Written Answers Nos. 294-311
294. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration will be given to local authorities introducing a staged payments method for drawing down the vacant property grant which would allow for easier access to funds for those that are eligible for the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50739/23]
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.
The grant process involves the local authority receiving and reviewing applications to ensure that the grant conditions are met and arranging for a qualified person to visit the property to check the refurbishment work being applied for and to assess the proposed cost. Following confirmation of a successful application and the works being completed, the local authority will conduct a final property visit to review that the work has been completed in-line with the grant application. Once the local authority is satisfied, they will then pay the grant.
The grant is paid when works are completed, following a final inspection by the local authority. Payment of the grant at the end of the process is to ensure that the applicant has carried out the works applied for, and approved, and to safeguard that the grant is related to the works which have been completed.
When the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund was launched, a commitment was given that the schemes funded by it would be kept under ongoing review. A comprehensive review and evaluation of the schemes under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, including the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, will be undertaken by mid-2024.
295. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 660 of 7 November 2023, if a response will issue to additional correspondence in relation to same (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50745/23]
View answerThe Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act), which contains the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme commenced on 22 June 2023 and the related Regulations were adopted on 29 June 2023.
The Enhanced Grant Scheme provided for the extension of the scheme to include dwellings damaged due to the use of defective concrete blocks in its construction, in the administrative areas of Clare County Council and Limerick City and County Council.
As a new entrant to the enhanced scheme, as opposed to applicants from the previous scheme that transitioned to the enhanced scheme, the 2022 Act requires that a homeowner submit a ‘Building Condition Assessment’ Report (BCA) report as prescribed in the 2023 Regulations.
If it is determined that there is damage to the dwelling caused by the use of defective concrete blocks in its construction homeowners can recoup the cost of their BCA report, in this case €550 at payment of remediation grant stage. However engineering fees such as those referenced, i.e. incurred prior to the inclusion or designation of the local authority into the Enhanced Scheme, are not recoupable. Such recoupment is only available under the transitional provision of the Act that applies to dwellings located in Donegal and Mayo where applications had been made under the previous scheme.
296. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the framework of Housing for All in respect of outstanding actions in the Joint Policy Statement on his Department and the Department of Health on Housing Options for our Ageing Population. [50773/23]
View answerUnder Housing for All, there is a policy objective to increase and improve housing options for older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence. Housing for All builds on and takes forward the ongoing actions in "Housing Options for Our Ageing Population" policy statement from 2019, published jointly by my Department and the Department of Health, which provides policy options in support of a range of housing and accommodation alternatives for older people.
The actions included the development of a catalogue of housing options that provide a range of choices that meet the diverse need of an ageing population, spanning owner occupier, private rental and social housing, whilst providing accessible care and the associated support needs. Both the policy statement and Housing for All commit to increasing the housing options available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence, including the development of a national policy on rightsizing.
My Department is continuing to advance work on the development of this policy and exploration of the options to support and incentivise rightsizing on a voluntary basis with the objective of optimising the potential for more efficient use of under occupied existing private and social housing stock. The development of a national rightsizing policy is having regard to a focused stakeholder consultation. My Department is working on bringing forward a draft national policy in the coming months.
298. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he acknowledges that the two-year vacancy condition attached to the vacant property refurbishment grant scheme through the Croí Cónaithe (towns) is having a negative impact on uptake, deterring many people from availing of the grant aid; if this condition will be amended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50781/23]
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 under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund 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.
The property must be vacant for two years or more at the time of grant application and proof of vacancy is required to support grant applications. There has not been any evidence that the two year vacancy requirement is an issue and it is important that this period is retained to avoid any inappropriate incentive to leave properties vacant in order to avail of the grant.
Take-up of the grant has been very positive since its launch , with 4,640 applications for the grant by the end of September 2023 and some 1,975 approvals. The Government agreed on 14 November 2023, to increase the target of homes delivered using the grant, from 2,000 to 4,000 by 2025.
When the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund was launched, a commitment was given that the schemes funded by it would be kept under ongoing review. It is intended that a comprehensive review and evaluation of the schemes under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund will be undertaken by mid-2024.
299. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an overview of the total capital allocation announced for investment in housing in 2024; the amount of this funding allocated to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50782/23]
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 and is the first multi-annual fully funded housing plan in the history of the State. The Plan is supported by an investment package of over €4 billion per annum, through an overall combination of €12 billion in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5 billion investment through the Land Development Agency (LDA) and €5 billion lending through the Housing Finance Agency (HFA).
Budget 2024 again provides record levels of investment by this Government to support housing delivery and the continued implementation of Housing for All. The total Exchequer funding being made available for the delivery of housing programmes is €4.1 billion, comprising Capital funding of €2.6 billion and Current funding of €1.5 billion.
The Capital provision of €2.6 billion will be supplemented by LDA investment of €978 million and HFA lending of €1.5 billion, resulting in an overall capital provision of €5.1 billion.
The 2024 funding provision will support over 28,000 additional households in 2024, through meeting the social housing needs of almost 22,000 households and supporting a further 6,400 households to buy or rent at an affordable price.
In addition to the delivery of new social and affordable homes, the funding secured in 2024 will also support the continued and enhanced delivery of a wide range of housing programmes. These programmes provide targeted support to meet individual housing need, including homelessness, tackling vacancy, retrofitting, upgrading and defects programmes and the provision of supports for older people, people with a disability and the Traveller Community.
Detailed information in respect of the Housing elements of Budget 2024 are set out in the 2024 Expenditure Measures Report, which is available at the following link: gov.ie - Budget 2024: Expenditure Reports (www.gov.ie)
To date in 2023, Exchequer expenditure on Housing programmes amounts to €2.84 billion
300. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost to his Department for the production of the video screened at the start of the press conference launching the Housing for All Q3 Progress Report held on 14 November 2023; the company that provides the video; and if other details will be provided of a contractual or service level agreement with this company currently in place with his Department. [50788/23]
View answerThe video in question was produced by my Department's in-house communications team.
Therefore, there was no cost for the production of the video and no contractual or service level agreement exists.
301. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many staff members in his Department have received training in cyber security in the past three years; what types of cyber security training programmes have been conducted; if he will provide details of these programmes; and of the staff trained in cyber security, how many have obtained accredited cyber security qualifications. [50801/23]
View answerMy Department has training and awareness campaigns in place in relation to its IT Systems and cyber security best practices. My Department works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which encompasses the State's national/governmental Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT-IE), and operates in accordance with NCSC guidance in this regard.
My Department does not comment on operational security matters as it would be inappropriate to disclose information that may in any way assist those with malicious intent.
302. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expenditure on cyber security consultants and companies within his Department in the past three years; if his Department engaged in cyber security audits with outside firms in the past three years; if so, the expenditure on same; the amount his Department spent on cyber security consultants and companies in the past three years; and for a breakdown of these expenditures by year and type of service provided [50819/23]
View answer304. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has a policy and plan in place to address a ransomware attack and restore his Department's IT systems. [50855/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 302 and 304 together.
My Department has Cybersecurity policies and plans in place in relation to its IT Systems. My Department works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which encompasses the State's national/governmental Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT-IE), and operates in accordance with NCSC guidance in this regard.
My Department does not comment on operational security matters as it would be inappropriate to disclose information that may in any way assist those with malicious intent.
303. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any ongoing contracts or commitments with cyber security firms; and if details can be provided [50837/23]
View answerMy Department has contracts in place to provide relevant services. My Department works in line with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) guidance on Cybersecurity in the public service, and works closely with the NCSC which encompasses the State's national/governmental Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT-IE).My Department does not comment on operational security matters as it would be inappropriate to disclose information that may in any way assist those with malicious intent.
305. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 510 of 20 September 2023, the reason that work is not being done now at the same time as privately owned properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50915/23]
View answer306. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 510 of 20 September 2023, his views on the pilot scheme purpose and timeline, cost, administrative and governance arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50916/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 306 together.
As you are aware I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. The new scheme is now open to applications in four counties: Clare, Donegal, Limerick and Mayo.
The intention was always to concentrate on getting this scheme up and running before turning our attention to a Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Social Homes Scheme.
Section 36 of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) provides that the Government may make a further Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) scheme for the purposes of enabling a designated local authority or an approved housing body to remedy damage caused to dwellings by the use of defective concrete blocks in their construction.
The DCB social homes scheme will include the same grant rates and caps as outlined in the private scheme for homeowners and will apply to local authority and approved housing body homes located within designated LA areas. It will encourage efficiencies and the best use of limited resources available to undertake remediation works.
Senior officials from my Department recently travelled to Donegal County Council and discussed these proposals further with very positive engagement. On site meetings with the other designated local authorities are scheduled to take place in the next few weeks. I expect to be in a position to provide full details of this scheme shortly thereafter.
307. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a local authority (details supplied) made a declaration under a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50917/23]
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.
Clare County Council confirmed with my Department that it was their intention to draw down its allocation of loans from the Pilot Caravan Loan Scheme on 27 July 2023. The Council subsequently submitted a claim to my Department for recoupment of two caravan loans on the 30 August 2023.
308. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of contracts his Department has had with a company (details supplied) in the years of 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the services this company has provided to his Department in the years in question; and the amount his Department has paid for such services in each of those years, in tabular form. [50931/23]
View answerMy Department has not awarded any contracts to the company named, in the period specified.
309. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the Fire, Emergency Management and Public Safety Bill; and when this Bill will progress. [50932/23]
View answerIt is my intention to bring forward a piece of legislation provisionally titled the Fire, Emergency Management and Public Safety Bill, whose primary purpose will be to update the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. It is also my intention that the Bill will place relevant elements of evolved emergency management practice at national and local level on a statutory footing.
A General Scheme of the Bill is in preparation within my Department. This has been informed by consultation with the relevant sectors likely to be impacted by its provisions. The shape of the Bill has been considered on a number of occasions by the Board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM). The Board is comprised of Chief Executive Officers from local authorities, the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) as well as other Government Departments and supports the general approach being taken in the Bill. However, there is still a need for further consultation with both stakeholders and our other Government partners to ensure the Bill brought forward is both comprehensive and robust.
The intention of the Bill is to support and strengthen the role of local authorities. The provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of each individual fire authority. The work of local authority fire services has, to a large degree, been underpinned by the Fire Services Act 1981 and 2003 for nearly 40 years. While this legislation has served the country well, and key indicators such as fatalities from fire per million of population have been reduced consistently to the point where they are at their lowest for forty years, it is appropriate now to ensure that the underpinning legislation fully reflects the changes in society and the expanded and more dynamic roles that our local authority fire services have taken on in recent years. For that reason, the opinions of the local government sector have been sought as to the shape this legislation should take and preliminary opinion has also been received from the Local Government Management Association.
Like all legislation, this is a complex piece of work, which necessitates consideration of multifaceted issues that impact on a number of sectors. The current Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 has provided a strong basis for the delivery of fire services by local authorities. I want to ensure that any revised legislation being brought forward is appropriate, balanced, complete and robust.
310. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when works on the Barrow Blueway project will be completed; and the estimated cost to date for this project. [50933/23]
View answerThe Barrow Blueway Project is a significant initiative which will support communities and create exciting opportunities for recreation and ways to experience interesting places from new perspectives.
Kildare County Council is the Project Manager for the Barrow Blueway Project and is responsible for the overall project delivery. The project is funded under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) via Kildare County Council, with match funding of 25% provided by Waterways Ireland. In this regard, my Department does not hold the information requested on the estimated cost to date for this project. This information should be sought directly from Kildare County Council as Project Manager.
Waterways Ireland is responsible for the delivery of the canal-side works elements while the roadside works elements are being undertaken by Kildare County Council. Waterways Ireland has completed all path works as of September 2023 which comprises 36km of canal-side works and has commenced the construction of 10 waterside canoe access jetties with a construction duration of 6 months.
Kildare County Council publishes project updates for the Barrow Blueway regularly on its website www.kildarecoco.ie.
311. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for a constitutional amendment on the right to housing. [50960/23]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 87 of 9 November 2023 which outlines the position on the matter.
