prevent youth homelessness; improve the experiences of young people accessing emergency accommodation; and assist young people in exiting homelessness.
The achievement of the actions contained in this Strategy will involve a multitude of key stakeholders playing their part. A Steering Group was established in December 2022 to drive the delivery of these actions. A number of the actions, such as those which refer to policy reviews, would represent the normal work of relevant officials and provisions will be made within the existing resources of Government Departments and agencies, as appropriate. Other actions which will have cost implications must be determined in consultation with relevant stakeholders. It is intended that actions that are targeted in 2023 will be managed within budgets already agreed. Future actions that will require funding will be brought forward through the normal annual budgetary processes.
One of the main actions in the Strategy is to develop a pilot of a housing-led intervention to be called Supported Housing for Youth (SHY). This is aimed at those aged 18 - 24 who are experiencing homelessness and who require additional supports to maintain a tenancy. Young people who are at risk of homelessness and are identified as a vulnerable cohort within the Strategy, such as those leaving formal state care, will also be eligible for this programme. My Department is working closely both with members of the Steering Group and other key stakeholders on developing the pilot programme. Consultations are ongoing and expected to conclude in Q3 2023. Costings for SHY are not available as yet as the programme is in the design phase.
Investment in the measures contained in the Youth Homelessness Strategy, including the new Supported Housing for Youth Scheme, will contribute the achievement of Ireland's commitment under the Lisbon declaration to eradicate homelessness by 2030. Most importantly, these measures will also improve the lives of young people in the State and support them to achieve their full potential.
104. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of a report in the media (details supplied) relating to alleged hare coursing activities during a burial at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Thurles, County Tipperary, which reportedly left a hare dead after the animal was savaged by a released greyhound; and if the NPWS division of his Department will investigate and take appropriate action against those involved. [28711/23]
View answerThe National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department are aware of an alleged incident at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Thurles.
NPWS are currently working closely with An Garda Síochána to investigate the matter.
105. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 229 of 5 July 2022, if, the NPWS carried out a review of the issue of pigeon damage to crops during the summer months, including the collection of new scientific data, with a view to informing decisions for future declarations; if the findings of the review will be published; and if he will immediately reverse the decision to allow the continued shooting of these birds until the end of the year. [28713/23]
View answerThe National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is committed to carrying out a review of all the species on the Declaration list on a phased basis. It is the intention of the NPWS to commission research on the potential damage to agricultural crops caused by Wood Pigeon in the Irish context, with a view to informing decisions for future declarations.
106. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, given the findings of a NPWS study which revealed that coursed hares fared worse than uncoursed hares when released back to the wild (details supplied), and in view of majority support for a coursing ban in both rural and urban areas, he will refuse a 2023-24 licence for hare coursing. [28714/23]
View answerThe results of a new study comparing the survival, movements, home ranges and dispersal of hares after coursing and/or translocation has been published by the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department, a copy of which can be accessed on the NPWS website at the following link: www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/IWM145.pdf.
Fewer coursed than uncoursed hares remained in the vicinity of the release site six months later, with more coursed hares appearing to move on during the study, although the motive factors remain unknown. There was no evidence that coursed and/or translocated hares suffered higher levels of mortality than control hares. There were no differences in coursed and uncoursed hares in their spatial behaviour after release.
Although this study has advanced our understanding of some aspects of hare survival and movements after coursing, questions remain.
My Department has received an application from the Irish Coursing Club for licences to capture and tag hares for the forthcoming 2023/24 hare coursing season. This is being considered at present, and a decision will be made on the application in due course.
107. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has received reports from local authorities on the waiting lists to adapt their properties to meet the needs of tenants with a disability; and if he would consider extending the grant scheme which applies to privately owned properties to these homes with the tenant's fair share of costs not met by the grant capitalised into an annual addition to the rent. [28767/23]
View answerMy Department provides funding to local authorities under the Disabled Persons Grants scheme to carry out works on social housing stock to address the needs of older people, people with a disability or overcrowded situations. Extensions to provide for ground floor bathrooms and bedrooms can also be supported. The detailed administration of this scheme including assessment, approval and prioritisation of applications is the responsibility of local authorities.
My Department provides capital funding to Local Authorities for Improvement Works in Lieu of local authority housing (IWILs) to enable them to repair, improve or extend privately owned houses that are occupied or will be occupied by approved housing applicants as an alternative to the provision of local authority housing. The scheme may also be used to improve private houses intended for occupation by a person surrendering a local authority house.
My Department's approach every year, in the first instance, is to allow local authorities complete works up to 65% of the previous year’s allocation in the absence of formal approval to keep this important work going. Following this and based on the actual need of the sector, my Department issues a single full year allocation to each local authority, so they can plan, prioritise and implement the programme to carry out the varying works necessary to meet the needs of their tenants in this year. Furthermore local authorities can apply for additional funding for emergency cases as they arise throughout the year.
108. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the provisions relating to substitute consent (Part XA) and section 37L of the Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation (Amendment) Act 2022 will be enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28781/23]
View answerThe Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation (Amendment) Act 2022 was enacted on 24 July 2022. My Department is currently drafting regulations to provide for consequential amendments to the Planning and Development Regulations regarding the substitute consent and 37L procedures, following which the substitute consent and section 37L provisions of the Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation (Amendment) Act 2022 will be commenced. The regulations are at an advanced stage of drafting and it is envisaged that this process will be enacted as soon as possible.
109. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of additional funding that has been given to Kildare County Council to purchase homes under the 'tenant in situ' scheme since the lifting of the 'no fault' eviction ban on 1 April 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28788/23]
View answerUnder Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).
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. My Department issued a circular letter to all local authorities in March, setting out details of these arrangements and each local authority was provided with a provisional target for social housing acquisitions in 2023.
Kildare County Council have a target to acquire at least 55 social homes in 2023 and this will be kept under review. My Department recoups local authorities the costs incurred in acquiring properties and no specific funding allocation has been provided to Kildare County Council.
110. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on extending the planning exemption for conversion of certain former commercial properties to housing to be applied to offshore islands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28806/23]
View answerUnder the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of specific forms of development are provided for when they are considered to be consistent with proper planning and sustainable development. The exemptions provided for in the Planning and Development Regulations are kept under regular review.
Under Housing for All, the Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022 - which extend the operation of the previous 2018 Regulations in this regard until end 2025 - provide for an exemption from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of the change of use of certain vacant commercial premises to residential use, including the conversion of vacant areas above ground floor commercial premises to residential use. This measure is aimed at facilitating the productive re-use of qualifying vacant commercial buildings as homes, while also facilitating urban renewal and the bringing on stream of increased housing supply, in keeping with the Government’s Town Centre First policy and the Vacant Homes Action Plan.
These regulations are not location specific and apply nationally and therefore may be applied in both urban and rural areas such as cities but also large villages, county towns or the Islands.
It should be noted that planning exemptions are subject to compliance with any general restrictions on exemptions set out in the Act or the Regulations and would need to be considered on a case by case basis. For example, section 4(4) of the Act provides that development shall not be exempted development if an environmental impact assessment or an appropriate assessment of the development is required in accordance with relevant EU Directive requirements.
If a person wishes to establish whether or not planning permission is required for a specific development proposal, they can seek a declaration from their local authority under Section 5 of the Act.
