Written Answers Nos. 392-402
392. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reasons for the delays in local authorities paying out croí cónaithe grants to applicants who have completed their works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52897/23]
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.
Currently payment of grants is issuing some 12 months from date of approval, as works are 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. It is intended that a comprehensive review and evaluation of the schemes under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund will be undertaken by mid-2024.
393. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the provision of the second vacant homes officer for Tipperary County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52899/23]
View answerAddressing 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 and the Housing Agency. The Vacant Homes Unit supports the VHOs and the VHO network, providing information and advice, facilitating dissemination of information and best practice.
The Department is engaging with Tipperary County Council in relation to a second Vacant Homes Officer. Where additional resources to work on addressing vacancy are sought by local authorities a business case is required providing information on the current structure, location and resourcing of the Vacant Homes Office in the local authority, co-ordination with other teams addressing vacancy and dereliction, the roles to be undertaken by the resources requested and expected outputs.
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.
394. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the provision of additional housing staff to Tipperary County Council for the establishment of new affordable housing schemes in towns and villages across the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52900/23]
View answerFollowing the publication of Housing for All in September 2021, I asked all local authorities to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans. Each local authority was asked to assess the level of housing demand with an affordability constraint projected for their area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment Tool (HNDA) in order to plan their provision accordingly.
Local authorities with the highest levels of affordable housing need were asked to prepare Affordable Delivery Plans as part of their overall Plans and were set five-year Affordable Delivery Targets.
Tipperary does not have a specific target as average house price levels in the county are still well below the national median.
However, I would point out that in local authority areas without specific affordable housing delivery targets, where localised challenges are evidenced, funding can be made available to develop an affordable housing scheme or schemes in line with Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) criteria.
395. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider amending the qualifying rules for the local authority home loan scheme so that individuals and families (details supplied) who have been forced to sell their homes due to inability to pay a large mortgage or downsizing due to changing family needs can also avail of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52953/23]
View answerThe Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for those who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.
A ‘Fresh Start’ principle applies for applications to the Local Authority Home Loan.
The following categories of persons are eligible to apply for the Local Authority Home Loan under the Fresh Start principle:
- Applicant(s) who previously purchased or built a dwelling, together with a spouse, a civil partner or a person with whom he or she was in an intimate and committed relationship are eligible under the Fresh Start principle where this relationship has ended, and they have divested themselves of their interest in the previous property.
- Applicant(s) that previously purchased or built a residential property, but has been divested of this through insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, are eligible to apply. However a separate assessment of creditworthiness will be conducted by the underwriters. This applies when the applicant has exited the insolvency/bankruptcy proceedings.
The Local Authority Home Loan scheme is kept under constant review. However, there are no plans at present to expand the Fresh Start definition, as set out in the Affordable Housing Act 2021.
396. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the supports available for the refurbishment of vacant agricultural buildings with a view to bringing them into residential use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52954/23]
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 I launched the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant which supports 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.
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.
In order to be eligible, the property must be vacant for two years or more at the time of grant approval. As part of the scheme, properties considered for inclusion must be for residential occupation as a principal private residence or made available for rent. Information on the scheme and application process is available from Vacant Homes Officers in each local authority.
Further support available is the Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Farmhouses which is primarily a built heritage scheme, intended to support the conservation of an important and historically neglected part of our traditional building stock. I am pleased to note that it may also make a contribution to our broader efforts to tackle vacancy and dereliction.
Owners of derelict and/or vacant traditional farmhouses often undertake renovation works without professional advice, and may carry out unnecessary demolition or use materials that damage the historic fabric of the building. In general this results in a loss of historic character and, in some cases, further expenditure for the owner. It is hoped that these outcomes can be avoided through the timely provision of expert advice.
I would emphasise that this is a pilot scheme intended to trial the provision of conservation grants for vacant traditional farmhouses. My Department is currently looking into options for extending the scheme beyond vernacular farmhouses, to cover a wider range of historic buildings in both urban and rural areas, subject to appropriate sanction and to the estimates process.
In the meantime, I would call attention to the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Historic Structures Fund, grant programmes offered by my Department which fund conservation works in a wide range of historic buildings. The Historic Structures fund in particular has a vernacular stream which is open to unprotected vernacular buildings.
€9m was allocated to these schemes for 2024, with the application window currently open until January 2024. All applications are made through the relevant local authority. It is advised to contact the conservation or heritage officer in the relevant local authority for details of closing dates, as these differ from local authority.
397. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the titles of the White Papers published by his Department from 2008 to date; if he will provide online links to these papers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52983/23]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
398. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of consultancy reports commissioned or funded by his Department that have been categorised or designated as not for external publication from 2011 to date; the total costs incurred on commissioning or funding these reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53004/23]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
|
Year |
No. of Reports |
Cost € |
|
2011 |
5 |
56,480 |
|
2012 |
5 |
66,676 |
|
2013 |
3 |
66,613 |
|
2014 |
1 |
1,599 |
|
2015 |
7 |
175,584 |
|
2016 |
1 |
0 |
|
2017 |
5 |
185,235 |
|
2018 |
2 |
78,610 |
|
2019 |
6 |
1,032,331 |
|
2020 |
1 |
71,003 |
|
2021 |
8 |
253,154 |
|
2022 |
10 |
581,730 |
|
2023 |
5 |
91,403 |
|
Total |
59 |
2,660,415 |
399. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities have a job placement scheme for disabled people; and if not, if he has plans to introduce a job placement scheme in local authorities for disabled people. [53014/23]
View answerThe local government sector is committed to equality of opportunity for all in terms of its recruitment and employment practices. 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.
In terms specifically of a job placement scheme, I am aware that the local government sector partnered with AHEAD in 2022/2023 on the Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) Programme to offer paid and mentored work placements for graduates with disabilities. The local government sector was recently recognised at the WAM Leaders Awards 2023, for participation in and support for the WAM programme, which aims to promote access to the labour market for graduates with disabilities.
Coordinated through the Local Government Management Agency, five local authorities participated in the pilot WAM graduate programme 2022/2023 which offered paid and mentored work placements for nine graduates with disabilities. The Local Government Management Agency is currently working with AHEAD for the WAM Programme 2023/2024. Any further details can be sought directly from the local government sector.
400. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 99 of 22 November 2023, if he is aware that a number of local authorities employ a different interpretation of this Statutory Instrument and circular; that a number of sitting county councillors may breach these terms already and that this will certainly be the case when the new pay deal for retained firefighters is introduced; if he recognises that fire 'calls' vary significantly from year to year, are not pensionable, and are not reckonable in many income assessments; if he has plans to update SI 216/2004 in the near future to reflect this, to ensure retained firefighters are assessed on guaranteed income, and to ensure there is fair and standard application of this policy across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53044/23]
View answerAs outlined in response to PQ 99 on 22nd November 2023, Circular LG(P) 06/09 "Local Government Act 2001 (Section 161) Order 2004" is based on S.I. No. 216 of 2004 and also reflects the provisions of Circular 09/2009 "Civil Servants and Political Activity".
The order provides that a local authority employee, whose maximum salary on the latest date for receipt of nominations at a local election does not exceed the maximum salary for the post of Clerical Officer, may become a member of a local authority. While Circular LG(P) 06/09 refers to ‘salary’, the associated statutory instrument (S.I. No. 216 of 2004) refers only to ‘remuneration’. The latter is considered to include all earnings.
Any calculation to determine full remuneration received by a local authority employee must include all elements received either directly or indirectly from the employer in respect of employment. That would include base salary payments, allowances and call out/incident attendance payments in determining eligibility under the relevant statutory instrument.
Accordingly, reflecting the different constituent parts of the annual earnings of retained firefighters, in such instances where a retained firefighter wishes to pursue nomination for local elections, the total earnings for the previous year will be used to determine eligibility under the provisions of LG(P) 06/09 to ensure a transparent and equitable approach for retained firefighters vis á vis other local authority employees.
Given that this issue has been raised a number of times recently, my Department will ensure that this response is circulated to all local authorities for their information to ensure consistent treatment across the board.
401. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53056/23]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
|
Year |
Platform |
Amount (ex VAT) |
|
2021 |
|
€1,386.31 |
|
2022 |
|
€16,632.47 |
|
Up to 27 Nov 2023 |
|
€8,456.20 |
402. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with two websites (details supplied) respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53076/23]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
|
Year |
Platform |
Amount (ex VAT) |
|
2021 |
Facebook/Instagram |
€22,859.71 |
|
2022 |
Facebook/Instagram |
€58,549.00 |
|
Up to 27 Nov 2023 |
Facebook/Instagram |
€79,427.93 |
