Thomas Gould
Question:522. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities can directly employ apprentices; and if so, the number of these employed, by local authority. [40175/23]
View answerLocal Authorities
Questions (522)
Written answers
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 or 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 specific role and function of each individual staff member is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information would be available from individual local authorities.
I am aware that the local government sector participates in the employer-led national apprenticeship programme which falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
Housing Policy
Questions (523)
Thomas Gould
Question:523. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of significant issues with particular flat complexes in Cork constructed in the 1960s under the design of city architect (details supplied) that have now exceeded the estimated life span by over ten years; and if he will consider a specific funding stream to remedy these flat complexes. [40176/23]
View answerWritten answers
The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme, carrying out of responsive repairs and ultimately the regeneration and replacement of social housing, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.
My Department currently funds multi-year programs of large-scale regeneration projects. These projects seek to address the causes of disadvantage through a holistic programme of physical, social and economic regeneration. The regeneration projects being funded by my Department target the country’s most disadvantaged communities, including those defined by the most extreme social exclusion, unemployment and anti-social behaviour.
On completion of feasibility studies should the local authority wish to submit a funding application for the regeneration of the flat complexes referenced in the Question under the Regeneration programme my Department would be happy to consider such submissions.
Since 2014, Exchequer funding has been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. This funding was initially introduced to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted at ensuring minimal turnaround and re-let times for local authority vacant stock.
My Department will provide €31 million in funding to support the return of 2,300 vacant local authority homes this year. Of this, €1,397,000 has been allocated to Cork City Council to remediate 127 vacant properties and €367,641 has been allocated for Planned Maintenance.
Question No. 524 answered with Question No. 403.
Question No. 525 answered with Question No. 431.
Departmental Strategies
Questions (526)
Carol Nolan
Question:526. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details on the measures his Department has taken to implement specific action points (details supplied) of the action plan to support the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021. [40235/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is strongly committed to the Government’s National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy and to supporting staff who are members of LGBTQIA+ communities. Our People Strategy was developed in partnership with staff and sets out the strategic priorities, objectives and actions through which we wish to engage, support, develop and lead our staff. Actions include a commitment to enhance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Additionally, to further demonstrate my Department’s commitment to ensuring a fully inclusive workplace for all our staff, we have commenced work on an internal Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy. This policy will be developed in conjunction with our staff.
My Department has a LGBTQIA+ and Allies Staff Network which is a resource for all staff, regardless of sexual orientation, and aims to ensure a mutual understanding of LGBTQIA+ matters and concerns. Initiatives such as the Network align with and reflect the core values of my Department and aim to promote respect, dignity, safety, and equality in the workplace. The Network has strong support from our Management Board, who demonstrates their commitment to promoting equality through regular attendance of many of its members at Network meetings.
We host regular events round LGBTQIA+ issues. We facilitated staff members and their families in attending the Dublin Pride parade this year and flew the Pride flag at all Headquarters buildings, and several of the larger National Parks across the country.
We comply with all central policy and guidance. As required, my Department sets out in its Strategic Plan an assessment of the human rights and equality issues it believes to be relevant to its functions and purpose, and the actions it is taking or proposes to take to address those issues. Details of areas to which these human rights and equality considerations apply are available to view at this link DHLGH Statement of Strategy 2021-2025.
Question No. 527 answered with Question No. 502.
Housing Policy
Questions (528)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:528. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of requests by each county and to each local authority for the right to first refusal since the ending of the eviction ban on 31 March 2023; if he will expedite the legislation to deal with such requests where landlords are unable to progress the sale of a private rented property to a tenant since the eviction ban ended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40319/23]
View answerWritten answers
On 7 March 2023, the Government agreed to develop legislation to give tenants the opportunity to buy their home including the development of a legislative based “first right of refusal”. Detailed and complex work has been ongoing in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General to progress the implementation of the Government decision.
I updated Government on the progress on developing proposals for the necessary legislation on 11 July and Government approval of the necessary General Scheme of a Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill will be sought in the coming weeks, with a view to priority legal drafting and publication .
It is important to stress that tenants are already availing of opportunities to purchase or indeed to remain as long-term tenants in their home under the current measures which are in place such as the Local Authority Home Loan, the expanded First Home Scheme for Tenants, the local authority’s Tenant in Situ Scheme, and the Housing Agency’s Cost Rental Tenant in Situ Scheme.
Landlords are already choosing to sell homes directly to tenants and to local authorities and the Housing Agency – there is no impediment to this - and there have been successful applications made under each of the above named schemes.
As a formal right of first refusal does not currently exist in law at present, the particular detailed information sought does not exist.
Housing Schemes
Questions (529)
Dara Calleary
Question:529. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a person can apply for the local authority home loan if ground works have already started. [40330/23]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.Applications for a Local Authority Home Loan for the purposes of funding a self-build property will only be considered in circumstances where the security property in question is a new construction, i.e. properties that are part-built or otherwise commenced at the time of making a Local Authority Home Loan application will not be eligible for consideration.The final decision on loan approval is a matter for each local authority and its Credit Committee on a case-by-case basis. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the statutory credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure consistency of treatment for all applicants. Loan applicants who are dissatisfied with a loan application decision of a local authority Credit Committee may appeal that decision to the local authority. Each local authority will have an appeals procedure to allow dissatisfied applicant(s) to appeal a loan application decision of the Credit Committee.
Housing Provision
Questions (530)
Ivana Bacik
Question:530. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the high levels of vacancy in local authority social housing units; his plans to ensure that social housing is allocated efficiently and in a timely manner to those on the social housing list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40338/23]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Exchequer funding has been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. This funding is increasingly targeted at ensuring minimal turnaround and re-let times for local authority vacant stock. This programme is in addition to the funding provided through the local authorities own resources.
Choice-Based Letting (CBL) is a method that can be used by local authorities to allocate social housing, whereby available social housing stock is let by being openly advertised, allowing qualified applicants to ‘bid’ for or ‘register an interest’ in available homes. Applicants have to act on their own initiative to respond to adverts and bid for dwellings that they would like to live in, rather than waiting for an Authority to offer them a dwelling. This approach offers more choice, transparency and involvement for applicant households in selecting a new home, thereby reducing the likelihood of a refusal, improving re-let times and helping to build sustainable tenancies and stable communities.
Given the benefits offered by CBL, the Department will continue to liaise with the local authorities to support as wide a roll-out of CBL as possible across the country and to explore the feasibility of a national online CBL system.
Departmental Reports
Questions (531)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:531. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of all studies, research and reports commissioned by his Department that were outsourced, in each year since the formation of this Government, in tabular form; the names of the companies to which each study, research and report was outsourced; the total cost for each; the number of reports finalised and presented to him that have yet to be released by his Department; the dates on which any such reports yet to be released were first provided to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40374/23]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
Please see the attached file for deferred response to PQ 40374/23. Deferred PQ40374
Emergency Accommodation
Questions (532)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:532. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the annual capital spend by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive in each year since 2005 of acquiring new emergency accommodation to increase the provision of emergency homeless accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40416/23]
View answerWritten answers
The responsibility for the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual housing authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis with a lead authority in place for each region. A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. It is a matter for the management group of the consultative forum to determine the type and range of homeless services to address homelessness in each region.
Capital expenditure in the Dublin region is a matter for the Dublin Region Homeless Executive. My Department does not collate the information requested.
Emergency Accommodation
Questions (533)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:533. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the average current expenditure by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive in each year since 2005 of leasing or renting emergency accommodation to increase the provision of emergency homeless accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40417/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988. Under Exchequer funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Furthermore, housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of the Exchequer funding arrangements provided by my Department.
While responsibility for the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual housing authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis with a lead authority in place for each region. A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. It is a matter for the management group of the consultative forum to determine the type and range of homeless services to address homelessness in each region. The exact amounts spent by housing authorities on homeless services, as well as the type and operation of emergency accommodation including expenditure on leasing or renting emergency accommodation is a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum.
Financial reports from each of the homeless regions including the Dublin region, setting out total expenditure on homeless services including on emergency accommodation are published on my Department's website at the following link;
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.
Recycling Policy
Questions (534)
Holly Cairns
Question:534. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of public water bottle refill stations which have been installed to date, by location, in tabular form; and to outline plans for further installations or expansions of the scheme. [40426/23]
View answerWritten answers
Local authorities have installed drinking water fountains within their functional areas over recent years. My Department does not hold data on the specific number of public water fountains currently in place across the country.
Uisce Éireann is engaging directly with local authorities on the installation of new water fountains as part of a pilot project. A review of the installation process and data on the actual usage rates will be undertaken to inform any future full national program for water fountains. Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for Uisce Éireann.
Separately, the National Federation Group Water Scheme (NFGWS) installed four water refill stations (as part of a project funded by my Department) in Group Water Schemes (GWSs) in counties Clare, Galway, Laois, and Offaly in 2022. Following its initial success the NFGWS are planning to install a further sixteen units under this project in 2023.
Details of the water refill stations installed by GWS as part of pilot project in 2022, funded by my Department:
|
County |
Group Water Scheme |
Location |
|
Clare |
Kilmaley Inagh GWS |
52.822312, -9.118319 |
|
Galway |
Milltown GWS |
53.612860, -8.898038 |
|
Laois |
Ballacolla GWS |
52.881584, -7.450443 |
|
Offaly |
Tubber GWS |
53.374138, -7.657768 |
Details of GWSs participating in the 2023 project, funded by the DHLGH:
|
County |
Group Water Scheme |
|
Carlow |
Ballinabranna GWS |
|
Cavan |
Dhuish GWS |
|
Cavan |
Gowlan GWS |
|
Clare |
Dysart Toonagh GWS |
|
Cork |
Walterstown GWS |
|
Galway |
Peterswell Castledaly GWS |
|
Galway |
Gallagh GWS |
|
Kilkenny |
Ballycallan GWS |
|
Laois |
The Heath GWS |
|
Limerick |
Knockainey GWS |
|
Mayo |
Killeen GWS |
|
Mayo |
Callow Lake GWS |
|
Offaly |
Clareen GWS |
|
Roscommon |
Corracreigh GWS |
|
Sligo |
Drum East GWS |
|
Tipperary |
Ardcroney GWS |
The following table includes a list of GWSs that have water refill stations installed through other initiatives outside of Department funded project project:
|
County |
Group Water Scheme |
Number of Units |
|
Cavan |
Crosserlough GWS |
1 |
|
Galway |
Glinsk Creggs GWS |
2 |
|
Mayo |
Lough Carra GWS |
2 |
|
Monaghan |
Killanny Reaghstown GWS |
1 |
|
Roscommon |
Mid Roscommon GWS |
2 |
Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 0818-578578.
Defective Building Materials
Questions (535)
Joe McHugh
Question:535. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on discussions between the banking industry and his own Department in relation to support for Mica-affected homeowners;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40456/23]
View answerWritten answers
There have been a number of engagements between my Department and the the Banking and Payments Federation (BPFI) on specific issues raised by Defective Concrete Block homeowners to see what can be done to address their concerns.
In this regard I met with the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland on 2 February 2023. At the meeting, I stressed the need for a fair and consistent approach to be taken by the banking sector with customers dealing with the effects of defective concrete blocks on their houses. Further meetings at official level took place on 18 July 2023, 11 August, 2023 and most recently on 22 August 2023. My Department will continue to engage with the BPFI over the coming weeks.
Vacant Properties
Questions (536)
Niamh Smyth
Question:536. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of croí cónaithe vacant property refurbishment grants that have been approved; the reason that an application (details supplied) has taken so long to be approved by Cavan County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40464/23]
View answerWritten answers
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.
The grant is available in respect of vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007, in towns, villages, cities and rural areas.
My Department publishes data on applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis, which can be accessed at the following link: Vacancy grant statistics.
In order for applications to be processed in a timely manner, all required information should be submitted as part of the application. Where this does not happen, the local authority must revert to the applicant seeking further information in order to reach a decision.
Any inquires in respect of individual grant applications should be directed to the relevant local authority.
Question No. 537 answered with Question No. 436.