Written Answers Nos. 236-250
236. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding he secured under Budget 2024 for the culling of mink through the NPWS; when he intends to commence this cull; what bounty he intends to set for mink tails; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49113/23]
View answerMy Department’s National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is responsible for the implementation of a suite of National and EU legislation in relation to invasive alien species in Ireland. Funding was provided by NPWS in 2012 for a scheme administered by the National Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC) for a bounty on mink as part of a wider effort to protect ground nesting birds in western counties. I understand that this scheme ran for three years until 2015. That scheme is no longer in operation. There are no plans at present in my Department for a nationwide cull of American mink and no funds have been secured under budget 2024 in this regard.
There are a range of ongoing efforts by NPWS to control American mink in the country. These are primarily being managed by NPWS regional staff, on State-owned lands such as National Parks, and under a number of LIFE projects, (for example for Curlew and for Corncrake). These efforts are focused on the protection of rare ground nesting birds and Nest Protection Officers are in place across the country to control and remove mink where they catch them.
237. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the final Revised Estimates Volume for Vote 34, Housing, Local Government and Heritage, from Budget 2023, as finalised in December 2022, with a breakdown for each programme subhead and individual spending programme, both capital and current; and to provide a note detailing any subsequent change to this estimate made during the course of 2023. [49126/23]
View answerThe Gross Total allocations for my Department for 2023 are set out in the Further Revised Estimates for Public Services published by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR), and are available at gov.ie - The Revised Estimates Volumes for the Public Service (www.gov.ie).
The Further Revised Estimates, which were passed on 1 March 2023, take account of the establishment of Tailte Éireann and the subsequent removal of the Electoral Commission and Ordnance Survey Ireland from Vote 34. See attached table for detail of changes made in the Further Revised Estimates 2023.
|
REV 2023 |
FREV 2023 |
|||||
|
2023 By PROGRAMME |
CURRENT |
CAPITAL |
TOTAL |
CURRENT |
CAPITAL |
TOTAL |
|
Provision €000 |
Provision €000 |
Provision €000 |
Provision €000 |
Provision €000 |
Provision €000 |
|
|
Housing |
1,374 |
2,294 |
3,668 |
1,374 |
2,294 |
3,668 |
|
Water |
755 |
932 |
1,687 |
755 |
932 |
1,687 |
|
Local Government |
446 |
31 |
476 |
440 |
31 |
471 |
|
Planning |
86 |
158 |
244 |
67 |
157 |
224 |
|
Met Éireann |
35 |
22 |
57 |
35 |
22 |
57 |
|
Heritage |
126 |
89 |
215 |
126 |
89 |
215 |
|
Capital Carryover from 2022 |
340 |
340 |
340 |
340 |
||
|
TOTAL * |
2,822 |
3,866 |
6,687 |
2,797 |
3,865 |
6,662 |
* Rounding may effect totals
238. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of an application from Galway County Council for a wastewater treatment plant for Castleblakeney village; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49128/23]
View answerI understand that the Question is referring to the new funding measure which I announced in April 2022, under my Department's Multi-annual Rural Water Programme, for the waste water collection and treatment needs of villages and settlements that do not have access to public waste water services.
All rural local authorities were invited to submit up to two priority applications for funding under the measure with the closing date for receipt being 15 September 2022. I can confirm that two applications for funding were received from Galway County Council namely for Clarinbridge and Craughwell.
An allocation of €50 million has been committed for the measure under the National Development Plan and I expect to be in a position to announce funding approval for specific projects in the coming weeks.
239. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the concerns of homeowners in Ireland who have been advised to demolish and rebuild their homes due to pyrite-related defects, and who are now facing the prospect of being required to rent out their rebuilt homes for 20 years as a condition of receiving redress and financial assistance from the Government; if so, the steps he intends to take to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49130/23]
View answerThe Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 ("The Act") which contains the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant Scheme commenced on 22 June 2023 and the related Regulations were adopted on 29 June 2023. The enhanced scheme provides very considerable enhancements over the old Scheme for eligible homeowners.
I understand that the Question is referring to the eligibility of rental properties for the Scheme. Sections 30 to 35 of the Act cover cases where a grant is paid to a landlord. Further details are set out in the Ministerial Guidelines for Designated Local Authorities and the Housing Agency issued under Section 50 of the Remediation of the Act set out in Part 5, Section 4.3 the position in respect of a dwelling that is the subject of a tenancy agreement.
Where a landlord has submitted an application for a remediation option grant for a dwelling subject to a tenancy agreement, they are subject to the following conditions:
• the designated local authority will make a charging order over the relevant dwelling following the issue of the final part payment of the remediation option, or payment of the whole remediation option grant;
• the charging order will create a charge over the relevant dwelling, equal to the payments made to the landlord who is the relevant owner for a period of 20 years;
• a reduction of 5% will be applied by the designated local authority to the total charged amount on each anniversary of the relevant date, i.e. the date on which the charging order was made by the designated local authority, where a relevant event has not occurred.
A relevant event is:
• where the relevant owner/landlord no longer owns the relevant dwelling; or
• where the relevant owner/landlord is no longer renting the relevant dwelling to a tenant or tenants which is registered on the residential tenancies register.
Where a Charging Order is required to be issued, it is the responsibility of the designated local authority to carry out this function. The new scheme is now open to applications in four counties: Clare, Donegal, Limerick and Mayo with comprehensive information of all aspects of the Scheme available including the Guidelines on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/8002e-enhanced-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme/.
240. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide in tabular form the number of application received by county for the croí cónaithe vacant house grant; the number of approvals of a grant and the number of grants paid out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49155/23]
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 an including 2007, in towns, villages, cities and rural areas.
My Department publishes data on applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis, which can be accessed at the following link: Vacancy grant statistics
241. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the changes proposed to be made to the wastewater systems grant for private properties (septic tanks grant); when these changes will become operable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49156/23]
View answerMy Department currently provides funding for three domestic waste water treatment system (DWWTS) grant schemes. These grants are focused on the areas of greatest environmental priority to protect human health and the environment. The grants assist householders, who have an advisory notice for a failed inspection under the National Inspection Plan, who are situated in a Prioritised Area for Action or a High Status Objective Catchment Area, to carry out the improvements to their systems.
I recently announced changes which will increase the maximum grant amount available to €12,000 (from €5,000) and remove a requirement for the historical registration of the DWWTS with the local authority in order to be eligible for a grant.
The changes come into effect from 1 January 2024 and my Department is in the process of finalising all necessary documentation, including the regulations and terms and conditions, for publication in the coming weeks.
242. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage which companies must secure Agrément certification; must subcontractors secure this certification to supply to other companies; the process involved in securing certification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49213/23]
View answerAs Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage I have responsibility for the Building Regulations that set out the minimum legal requirements for the construction of new buildings and certain works to existing buildings.
Part D (Material and Workmanship) of the Building Regulations sets out an overarching requirement that all works are carried out using proper materials, which are fit for the use for which they are intended and for the conditions in which they are to be used.
The process of Agrément certification applies to those products and processes which do not fall within the scope of existing construction standards, either because they are innovative or because they deviate from established norms. NSAI Agrément assesses, specifies testing, and where appropriate, issues Agrément certificates confirming that new building products, materials, techniques and equipment are safe and fit for purpose in accordance with the Irish Building Regulations and with the terms of the certificate.
The primary responsibility for compliance with the Building Regulations rests with the designers, builders and owners of buildings.
The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is an autonomous body under the aegis of the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment. For further details on the process involved in securing certification refer to www.nsai.ie/certification/agrement-certification/.
243. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to indicate, particularly for those who have been on waiting lists for many years, but whose income in the interim has increased albeit insufficiently to purchase at today's prices but pushing them over the income limits to qualify for local authority house now, if consideration can be given to the particular plight including a long-time paying rent, waiving deposit or other means to address their particular concerns given that they are likely to remain in this no man's land for the foreseeable future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49229/23]
View answerAffordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of the Government’s housing policy. As detailed in the Housing for All strategy, the Government has introduced a number of measures to support households and individuals wishing to purchase a home, as well as increasing the overall supply of new homes, with an ambitious target of 300,000 new homes up to 2030.
Under Pathway 1 of this strategy, “Pathways to Home Ownership and Increasing Affordability”, two new Affordable Purchase schemes have been established (the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme and the First Home shared equity scheme), and an improved Local Authority Home Loan scheme. The Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme primarily supports first-time buyers purchasing Local Authority-delivered new homes by bridging the gap between the market value of the home and the combined value of the buyer's mortgage and deposit.
The First Home shared equity scheme, launched last July, employs a similar equity share model in order to support households unable to afford the purchase of new homes in the private market. Subject to eligibility criteria, it can provide funds up to 30% of the value of a newly constructed home (or 20% if the Help to Buy Scheme is used). The Scheme was further expanded in September to include eligible applicants who wish to self-build their new home. Overall, this scheme is intended to support up to 8,000 affordable purchases in the period out to 2026, and the State has committed funding of €200m, to be matched by the participating mortgage lenders. Full details of the First Home Scheme, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, are available on the scheme website: www.firsthomescheme.ie/
The new Local Authority Home Loan commenced on 4 January 2022 and is a Government backed mortgage scheme for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. The loan can be used by first-time buyers for both new and second-hand properties, or for self-builds. More information on the Local Authority Home Loan is available on the website: localauthorityhomeloan.ie/
For those wishing to purchase and renovate vacant or derelict properties, the new Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is also available nationwide and it provides for grants for refurbishment of vacant properties of up to €50,000 or €70,000 if the property is derelict. The scheme has been extended to cover houses built up to 2007, and is available for properties intended for rental as well as owner-occupied.
I also announced last year, a new Ready to Build serviced sites scheme under the Fund where Local Authorities will provide sites at a discount to people who want to build their own home. Information on both of these schemes is available directly from Local Authorities.
Furthermore, it is important to note that matters such as mortgage deposit requirements and mortgage borrowing ability come under the remit of the Central Bank of Ireland, which is an independent body. Relevant information is available at the following Central Bank link:
www.centralbank.ie/financial-system/financial-stability/macro-prudential-policy/mortgage-measures
Lastly, specifically in relation to the income limits for Social Housing, my Department increased the baseline social housing income thresholds by €5,000 for all local authorities with effect from 1 January 2023. Further information is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/04c69-social-housing-support-table-of-income-limits/
Decisions on the qualification of specific persons for social housing support, the most appropriate form of any such support, and the allocation of that support should be progressed through the local authority concerned.
244. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if sufficient staff are available to the various local authorities to process and advise applicants in early date so as to avoid repeat applications or lengthy application processes so an applicant can find out in early date whether they qualify for any/all of the available schemes rather than making repeated lengthy attempts to find out this information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49230/23]
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 and 54,000 affordable homes by 2030. 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.
Housing for All contains a number of measures to support the capacity of local authorities to deliver housing projects. Extensive work was undertaken in 2021 to identify the additional staff resources required by local authorities to deliver the social housing targets set out in Housing for All. In this regard, I have approved an additional 250 staff specifically to support the delivery of social housing.
In October 2022, I also approved funding for an initial tranche of 69 affordable housing staff posts for local authorities with an affordability constraint. As the affordable housing delivery pipeline in local authorities increases, further engagement with Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform for sanction for the remaining posts required will be undertaken.
Under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he/she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis. However, granular data, in terms of the detailed breakdown of the numbers and grades of staff allocated to specific work areas within local authorities is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. This information would be available from each local authority.
245. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the further steps that can be taken to dramatically increase the housing output to meet the requirements of both the public and private housing programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49231/23]
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 and 54,000 affordable homes by 2030.
The Housing for All Action Plan is kept under review to ensure that any potential measures are considered and implemented, if relevant. Actions are prioritised based on what will have the greatest impact in increasing supply. The second review of the Action Plan is completed and an Updated Action Plan is expected to be published shortly.
A record €5.1bn capital investment in housing was announced in Budget 2024. This will be made up of €2.6bn Exchequer funding, €978m Land Development Agency (LDA) and €1.5bn Housing Finance Agency (HFA) funding. The capital funding being provided for housing in 2024, coupled with LDA and HFA investment is the highest ever in the history of the State. This funding will ensure we can continue to deliver new social and affordable homes for purchase and rent at pace.
A wide variety of measures have been introduced recently to increase output including the Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental (STAR) scheme, the temporary waiving of development levies and, the most comprehensive reform of our planning system in decades. Alongside these recent measures are other reforms and activation schemes designed to increase supply have been introduced under the Plan, such as Croí Cónaithe cities, the vacant property refurbishment grant and the increase to the Cost Rental Equity Loan.
The adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) has the potential to dramatically improve construction sector productivity, innovation, speed of delivery, sustainability and ultimately, costs in both public and private housing delivery. To promote the widespread adoption of MMC, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, supported by my Department, has established and chairs a MMC Leadership and Integration Group to ensure the integration and coordination across a range of MMC initiatives applicable to residential construction. Several targeted actions to improve MMC adoption have been identified and are included in the upcoming Housing for All Updated Action Plan.
In 2022, almost 30,000 homes were delivered. This number exceeds the Housing for All target by over 5,000 homes and is the highest number of home completions in a decade. Some 31,500 homes were completed in the rolling 12-month period to the end of September 2023. Construction has commenced on nearly 24,000 in the first three quarters of 2023, up 14% on the same period last year. Looking at these trends, we expect to exceed the housing completion targets for 2023.
246. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will indicate, given the increasing demand and pressure for housing, the extent, if any, to which he might look at the housing requirements on a county-by-county basis, with a view to appointing professional builders on contract to the respective local authorities to provide and accelerate a housing programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49232/23]
View answer249. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which he can identify a suite of emergency measures such as the provision of modular houses, log-cabins or other alternatives including the liberalisation of planning applications in rural areas, in order to alleviate the housing crisis for locals as well as refugees in order to urgently address the situation of people sleeping rough, living in unsafe conditions and other issues associated with homelessness of potential homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49235/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 249 together.
Housing 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 an average of 10,000 new build social homes each year in the period to 2030. 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.
Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) has been identified as a key measure to address increased housing delivery and methods to support increased use of MMC are set out in Pathway 5 of Housing for All. The development of MMC will improve productivity in construction and increase efficiency in residential construction. The Housing for All Action Plan Update and Quarter 3 2022 Progress Report, which was published on 2 November, included a new action to develop a roadmap with targets for increased use of MMC in public housing. This roadmap was published on 11 July 2023 and is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/414cd-roadmap-for-increased-adoption-of-mmc-in-public-housing-delivery/.
The Housing for All Action Plan Update and Quarter 3 2022 Progress Report, which was published on 2 November, includes a new action to develop a roadmap with targets for increased use of MMC in public housing. My Department is now working closely with the local authorities, to increase the use of MMC in social and affordable housing.
Modern Methods of Construction is used to describe a range of offsite manufacturing and innovative onsite techniques that provide alternatives to traditional house building. Modern Methods of Construction can be completed dwelling units manufactured in a factory setting and transported to site, or panelised components manufactured in a factory and assembled on site. All Modern Methods of Construction systems must be of a high quality, comply with all requirements of the Building Regulations and have a 60-year durability.
Last December funding of €94m was provided to local authorities to address legacy land debts. The provision of this funding was linked to the immediate development of a housing proposal, a commitment to use Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and for construction to start in 2023 or no later than 2024. A total of 26 sites received funding as part of an accelerated delivery programme, and with some additional sites since added, my Department is overseeing a project to progress delivery of MMC projects on 35 sites which will deliver approximately 1,800 new social homes.
The Office of Public Works (OPW), in conjunction with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) as the Department with policy responsibility, is also leading on a project to secure the provision of modular homes to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection from the Ukraine.
Under Housing for All, each local authority was required to prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan. This Plan sets 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 preparing the Plans, local authorities were required to include details of land available to deliver housing and details of land acquisition requirements. The Plans also include details of the locations and delivery streams for social housing schemes. The Plans have been published on local authority websites.
Under my Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme, funding is available to all local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to deliver additional social housing stock through direct construction or in partnership with developers through 'turnkey' projects. As such, housing developments are constructed by professional contractors/developers in line with those agreements.
Significant progress is being made to deliver the ambitious targets contained in Housing for All and my Department is working closely with the local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies and other stakeholders to accelerate the delivery of social and affordable housing.
247. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which the provision of utilities such as electricity and water to new houses is currently limiting progress in the construction sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49233/23]
View answerHousing for All recognises that in order to create the environment needed to enable supply of over 300,000 new homes by 2030, land needs to be serviced with transport, utilities and other infrastructure. Housing for All provides for this ‘whole of system’ approach. In line with Action 22.6 of the Housing for All Action Plan Update (November 2022) both Uisce Éireann and the ESB are enhancing measures to ensure the timely delivery of housing connections and to clearly identify responsibilities of those building homes, and Uisce Éireann and ESB in advance of completing connections. With regard to water, Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for Uisce Éireann and is approved through its own internal governance structures.
Uisce Éireann is committed to supporting the delivery of housing including under Housing for All and provides my Department with updates containing key information on how they are supporting the housing plan by providing water services to new homes, key public services and businesses. Uisce Éireann is supporting the delivery of Housing for All through a number of actions, including the timely delivery of housing connections.
In this regard, to be of assistance, Uisce Éireann has provided the following information which covers the period January 2023 – September 2023:
• Pre-connection enquiries: Uisce Éireann gave positive responses to 2,403 pre-connection enquiries associated with 71,867 housing units.
• Connection offers: Uisce Éireann issued 3,600 connection offers associated with 32,926 housing units.
• Connection agreements: Customers executed connection agreements for 2,772 offers, associated with 24,018 housing units.
• Connections: Uisce Éireann completed 4,427 connections to water infrastructure associated with 26,557 housing units.
Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 0818 578 578.
My Department does not have responsibility for electricity supply and as such does not hold information in relation to electricity along the lines set out in the Question.
248. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of planning permissions applied for and refused by county in each of the past four years to date; the way such figures will inform housing policy going forward, with particular reference to giving the local population a chance to live in their local area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49234/23]
View answerPlanning statistics are compiled by each planning authority on an annual basis for collation and publication on my Department’s website. The information requested on the total number of applications and refusals [both outline permission and planning permission] for the period up to and including 2022 is included in the statistics available on my Departments website at:
www.gov.ie/en/service/9e4ee-get-planning-statistics/.
The data is collated on an annual basis and the 2023 data will not be available until 2024. The data collected relates to the total number of applications and decisions for all developments that require planning permission, broken down by year and planning authority. However, more granular data, such as in relation to the number of residential planning applications, is not specifically collected and consequently is not available in my Department. Such information may be sought directly from the relevant planning authority and An Bord Pleanála as appropriate.
It should be noted that arrangements have been put in place by each Agency under the remit of the Department, including An Bord Pleanála, to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) provides detailed data available on a number of planning related issues, including permissions granted by development type and county, on its website. This is updated on a quarterly basis and can be accessed at the following link: www.cso.ie/en/statistics/buildingandconstruction/planningpermissions/
It is a matter for the planning authorities to consider individual planning applications on a case by case basis, and in accordance with article 31 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, when making its decision on a planning application, the planning authority shall specify the main reasons and considerations on which the decision is based. Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, the Minister with responsibility for planning shall not exercise any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or the Board is or may be concerned.
With regard to local populations seeking to live in their local area, updated Rural Housing Guidelines are currently being prepared by my Department. The updated guidelines will expand on the high level spatial planning policy of the National Planning Framework (NPF), in particular on National Policy Objective (NPO) 19 which relates to rural housing. This objective makes a clear policy distinction between rural areas under urban influence (i.e. areas within the commuter catchment of cities, towns and centres of employment) on the one hand, and structurally weaker rural areas where population levels may be low or declining, on the other. NPO 19 is also aligned with the established approach whereby considerations of social (intrinsic part of the community) or economic (persons working full or part time) need are to be applied by planning authorities in rural areas under urban influence.
The draft Rural Housing Guidelines will set out relevant planning criteria to be applied in local authority development plans for rural housing, based on the high level policy framework set by the NPF. The guidelines will continue to allow county development plans to provide for housing in the countryside based on the considerations detailed in NPO 19 of the NPF, and will also highlight the need to manage development in certain areas, such as the areas around cities and larger towns and environmentally sensitive areas, in order to avoid over-development.
While planning policy is a national, as opposed to an EU competence, due care is being taken to ensure the updated guidelines will not operate to conflict with fundamental EU freedoms, comply with EU environmental legislative requirements and have due regard to decisions of the European Court of Justice. The draft planning guidelines will address these complex environmental and legal issues, while also providing a framework for the sustainable management of housing in rural areas.
Having regard to these complex considerations, the draft guidelines are subject to legal review and Ministerial approval, following which it is intended that the draft guidelines will be published for a period of public consultation.
250. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an audit of vacant publicly owned buildings has been carried out or can be carried out, with a view to providing emergency housing for local people and immigrants who may have a need for the urgent availability for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49236/23]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the statutory role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of emergency accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. The purposes for which housing authorities may incur expenditure in addressing homelessness are prescribed in Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988.
My Department does not fund any homeless services directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards these costs. Under the funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of these funding arrangements with my Department.
Under the Exchequer funding arrangements in place between the Department and housing authorities, decisions on the funding, organisation and range of accommodation services to be provided are a matter for the individual housing authorities in consultation with the Statutory Management Group of the relevant regional Joint Homelessness Consultative Forum, and the Department has no function in relation to operational matters. As such the identification of the need for additional resources, including the identification of suitable vacant accommodation for potential use as emergency accommodation, is a matter for the local authorities in the first instance.
Notwithstanding that, as part of the whole of Government humanitarian response to the invasion of Ukraine, my Department, in partnership with the local government sector, is overseeing the emergency refurbishment programme for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection from Ukraine. At the outset of the crisis, local authorities were asked to identify vacant multi-occupancy buildings that may be suitable and available for refurbishment, with buildings across the country now at various stages of refurbishment and others passed to the Department of Children, Equality, Integration, Disability and Youth for occupation.
