Written Answers Nos. 675-693
675. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason only two caravans were granted to Clare under the caravan loan scheme in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48573/23]
View answerThe Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
The Act provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas.
The 2023/24 pilot Caravan Loan Scheme provides for 80 caravans or a provision of €3.2 million, whichever is the lessor. The respective allocation to each local authority from this overall provision is based proportionately on the number of Traveller families residing on halting sites within each local authority area. This resulted in an allocation of two loans for Clare County Council.
676. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how he plans to address a need (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48574/23]
View answerHousing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.
Under 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).
In September 2021, I issued social housing targets to each local authority for the period 2022-2026. Clare County Council's targets are set out in the table below:
|
Build Target |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
|
Clare |
200 |
149 |
153 |
164 |
167 |
A key action of Housing for All required local authorities to develop Housing Delivery Action Plans to include details of social and affordable housing delivery. The Plans set out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. In developing their Plans local authorities were asked to make adequate provision for 1, 2, 3 and 4+ bedroom homes in line with local need. Clare County Council’s Plan has been published on their own website and is available at this link www.clarecoco.ie/services/housing/news/clare-county-council-housing-delivery-action-plan.html
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority. This data is available to the Quarter 2 2023, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
My Department also publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 2 2023. A version of the CSR file can also be downloaded for analysis by local authority at the link below: data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q2-2023
677. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the work of the Commission on Housing regarding the referendum on the right to housing; the draft wording of the referendum; when the referendum is expected to be held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48651/23]
View answerI established the Housing Commission in December 2021 as an independent body to examine and evaluate Ireland's housing system. This included tasking the Commission to advise the Government on the critical factors to be considered regarding a referendum on housing and, if appropriate, recommend appropriate wording for a constitutional change.
The Housing Commission has recently submitted its report and recommendations. The report and next steps are currently being considered and I will bring these to Government in due course.
In the meantime, it would be inappropriate to comment on the substance of the report or the next steps.
678. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and details of contracts currently held by his Department with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48660/23]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
679. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a list of local authorities that have applied for additional funding for vacant homes officers to date in 2023; the amount each local authority received; how many new vacant homes officers have been hired, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48679/23]
View answer680. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant housing officers in place in each local authority;if they are employed on a full or part-time basis, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48680/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 679 and 680 together.
Addressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a a key priority for Government, as set out in Pathway 4 of Housing for All. In January 2022, my Department communicated with local authorities outlining that funding, made available since 2018 to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office including a Vacant Homes Officer (VHO), would be increased from €50,000 to €60,000 per annum, from mid-2022.
This supports the commitment in Housing for All to ensure that VHOs are full-time. The provision of central funding reinforces the capacity of local authorities, including through the important role of VHOs, to ensure a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction with a view to increasing the opportunities for residential development.
All 31 local authorities now have a full time, dedicated VHO in place.
The role of the VHO in each local authority is:
• To actively promote and lead the uptake within the local authority of various initiatives, schemes and funding programmes to address vacancy and bring vacant properties into residential use;
• To actively engage with owners of vacant properties and other relevant stakeholders and promote use of relevant schemes and supports to bring vacant properties into use;
• To collect, monitor and assess vacancy data locally and use that data to actively engage with property owners and promote schemes to encourage activation of properties; and
• Play a communication, promotion and advisory role both internally within the local authority and externally as a contact point for members of the public and key interested parties on vacant homes/properties.
VHOs across local authorities are supported in their work by the Vacant Homes Unit in my Department. The Vacant Homes Unit supports the VHOs and the VHO network, providing information and advice, facilitating dissemination of information and best practice.
While my Department has a role in strategic workforce planning within the local government sector, Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that 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 is engaging with local authorities and with the Department Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to additional funding for Vacant Homes Offices in local authorities and is currently examining the resources needed. Any increased support to a local authority will be considered on the basis of a business case made by the individual local authority, including detail of current allocation and co-ordination of resources dealing with vacancy and dereliction, with applications considered on a case by case basis.
681. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and details of contracts currently held by his Department with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48693/23]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
|
Contract Description |
Contract Duration |
Value (ex VAT) |
|
Provision of Subject Matter Experts to review the Clonburris Mixed Tenure Preliminary Business Case |
4 months |
€57,600 |
682. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and details of contracts currently held by his Department with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48709/23]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
|
Contract Description/Purpose |
Contract Duration |
Contract Value |
|
Senior Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) Developer |
12 months (with the option of 2 x 1 year extensions) |
€885,600 |
683. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications received for the vacant properties refurbishment grant in each of the last 12 months, the number of successful applications, the number of grants paid out under the scheme and the total value of grants actually paid out, in tabular form. [48723/23]
View answerPathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. 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:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/4bbe4-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-statistics/#:~:text=A%20grant%20of%20up%20to,property%20up%20to%20%E2%82%AC70%2C000.
684. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications for the first home shared equity scheme; the number of approvals; the average house price for all drawdowns, broken down by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48727/23]
View answerThe First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market, or building their own home, through the use of an equity share model. Full details of the First Home Scheme are available at: www.firsthomescheme.ie.
The Scheme is overseen and managed by the First Home Scheme Ireland Designated Activity Company (First Home DAC), on behalf of scheme founders (the State and participating mortgage lenders). This body is responsible for collating and issuing statistical information as it pertains to the scheme. The First Home DAC has published its Q3 2023 Public Update covering the period from 7 July 2022 to 30 September 2023, which can be found on its website at: www.firsthomescheme.ie/about-the-company/quarterly-updates/.
685. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on his discussions with the European Commissioner relating to the implementation of a short-term letting register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48728/23]
View answerOn 7 December 2022, the Government approved the priority drafting of the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting (STTL) Bill and publication of the General Scheme of the Bill which provides for the registration of short-term tourist lettings with Fáilte Ireland in line with the commitment under Housing for All, the Government's housing policy.
On 21 December the proposed STTL Bill was submitted by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM) to the EU Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) EU Directive 2015/1535. Such a notification triggers a standstill period of 3 months during which the proposed Bill cannot be enacted. On 22 March 2023, DTCAGSM received a communication from the EU Commission which extends that standstill period until 22 December 2023. Following this, in May, I wrote to Commissioner Nicolas Schmit, who has responsibility for Jobs and Social Rights (including housing), expressing my concern in relation to the delay and the extension of the standstill period.
As part of the ongoing engagement with the Commission, my Department, DTCAGSM and Fáilte Ireland held a constructive meeting with representatives of the Commission in Brussels on 23 June last.
Commissioner Schmit responded to my letter on 26 September 2023, noting the constructive and continuing cooperation between the Irish authorities and the Commission.
Further engagement with the Commission by DTCAGSM on the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill as well as the finalisation of the negotiations on the Commission's parallel proposal for an EU Regulation on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services will inform the timeline for the enactment of the STTL Bill and the establishment of the Fáilte Ireland register.
I am keeping this matter under review and propose to seek a meeting with Commissioners Nicolas Schmit and Thierry Breton, who has responsibility for the Internal Market - the Directorate dealing with the proposed EU Regulation on short-term accommodation rental services - at an early date to further impress on them the urgent need for the finalisation of the Commission consideration of the STTL Bill and the negotiations on the EU Regulation on short-term accommodation rental services.
686. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of WTE hydrometeorologists working in Met Éireann in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if this number will be further increased during 2024. [48761/23]
View answerNumber of WTE hydrometeorologists working in Met Éireann in 2021, 2022, and to date in 2023
|
Year |
|
|
2021 |
7 |
|
2022 |
8 |
|
2023 |
8 |
|
2024 |
A competition will be run in 2024 with the intention of recruiting additional hydrometeorologists. |
687. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what additional supports his Department is making available to Louth County Council in relation to the clean-up operation after the recent flooding events in north Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48768/23]
View answerLocal authorities are designated as lead agencies for coordinating the local response to flooding emergencies as per the Government decision relating to the “Framework for Major Emergency Management” (2006), details of which are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/ca182-a-framework-for-major-emergency-management/.The arrangements for emergency management are seen as having worked extremely well, in particular the responses led by local authorities to flooding and other severe weather emergencies. All local authorities have an established Severe Weather Assessment Team in place, monitoring Met Éireann weather warnings, High Tide Advisories and European Flood Awareness System (EFAS) advisory warnings. Local authorities also have Severe Weather/ Flood Plans in place to support the response to weather emergencies.My Department undertakes the Lead Government Department role, as set out in the Strategic Emergency Management (SEM) Framework (2017), in relation to coordination of national level response to flooding emergencies, where warranted. My Department's National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management undertakes this role and works closely with Local Authority Severe Weather Assessment Teams.The Office of Public Works (OPW) is the lead organisation for flood risk management in Ireland. The OPW has set out in Flood Plans how that flood risk is to be managed through investment in flood relief schemes and other policy measures. The Flood Plans detail the flood risk and proposed feasible flood risk management measures for 300 areas of significant flood risk throughout the country.
The Department of Social Protection have activated their Humanitarian Aid scheme for uninsured householders. Small businesses, sports clubs, community and voluntary organisations impacted by flooding, who do not have insurance, may apply for assistance under the Business Flooding Support Scheme activated by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and operated through the Irish Red Cross.Since 2009, my Department has made financial support available to assist local authorities in meeting the unbudgeted costs of clean-up and necessary immediate works for exceptional overtime payments, the hire of plant and heavy machinery, the purchase of materials required for the clean-up and the hire of contractors associated with significant severe weather emergency events.
This is in recognition of the exceptional nature of activities carried out by local authorities in responding to these types of emergencies and the fact that the costs of these un-programmed activities generally cannot be met from within existing resources. This practice is considered a vital enabler of the local authority response, providing the assurance that availability of resources is not a limiting factor in providing a very effective local response.In the context of the flooding that has occurred in recent weeks and the exceptional nature of the response activities carried out by local authorities, clearly the costs of these activities were not budgeted for within existing resources. My Department, working with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, are exploring options available to allocate supplementary funding to contribute towards exceptional expenditure directly associated with recent flood responses and has issued a Circular to local authorities, requesting each affected local authority to make a submission detailing eligible unbudgeted costs related to the response, clean-up and necessary immediate works.
688. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authority adaptation grants are available to tenants of approved housing bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48781/23]
View answer689. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what further supports are available for a person applying for a housing adaptation grant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48783/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 688 and 689 together.
My 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 Grant, which are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. The detailed administration of these schemes, including assessment, approval and prioritisation, is the responsibility of local authorities.
Guidelines issued by my Department to local authorities outline that tenants of approved housing bodies may apply for the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability and the Mobility Aids Grant. Further details on these schemes is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/6636c-housing-adaptation-grants-for-older-people-and-people-with-a-disability/
In addition, local authority home improvement loans are available to owner-occupiers towards the cost of necessary works to improve, repair or extend their existing houses. These loans are only available from some local authorities. Homeowners may be eligible for a local authority home improvement loan if they can show the local authority that they cannot get a loan from a bank or building society and their house needs to be improved, repaired or extended due to overcrowding. An income test applies to the local authority home improvement loan.
Applications for the local authority home improvement loan should be made directly to a local authority.
690. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with respect to the carryover of €240 million to Programme A – Housing Capital in Vote 34 from Budget 2022 to Budget 2023, to provide a breakdown by specific housing programme including local authority housing, CAS, CALF, CREL, AHF, CC and FHS. [48796/23]
View answerUnder Section 91 of the Finance Act, 2004, all or part of any unspent appropriations for capital supply services may be carried over for spending in the following year. This provides for the carryover of up to 10% of the REV allocation (Capital) from one year to the next. This must be expended in the following year i.e. it is not permissible to further defer any surplus.
My Department sought and obtained approval to carry the maximum permissible limit into 2023, some €340m. As per Part II of the REV, the €240m for Programme A Housing was allocated in its entirety to A.3 Local Authority Housing.
691. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that the Minister of State with responsibility for Heritage and his Department officials urgently consult with the representatives of the fishing industry in Ireland on his proposals to introduce three new proposed marine conservation areas in the Porcupine Shelf, Southern Canyons and the north west Irish Sea; if there is a consistency in policy application across Government departments when it comes to marine conservation areas and marine protected areas based on the model of the Seafood- Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) working group. [48827/23]
View answerThe Habitats and Birds Directives, transposed in Ireland via the Birds and Natural Habitats Regulations 2011, require Ireland to identify a network of Natura 2000 sites (European sites) where important or endangered species and habitats are present to a degree that is significant at a European level.
The selection of these European sites is done on a scientific and ornithological basis, in accordance with the requirements of the Directives. The scope for taking information other than scientific and ornithological information into account in the selection of Natura sites is extremely limited, in contrast to other types of national designations, which may allow for a more participatory role for stakeholders, and a wider range of factors and views to be taken into account.
The Natura sites referred to are currently going through the steps in the statutory process and are subject to the prescribed appeals and objections procedures governing the designation of Natura sites. Any stakeholder or other person with a legal interest in the area proposed for designation who wishes to lodge an objection or observation, may do so within the statutory timeframes as set out in the Regulations and the published notifications. In accordance with the requirements of the Directives and the Regulations above, only objections based on scientific criteria pursuant to the Birds and Habitats Directives may be considered.
Details of the procedures and timeframes for lodging objections or observations are included in all public notifications and on the NPWS website. All objections and observations are carefully and fully considered prior to the final, formal designation of the site by Statutory Instrument.
Detailed information about protected sites is available on the NPWS website at www.npws.ie/protected-sites.
692. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the third River Basin Management Plan for Ireland, to cover the EU Water Framework Directive third cycle, will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48836/23]
View answerMy Department is currently finalising the text and Programme of Measures for the third River Basin Management Plan which will cover the Water Framework Directive (WFD) third cycle up to 2027. The delivery of a new revised and strengthened River Basin Management Plan is a key commitment in the Programme for Government, and will advance Ireland’s commitment to the implementation of the WFD.
The process of preparing the Plan has involved wide-ranging bilateral engagement with multiple Government departments, agencies, bodies, and stakeholders, along with an extensive public consultation process. The text of the Plan has been recently forwarded for final commentary to the Water Policy Advisory Committee (WPAC). WPAC provides high-level policy advice on the direction and oversight of implementation of the River Basin Management Plan, and also advises me with regard both to the progress of the plan and to the preparation of programmes of measures necessary to achieve the environmental objectives, while also examining wider water resource issues.
Following the receipt of final comments from WPAC, there are a number of stages required to be completed, including an appropriate assessment process, graphic design, Irish language translation, and finally Ministerial and government approval of the plan.
It is anticipated that the River Basin Management Plan will be launched in the coming months at the completion of this process.
693. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the State expenditure on long-term leasing to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48841/23]
View answerThe Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by, inter alia, providing financial support to local authorities for the leasing of houses and apartments. Dwellings under the scheme come from a number of different sources including private owners, Part V and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).
Details of the number of units and funding of the Social Housing Leasing Programme to end Q2 2023 can be found on my Department's website at the following links:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
Number of units -assets.gov.ie/253731/385ff381-c907-4698-aeff-097f6ca0b319.xlsx
Funding - assets.gov.ie/99984/d10e5f7c-a0f5-40ab-9ccf-0559e22f3afa.xlsx
The long-term leasing scheme includes properties leased by AHBs directly, leased by local authorities from private owners and Enhanced leasing.
Data for Q3 2023 is currently being compiled.
