Written Answers Nos. 342-359
342. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has launched an investigation into the incident (details supplied) that took place in a homeless hostel on 2 August 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41407/23]
View answerMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities.
Issues in relation to the provision of homeless services in Dublin are matters for the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE). However, I have been made aware of the incident referred to. My Department has engaged with the DRHE and is satisfied that the DRHE is taking appropriate action in response to this incident. I have asked to be kept informed of developments.
To assist in ensuring that homeless services provided are of a high standard, a National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) was developed by the DRHE in partnership with the NGO Sector, the HSE, and other key stakeholders. The standards framework is now in place nationally for all local authority and NGO services. Given the increase in contracting private accommodation exclusively for the use of homeless households and to ensure standards in these facilities, the DRHE have adapted the NQSF standards to apply their provisions to private emergency accommodation. The standards contained in “Quality Standards for Private Emergency Accommodation” have been developed around the different service models in Private Emergency Accommodation i.e. different entities providing the facility and the supports. As was the case with the roll-out of the NQSF to NGO services, a developmental approach is being taken.
343. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the Section 28 planning guidelines for Gaeltacht areas will be published; for an update on the interdepartmental group's progress on these guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41443/23]
View answer344. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will consider expanding the working group on planning and housing in Gaeltacht areas, to include representatives from the Irish-language community which has not yet been given this opportunity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41444/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 343 and 344 together.
An Interdepartmental Group (comprising officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media; and Údarás na Gaeltachta) is in place to support and accelerate the ongoing work in relation to planning in Gaeltacht areas. One of the key aims of this group is to ensure that procedures and systems will be tailored as appropriate to facilitate an effective and consistent approach in managing planning related issues in Gaeltacht areas.
The Interdepartmental Group met on 15 December 2022 where it was agreed to commence, under the direction of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media DTCAGSM) , a study in 2023 on the methodology and format for Linguistic Impact Statements as a key elements of future planning guidelines. This study was subsequently commissioned and commenced in February this year. The consultant’s work is nearing completion and will inform draft guidelines for Gaeltacht areas.
Draft planning guidelines for Gaeltacht Areas are currently being finalised for my review and then subsequent mandatory screening under EU law for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), as well as for the purposes of Appropriate Assessment (AA). It is intended that, subject to the outcome of the screening exercises, that draft guidelines will then be published for public consultation in Q4, 2023. All local organisations in Gaeltacht areas and members of the public can submit their views on the draft guidelines during this consultation phase for consideration, before the guidelines are then finalised.
Separately, a Working Group was established in 2021 to examine various aspects of the planning process in all Gaeltacht Areas. Membership of this group is made up of representatives from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Údarás na Gaeltachta and the relevant local authorities with Gaeltacht areas. The Working Group is therefore comprised of the relevant statutory bodies/agencies involved in the planning of Gaeltacht Areas . The Working Group also actively engages with language groups including inviting them to attend meetings of the Working Group and make presentations on their proposals and approach to the development of Gaeltacht areas.
345. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to set out, in tabular form, a list of centres in Dublin that are used exclusively for homeless accommodation on behalf of the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive, and are operated by private operators, from 2020 to date, including the address of each centre; the type of accommodation provided; and the name of the operator; and to set out a schedule of dates on which any of the above centres have been inspected either by the DHRE or by agents acting on its behalf. [41451/23]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual local authorities.
My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to local authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988. 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 including emergency accommodation to address homelessness in each region. The exact amounts spent by local authorities on homeless services, as well as the type and location of emergency accommodation, and the contractual arrangements with service providers are a matter for individual local authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum.
Financial reports from each of the nine homeless regions setting out expenditure on homeless services including on emergency accommodation in the Dublin region are published on my Department's website at the following link;
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.
The National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) for homeless services is in place nationally for local authority and non-government organisation delivered services. Given the increase in contracting private accommodation exclusively for the use of homeless households and to ensure standards in these facilities, the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) have adapted the NQSF standards to apply their provisions to private emergency accommodation. In consultation with the management group of the joint homeless consultative forum, the DRHE are responsible for the administration and operation of services, including the monitoring of standards in emergency accommodation.
The information sought is not routinely gathered by my Department; such information is a matter for the DRHE.
346. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Waterways Ireland has entered into any contracts of confidentiality with land owners, jetty owners or marina owners in the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41497/23]
View answer347. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to supply the number of contracts of confidentiality that were signed between Waterways Ireland and landowners, jetty owners, and marina owners, in tabular form for the years 2013, 2014, 2015,2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41498/23]
View answer353. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of contracts containing confidentiality clauses of non-disclosure agreements that Waterways Ireland have entered into in the years 2021, 2022 and 2023 by county, in tabular form. [41534/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 346, 347 and 353 together.
Waterways Ireland is a North South Body responsible for the management and maintenance of more than 1000km of Ireland's inland waterways. They include the Shannon, Shannon Erne Waterway, Erne System, the Barrow, the Royal and Grand Canals and the Lower Bann Navigation. It is funded by my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.
The information requested in respect confidentiality agreements and non disclosure agreements between Waterways Ireland other parties is not held in my Department, however 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 Waterways Ireland is ceoffice@waterwaysireland.org
348. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many serving members are presently on the Board of Waterways Ireland, and if he will provide contact details for each member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41499/23]
View answer354. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details of the current Board of Waterways Ireland, and where that information is publicly available for members of the public. [41535/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 354 together.
Waterways Ireland is North-South Body under the British-Irish Agreement Act, 1999, and as such was established without a Board. The functions of the Agency are exercised by a Chief Executive and Accounting Officer, under the direction of the North South Ministerial Council and a Monitoring Committee consisting of senior officials form the Sponsor Departments North and South. The Chief Executive is John McDonagh and his contact details are ceoffice@waterwaysireland.org.
349. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the slurry spreading deadline of 1 October 2023, to enable farmers to spread when conditions allow, in view of the extremely wet weather conditions in parts of the country over the past six to eight weeks which has prevented the spread of slurry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41503/23]
View answerI have considered the matter raised and in accordance with the Good Agricultural Practice Regulations (SI 113 of 2022) I have decided, this year, to extend the slurry spreading period to 7 October 2023. The closed period for slurry spreading will therefore start on the 8 October 2023.
350. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether plans to extend the first-home scheme to self-build units can be applied retrospectively to homes currently under construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41507/23]
View answerThe First Home Scheme, launched in July 2022, is a shared equity scheme, designed to help bridge the gap for eligible first-time buyers, eligible homebuyers, and now self-builders, between their deposit and mortgage, and the price of their new home (within price ceilings established across the country).
The expansion of the First Home Scheme to include a self-build product was officially announced on 19 September 2023. As of 20 September, applications from self-build customers can be made online via the First Home website www.firsthomescheme.ie. Further information on the Scheme and criteria for the self-build product is also available on the website.
The scheme cannot be applied retrospectively to homes already under construction.
351. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether there is support available for those who self-build but exceed the help-to-buy threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41508/23]
View answerUnder the Help-to-Buy Scheme, for self build properties, the approved valuation of the home must be €500,000 or less, which includes the cost of the site. This threshold is set by the Minister for Finance. Policy in relation to the Help to Buy Threshold is a matter for the Department of Finance.
The supports available through my Department are set out at www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/0d279-doors-open/. The thresholds for each scheme are set out in the scheme details.
In general, where a self-builds exceeds €500,000 in value there is no specific support available through my Department. However, earlier this year my Department introduced a temporary time limited waiver in respect of development levies, which will also assist those who self build. The Development Contribution Waiver Scheme removed the requirement to pay development levies where on-site work commenced on 25 April 2023 and not later than 24 April 2024 and the completion date must take place not later than 31 December 2025.
352. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Waterways Ireland are intending to bring forward new bye-laws pertaining to the Shannon river and, if so, if he will provide an update on the progression of these and how stakeholders have been consulted thus far; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41523/23]
View answerWaterways Ireland is proposing to update the Shannon Bye-laws and Canal Bye-laws which are more than 30 years old and no longer fit for purpose. The needs of users have changed, environmental landscape and health and safety considerations have developed significantly and the waterways themselves have been transformed over the past thirty years. The purpose of updating the Bye-laws is to make the waterways safer for those using the waterways, blueways and greenways, and continue to provide a wonderful recreational experience for everyone to enjoy.
A public consultation on draft revisions to the Bye-laws commenced on 19 June 2023 and remains open for submissions. The closing date is now extended to 27 October 2023.
The consultation was advertised widely in the national and local press, across social media channels and online. Eight open public consultation Information events were held along the waterways. A series of webinars was held for all elected members of relevant local authorities, the Dáil and Seanad Éireann. Waterways Ireland also held on-line meetings with stakeholders including the Inland Waterways Association Ireland (IWAI), Irish Boat Rental Association (IBRA), Royal Canal Amenity Group (RCAG), Heritage Boat Association (HBA) and others.
The public can learn about the proposed changes and participate in the public consultation in the following ways:
1. Via the Waterways Ireland website www.waterwaysireland.org where the draft Bye-laws and the explanatory notes are available to download.
2. By visiting a public library where copies of the draft Byelaws and explanatory notes are available for review.
The public and interested parties can also make a submission on the draft Bye-laws in the following ways:
• by online survey using the link on the Waterways Ireland website,
• by email to corporate@waterwaysireland.org and/or
• by post to the Inspector of Navigation, The Docks, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.
Following completion of the public consultation, Waterways Ireland will publish the details of all submissions received including a report on the consultation on its website, and will consider and review all submissions received in making changes and amendments to the draft Bye-laws as appropriate.
355. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are rules in place in respect of the rents charged by approved housing bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41536/23]
View answerMy Department provides a range of funding streams, through local authorities, to assist AHBs with the delivery of social housing, examples of which include the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) with a Payment and Availability Agreement, or the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS). The Capital Loan Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) was closed to new applications in 2011.
The terms and conditions, including rent setting, of these funding schemes are set out in my Department's Memorandum on Capital Funding Schemes for the Provision of Rental Accommodation by Approved Housing Bodies (Voluntary and Co - Operative Rental Housing): VHU: 2/02 of May 2002 and related circulars, and the relevant mortgage, loan agreements and Payment and Availability Agreements in force between the relevant local authority and AHB.
356. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if approved housing bodies can apply ‘key money’ or entrance charges to new residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41537/23]
View answerWhere a vacancy arises in a dwelling owned by an AHB, the relevant local authority may nominate suitable households from its housing or transfer list to that body, having regard to the order of priority set out in its allocation scheme.
If an AHB is in receipt of funding under a relevant Exchequer funding scheme, they must comply with the terms and conditions of that scheme. AHBs may also, in consultation with the relevant local authority, make their own nominations for a proportion of tenancies in accordance with the relevant funding rules for tenancies in a housing project funded under a capital scheme. Under such funding schemes (made available through local authorities), the AHB is required to make the property available for social renting for the duration of the mortgage or, as the case may be, the availability agreement. It is a matter for the governing board of an individual AHB to determine how property, which is solely owned by the AHB without any mortgage or debt funding in place, is allocated to tenants in accordance with their constitution. All AHB tenancies are registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) and therefore this channel should be the primary recourse in terms of procedures in any tenant/landlord matters.
As provided for in the Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019, the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) was formally established on 1 February 2021. One of the objectives of AHBRA is to provide further assurances to investors, tenants, the Government and to the sector itself that social housing providers operate in a well-regulated and stable environment.
The Regulator can cancel the registration of an AHB on a number of different grounds. If the Regulator considers it necessary for the protection of tenants of dwellings, the Regulator will, by notice and with consent, require an AHB to transfer such dwellings to another AHB identified by the Regulator or to a Housing Authority if the Regulator considers it appropriate. The Regulator can also seek a High Court Order if it is necessary for the purpose of the protection of the tenants of dwellings provided or managed by an AHB.
It is open to any individual, to raise a concern about an AHB with AHBRA at 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
Question No. 357 taken with No. 328.
358. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on Waterways Ireland’s plans and ongoing work to prepare for floods along the River Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41562/23]
View answerThe Shannon Flood Relief State Agencies Co-ordination Working Group which is chaired by the Office of Public Works (OPW), is the lead agency for the coordination and implementation of Government policy in relation to the management of flood risk in Ireland. This Group has the lead role in developing policy on national flood risk management and the lead role in co-ordinating the actions and activities of Government Departments, the local authorities and other key stakeholders in this area including Waterways Ireland who are members of the Working Group.
Waterways Ireland is a North South Body responsible for the management and maintenance of more than 1000km of Ireland's inland waterways. They include the Shannon, Shannon Erne Waterway, Erne System, the Barrow, the Royal and Grand Canals and the Lower Bann Navigation. It is funded by my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.
The information requested by the Deputy, in respect Waterways Ireland’s plans and ongoing work to the River Shannon navigation is not held in my Department, however 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 Waterways Ireland is: ceoffice@waterwaysireland.org
359. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Bills prepared by his Department in the 33rd Dáil to date; the number and title of those Bills that included a Regulatory Impact Assessment; the title of the RIAs published by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41593/23]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
