Written Answers Nos. 774-780
774. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the house building allocation targets for counties Kildare, Fingal, Wicklow, Meath and Louth, respectively as per the housing supply target methodology for the duration of the current development plans. [57121/23]
View answerMinisterial Guidelines - ‘Housing Supply Target Methodology for Development Planning, Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ under Section 28 of the Planning & Development Act, 2000 (as amended), were issued to all local authorities in December 2020. The Guidelines introduced a standardised national approach, based on ESRI data, to be applied by each planning authority in projecting Housing Supply Targets for each specific six-year period, when reviewing city or county development plans, that are consistent with adopted national and regional growth targets in the National Planning Framework and Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies.
The Housing Supply Target is quantified as an overall number of housing units to be planned for in the development plan process of each local authority. The guidelines issued provide a clear and consistent approach for local authorities when preparing county and city development plans in relation to future housing development.
The targets adopted, as contained in the respective adopted development plans are contained in the table below.
|
County |
Housing Target (Residential Units) |
|
Kildare |
9,144 |
|
Fingal |
16,245 |
|
Wicklow |
8,467 |
|
Meath |
16,958 |
|
Louth |
6,691 |
775. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the use of decoy crows for the purpose of protecting crops and animal feed by farmers has not been approved by him pursuant to his powers to approve that purpose under Section 35(4) of the Wildlife Acts, as amended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57134/23]
View answerAll wild birds in Ireland are protected under EU law, namely the Birds Directive (Directive 79/409/EEC) adopted in 1979. They are also protected under the Wildlife Acts 1976, as amended.
Section 35(1)(c) states that a person shall not “use a stuffed or artificial decoy in the form of any bird for the purpose of hunting any protected wild birds, other than wood pigeons, wild duck and wild geese”. The section confines the use of decoys to these species only.
Section 35(4) of the Act does not give the Minister any power to approve the use of decoy crows for the purpose of protecting crops and animal feed.
776. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to allow applications under the croí cónaithe vacant property grant for the refurbishment of agricultural buildings to bring them into residential use. [57154/23]
View answerPathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. 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.
Agricultural buildings are not eligible for the grant. The types of buildings eligible for the grant will be considered as part of a comprehensive review and evaluation of the scheme which is being undertaken at present and is expected to be completed in mid-2024.
777. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a schedule of the personal and or person-specific data sets his Department holds that have been provided and/or shared with other Departments and/or Ministers and/or State bodies and/or agencies and/or local authorities in the past 20 years to date; if he will clarify if the transfer of data and/or records was in aggregated form or on an individual basis; and the reason the data and/or records were provided. [57214/23]
View answerMy Department does not maintain a schedule of personal data sharing activities over the past 20 years to date. The information sought is not readily available and its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work.
My Department shares personal data with other public bodies for a variety of reasons including where required by law, where relevant and necessary to provide a public service or perform a public function, where sought for law enforcement purposes, or where another public body acts as a processor of personal data on my Department’s behalf. The content and volume of personal data concerned may vary widely from a single or handful of records upwards and information may be provided on a once-off basis or as part of a longer-term arrangement. Examples include: reporting staff pay and deduction information to the Office of the Revenue Commissioners; once-off requests from law enforcement authorities such as An Garda Síochána seeking information relating to the investigation of criminal offences; applicant details shared with the National Museum of Ireland for consultation purposes as part of the application process for licensable activities under the Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023; staff details shared with the National Shared Service Office to provide human resource and payroll services to my Department. The disclosure of information may be either on an individual basis or in other cases in aggregate form.
My Department has implemented appropriate organisational measures to ensure it fully meets it obligations and responsibilities under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Law Enforcement Directive (LED), the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Data Sharing & Governance Act 2019. Personal data is only collected, held and shared where it is relevant and necessary and in a manner that complies with data protection principles including lawfulness and transparency. The legal basis most frequently relied upon by my Department for processing personal data is either legal obligation or official task/public interest. Transparency is achieved by providing privacy statements which explain to individuals why and how my Department uses their personal data, as well as clearly specifying who their information is shared with. Where a new data sharing activity falls within scope of the Data Sharing & Governance Act 2019, my Department progresses data sharing agreements under the provisions of that legislation which includes public consultation and review by the Data Governance Board. Where possible my Department provides for data sharing arrangements in legislation following consultation with the Data Protection Commission under GDPR or LED. As required under GDPR and LED, my Department establishes written agreements where another public body processes personal data on my Department’s behalf. Other organisational measures include the appointment of a Data Protection Officer and data protection team to support my Department’s compliance with its data protection obligations, maintaining a record of processing activities under my Departments responsibility, and relevant staff training.
778. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to set out the details of the Cabinet agreement of 20 December 2023 on the recapitalisation of the Land Development Agency, including the total proposed increase in their capitalisation and a breakdown of the sources of funding for the additional capitalisation agreed, including ISIF, share sales (details supplied), Exchequer funding and private borrowing. [57222/23]
View answerUnder the Land Development Agency's (LDA) Business Plan 2024 – 2028, the agency will provide 12,900 - primarily affordable cost rental - homes over the lifetime of the plan. This is a significant contribution to the overall objectives within Housing for All.
This emphasis on delivering social and affordable housing means that there has been a significant change in the scale and remit of the LDA – limiting the agency’s ability to access private debt finance and use revenue from private housing developed to subsidise other elements of its portfolio.
This Government is determined that the LDA is fully funded to play its full part in delivering much needed affordable and social homes under Housing for All.
At the Cabinet meeting on 20 December 2023, to ensure the LDA was adequately capitalised to meet the requirements of Housing for All, the government agreed:
to commit to the allocation of €1.25 billion additional equity share capital to the LDA from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF). This now brings ISIF equity funding to €2.5bn;
to enable the identification of a further €1.25 billion additional funding for the LDA from other sources;
to further consider and develop options for the sustainable future funding of the LDA in 2024;
the inclusion of a Ministerial representative on the board of the LDA; and
to make the necessary legislative changes to:
the Land Development Agency Act 2021;
the Housing Finance Agency Act 1981; and
the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2014; and
any other legislation necessary to reflect increased capitalisation set out in paragraph (i), (ii), (iv) and (v) above.
The LDA has so far not availed of its borrowing powers and under current legislation, can borrow up to €1.25 billion. Therefore, following on from the decision at the Cabinet meeting on 20 December 2023, the LDA will now have access to up to €5 billion in funding.
Exchequer funding of €3.8 million is being provided to the LDA in 2024 to cover expenditure associated with their non-commercial functions. This is further broken down into €3m for Capital and €800,000 for Current funding. These functions are detailed under Section 29 of the LDA Act 2021 and include the maintenance of the Register of Relevant Public Lands, the development of a report to Government on relevant public lands and any functions associated with the development of a Strategic Development Zone as provided for under Part IX of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.
779. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 392 and 393 of 12 December 2023, if he will confirm that Dublin City Council has provided the additional information sought in relation to a funding application for temporary improvement works previously carried out in response to the hepatitis A outbreak to his Department on 5 December 2023; if he will confirm that funding will now be furnished to Dublin City Council in respect of this work; when a decision will be made in respect of funding for the additional temporary work that is to be carried out in response to the outbreak of hepatitis A; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57230/23]
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.
My Department sought further information on 5 December 2023 in relation to a funding application for temporary improvement works previously carried out in response to the Hepatitis A outbreak and a response is awaited from the local authority. My Department will consider this funding application further when this additional information is provided by the local authority.
In parallel, my Department is also considering a further application for funding for additional temporary works in the context of the overall funding approval of €16.7m issued for the redevelopment of Labre Park and a decision will issue to the local authority in due course.
780. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated full-year cost of increasing the local government fund by 10%, 15% and 20%, respectively. [57324/23]
View answerThe Local Government Fund (LGF) in any given year, comprises of a combination of Local Property Tax (LPT) receipts and Exchequer funding for various supports and programmes. For 2024, the expected expenditure from the Fund will be over €1bn, and the Government is making a significant contribution of €449.9m of Exchequer funding in this regard. The Exchequer funding is made up of €110m towards Local Property Tax (LPT) equalisation, €315.2m towards pay & pension support (subject to further increases arising from public sector pay agreements) and €24.7m to support smaller miscellaneous schemes across the sector. The estimated full-year cost of increasing the Exchequer contribution to the LGF by 10%, 15% and 20%, would be €45m, €67.5m and €90m respectively.
As regards increasing the LGF by a specific percentage; the contribution from the Exchequer is largely demand-led and the following should be noted;
• Under the LPT Allocation model, every local authority is entitled to receive a minimum level of funding known as baseline funding. If an authority’s LPT yield is below this level, it will receive equalisation funding to supplement yield and bring it up to the baseline level. 21 authorities will receive equalisation funding in 2024. Following the conclusion of the baseline review in 2023, there will be an overall increase in the baseline from €353m to €428.4m from 2024 onwards, and thereby considerably increasing the equalisation funding required by the Exchequer. Included in the recommendations of the baseline review is that the LPT baseline funding of local authorities be further reviewed at 5 year intervals
• A large portion of the 2024 Exchequer contribution will be towards assisting local authorities with the cumulative effect on pay costs arising from National Pay Agreements since 2016. This increases year-on-year; i.e. it has increased by 10% from 2023 to 2024, and is expected to increase further following any new pay agreements. The increase is calculated by assessing the cumulative impact of the pay agreements for the year, using the most recently available payroll data for the sector.
• The Fund provides once-off support for exceptional events that impact the sector. For example in 2020, 2021 and Q1 2022, the LGF supported local authorities and local businesses with the Covid rates waiver/credit in lieu scheme, and lost income and extra costs due to the pandemic, at a cost of €1.4bn to the Exchequer. In 2023, the Fund also assisted the sector with rising costs, in particular rising energy costs, providing €60m for this purpose.
• Finally, the Fund supports a number of smaller projects (i.e. Miscellaneous Schemes) across the local government sector, with €24.7m being provided for this purpose in 2024, a 17% increase year-on-year. The allocation is demand-led, and supports initiatives such as Creative Ireland, Just Transition and Local Government Management Agency Innovation and Reform Projects.
In conclusion, the annual contribution by the Exchequer to the Local Government Fund is determined in the main, by the level of LPT equalisation and pay agreement support required, as well as other matters arising. The provision of additional funding is considered within the context of available resources and prevailing financial circumstances at the time.
