Written Answers Nos. 833-854
833. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether there should be penalties introduced for political parties that do not submit annual accounts; if so, how these should be enforced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37458/23]
View answerThe Electoral Act 1997 (as amended) provides the statutory framework for dealing with political financing and sets out the regulatory regime covering a wide range of inter-related issues such as the funding of political parties; the reimbursement of election expenses; the establishment of election expenditure limits; the disclosure of election expenditure; the setting of limits on permissible donations; the prohibition of certain donations; the disclosure of donations; and the registration of third parties who accept donations given for political purposes which exceed €100.
The principal objectives of the Act are to ensure that there is openness and accountability in the relationships that exist between election candidates, elected members and political parties and those who would support them, whether by way of financial assistance or otherwise. The Act also seeks to achieve equity in the electoral process by limiting expenditure at elections and by providing a system whereby candidates at elections can recoup election expenses subject to certain criteria being met.
Part 7 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022 (enacted in July 2022) provided for a number of amendments to the Electoral Act 1997 aimed at clarifying and strengthening the relevant provisions relating to our political donations and expenditure regime. More specifically, Part 7 also amends Part IX of the Act of 1997 to provide that the annual statements of accounts prepared by each political party shall also apply to subsidiary organisations and shall include all property within the ownership of the political party (including property within the ownership of each of its subsidiary organisations) as well as a breakdown of the aggregate amount of donations received by the political party (including donations received by each of its subsidiary organisations). New offence provisions relating to, among other matters, a failure to furnish annual statements of accounts to the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) were also introduced under Part 7 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022.
These additional obligations commenced on 1 January 2023 and as such will apply to the annual statements of accounts of political parties due for the 2023 calendar year which must be furnished to SIPO in accordance with the deadline set out in section 87 of the Act of 1997. At this point in time, the new offence provisions inserted into the Act of 1997 by way of Part 7 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022 have not been commenced. My Department understands that SIPO is carrying out a review of its suite of guidelines in respect of political donations as well as its guidance in connection with the preparation by political parties of their annual statements of accounts. It is expected that these guidelines will be completed later this year following which It is intended to commence the offence provisions.
836. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for capital expenditure running €233 million behind profile, as outlined in the Mid-Year Expenditure Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37475/23]
View answerThe Total Gross Provision for Vote 34 - Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for 2023 as set out in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2023 published by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) and available at www.per.gov.ie/en/rev/ is €6,322m. This is made up of €2,797m Current and €3,525m Capital and will also be supplemented by €340m Capital Carryover from 2022. The allocation to the Vote Group also includes the provision to Votes 16, Tailte Éireann, and 23, the Electoral Commission. Inclusive of these votes, the Gross Provision to the Vote Group amounts to €6,414m excluding capital carryover.
Capital expenditure by its nature does not generally arise in an even pattern throughout the year, and is dependent on the expected drawdown based on matters such as vouched expenditure, projects reaching milestones and completions etc. Profiles are set at the start of the year based on the prevailing circumstances and variances may arise over the course of the year. As set out in the 2023 Mid-Year Expenditure Report, Gross Capital expenditure for the Vote Group at the end of June amounted to €583m, which was €233m behind published profile of €816m. This variance of expenditure against profile at the end of June arises mainly from lower than anticipated expenditure across a small number of specific expenditure lines in the Housing Programme primarily as a result of certain developments initially projected for completion being delayed until later this year.
It should be noted that the earlier than expected signing of the Deferred Surrender Order greatly impacted the drawdown of 2023 Voted expenditure and subsequent comparisons against profiles. The reporting in the Mid-Year Expenditure Report does not account for capital carryover expenditure incurred to date this year. Net capital expenditure for Vote 34 is €901m (€577m plus Deferred Surrender of €324m) to the end of Q2 2023, which is €195m higher or an increase of some 28% compared to Q2 2022.
Further to this, it should also be noted that the bulk of capital expenditure occurs during Q4 of a given year, as is the norm with all major capital programmes. This is particularly so in my Department, where local authorities submit large volumes of claims for recoupment towards the end of the year. Accordingly, this level of activity is expected to result in a very significant increase in capital expenditure later in the year.
My Department will continue to engage proactively on a range of measures to manage and expedite capital expenditure where possible throughout the year with a view to keeping within projected investment levels.
837. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will appoint an independent body to gather data in relation to hare coursing as currently data that is gathered in relation to hare coursing comes from the ICC reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37483/23]
View answerHare coursing is administered by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) which is a body set up under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958. Statutory responsibility for the Act resides with my colleague, the Minster for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, as does responsibility for the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.
The licences issued to the ICC contain a number of different conditions that must be adhered to and regional staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) staff of my Department attend coursing meetings, as resources allow, to monitor compliance with the conditions of the licenses having regard to the various calls on its staffing complement. Regional staff complete a monitoring form at the end of each meeting that they attend and a redacted version of these are published on the NPWS website along with the ICC Control Steward forms.
Veterinary staff from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine also carry out inspections, as resources allow, during the coursing season to monitor compliance with the rules governing animal welfare relating to greyhounds and hares.
I have no plans to appoint an independent body to gather data in relation to hare coursing.
838. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what percentage of An Bord Pleanála cases are successfully defended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37487/23]
View answerAn Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts.
Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended, I as Minister am specifically precluded from exercising power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or the Board is or may be concerned.
My Department does not hold the specific information requested. 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 An Bord Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.
In order to be of assistance, my Department obtained the information requested from the Board who have provided the following information.
The Board have advised that a large proportion of the increasing caseload of judicial reviews relate to decisions concerning complex matters of procedure and interpretation relating to the EU environmental directives and procedures to do with handling of Strategic Housing Development applications.
It is accepted by the Board that recent judicial review outcomes have seen a greater number of such cases conceded or lost and this is an outcome of the increasing complexity of those European law issues and novel issues relating to the new strategic housing process. A breakdown of legal cases received since 2017 is listed below.
|
Year |
No. of Legal Cases Received in Year |
Cases Won |
|
2022 |
95 |
9 |
|
2021 |
95 |
15 |
|
2020 |
83 |
11 |
|
2019 |
55 |
9 |
|
2018 |
41 |
13 |
|
2017 |
47 |
19 |
|
226 |
52 |
839. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can advise on eligibility for reimbursement of water connection fees (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37497/23]
View answerOn 25 April 2023, the Government approved additional measures under the Housing for All Action Plan to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and assist the achievement of the housing delivery targets set in Housing for All, while also addressing cost and viability issues faced by the construction sector. These measures included the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority “section 48” development contributions, and the refunding of Uisce Éireann water and wastewater connection charges.
The Uisce Éireann standard water and wastewater connection charges referenced in the new Government support package will still have to be paid upfront by developers in the normal manner, with the monies being subsequently refunded by Uisce Éireann on notification of the commencement of works. This is a rebate, rather than a waiver arrangement as Uisce Éireann connection applications, in general, are paid in advance of site commencement.
The new schemes apply for 1 year to all permitted residential development:
• that commences on site between 25 April 2023 (the date of the Government Decision approving the measure) and 24 April 2024, and
• is completed not later than 31 December 2025.
This end date is to facilitate large schemes to be speedily brought forward and progressed, while also incentivising their completion as quickly as possible within a reasonable timeframe and delivering urgent housing supply.
On the 21st July this year, my Department published a Circular and Guidance notes which sets out in detail the process for applying for the Uisce Éireann water and wastewater connection charge refund scheme.
The Circular and Guidance documents are available here: www.gov.ie/en/circular/9b113-circular-pl-082023-temporary-time-limited-waiver-in-respect-of-development-contributions-operational-guidance-for-local-authorities/. Alternatively, details on the scheme can be found on Uisce Éireann’s website at www.water.ie/connections/.
840. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Approved Housing Bodies have obligations to answer representations from public representatives regarding issues their tenants contact them about; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37520/23]
View answerApproved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are independent, not-for-profit organisations.
The Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) was formally established on 1 February 2021. AHBRA is an independent body tasked with providing the regulation of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) . AHBRA have published sets of standards for AHBs under their regulatory framework. There are four standards which AHBs are expected to adhere to including tenancy management. It is open to any individual, including public representatives, to raise a concern about an AHB with AHBRA concerns@ahbregulator.ie which will be screened to consider whether they fall within AHBRA's remit and compliance with the relevant Act. Further information is available on the AHBRA website, www.ahbregulator.ie.
842. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is a recommended cap on the number of social houses a county council can purchase in a private turnkey development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37524/23]
View answerMy Department is supporting local authorities in the provision of social housing across a range of delivery mechanisms including through new build activity, as part of which some authorities work in partnership with developers through turnkey arrangements.
As housing authorities, the local authorities are responsible for the development of appropriate responses to meet the social housing need in their areas. There is no prescribed maximum scale or size for new social housing developments nor is there a recommended cap on the number of social homes a council might contract or acquire within a turnkey development. The approach to developments by our local authorities is dependent on the precise circumstances of each development, including the location and scale of the development and the tenure of housing in the area and they are best positioned to assess this in line with guidance provided by my Department through the publication 'Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities', which is available on my Department's website at the following link: 9c7faf04-36c0-4a15-8931-1b6c13ecd12f.pdf (www.gov.ie)
844. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide, in tabular form, the number of buy-and-renew homes delivered by each local authority in the past 12 months; and the average cost to buy and refurbish the property, broken down by local authority. [37557/23]
View answerThe table below includes the number of 'Buy & Renew' homes delivered by each local authority for social housing use in the 12 months up to the end of Q1 2023, as well as the average costs to buy and refurbish the properties. The average costs are inclusive of acquisition cost, refurbishment costs and any associated fees.
This is the most recent data available, however 'Buy & Renew' data is subject to revision as claims are received from local authorities.
|
Local Authority |
No of Units |
Average Cost per unit |
|
Carlow |
0 |
- |
|
Cavan |
0 |
- |
|
Clare |
0 |
- |
|
Cork City |
9 |
€327,277 |
|
Cork County |
7 |
€292,205 |
|
DLR |
0 |
- |
|
Donegal |
0 |
- |
|
Dublin City |
47 |
€362,980 |
|
Fingal |
10 |
€139,676 |
|
Galway County |
0 |
- |
|
Galway City |
0 |
- |
|
Kerry |
0 |
- |
|
Kildare |
3 |
€257,234 |
|
Kilkenny |
0 |
- |
|
Laois |
0 |
- |
|
Leitrim |
0 |
- |
|
Limerick |
7 |
€230,053 |
|
Longford |
1 |
€137,079 |
|
Louth |
0 |
- |
|
Mayo |
0 |
- |
|
Meath |
6 |
€251,713 |
|
Monaghan |
1 |
€229,000 |
|
Offaly |
0 |
- |
|
Roscommon |
0 |
- |
|
Sligo |
1 |
€183,016 |
|
South Dublin |
0 |
- |
|
Tipperary |
0 |
- |
|
Waterford |
3 |
€207,356 |
|
Westmeath |
0 |
- |
|
Wexford |
0 |
- |
|
Wicklow |
4 |
€342,536 |
845. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how a person in a situation (details supplied) can qualify for a local authority disability grant for the adaptation of their bathroom. [37560/23]
View answerMy Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to support the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability which support older and disabled people living in private houses to adapt their home to meet their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People, which are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority.
The Regulations that underpin the statutory basis for the operation of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability provide that the applicant must occupy the house as his or her normal place of residence on completion of the works. The administration of the grants scheme, including the assessment, approval and prioritisation of grant applications under the various measures, is the responsibility of each local authority. Having considered all of the circumstances in any particular case, it is a matter for the local authority to determine grant eligibility.
The grants available operate on a sliding scale with the highest percentage grants available to those with the lowest incomes and vice versa. The schemes are means tested and grant assistance is not available to applicants whose household income, after disregards and deductions, exceeds €60,000 per annum. The household income approach is intended to spread the benefits of the grant scheme as widely as possible and to ensure fairness and value for money in operation of the scheme towards those with the greatest needs. Local authorities, in administering the scheme, work with qualifying applicants to secure the most beneficial outcome possible in line with the applicants' financial circumstances and within the parameters of the Grant Scheme.
Further details on these schemes is available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/service/6636c-housing-adaptation-grants-for-older-people-and-people-with-a-disability/
846. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update and reasons why interior repair works promised since 2020 for a social housing tenant (details supplied) have never been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37584/23]
View answerIn accordance with Section 58 of the Housing Act, 1966, local authorities are legally responsible for the management and maintenance of their housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a Planned Maintenance Programme and carrying out of responsive repairs.
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.
Notwithstanding the legal obligation on local authorities to manage and maintain their housing stock, my Department provides funding under a number of local authority stock improvement programmes, namely, Planned Maintenance/Voids, Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme and the Disabled Person Grant scheme. The selection of properties and prioritisation of works is a matter for each individual local authority in the administration of the programmes.
Details in relation to the property concerned may be available from Mayo County Council. My Department will continue to support local authorities in their work in this area.
847. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what schemes are available for shared equity scheme for self builds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37589/23]
View answer848. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what plans he has to introduce a shared equity scheme for self builds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37590/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 847 and 848 together.
Consideration is currently being given to expanding the First Home shared equity scheme to include self-builds. At present, the scheme applies nationally to newly built homes in private developments. However, at my request the First Home Scheme Designated Activity Company, run on behalf of scheme participants, is examining the scope to expand the scheme to cover self-build houses.
In the meantime, my department has a range of measures in place to support home ownership, including supports for those wishing to purchase or self-build their own home.
The Help-to-Buy scheme is an incentive for first-time buyers to help with their deposit for purchasing or self-building a new home. The scheme has already helped some 39,000 first-time buyers.
The Local Authority Home Loan is available to those wishing to purchase or self-build. This loan is a government-backed mortgage for first-time buyers or 'Fresh Start' applicants.
The Ready-to-Build scheme also supports those seeking to build their own home. Under the scheme local authorities can make serviced sites in towns and villages available to potential individual purchasers and self-builders, with sites to be provided at a discount on market value for home-owners wishing to build for occupation as their principal private residence.
In this context, I do not believe it necessary at this time to introduce a further grant scheme.
849. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of times the car park of Glenveagh National Park has been full in each year since 2021; if any plans are in place to provide additional parking spaces for the park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37644/23]
View answerI understand from my officials at the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department that car parking facilities at Glenveagh National Park have been full on the following number of occasions in the years concerned
|
2021 |
24 |
|
2022 |
10 |
|
2023 (to date) |
4 |
As part of the ongoing strategic capital investment in our parks infrastructure, an additional temporary car park providing 60 car parking spaces was constructed in Glenveagh between 2022 and 2023. This development has provided extra capacity, as demonstrated in the figures above, to help facilitate the public’s ongoing utilisation and enjoyment of the National Park.
Consideration of future developments, which will include exploring additional sustainable transport options to Glenveagh National Park, will form part of the NPWS strategic planning for the park into the future.
850. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to report on the potential acquiring of the Connor Pass and its development as a national park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37673/23]
View answerThe National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department occasionally purchases land for strategic and conservation purposes. Such acquisitions are considered on a case by case basis. In light of the commercial sensitivity of such considerations and the strategic implications of bringing these considerations into the public domain, I am not in a position to comment on any individual site that is offered for sale.
851. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, in the context of the record high numbers of homeless, he will reinstate the eviction ban without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37685/23]
View answerThe Government agreed on 7 March that the ‘Winter Emergency Period’ under the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 would come to an end on 31 March 2023, with deferred tenancy terminations taking effect over a staggered period from 1 April to 18 June 2023 as planned and legislated for under that Act.
The Government at that time considered that extending the emergency period would be detrimental to medium and long-term supply of private rental accommodation. That position has not changed. My Department and local authorities are instead focusing on implementing the additional measures which I announced last March to increase the supply of social homes.
852. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 613 of 25 July 2023, if he will instruct Fingal County Council to engage with the landlord specified to buy some or all of the 47 residential properties mentioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37687/23]
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 and these allocations are being kept under review.
It is a matter for individual local authorities to identify suitable acquisitions in line with local circumstances and their social housing allocations policy. It is a matter for a local authority to determine whether a property should be acquired. The cost of the property, its condition and its suitability for the existing tenants are issues that will be considered by the local authority. I have asked local authorities to be proactive in this area.
Local authorities will work with all social housing supported tenants who receive a Notice of Termination and where it is not possible to purchase the property, the local authority will seek alternative supports, which will include support to obtain an alternative tenancy, including a HAP-supported tenancy or an allocation to local authority stock where possible. From enquiries made with Fingal County Council, they currently have eight mainstream HAP tenancies at this location.
Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions. As Minister, I am precluded by housing legislation from intervening in relation to the procedures followed, or decisions made, by local authorities in the provision of social housing support regarding any individual application.
853. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he will take to protect tenants whose landlord refuses to renew part four tenancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37688/23]
View answer854. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he will take to change the law that allows landlords to refuse to renew part four tenancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37689/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 853 and 854 together.
In accordance with both the Programme for Government and Housing for All commitments, the Government has provided for Tenancies of Unlimited Duration through the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2021. The Act was signed into law on 11 December 2021.
All new tenancies created on or after 11 June 2022 will become tenancies of unlimited duration once the tenancy has lasted more than 6 months and no notice of termination has been validly served on the tenant. The aim is to enhance security of tenure for tenants and to simplify the operation of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022.
Section 34(b) of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 was deleted by section 5 of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2021. As existing Part 4/further Part 4 tenancies terminate/expire over time or are renewed, it will involve the creation of a new tenancy of unlimited duration in respect of any such rented dwelling. The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2021 also provides that a landlord may grant his or her consent to any existing tenancy being treated as a tenancy of unlimited duration.
While I have no plans to bring further legislative proposals forward at the moment in this area, it should be noted that the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 is kept under close and constant review. In this regard, my Department is in the final stages of a comprehensive review of the private rental sector. This review will take into account the significant regulatory changes over the past several years in the residential rental market, and will report on how our housing system can be enhanced to provide an efficient, affordable, viable, safe and secure framework for both landlords and tenants. The review included a public consultation process including targeted engagement with various stakeholders. The Public Consultation submission form went live on the Department’s website Monday 26 July. Following on from a Stakeholder engagement forum on the review, which was held on 6 July, the closing date for public consultation submissions was extended to 8 August 2023. Work is progressing on finalising this review.
