Written Answers Nos. 337-352
337. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the income thresholds for those applying for the Rebuild Ireland Local Authority Home Loan under the fresh start principle; if there was a change in this rate in Budget 2024; if he will consider an increase in the threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46555/23]
View answerThe Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan was replaced by the Local Authority Home Loan on 4 January 2022. 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. The loan is available nationwide from local authorities for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.
Single applicants must not have earned greater than €70,000 annual gross income in the previous tax years, while joint applicants must not have earned greater than €85,000 annual combined gross income in the previous tax year.
The income limits for Fresh Start applicants are the same as for all other applicants. The scheme income limits were unchanged in Budget 2024.
I will continue to keep the Local Authority Home Loan under review to ensure it remains a genuine and relevant support for people who want to own their own home.
Further information on the scheme is available on the dedicated website localauthorityhomeloan.ie/.
338. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the context of the Local Government Reform Act 2014, if he will provide a schedule of functions of his Department that have been devolved in full or in part, or are in the process of being devolved in full or in part; the date on which the devolutions commenced; and if he will indicate whether any function was returned to the Department subsequently. [46585/23]
View answerThe Local Government Reform Act 2014 provided for major reorganisation of local government structures and the strengthening of governance and accountability in local government. Among other things it created an integrated county/sub-county relationship, with the establishment of a comprehensive and modern system of municipal governance; replaced existing regional structures with new consolidated regional assemblies; and provided for further devolution of functions from central level to local government.
Under the 2014 Act, important new functions were brought within the local government sector in the areas of local and community development, particularly through the Local and Community Development structures which enhance strategic planning and coordination in local and community development programmes; economic development generally, through a clearer and stronger statutory role for local authorities, including rural development and the formulation and implementation of local economic and community plans; and Enterprise support in the transfer of local responsibility from separate county enterprise boards to local authorities in the form of the Local Enterprise Offices.
As well as providing for new regional assemblies, the Act also included specific provisions for the development of new Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies to replace the Regional Planning Guidelines. Since then, the enacted Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019 contains a number of new powers for local authorities in respect of the levying and collection of rates, while the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 devolves a range of new marine planning functions to local authorities.
It is important to note that local authorities are entirely independent corporate entities, having full responsibility under law for the performance of their functions and the discharge of their governance and other responsibilities. Local authorities perform over 1,000 functions and services on behalf of some 30 central government Departments and public bodies under agreement, by convention and/or by legislative underpinning. At central government level, the locus of responsibility or accountability is determined by the nature of the particular policy or activity involved, not by the fact that it involves a local authority role per se.
In that regard, I, and my Department, have responsibility in relation to the local government system generally and for certain specific functional or service areas such as planning, housing and fire services. Responsibility in relation to policy, funding, legislation, and general oversight and accountability at national level in respect of a number of functions of local authorities’ rests with other relevant Ministers and Departments.
My Department does not maintain a schedule of the nature referred to in the question. However, the Local Government Management Agency maintains a register of services delivered by local authorities which can be found at the following link: services.localgov.ie/en-ie/Home/intro.
339. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 312 and 332 of 17 October 2023, how the figures contained in the response regarding LDA capitalisation relate to the figures of €663,850 million for 2023 and €990,137 million for 2024 as set out in the votes and non-voted capital expenditure table in page 224 of the Budget 2024 expenditure report; and if these figures relate to ISIF capitalisation or LDA borrowing. [46609/23]
View answerThe figures on page 244 of the 2024 Budget Expenditure Report refer to estimated expenditure for 2023 and 2024 and they relate to ISIF capitalisation. The figure of €663,850m for 2023 was submitted as an estimate figure for non-voted expenditure to my Department in November 2022. In 2023, I have approved €525m which was transferred to the LDA in two tranches in H1 2023.
The figure of €990,137m for 2024 was submitted to my Department by the LDA as an estimate figure for non-voted expenditure in October 2023.
341. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether sufficient funding has been provided in Budget 2024 for the redress schemes for apartment and duplex defects and for Mica and Pyrite. [46629/23]
View answerBudget 2024 provides funding of €70 million for the remediation of homes affected by building defects. This money will fund the operation of the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme and support homeowners with dwellings damaged by the use of defective blocks during 2024 along with providing supports for the remediation of fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes.
In accordance with best practice, funding requirements are kept under continuous review but I expect that the amount allocated will be sufficient to adequately fund the Scheme next year.
343. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the marine protected areas Bill will be published; how the legislation will apply to projects that applied for planning permission prior to the Bill’s publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46633/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to achieving 30% Marine Protected Area (MPA) coverage of Ireland's Maritime Area by 2030, in line with the Programme for Government, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and a number of International initiatives such as the UN post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. My Department has been working in close collaboration with Parliamentary drafters over the past months to develop the Marine Protected Area (MPA) Bill. I anticipate that the Bill will be published before the end of the year.
This proposed legislation will provide us with the tools to achieve the target for protected areas while, along with the Maritime Area Planning Act, ensuring sustainable use of the sea.
All human activities, whether licensed through the maritime planning process or through fisheries regulations or otherwise, must be carried out sustainably. This means that they must meet the applicable environmental standards which, inside the marine protected areas, can be higher for the protection of marine species and habitats. My Department is working to ensure that the Bill aligns fully with the existing maritime planning regime.
344. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when Mayo County Council will receive the Framework Document to enable it to submit the bids request for the rural water programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46637/23]
View answerI can confirm that I plan to publish the framework for the new Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme in the coming weeks. Local authorities, including Mayo County Council, will then be invited to submit applications for funding for priority projects in their areas.
346. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider a policy change to Government’s various assistance schemes for first-time buyers based on a policy matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46681/23]
View answerHousing for All delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system and my Department has introduced a number of initiatives to support the delivery of affordable homes for purchase by first time buyers.
The Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme (LAAPS) was introduced to assist first-time buyers purchasing Local Authority-delivered new homes. This scheme uses an equity share model to give eligible purchasers the opportunity of home ownership at a significant discount. The assessment of eligibility and the level of support available is household-specific, so purchasers are only supported when they need this assistance to afford the home.
The First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, employs a similar equity share model in order to support the purchase of new homes in the private market. Full details of the First Home Scheme are available at: www.firsthomescheme.ie.
The First Home Scheme Ireland DAC (Designated Activity Company) was established for the purposes of managing and overseeing the First Home Scheme on behalf of all participants. Any policy change or expansion of the Scheme would be a matter for consideration by the First Home Scheme DAC and its Board. In relation to HTB and First Home, the FHS can fund up to 30% of the property purchase price or build cost (for Self-builds), with this amount reduced to 20% if the applicant is availing of the Help to Buy Scheme (HTB).
The Help to Buy (HTB) incentive is a scheme to assist first-time purchasers with the deposit they need to buy or build a new house or apartment. The Help-to-Buy scheme is administered by the Department of Finance and any development or expansion of the scheme comes under the remit of that Department. Details of HTB can be found on Revenue’s website: www.revenue.ie.
As Minister, I continue to consider all options that support innovation and the delivery of affordable homes under Housing for All.
347. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the subvention to local authorities for void housing units will be reduced from 25% to 20%; if so, the rationale for reducing the subvention; his views on the overall reduction from 65% subvention in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46693/23]
View answerThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities and elected members have a very important role to play in this regard by making adequate budgetary provision for housing repairs and cyclical maintenance utilising the housing rental income available to them as part of the annual budgetary process.
Since 2014, Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to supplement the local authority funding available for the preparation of vacant properties for re-letting. The funding was introduced originally to tackle long-term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted to support authorities to ensure minimal turnaround and re-let times for vacant stock.
The emphasis of the programme is on minimum refurbishment works to comply with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 to ensure quick turnaround and re-letting times. There is no specific subvention at 25% as per the question and therefore, the question of a reduction does not arise. Under the Voids programme, local authorities select properties for the programme and there is no upper cap on the amount that can be spent on an individual unit, providing the total amount averaged across all dwellings submitted by a local authority does not exceed €11,000.
From 2020 to the end of 2022, expenditure of some €117.5 million has been recouped to local authorities under the Voids Programme which funded the return to productive use of 8,339 social homes nationwide.
Furthermore, where local authorities complete the suite of works applicable to the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme, additional funding to a maximum of €48,850 is available. This represents a significant increase in the funding available to local authorities when compared to funding available in 2018.
Given the very significant investment into the Voids Programme over recent years, local authorities should now be in a strong position to continue the transition to a strategic and informed planned maintenance approach to stock management and maintenance.
To that end, my Department and local authorities are working to transition from a largely response and voids-based approach to housing stock management and maintenance, to a planned maintenance approach as referenced in Housing for All, policy objective 20.6. This will require the completion of stock condition surveys by all local authorities and the subsequent development of strategic and informed work programmes in response.
349. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated annual, total first and full-year cost to increase equally the guardian payment by 100% over three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46063/23]
View answerThe estimated full year total cost of increasing Guardians payments by 100% is €18.3 million. If this was divided over 3 years the additional yearly cost would be about €6.1 million per year.
These costings is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of beneficiaries.
350. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine the current difficulties being experienced by a person (details supplied) trying to renew their public services card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46079/23]
View answerThe person concerned attended my Department’s Newbridge Intreo Centre on 16 October 2023 to renew their Public Services Card (PSC). A new card will issue within the next 10 days to their home address.
The PSC online renewal service requires customers to provide a photograph which has been taken in the last six months and is compliant with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. The service was introduced to facilitate renewals during the public health restrictions related to the Covid 19 pandemic, and complements the in-person PSC renewal service. The in-person renewal service does not encounter difficulties with photograph quality due to the appropriate standard of camera and lighting equipment available on site. My Department is aware that some customers using the online renewal service have experienced difficulties when submitting their photograph. Work to improve the photograph acceptance process for customers who opt to use the online service is planned.
My Department is currently experiencing high levels of demand for Public Service Cards and PSC renewals. In general, customers are dealt with on a walk in basis to allow the maximum use of available resources.
Where a customer with a disability, or a difficulty queuing, wishes to avail of a walk-in PSC service, they can request an appointment outside of the busy walk-in hours by contacting the Access Officer at their local Intreo/PSC Centre.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
351. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the decision on a treatment benefit medical appliances application will be reviewed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46083/23]
View answerThe Treatment Benefit Scheme provides dental, optical and aural services to insured workers, the self-employed, retired people and their dependent spouse/partner who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions.
The person concerned does not qualify for treatment benefit in her own right.
The person will, however, qualify for Treatment Benefit under her spouse's social insurance record and has been advised of same.
I trust this clarifies matters for the deputy.
352. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determination of an appeal for carers allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46086/23]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 31 August 2023. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral appeal hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
