John Lahart
Question:336. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the main policy achievements of his Department since 27 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56113/23]
View answerDepartmental Policies
Questions (336)
Written answers
The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, is the foundation for my Department's main policy initiatives. My Department has commitments across 10 of the 12 Missions in the Programme. My Department's 2021 Statement of Strategy was published in April 2021 and set out our strategic goals, objectives and actions. It is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/9a047-statement-of-strategy-2021-2025/. A new Statement of Strategy for the period 2023-2025 was published in August of this year and is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/3be76-statement-of-strategy-2023-2025/
My Department's website, www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage, is a good source of information about activities and initiatives undertaken, but by way of illustration, some of the key actions delivered since 27 June 2020 include:
• the publication of 'Housing for All - a new Housing Plan for Ireland' and the continued progression of initiatives covered under this policy;
• the launching of the Local Authority Home Loan Scheme and subsequent amendment regulations increasing the number of eligible applicants;
• the enactment of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 which established the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, introduced Cost Rental tenancies, established the First Home Shared Equity Scheme and expanded Part V of the planning requirements;
• the establishment of the Regulatory Authority for Approved Housing Bodies;
• the launch of a new Vacant Homes Action Plan, including a fund of €150 million for local authorities, outlining measures introduced to address vacancy and dereliction;
• increased funding for Housing Adaptation Grants for Older and Disabled people;
• an increased budget to support local authority homeless programmes and Covid-19 enhanced services;
• the establishment of the National Homeless Action Committee (NHAC) and subsequent publication of the Youth Homelessness Strategy;
• the establishment of the Emergency Refurbishment programme;
• the establishment, with the Department of Rural and Community Development, of a Town Centre First inter-Departmental Group on the regeneration of towns and villages;
• the introduction of a Ready to Build scheme, funded through the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund;
• the approval of three developments of owner occupier apartments under the Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme which aims to bridge the current ‘viability gap’ between the cost of building apartments and the market sale price where the cost of building is greater;
• the enactment of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022;
• the publication of the Planning and Development Bill 2023 which will ensure that the planning system meets the needs of the people of Ireland;
• commencement of the process to revise the National Planning Framework;
• the publication of the draft Sustainable and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities, providing updated guidance to facilitate compact growth and innovative housing types, informed by the Housing Needs Demand Assessment Tool (HNDA);
• the preparation of legislation for a Zoned Land Tax to commence in 2024;
• the enactment of the Land Development Agency Act 2021;
• the enactment of the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021;
• the development of the Marine Spatial Plan;
• the development of the National Marine Planning Framework;
• the establishment of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA);
• the establishment of Tailte Éireann;
• the enactment of the Water Services (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2022 to separate Uisce Éireann from the Ervia Group;
• the signing of new Drinking Water Regulations;
• the publication of the National Parks and Wildlife Service Strategic Plan 2023-2025;
• the enactment of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2023 which will require all public service bodies to integrate biodiversity into plans, policies and programmes;
• enactment of the Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023;
• increased funding for the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, the Historic Structures Fund and the Community Monuments Fund;
• the development of the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan;
• the publication of the 5th Nitrates Action Programme;
• the publication of the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023, providing for the establishment of an office of mayor for the administrative area of Limerick City and County Council;
• establishment of the Electoral Commission following the enactment of the Electoral Reform Act 2022, in order to modernise the electoral registration process and introduce regulation of online political advertising;
The Departments high level activity, with respect to the Statement of Strategy, is documented in its Annual Reports, which can be found at www.gov.ie/en/collection/f9a38-annual-reports/.
Regular updates, in the form of press releases, are also issued by my Department, particularly when outcomes are achieved, and these can be found at www.gov.ie/en/search/?type=press_releases&organisation=department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage.
As a whole-of-government approach has been adopted to the implementation of Housing for All, Housing for All updates and progress reports are being coordinated and overseen by the Department of the Taoiseach, in close cooperation with my Department. These can be found at www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/dfc50-housing-for-all/.
Housing Provision
Questions (337)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:337. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown per county of the social housing stock in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56132/23]
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.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority. This data is available to the end of Q3 2023, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
My Department publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 3 2023. All Construction Status Reports are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/.
Statistics in relation to the social housing stock are published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) in their Annual Reports on Performance Indicators in Local Authorities. These reports provide a range of information in relation to social housing stock, including the number of dwellings in local authority ownership at a given time. The most recent report, relating to 2022, is available on the NOAC website at the following link: www.noac.ie/noac_publications/8339/#:~:text=The%202022%20Performance%20Indicator%20Report,44%20indicators%20under%2011%20headings.
Departmental Data
Questions (338, 339, 340)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:338. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the BER rating of social housing stock, in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56133/23]
View answerDarren O'Rourke
Question:339. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many social houses were retrofitted in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 to date per county; their post-BER rating, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56134/23]
View answerDarren O'Rourke
Question:340. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if any assessment has been carried out by his Department concerning the installation of solar PV on the social housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56135/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 338 to 340, inclusive, together.
Since 2013 my Departments has provided funding towards retrofit works on local authority housing. These works were carried out over two phases and consisted of cavity wall/attic insulation and fabric upgrade works to those dwellings with solid/hollow block wall construction and included the provision of heating upgrades.
An annualised breakdown of the funding and number of properties completed by each local authority is available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme-expenditure-output/
A new enhanced ten year energy efficiency programme was launched in 2021 in response to a commitment made under the Programme for Government, which called for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent BER standard by 2030, of which approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes.
In 2023, my Department announced that funding of €87 million is available under the Energy Efficient Retrofit Programme for the retrofit of approximately 2,400 social homes.
Work in relation to the 2023 programme is nearing completion and current indicators show that the original target of 2,400 retrofits is expected to be completed this year. Full details in relation to delivery under the 2023 Energy Efficiency Programme will be available early in 2024.
Details in relation to an individual dwellings post works BER may be available from a relevant Local Authority.
In certain circumstances, my Department supports the installation of 1kWp solar PV for social housing with a floor area less than 55 m2, with a maximum HLI of 2.6 on a pilot basis. In such cases local authorities are required to cooperate with SEAI as part of research monitoring the performance in these dwellings.
Question No. 339 answered with Question No. 338.
Question No. 340 answered with Question No. 338.
Housing Policy
Questions (341)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:341. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to expand the Fresh Start principle to include divorced applicants seeking to remortgage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56144/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage scheme for creditworthy applicants 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.
The ‘Fresh Start’ principle applies for applications to the Local Authority Home Loan where an applicant who previously purchased or built a residential property, but has divorced/separated or otherwise and has left the property and divested themselves of their interest in the property are eligible to apply. The "Fresh Start" principle does not apply for an applicant who wishes to buy out their former partner from the current family home, following a separation/divorce.
There are no plans at present to expand the Local Authority Home Loan to include remortgaging. However, I will keep this matter under review.
Local Government Reform
Questions (342)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:342. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 781 of 21 April 2021, the current status of the programme for Government commitment to incentivise local authorities to bring forward pilot participatory budgeting projects; when details of same will be announced; the funding mechanism to be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56145/23]
View answerWritten answers
It should be noted that local authorities have been under sustained financial pressure since the beginning of the pandemic, which has necessitated extensive financial support from Government over the past number of years, in the form of a commercial rates waiver, compensation for lost income and pandemic related expenditure, and, more recently, assisting authorities faced with increased energy and payroll costs. As a commitment in the Programme for Government, I welcome consideration of the topic and am supportive of proposals to raise the awareness, engagement and understanding of citizens in the local government budgetary process. There are many existing avenues of engagement between the public and local authorities that influence budgetary decisions, including through SPCs, public consultations on LPT decisions and a range of community engagement structures. It is intended to consider the issue of participatory budgeting further as soon as possible.
Housing Provision
Questions (343)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:343. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new-build social homes and new-build affordable homes that were delivered in County Mayo in 2023; the targets for 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56151/23]
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.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority. This data is available to the end of Q3 2023, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
My Department publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 3 2023. All Construction Status Reports are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/
Local authorities also now complete and submit data returns to my Department on delivery of affordable homes in their area in the same manner as is done for social housing. Statistical reports detailing affordable housing delivery during 2022 and for the first three quarters of 2023 are also available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery
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.
Each local authority was asked to assess the level of housing demand with affordability constraint projected for their area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment Tool and 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.
The Plans have been published on local authority websites. A copy of the Housing Delivery Action Plan for Mayo is available on its website at the following link:
www.mayo.ie/en-ie/your-council/services/housing-services/social-housing/housing-delivery-action-plan.
Mayo’s social housing build targets are set out in the table below.
|
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
Total |
|
90 |
151 |
154 |
166 |
169 |
730 |
Mayo does not have a specific affordability target but has identified localised need, i.e. new households being formed unable to access housing for purchase or rent at prices/rents affordable to them and is developing an affordable housing delivery programme to respond appropriately. To date it has received approval for subsidy from the AHF to assist in the delivery of 13 affordable homes in Springfield, Westport.
At a recent meeting with the Department, Mayo County Council indicated that a number of additional affordable housing schemes are being prepared for which it intends applying for AHF subsidy support. The Department will continue to assist and support Mayo as it develops its affordability programme.
Given the profile of the county, it is expected that the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund and the Ready to Build services sites schemes will also make a significant contribution to addressing overall affordability needs in Mayo. Both of these schemes have been advertised by Mayo County Council on its official website.
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, including Mayo County Council, and with Approved Housing Bodies, the LDA, and retail banks via the First Home, to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing.
Emergency Accommodation
Questions (344)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:344. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of people who presented as homeless to Mayo County Council in 2023 and were either turned away or issued vouchers due to the fact emergency accommodation was full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56152/23]
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 local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities.
A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. Decisions on the range of emergency accommodation services and funding required in each region are a matter for individual local authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum. It is a matter for the Management Group to bring forward proposals to my Department that meet the needs of homeless individuals in their administrative area and the funding requirements will be considered in this context.
My Department currently gathers and publishes data on a monthly basis on the number of homeless persons accommodated in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by local authorities. These reports are based on data provided by local authorities, produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS).
The monthly homelessness report includes details of individuals, families and the dependants of these families who accessed emergency accommodation during the relevant count week of the month in question. The most recently published data is in respect of October 2023. The reports are collated on a regional basis and are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/
They are also published to the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform's open data portal, data.gov.ie/
My Department does not hold the details sought. This information may be available from Mayo County Council.
State Bodies
Questions (345)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:345. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the provisions of the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 provide for a clawback charge to be made on mortgage-property registered with the Register of Deeds but not with the Land Registry, that is, whether a property must be registered with the Land Registry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56159/23]
View answerWritten answers
Established on 1 March 2023, Tailte Éireann is the State agency formed following the merger of the Property Registration Authority, the Valuation Office and Ordnance Survey Ireland. Tailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
All the functions previously carried out by the Property Registration Authority, the Valuation Office, and Ordnance Survey Ireland are now performed by Tailte Éireann. Under Section 8(6) of the Tailte Éireann Act 2022, Tailte Éireann is independent in the performance of its functions. As Minister, I have no role in the operational matters relating to its functions.
The Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice. As I understand it, the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 does not make any specific provision regarding registration of a clawback charge in either the Registry of Deeds or the Land Registry.
In regard to whether a Deed, which contains a clawback charge or a condition, may be registered in the Registry of Deeds, Tailte Éireann make no judgment as to the effectiveness of a deed. Only the existence of the deed is registered within the Registry of Deeds. An application lodged in the correct form, accompanied by a document which complies with the requirements of a deed, will be noted as registered. The Deed is then stamped to confirm registration in the Registry of Deeds and returned to the lodging party.
Finally, Oireachtas Members may obtain information directly in respect of Tailte Éireann by contacting the dedicated e-mail address at reps@tailte.ie.
Environmental Policy
Questions (346)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:346. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on plans to strengthen the ability of local authorities to tackle the biodiversity crisis; the gaps and challenges that exist to reaching their potential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56163/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to ensure that each Local Authority has a sufficient number of Biodiversity Officers and Heritage Officers among their staff complement. The Biodiversity Officer Programme is being delivered by the Heritage Council, which is funded by my Department. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for the Heritage Council is oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie.
In addition to the support provided by my Department for the Biodiversity Officer programme, my Department operates the Local Biodiversity Action Fund to assist local authorities with the implementation of projects that promote actions contained in the National Biodiversity Action Plan. First launched in 2018, a fund of €3m was made available this year, double the amount available in 2022. Local authorities play a vital role in addressing the biodiversity emergency and over €6m has been awarded to local authorities through this fund to date.
Local Authorities
Questions (347, 348)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:347. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown of the indicative costs associated with hiring local authority biodiversity officers, in tabular form. [56164/23]
View answerDarren O'Rourke
Question:348. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of biodiversity officers hired by each local authority to date; how many posts have yet to be filled; if there are plans to increase the number of biodiversity officers, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56165/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 347 and 348 together.
The programme to provide funding for Biodiversity Officer roles within local authorities is being delivered by the Heritage Council, which is funded by my Department. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for the Heritage Council is oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie.
Question No. 348 answered with Question No. 347.
Water Quality
Questions (349)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:349. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how local authorities are resourced to supervise the water quality of private water supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56166/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department provides funding support to the private water sector and to individual households by way of capital grants and an annual subsidy through the Rural Water Programme. Private water supplies are those supplies not operated by Uisce Éireann and includes group water schemes, small private supplies and private wells.
The local authorities have responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme in their area and have dedicated Rural Water Liaison Officers who administer the programme and provide advice and guidance in relation to the protection of the water supplies. However, the owner is responsible for the water quality of their supply.
If the private water supply has a commercial or public interest or supplies over 50 persons on average, it is deemed a Private Regulated Water Supply and the local authority is the supervisory authority. In this role the responsibilities of the local authority includes ensuring compliance, investigating cases of inadequate water quality and taking enforcement action, where appropriate.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) audits the monitoring programme and reports on both the quality standards and enforcement activity in each local authority.