Tuesday, 10 Oct 2023

Written Answers Nos. 303-318

Housing Schemes

Questions (303)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

303. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the proposed housing development at Ardscoil Mhuire, Gweedore, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44025/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

My Department has issued final, post-tender funding approval to Donegal County Council's proposal to develop 29 new social homes at Bunbeg, Gweedore, (Ard Scoil Mhuire).

Further information with regard to the project is available from Donegal County Council.

Mortgage Interest Rates

Questions (304)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

304. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he is aware that people with outstanding loans of relatively small amounts are being offered mortgages with proportionately large reductions because of the outstanding loan under the local authority home loans scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44041/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for those 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.

To be eligible for a Local Authority Home Loan an applicant must meet the income eligibility, be of good credit standing and have sufficient repayment capacity to service the mortgage offered.

If a person applies for a loan, they will be subject to the same credit assessment process that applies to all applicants, which is carried out in accordance with the credit policy for the scheme. The Housing Agency provides a central assessment service to local authorities and credit checks are undertaken as part of that assessment process. This assessment calculates an applicant's mortgage repayment capacity. Income required to service outstanding debts cannot be used to repay a mortgage, so generally persons in this situation end up being offered a reduced mortgage amount. 

The final decision on Local Authority Home Loan applications is a matter for the relevant local authority. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches in the best interests of both borrowers and the lending local authority.

More details can be found on localauthorityhomeloan.ie/

Defective Building Materials

Questions (305, 310)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

305. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when his Department officials will establish the banking working group to engage with the banks and financial institutions and assist families affected by defective concrete blocks; if the homeowner representatives that have engaged with all of the stakeholders, including the Minister for Finance, the Central Bank and the Banking and Payments Federation, over recent months will serve on this working group. [44048/23]

Thomas Pringle

Question:

310. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if will establish a working group that will include the banking and insurance sectors to deal with the defective blocks scheme; if residents will be represented on the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44172/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 310 together.

There have been a number of engagements between my Department and the Banking and Payments Federation (BPFI) on specific issues raised by Defective Concrete Block (DCB) homeowners to see what can be done to address their concerns. I am aware also that homeowners have engaged directly on a bilateral basis with other stakeholders including the BPFI and Insurance Ireland, on matters of mutual interest.

I have established an Implementation Steering Group to work through issues around the DCB scheme as they arise and make recommendations if further changes to the regulations or guidelines on the Scheme are needed. The Group comprises the relevant local authorities, my Department, the Housing Agency, and the Homeowner's Liaison Officer and has met in August and September with the next meeting scheduled for this week. This Group will report directly to me and will prepare a report on the first six months of operation of the scheme.

My Department will continue to engage with the BPFI and others over the coming weeks. The appropriate format for engagement going forward with a wider group of stakeholders including homeowners will be considered with due cognisance being given to the existing consultative fora.

Local Authorities

Questions (306)

Alan Dillon

Question:

306. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when Mayo County Council can expect to receive documents (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44062/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I can confirm that I plan to publish the documents referred to in the coming weeks.

Questions Nos. 307 and 308 answered with Question No. 283.

Departmental Properties

Questions (309)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

309. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the full complement of buildings and lands owned by his Department, or by agencies under the aegis of his Department in County Clare; if they are currently in use, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44161/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

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

The below table shows the full complement of buildings and lands owned by my Department in County Clare.

				Return for Property Management Unit, NPWS
No	Folio	Land/Building	Registered Owner	Comments
1	CE3319	Land	Minister for Housing, Local Government & Heritage	Managed for conservation purposes
2	CE18375F	Building	Minister for Housing, Local Government & Heritage	Subject of live planning application to build new Burren National Park visitor centre
3	CE20252	Land	Minister for Housing, Local Government & Heritage	Subject of live planning application to build new Burren National Park visitor centre
4	CE25542F	Land and Building	Minister for Housing, Local Government & Heritage	Subject of live planning application to build new Burren National Park visitor centre
5	*CE1315 Plan 1315_7	Land	Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage	Part of Burren National Park
6	*CE1315 Plan 1315_8	Land	Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage	Part of Burren National Park
7	*CE1335 Plan 1335_5	Land	Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage	Part of Burren National Park
8	*CE30265F Plan 32	Land	Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage	Part of Burren National Park
9	*0.0848 hectares- part of CE30351F Plan 31	Land	Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage	Part of Burren National Park
10	*CE1315 Plan 10	Land	Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage	Part of Burren National Park
11	*CE1335 Plan 10	Land	Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage	Part of Burren National Park
12	*CE30257F Plan 10	Land	Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage	Part of Burren National Park

*Registration is still pending upon completion with Tailte Éireann in relation to this land.

The below table shows the National Monuments in ownership and guardianship of my Department in County Clare.

NAME	DESCRIPTION	TOWNLAND	COUNTY	LEG STATUS
Corcomore Abbey	Abbey (Cistercian)	Abbey West	Clare	Ownership
Ballyallaban	Ringforts	Ballyallaban	Clare	Ownership
Tau Cross (Cross Inneenboy)	Cross	Ballycashen, Roughan	Clare	Ownership
Ballyhickey	Wedge Tomb	Ballyhickey	Clare	Ownership
Brian Boru's Fort	Ringfort	Ballyvally	Clare	Ownership
Bunratty Castle	Castle	Bunratty East	Clare	Guardianship
Caheraphuca	Wedge Tomb	Caheraphuca	Clare	Ownership
Cahermacnaghten	Cashel	Cahermacnaghten	Clare	Ownership
Canon Island Abbey	Abbey (Augustinian)	Canon Island	Clare	Ownership
Clareabbey	Abbey (Augustinian)	Clareabbey	Clare	Ownership
Dromore Castle	Castle	Dromore	Clare	Ownership
Drumcliffe	Church & Round Tower	Drumcliffe	Clare	Ownership
Ennis Friary	Friary (Franciscan)	Ennis	Clare	Ownership
Gleninagh Castle	Castle	Gleninagh	Clare	Ownership
Inchicronan Abbey	Abbey (Augustinian)	Inchicronan	Clare	Ownership
Inishcaltra	Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Site	Inishcaltra or Holy Island	Clare	Ownership
Kilfenora	Church	Kilcarragh	Clare	Ownership
Kilfenora Abbey	Friary (Franciscan)	Kilfenora	Clare	Ownership
Kilfenora	Cathedral & Crosses	Kilfenora	Clare	Ownership
St. Molua's Church	Church	Killaloe	Clare	Ownership
Leamaneah Castle	Castle	Leamaneah North	Clare	Guardianship
Dysert O' Dea	Church, Round Tower & Cross	Mollaneen	Clare	Ownership
Mooghaun	Hillfort	Mooghaun South	Clare	Ownership
Killone Abbey	Abbey (Augustinian)	Newhall	Clare	Ownership
Oughtmama	Three Churches	Oughtmama	Clare	Ownership
Ruan	Church	Portlecka	Clare	Ownership
Poulnabrone	Portal Tomb	Poulnabrone	Clare	Guardianship
Quin Abbey	Friary (Franciscan)	Quin	Clare	Ownership
Carrigaholt Castle	Castle	Rinemackaderrig	Clare	Guardianship
Scattery Island	Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Site	Scattery Island	Clare	Ownership
St. Flannan's Church	Church	Shantraud	Clare	Ownership
Slievenaglasha	Wedge Tomb	Slievenaglasha	Clare	Ownership
Temple Cronan	Church	Termon	Clare	Ownership
Magh Adhair	Inauguration Site	Toonagh	Clare	Ownership
Tullycommon	Wedge Tomb	Tullycommon	Clare	Ownership
Cashlaungarr	Cashel	Tullycommon	Clare	Ownership
Cahercommaun	Cashel	Tullycommon	Clare	Ownership

The information requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the individual bodies concerned. Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for each agency is set out in the following table:

An Bord Pleanála	[e-mail]
An Fóram Uisce	[e-mail]
Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority	[e-mail]
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum	[e-mail]
Ervia	[e-mail]
Gas Networks Ireland	[e-mail]
Heritage Council	[e-mail]
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency	[e-mail]
Housing Finance Agency	[e-mail]
Land Development Agency	[e-mail]
Local Government Management Agency	[e-mail]
Maritime Area Regulatory Authority	[e-mail]
National Oversight and Audit Commission	[e-mail]
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee	[e-mail]
Office of the Planning Regulator	[e-mail]
Pyrite Resolution Board	[e-mail]
Residential Tenancies Board	[e-mail]
Tailte Éireann	[e-mail]
Uisce Éireann	[e-mail]
Valuation Tribunal	[e-mail]
Waterways Ireland	[e-mail]

Question No. 310 answered with Question No. 305.

Housing Provision

Questions (311)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

311. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applicants, per county, in need of housing suitable on medical or disability grounds based upon a HMD 1 form, in tabular form. [44215/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) outlines details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority area. The purpose of the SSHA is to capture the total number of households qualified for social housing support across the country whose social housing need has not yet been met, in order to better understand the level of need for such support. The SSHA sets out the categories of need under which the households concerned have applied for social housing supports, including those with a disability and exceptional medical needs.

The 2022 SSHA may be accessed at the following link  www.housingagency.ie/publications/summary-social-housing-assessments-ssha-2022 

Housing Provision

Questions (312)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

312. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing developments and total housing units approved under strategic housing developments by An Bord Pleanála following rejection by Longford County Council previously. [44218/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

An 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.

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 [e-mail].

In order to be of assistance, my Department requested the information from the Board who have advised that they made a decision on one SHD application within the Longford County Council local authority area in September of this year.

My Department does not hold the information requested on whether this development was previously subject to a separate application to the local authority. 

The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 and the Planning and Development (Strategic Housing Development) Regulations 2017 provided that planning applications for strategic housing developments (SHD) could be made directly to An Bord Pleanála.

Through the Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Act 2021, Large-scale Residential Development (LRD) arrangements came into effect on 17 December 2021 with the intention of replacing SHD applications with LRD applications.

These arrangements restore the two-stage planning process, with decision making for Large-scale Residential Development (LRD) type applications returning to the local planning authority in the first instance, with the right of appeal to the Board.

Housing Schemes

Questions (313)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

313. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications received under the tenant purchase scheme per local authority area; the number refused; and the number approved following the change in criteria for the scheme, in tabular form. [44222/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, or joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme. The scheme was amended in February 2022 to include a reduction in the minimum reckonable income required to be eligible under the scheme from €15,000 to €12,500. This ensured older tenants, whose only income might be the contributory or non-contributory State pension, could qualify to buy their homes if they had the financial means to do so. The time tenants had to be in receipt of social housing supports to qualify under the scheme was also revised, increasing from one to ten years. 

My Department does not require local authorities to report on the number of the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme applications received, approved, or refused. This information may be sought from the local authorities directly.

Statistical information on the number of houses sold under the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme from 2015 until the end of 2022 may be found on my Department’s website, and can be located at the following link: gov.ie - Other local authority housing scheme statistics (www.gov.ie) 

Disability Services

Questions (314)

Verona Murphy

Question:

314. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the financial supports that are available to employers and workplaces to support the employment of persons with a disability, particularly for the provision of lifts in workplaces for employees who are wheelchair bound; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44042/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

My Department provides a wide range of supports for jobseekers and existing employees with disabilities. These supports include the Reasonable Accommodation Fund.

The Reasonable Accommodation Fund is comprised of four grants which were designed to assist jobseekers and existing employees with disabilities, and to encourage employers in the private sector to recruit Jobseekers with disabilities.

The Workplace Equipment/Adaptation Grant funds premises adaptations, additional equipment and assistive technology training. A maximum of €6,350 can be given towards the cost of adaptations to premises or equipment. Applications in excess of this sum are considered on an individual basis up to a maximum of €9,523 if specialist training for assistive technology is required.

The Job Interview Interpreter Grant funds an interpreter to accompany a person with hearing loss or speech impairment to a job interview and/or induction training.

The Personal Reader Grant funds a personal reader to assist someone who is blind or visually impaired in their work.

The Employee Retention Grant helps employers retain employees who acquire a disability, funds identification of accommodations, training or re-training.

I recently published a review of the Reasonable Accommodation Fund and another scheme called the Disability Awareness Support Scheme. The review made a number of recommendations including that they be amalgamated into a single flexible scheme and that the scheme is expanded to the community and voluntary sector. Work on implementation of these recommendations is underway and it is hoped to launch a reformed scheme in Q1 2024.

I hope this information is of assistance.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (315)

Brendan Howlin

Question:

315. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the ceasing of the payment of the State pension to a person (details supplied) who suffers from dementia and did not respond to questions posed by her Department due to the condition; if she accepts that the questions asked have now been responded to; if she acknowledges that any delay in restoring this person's pension is imposing severe financial hardship on them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43459/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned is in receipt of an increase for a qualified adult on their spouse’s State Pension (Contributory).

An increase for qualified adult is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed the means limit. Where a qualified adult has weekly means in excess of €310 per week, this exceeds the means limit and there is no entitlement to an IQA payment.

As part of my Department’s commitment to ensuring that claimants are receiving their full and correct entitlements, ongoing reviews are carried out.

The Increase for the Qualified Adult was reviewed on 28 July 2023. A reminder was issued on 25 August 2023 advising the person concerned of the need to complete and return the form. As there was no response to the reminder, the payment was suspended on 29 September 2023.

I can confirm that my Department received the completed form on 2 October 2023. Following completion of the review, a letter issued to the person concerned informing them that their payment has been reinstated with no change to the rate payable.

Arrears of one week and the payment of the fuel lump sum will issue to the person concerned on Friday 6 October 2023.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Fuel Poverty

Questions (316)

Bríd Smith

Question:

316. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to extend the fuel allowance to jobs initiative scheme participants in Budget 2024, given their very low income and struggles with spiralling cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43468/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €412 million in 2023. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.

The Job Initiative Scheme provided full-time employment for people 35 years of age or over who had been unemployed for five years or more. Since November 2004, there has been no recruitment to the Scheme. Since January 2004, participants on the Job Initiative Scheme cannot retain their entitlement to Fuel Allowance while participating on the scheme. This decision was taken because, at the time, the minimum rate of payment to participants on the scheme was significantly higher than the rate of qualifying Social Welfare payments.

The minimum rate of payment to a Job Initiative participant is still significantly higher than most Social Welfare primary payments, including payments such as Illness Benefit and Jobseeker's Benefit, which are also non-qualifying payments for Fuel Allowance.

Any decision to provide participants on the Job Initiative Scheme with access to the Fuel Allowance payment would have to be considered in the context of budgetary negotiations. However, any such decision would change the targeted nature of the Fuel Allowance scheme, as it would be awarding the payment to people in full-time employment who are not in receipt of a qualifying Social Protection payment.

Finally, the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an essential need which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (317)

Michael Ring

Question:

317. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when a claim (details supplied) will be dealt with; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43492/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.

I can confirm that my Department originally received an application for DA from the person concerned on 21 June 2023. The person concerned application was referred to a Social Welfare Inspector on 11 July 2023 for a report on the person’s means and circumstances.

On 11 September 2023, the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the Deciding Officer in order to make a decision on their DA eligibility.

Based on the evidence supplied, their application for DA was disallowed on the grounds that the person concerned failed to provide sufficient information to enable the Deciding Officer to determine their means assessment.

The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 29 September 2023, and they were given the right to a review or an appeal.

To date, the outstanding information has not been provided and no request for a review or an appeal has been received.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Low Pay Commission

Questions (318)

Ged Nash

Question:

318. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline, in view of the Low Pay Commission's recommendation that the hourly rate of the national minimum wage should rise to €12.70 in 2024, the estimated full-year cost of adjusting PRSI rates to avoid a cliff edge for full-time workers on the national minimum wage and employers in terms of any impact on them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43508/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

At the time of writing, the Low Pay Commission's 2023 report has yet to be published and no Government decision has been made on increasing the national minimum wage in 2024.

However, if the national minimum wage were to increase from €11.30 to €12.70 per hour in 2024, the estimated additional full-year cost of adjusting the employer PRSI threshold from €441 to €496 per week to avoid the impact on employers from the national minimum wage increase is €53.6 million.

It should be noted that this cost would be somewhat offset by the increased employee and employer PRSI payable on the higher hourly national minimum wage of €12.70 per hour.

Full time workers on the national minimum wage would not be impacted in the same regard as employers as such workers already pay the full 4% employee (class A) PRSI rate and will continue to do so, albeit on the higher hourly wage.

This estimate does not take into account any possible changes in employer behaviour arising from an increase in the national minimum wage.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.