Written Answers Nos. 391-410
391. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how much funding from the state's EU National Recovery and Resilience Plan has been earmarked and drawn down to date for the retrofitting of social housing. [33855/23]
View answerIreland’s National Recovery and Resilience Programme (NRRP) is funded by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). It is based on sixteen investment projects and nine reform measures with their 109 associated milestones and targets covering the green, digital and social and economic priorities. The RRF is a performance based instrument with the Irish RRF allocation of €915m contingent on achieving milestones and targets. The nine reform measures underpinning the plan contribute to addressing a significant subset of the 2019 and 2020 Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs).
There is no funding associated with retrofitting of social housing under the NRRP. However, my department funds the rerofitting of social housing through the Energy Efficiency and Retrofit Programme (EERP). The 2023 Energy Efficiency Retrofit budget for local authority homes, grant funded by my Department, provides an increase in Exchequer funding support to €87 million which will allow approximately 2,400 local authority owned social homes to be upgraded to a B2 or cost optimal equivalent (BER). Local authorities have been notified of their targets and funding available but it will be later this year before significant claims have been received.
392. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the revolving fund established under Rebuilding Ireland and administered by the Housing Agency. [33856/23]
View answerThe Housing Agency Acquisition (HAA) Fund of €70 million was established with effect from the 1 January 2017 with the objective of acquiring vacant property portfolios of financial institutions that could then be sold onto AHBs and used for social housing. The target for the HAA fund was to acquire 1,600 units over a four year period to 2020 with this target subsequently extended out to 2021.
At the end of May 2023, 904 properties were acquired under the HAA Fund. A further 52 properties were delivered under the HAA Fund programme but bought directly by local authorities using capital funding through the Social Housing Capital Investment Programme. Delete space The Housing Agency also completed the acquisition of 606 properties while acting on behalf of local authorities.
Under the commitment in Housing For All, my Department completed a review of the HAA fund in 2022. This review investigated the challenges faced by the fund, the most significant of which is the reduced availability of suitable units from banks and equity funds. This is primarily due to the sale of non-performing loans to non-banking entities and changes in now non-performing loans are being dealt with.
The review also explored opportunities that centred on potentially repurposing the fund to support other initiatives within Housing for All.
The Cost Rental Tenant in-Situ Scheme was introduced as an interim measure, developed on an administrative basis, to address the immediate circumstances of the ending of the 'Winter Emergency Period' on 31 March 2023. This temporary scheme is administered by the Housing Agency and supported by €10.25 million from the HAA Fund.
My Department continues to engage with DPENDR on the potential re-purposing of the HAA Fund.
393. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 267 of 15 November 2022, for an update on rural water frameworks; when money will be released to Donegal County Council, as promised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33857/23]
View answerI can confirm that my Department is in the final stages of completing comprehensive Framework documentation to support the application process for the upcoming Multi-annual Rural Water Programme. Extensive engagement with stakeholders, including a Rural Water Working Group made up of key stakeholders in the Sector, was a valuable and necessary requirement to allow my Department finalise this work.
I expect to receive a submission soon for my consideration setting out the details of each of the funding measures of the programme. Subject to approval, local authorities will then be invited to submit applications for funding for specific priority projects in their areas. An independent Expert Panel, set up for the task, will consider each valid application and make recommendations for funding.
394. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the approach which is being taken in aligning the operational approaches of those working in local authorities that have great expertise in managing water infrastructure, as Uisce Éireann takes over more direct responsibility for these operations and the workforce involved; and whether the Workplace Relations Commission or other such bodies have been engaged to evaluate issues which may cause challenges. [33865/23]
View answerThe Framework for Future Delivery of Water Services (June 2022) was developed following a comprehensive process of engagement with unions under the aegis of the Workplace Relations Commission and enables the integration of public water services into Uisce Éireann's organisational structure.
The Framework provides that local authority water services staff have the option to transfer to Uisce Éireann or to remain in the direct employment of their current local authority while also maintaining their current terms and conditions of employment.
Uisce Éireann and the local authorities are working together to put in place legal agreements to replace the existing Service Level Agreements for delivery of water services. These new agreements will ensure the smooth transition of water services operations to Uisce Éireann in the period to 2026, with the full support of the local authorities.
The WRC-hosted Irish Water Consultative Group provides a regular forum for engagement between management and union leaders to discuss and resolve any challenges that may arise as part of this transformation process.
395. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of correspondence his office has received on behalf of an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the upcoming decision on whether to grant licences for hare coursing or not for the 2023-24 season; if he will agree to the organisation's request for a meeting to discuss concerns before he reaches a decision, including a representative from two further entities at this proposed meeting, if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33898/23]
View answer409. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the number of pregnant females released on a club-by-club basis for the coursing seasons 2020, 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34172/23]
View answer410. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will suspend the issuing of licences for the purpose of hare coursing until he conducts an examination of whether it is possible for a hare coursing club to adhere to conditions within its licence which specifies that no pregnant hares may be taken, with specific reference to the practicalities of determining pregnancy in the absence of specialist veterinary equipment and expertise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34173/23]
View answer411. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of hares captured on an annual basis in each of the past ten years; the number of those that were identified as female; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34174/23]
View answer412. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications for licences under section 34 that have been received by his Department for the upcoming coursing season; when he expects a decision will be made on the issue of those licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34175/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 395 and 409 to 412, inclusive, together.
My Department has received one application from the Irish Coursing Club for a licence under Section 34 of the Wildlife Act, as amended, to capture 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.
Requests for meetings received through my Office are acknowledged and dealt with as time and capacity allows.
My Department does not hold figures relating to numbers of pregnant hares released, and neither are figures held in relation to numbers of male / female hares captured and released. During the 2022/23 season, NPWS Officials monitored some or all elements of 50% of the coursing meetings held and hares are regularly examined as part of this process.
I can provide figures in relation to overall numbers of hares netted and released over the past 10 years, please see the table below:
|
Hares Netted |
Hares Released |
|
|
2013/14 |
5,812 |
5,777 |
|
2014/15 |
5,644 |
5,615 |
|
2015/16 |
5,348 |
5,312 |
|
2016/17 |
5,207 |
5,181 |
|
2017/18 |
5,044 |
5,017 |
|
2018/19 |
4,973 |
4,941 |
|
2019/20 |
2,920 |
2,907 |
|
2020/21 |
3,430 |
3,429 |
|
2021/22 |
3,690 |
3,672 |
|
2022/23 |
3,398 |
3,385 |
396. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will list the occasions he has corresponded with the director of the Residential Tenancies Board since he took office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33927/23]
View answerBoth myself and my Department engage with the RTB and its director on an ongoing basis. My Department does not have a list readily available of the correspondence requested and its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work.
397. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an updated figure for the number of houses that have been completed (either demolished and reconstructed and-or outer leaf remediation works) in County Donegal; how many households have been approved for demolition and outer leaf under the old enhanced defective concrete blocks scheme; how many applications are currently in the system under the old 90-10 scheme; and if he will provide the figures, in tabular form, for the years 2020 (from June), 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023. [34038/23]
View answerI commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. The new scheme is now open to applications in four counties: Clare, Donegal, Limerick and Mayo.
Arrangements have been put in place for applications under the old scheme (often referred to as the "90/10" scheme) to transition to the new scheme.
The DCB Schemes are managed and operated by the relevant local authorities. My Department does not routinely collect the information in the precise manner requested. However, to be of assistance the table below summarises the most up to date information (to end June 2023) that my Department has in this regard.
|
Donegal County Council |
to 30 June 2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
|
Stage 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Applications Received |
1296 |
1076 |
599 |
90 |
|
Applications Approved |
848 |
426 |
370 |
25 |
|
Stage 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Applications Received |
158 |
118 |
64 |
- |
|
Applications Approved |
94 |
73 |
38 |
- |
|
Applications Approved for option 1 |
33 |
21 |
8 |
3 |
|
Final Payment Received/Completed |
37 |
22 |
3 |
0 |
The Council does not have any information for applications received or approved for Stage 2 in 2020.
398. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how long householders will have to wait to get an assessment from the Housing Agency following their application to the local authority under the building condition assessment under the enhanced defective concrete blocks scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34040/23]
View answerI commenced the the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.
The enhanced grant scheme is now open to applications with comprehensive information of all aspects of the Scheme available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/8002e-enhanced-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme/
The Housing Agency act as technical agents on behalf of the local authorities under the Enhanced Grant Scheme. Applications received by a local authority will be referred to the Housing Agency to review the 'Building Condition Assessment Report' and determine if the home has met the 'damage threshold' for entry to the scheme.
Once a home has met the damage threshold for entry to the scheme, the Housing Agency will engage its Framework Chartered Engineers to undertake the assessment, survey, sampling, testing and categorisation of the dwelling thereafter on a priority basis in accordance with the national standard I.S. 465:2018 and thereafter determine the appropriate remediation option and grant amount.
The Housing Agency are committed to processing applications as expeditiously as possible. It is not possible at this stage to say with certainty the exact turnaround time for individual applications. This will depend on a number of factors including the number and nature of applications made and the complexity and severity of the cases presented.
I have set up an Implementation Steering Group, comprised of officials from the relevant local authorities, my Department, the Housing Agency, and the Homeowner's Liaison Officer. This Group will meet shortly and will keep the operation of the regulations and guidelines under review including the time taken to process applications.
399. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on a housing allocation for 42 social houses in Carrigart, County Donegal, where money was approved in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34041/23]
View answerThe identification of new social housing opportunities in their areas of operation and the advancement of such projects, are matters that are directly managed by our local authorities. I understand that in the case of projects in the Carrigart area being considered by Donegal County Council, that they have a site in the locality which they had hoped to develop however, the original approval-in-principle from my Department for this site has been withdrawn, as the Council was unable to advance a development. I understand the Council is also pursuing a housing delivery opportunity with a developer, that the two sites are adjacent and that if the second opportunity can be advanced, it will support the use of the first site.
Further information should be available on these matters directly from Donegal County Council.
400. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 664 of 13 June 2023, if he will outline his plans to update the legislation pertaining to quarries, in co-operation with other Ministers, considering the catastrophic failings in State oversight that have led to devastation for thousands of homeowners and tenants and a cost of billions of euro in taxpayers' money. [34055/23]
View answerThe draft Planning and Development Bill 2022 (the Bill), published in January 2023, is the culmination of a fifteen-month review of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), led by the Office of the Attorney General.
The Bill proposes to concolidate, reform and streamline more than two decades of planning legislation into a single piece of legislation which is more ‘user friendly’, for both the public and practitioners alike, and bring greater clarity, consistency and certainty to how planning decisions are made. It is also intended to ensure greater alignment and consistency with our European and environmental obligations as well as in relation to the various tiers of national, regional and local plan-making.
Under Chapter 3 of the draft Bill, sections 84 to 109, quarries will still require permission as at present. However, the current substitute consent process for unauthorised quarries will be replaced by a retrospective consent process as set out in sections 124 to 129 of the draft Bill. Section 125 (1) proposes to ensure that the public will be entitled to make submissions to the An Coimisiún Pleanála, the new body which will replace An Bord Pleanála when the Bill is enacted, on such applications (including submissions as to the existence or absence of exceptional circumstances justifying a grant of retrospective consent) within such period as may be prescribed.
There is also a provision under section 299 of the draft Bill for the establishment of a new regional structure – on a shared service basis across a number of local authorities – for enforcement purposes on a number of activities, including quarries.
Section 299 (1) will allow me, as Minister, to designate a planning authority as a “regional enforcement authority” able to conduct enforcement in areas of other planning authorities as specified. Section 299 (3) will allow for a planning complaint to be made to a regional enforcement authority, in respect of development or proposed development belonging to a designated class that is situated or proposed to be situated in whole or in part in the designated region.
As outlined, these legislative updates provided for in the draft Bill will, when enacted, bring greater clarity, consistency and certainty to how planning decisions, including decisions pertaining to quarries, are made. In doing so, this will help facilitate the work of State agencies – which possess substantial levels of expertise and responsibility for regulating different aspects of quarries – as outlined in my response to the previous Parliamentary Question on this matter (No. 664 of 13 June).
Under Section 30 of the Act, I, in my role as Minister with responsibility for planning, am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or the Board is or may be concerned, except in very specific circumstances, which do not apply in this case.
401. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of affordable homes that have been built in Cork city in each of the past five years; the total amount planned for 2023; the total funding allocated each year to the local authority to supply affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34069/23]
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 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. The 2022 progress report on affordable housing provision across all delivery streams has been published on the Department's website at the following link:
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. Local authorities with the highest levels of affordable housing need, including Cork City, were set five-year Affordable Delivery Targets. A copy of Cork City's Housing Delivery Action Plan as published on 12 July 2022 is available on the local authority's website at the following link - corkcity.ie/en/media-folder/housing/cork-city-council-housing-delivery-action-plan.pdf.
Subventions ranging from €50,000 to €150,000 (in respect of cost rental developments in the five city areas) are provided for under the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) to support local authorities to make suitable projects available for affordable purchase or rent. An Exchequer contribution represents 95% of the subvention with the remaining 5% coming from a local authority contribution.
Housing delivery being supported by funding approved originally under the earlier Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) is also progressing with funding comprised of 89% Exchequer contribution matched by an 11% local authority contribution.
AHF or SSF funding has been granted to Cork City in respect of affordable housing schemes at Boherboy Road; Cluain Chaoin, Tower; Crann Darrach, Montenotte; and Hawkes Road, Bishopstown.
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. Full information on the scheme, which is available nationwide, may be found on the dedicated website, www.firsthomescheme.ie.
Finally, the new Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is also available nationwide and it provides for grants for refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties. I also announced last year, a new Ready to Build serviced sites scheme under the Fund where local authorities will provide sites at a discount to people who want to build their own home. Information on both of these schemes is available directly from local authorities.
2022 represented the commencement of a very ambitious programme of delivery of affordable housing. This momentum will continue with delivery increasing significantly this year, and my Department is working closely with the local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the LDA and other stakeholders to accelerate the delivery of and affordable housing.
402. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has engaged with Cork County Council given its announcement that it would not meet social housing targets for 2023; whether there is a plan to resolve this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34070/23]
View answerMy Department is supporting local authorities in the delivery of their social housing targets under Housing For All through a range of different initiatives and schemes, including the construction of social homes on their own lands, construction delivery in conjunction with approved housing bodies and also, local authorities are working in partnership with private developers to deliver social housing construction through turnkey arrangements.
While the management of the social housing delivery programmes is a matter for individual local authorities, my Department works closely with relevant stakeholders to accelerate delivery and further expand pipelines. In parallel with developing pipelines for delivery, ensuring that progress and delivery on ongoing projects remains on track is critical.
My Department engages with all local authorities on a regular basis regarding the delivery of social housing. This includes structured quarterly meetings to review progress and in the case of Cork County Council, monthly meetings are held. My officials have met with the Council on a number of occasions this year, with further meetings planned.
I am aware of a potential shortfall in Cork County Council meeting its targets for 2023 and I have instructed my Department to continue to work with the Council to identify all possible solutions to address this matter. My Department will continue to monitor the situation and will take all relevant steps necessary, as appropriate, to support the Council to meet its 2023 target.
403. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average length of time spent on the social housing list in Cork city; the plans to reduce these times; the total number on the social housing list for each of the past 12 months and each month of 2023 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34071/23]
View answerMy Department does not hold data in relation to the average length of time spent on the social housing list. However, details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recently published summary for all counties, conducted in November 2022, is available at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/62486-summary-of-social-housing-assessments/.
There were 3,886 households qualified for social housing in Cork City whose need was unmet in 2022.
Under 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).
Earlier this year, I announced further measures to increase the supply of social homes including:
• an increase in the number of social housing acquisitions to 1,500 in 2023 to reduce the number of households at risk of homelessness;
• an additional 1,000 homes through Targeted Leasing initiatives in 2023 and 2024; and
• the amendment of the Capital Advance Leasing Facility used by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to assist them in their efforts in delivering social homes
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity. This data is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/. This provides information for a number of categories of social housing delivery in terms of the various delivery streams and also contains the targets for each local authority during each year of the programme.
In addition, Cork City Council’s Housing Delivery Action Plan, which sets out details of social and affordable housing delivery in the period 2022-2026, is available on the Council’s website at cork-city-council-housing-delivery-action-plan.pdf (corkcity.ie).
While the oversight and management of the housing waiting list, including the allocation of tenancies, is a matter solely for the local authority, I expect the delivery of these homes to contribute significantly to meeting the accommodation needs of households on the Council's waiting list.
404. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of applicants for Rebuilding Ireland home loans or local authority home loans from Cork; the total number that have been successful; the total number that have been refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34072/23]
View answerThe Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for creditworthy applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.
My Department regularly publishes information on the number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns. Local authority approval means that an official letter of offer has been sent to a borrower (and therefore relates to a specific property and loan amount).
Information on drawdowns, approvals, average drawdowns, and average approvals for the Local Authority Home Loan and the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan up to Q3 2022 is available on my Department’s website at the following link, which will be updated as soon as figures are available:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/42d2f-local-authority-loan-activity/#local-authority-loans-approvedpaid
405. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has invited Cork City Council to make an application for the vacant properties or voids programme; if such an application has been submitted; the total amount of funding his Department proposes to allocate to the authority; the expected timeframe for release of the funding, the number of units this funding will cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34073/23]
View answerThe 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 this, my Department provides annual funding support to local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-let under the Voids Programme. This funding was introduced originally to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted to support authorities to ensure minimal turnaround and re-let times for vacant stock.
I have approved €31 million in funding to support the return of 2,300 vacant local authority homes this year. A programme of works has been submitted by Cork City Council under this Programme, with the selection of these properties a matter for each individual local authority.
An annualised breakdown by local authority, of the funding provided and the number of properties remediated under the Voids programme for the years 2014 up to and including 2022 is available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/0906a-other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/#voids-programme
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 under this programme will be published on my Department’s website early in 2024.
406. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of mortgage to rent applications to date in 2023 through AHBs, local authorities and Home for Life, respectively. [34075/23]
View answerThe Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme was introduced in 2012 for borrowers of commercial lending institutions and is targeted at those households in mortgage arrears who have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP), who agree to the voluntary surrender of their home and who have very limited options, if any, to meet their long-term housing needs themselves. In addition, the household must be deemed eligible for social housing support. The concept of the scheme is that a household with an unsustainable mortgage goes from being a homeowner to being a social housing tenant.
The table below sets out the number of mortgage to rent applications received to the end of June 2023.
|
Applications |
|
|
MTR applications received from Home for Life |
117 |
|
MTR applications received from AHBs |
43 |
|
Local Authorities MTR applications received |
4 |
A further 19 MTR applications have been received but have not yet been assigned to a MTR provider.
The Housing Agency publishes, on a quarterly basis, detailed statistical information on the operation of the MTR scheme, which can be accessed on The Housing Agency's website at the following link: www.housingagency.ie/housing-information/mortgage-rent-statistics .
407. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount collected, by local authority, by year in vacant sites levy since the levy was established, in tabular form. [34098/23]
View answerUnder the vacant site levy provisions contained in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 (the Act), planning authorities were empowered to apply a vacant site levy of 3% of the market valuation of relevant properties which were listed on local authority vacant site registers in 2018, which relevant owners were liable to pay in January 2019. The rate of the levy increased to 7% for sites listed on local authority vacant sites registers from 2019 onwards, which site owners became liable to pay in January of the following year.
My Department issued Circular Letter PL 03/2023 on 4 April 2023 requesting the submission of a progress report on the implementation and collection of the levy by each local authority. This information is provided in the linked table.
It should be noted that under section 19 of the Act, unpaid levies due remain a charge on the land in question until they are paid. My Department will continue to engage proactively with local authorities to ensure that all vacant site levies due are paid.
408. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department or any agency under the aegis of his Department operates a barter account for the provision of goods or services; if so, if payments have been directed to be made to a barter account during the period 2011 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34151/23]
View answerMy Department does not operate any barter accounts therefore the information requested is not available.
Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department 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 each agency is set out in the following table:
|
State Body |
Contact E-mails |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie cc: communications@pleanala.ie |
|
An Fóram Uisce (the Water Forum) |
info@nationalwaterforum.ie |
|
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum |
infodocklands@dublincity.ie |
|
Ervia |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Gas Networks Ireland |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Heritage Council |
oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie cc: cosec@hfa.ie |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
publicreps@housingagency.ie cc: info@housingagency.ie |
|
Uisce Eireann |
oireachtasmembers@water.ie |
|
Land Development Agency |
oireachtas@lda.ie Compliance@lda.ie |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
corporate@lgma.ie |
|
Maritime Area Regulatory Authority- MARA |
info@mara.gov.ie |
|
National Oversight and Audit Commission |
info@noac.ie |
|
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee |
ntacc@housing.gov.ie |
|
Office of the Planning Regulator |
oireachtas@opr.ie |
|
Tailte Éireann (formerly: OSI, VALOFF, PRAI) |
reps@tailte.ie cc: oireachtas@osi.ie; reps@valoff.ie; reps@prai.ie |
|
Pyrite Resolution Board |
oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie |
|
Valuation Tribunal |
info@valuationtribunal.ie |
|
Waterways Ireland |
ceoffice@waterwaysireland.org |
