Ivana Bacik
Question:123. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to address the issues in a case (details supplied). [55598/23]
View answerHousing Schemes
Questions (123)
Written answers
From the details supplied I understand the question relates to the status of an application for a Local Authority Home Loan. The final decision on Local Authority Home Loan applications is a matter for the relevant local authority.
In general, the Local Authority Home Loan can be used to finance the purchase of a property under the Tenant Purchase Scheme. The Local Authority Home Loan requires that applicant must have a deposit equivalent to 10% of the value of the property to be purchased. However, applicant(s) availing of the Tenant Purchase Scheme are exempt from this requirement for a 10% deposit.
All other criteria for eligibility for the Local Authority Home Loan will apply to applicants availing of the Tenant Purchase scheme, which would include the demonstration of the applicants' creditworthiness. As part of the assessment process and to ensure prudent lending for both the borrower and the local authority, an applicant(s) repayment capacity and creditworthiness is assessed, which would include evidence of their savings record.
Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches in the best interests of both borrowers and lending local authority.
Details of the Local Authority Home Loan can be found on the dedicated website: localauthorityhomeloan.ie/
Legislative Measures
Questions (124)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:124. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the proposed amendments to the Housing Act 1988 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55628/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Section 2 of the Housing Act 1988 outlines how local authorities can form an opinion on whether or not an individual/household shall be regarded as homeless, while section 10 outlines the actions that a local authority may take regarding the accommodation of those regarded as homeless.
My Department, along with nominated representatives of the local authority regional homelessness leads, undertook a review of sections 2 and 10 of the Housing Act 1988 in recognition of the significant changes in homelessness since the drafting of the Housing Act 1988 and to enable local authorities and homeless services to better address homelessness.
The review is now complete and potential amendments to the legislation are being considered by my Department. My Department is also engaging with stakeholders in relation to potential legislative amendments. Should any legislative changes be proposed, they will be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas in line with the normal legislative process.
Housing Provision
Questions (125)
Brian Leddin
Question:125. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 63 of 7 December 2023, to outline his plans to develop housing on State-owned lands in the Limerick metropolitan area, other than those at Colbert Station, in line with the principles of the transit-oriented development and the new transport nodes identified in LSMATS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55675/23]
View answerWritten answers
Further to my response to the Parliamentary Question No. 63 of 7 December 2023, the Land Development Agency's (LDA) 2023 Report on Relevant Public Land identified four state-owned sites in Limerick which have potential for the development of affordable and social homes.
This is in addition to the two sites in Limerick, previously agreed for transfer to the LDA under the Government's Housing for All strategy (Colbert Quarter and Limerick City Docks).
My Department has held stakeholder engagement discussions with the four site owners of the lands identified in the report, and recommendations on the individual sites are currently being considered. As part of the appraisal process for these sites, consideration is given to connectivity and public transport as an essential element to any future strategic developments on state lands.
Housing Provision
Questions (126)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:126. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details on the targets and delivery of social and affordable housing, including targets for cost rental, LA or AHB provided affordable to buy and social, since the beginning of Housing for All and the actual delivery of each type up to end of quarter 3 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55692/23]
View answerWritten answers
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 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.
Following the publication of Housing for All in September 2021, I asked all local authorities to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans to address social and, where appropriate, affordable housing needs in their areas over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. A copy of each Council’s Housing Delivery Action Plan is available on their individual websites.
In terms of Social Housing Delivery, my Department publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments and their location, including those 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 3 2023. All Construction Status Reports are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/
In relation to affordable housing, under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through the First Home scheme, a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks. To date, over 3,850 affordable housing solutions have been delivered through Cost Rental, the First Home Scheme, the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, and through the Cost Rental Tenant in Situ Scheme.
Data for both social and affordable housing delivery is published on a quarterly basis. This data is published up to Quarter 3 2023 and is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery
Housing Schemes
Questions (127)
Mattie McGrath
Question:127. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address a matter concerning HAP (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55697/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support available for people who have a long-term housing need. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP. Eligible households can source their own accommodation in the private rental sector which should be within the HAP rent limits provided to them by the local authority.
All households in receipt of HAP pay a differential rent based on the rent scheme set by the relevant local authority. The right of local authorities to set and collect rents on their dwellings is set out in section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such schemes is an executive function and is subject to broad principles laid down by my Department including that; the rent payable should be related to income and a smaller proportion of income should be required from low income households; and that provision should be included for the acceptance of a lower rent than that required under the terms of the scheme in exceptional cases where payment of the normal rent would give rise to hardship. Local discretion and flexibility are inherent in the devolved function of administering rent schemes.
Since July 2022, each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% above the prescribed maximum rent limit and for new tenancies to extend the couple’s rate to single persons households. Discretion can be increased up to 50% above the prescribed maximum rent limits for Homeless HAP tenancies in Dublin. It should be noted that it is a matter for the local authority to determine whether the application of the flexibility is warranted on a case by case basis and also the level of discretion applied in each case.
Each local authority has a customer service charter and complaints procedure for applicants who may wish to make a complaint regarding the service they receive. Following that complaint, if they consider that they have been unfairly treated or are not satisfied with the Council’s decision on their complaint, it is open to them to make a complaint to the Ombudsman.
The day-to-day operation of the HAP scheme is a matter for the relevant local authority.
Wastewater Treatment
Questions (128)
Jim O'Callaghan
Question:128. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding allocated in each case for the successful applications under the €50 million funding scheme targeting the wastewater collection and treatment needs of villages and settlements without access to public wastewater services which he announced on 7 December 2023, by county, in tabular form. [55738/23]
View answerWritten answers
Details of the funding I approved for the successful applications under the waste water collection and treatment needs for villages and settlements without access to public wastewater services programme are listed below.
|
Local authority |
Village |
Grant assistance (€m) |
|
Clare |
Broadford |
€ 6.44 |
|
Clare |
Cooraclare |
€ 5.52 |
|
Galway |
Clarinbridge |
€ 8.90 |
|
Galway |
Craughwell |
€10.40 |
|
Kerry |
Beaufort |
€ 5.96 |
|
Sligo |
Ballygawley |
€ 4.00 |
|
Wexford |
Ramsgrange |
€ 3.80 |
Vacant Properties
Questions (129)
Niamh Smyth
Question:129. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to review correspondence (details supplied); if he will address the issues outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55755/23]
View answerWritten answers
Pathway 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, including the conversion of a commercial or public use 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.
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 correspondence received from Monaghan County Council and request for agriculture outhouses, lofts, old mills etc. to be included in the grant scheme is noted.
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 and I will ensure that the request made by Monaghan County Council is considered in that review.
Vacant Properties
Questions (130)
Brendan Griffin
Question:130. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is continuing the repair and lease scheme; the total number of applications from Kerry approved under this scheme in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55830/23]
View answerWritten answers
The repair and leasing scheme (RLS) is one of the delivery options in Pathway 4 of Housing for All – Pathway to Addressing Vacancy and Efficient Use of Existing Stock.
Housing for All committed to placing a renewed focus on RLS and has set ambitious targets for its duration. In line with this commitment, a pilot expansion to the scheme targeting the conversion of vacant commercial / institutional premises commenced in June 2022 and in July 2023, I increased the loan available for repair works to €80,000 (including VAT) per individual home provided.
Departmental approval is required for projects that contain more than 4 units. Local authorities have delegated sanction for projects of less than 4 units. The total number of applications submitted to my Department by Kerry County Council in 2023 is outlined in the below table.
|
Local Authority |
Number of applications submitted to the Department for approval in 2023 |
Number of finished units proposed from applications submitted in 2023 |
|
Kerry |
2 |
17 (1x11 units, 1 x 6 units) |
My Department also collects data regarding the number of repair and leasing applications received by each local authority on a quarterly basis. This information is available at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
Housing Schemes
Questions (131)
Brendan Griffin
Question:131. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the latest figure regarding applications and approvals from County Kerry under the Croí Cónaithe scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55831/23]
View answerWritten answers
Pathway 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.
My Department publishes data on applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis, see: www.gov.ie/en/publication/2c181-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-statistics-april-to-june-2023/
Housing Provision
Questions (132)
Brendan Griffin
Question:132. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of new units expected in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55832/23]
View answerWritten answers
The substantial uplift in housing delivery since Housing for All was launched in 2021 - almost 30,000 new homes completed in 2022 and more than 30,000 forecast for this year - is expected to be sustained into 2024. Indeed, initial sectoral forecasts suggest new home delivery next year will be at its highest level for many years, with some commentators suggesting the Housing for All target of 33,450 will be met, if not exceeded.
Housing Policy
Questions (133)
Brendan Griffin
Question:133. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what categories of housing stock returning to use are not classified as new units; if LA voids and student accommodation is categorised as such; if so, the reasons for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55833/23]
View answerWritten answers
The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.
Since 2014, Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to supplement the local authority funding available for the preparation of vacant properties for re-letting. The funding was introduced originally to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted to support authorities to ensure minimal turnaround and re-let times for vacant stock.
Separately, under the Voids Programme no units are counted against build. To that end, my Department and local authorities are working to transition from a largely response and voids-based approach to housing stock management and maintenance, to a planned maintenance approach as referenced in Housing for All, policy objective 20.6. This will require the completion of stock condition surveys by all local authorities and the subsequent development of strategic and informed work programmes in response.
This process has continued this year as a further €5 million in funding has been ring-fenced for Planned Maintenance under this year's Planned Maintenance/Voids Programme to support an element of planned maintenance works, the implementation of an ICT asset management system for the local authority sector and to provide a funding contribution for the commencement of stock condition surveys.
Planning Issues
Questions (134, 135)
Brendan Griffin
Question:134. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how he plans to target extortionate planning objectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55834/23]
View answerBrendan Griffin
Question:135. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider creating an objection qualification requirement, similar to local need qualification requirement, in respect of residential development proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55835/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 and 135 together.
It is of the utmost importance in the first instance to point out that provision for the handling and consideration of appeals where considered vexatious is currently already legislated for under section 138 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), under which An Bord Pleanála has powers to dismiss appeals where it is of the opinion that is frivolous or vexatious, or has been made with the sole intention of delaying the development or the intention of securing money, gifts or other inducements. These provisions are replicated in the Planning and Development Bill 2023.
Furthermore, in July of this year, I wrote to the Attorney General and to the Minister for Justice in relation to demands for financial compensation regarding planning objections. The Attorney General provided views that matters such as these are provided for under current legislation, notably, section 17 of Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act which states “It shall be an offence for any person who, with a view to gain for himself or another or with intent to cause loss to another, makes any unwarranted demand with menaces.” The Attorney General also advised that sections 6 & 7 of Criminal Justice (Theft & Fraud Offences) Act may apply in instances such as these.
In order to protect the planning system, my Department is further reviewing this matter with a view to determining whether it is appropriate to provide additional sanctions for this issue in the Planning and Development Bill 2023.
There are no plans to introduce a qualification requirement for observations on planning applications. The Bill maintains the third party rights as set out in the Act of 2000, protecting Ireland's tradition of open public participation in the planning system.
Question No. 135 answered with Question No. 134.
Budget 2024
Questions (136)
Brendan Griffin
Question:136. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what changes to the tax code in relation to all aspects of construction and the property, rental and housing market his Department proposed to the Department of Finance in the context of budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55837/23]
View answer
Awaiting reply from Department.
Emergency Accommodation
Questions (137)
Brendan Griffin
Question:137. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his targets for 2024 in respect of emergency accommodation figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55838/23]
View answerWritten answers
Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. Critical to supporting households to exit homelessness is increasing the supply of housing. Record State investment of over €5bn is available to support capital investment in housing in 2024. This funding will support the delivery of 9,300 new build social homes and 6,400 affordable homes.
Budget 2024 allocated funding of over €242 million for the delivery of homelessness services. This funding will support the provision of emergency accommodation and related supports, including increased prevention activity. Local authorities and their service delivery partners will work closely with all households in emergency accommodation to support them to secure an exit to a tenancy. I have Government approval to continue the successful Tenant-in-Situ acquisition programme, which I introduced in March this year, into 2024. These acquisitions are focussed on acquiring properties where a social housing tenant has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property.
I continue to work with the National Homeless Action Committee to ensure that there is a continued focus across Government to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness and to ensure that we address both prevention of entries into homelessness and exits from homelessness as a matter of urgency.
Housing Policy
Questions (138)
Brendan Griffin
Question:138. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has given further thought to the proposal from this Deputy to introduce a right-sizing grant, similar to the Croí Cónaithe scheme, to create two or more units out of properties where occupants are currently over-housed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55839/23]
View answerWritten answers
I refer to my reply to Question No. 407 of the 12 December 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.