Michael Healy-Rae
Question:814. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1317/24]
View answerHousing Policy
Questions (814)
Written answers
This Government is acutely aware of the housing accommodation and affordability challenges faced by many sectors of society including the health sector. 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 and 54,000 affordable homes by 2030. The Government recognises that more needs to be done to support homebuyers, including single individuals, and middle-income earners, as detailed in Housing for All. My Department has introduced a multi-faceted approach to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system.
Under Pathway 1 of Housing for All, “Pathways to Home Ownership and Increasing Affordability”, I have introduced a number of schemes including the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme and the First Home Shared Equity Scheme, to assist first time buyers in purchasing their new homes. Other measures, such as the Help to Buy Scheme and the Local Authority Home Loan are also nationally available to eligible first-time purchasers to make home ownership more affordable.
The Land Development Agency (LDA) is tasked with the proactive management of the State’s extensive land bank. The LDA is assembling strategic land banks from a mix of public and private lands, making these available for housing in a controlled manner, helping to provide essential long-term stability to the Irish housing market.
Under Housing for All, each Government Department/Agency was asked to examine their existing portfolio of properties. This was to ensure that every effort was made to identify land and properties which could be re-purposed for housing. The Government has agreed the transfer of twenty-eight strategic sites in public ownership to the LDA to advance the delivery of housing. Work is ongoing to identify other state-owned lands that may be available or under-utilised and suitable for housing. The recent statutory Report on Relevant Lands, identified a total of eighty three sites in ten main urban locations (cities and key growth towns). My Department has engaged with all site owners identified in the Report and I expect that further site recommendations for possible transfer will arise from this process.
Given the high priority the Government places on the use of appropriate state lands to support social and affordable housing delivery, the Department of the Taoiseach chairs a State Lands and Property Group, reporting to the Cabinet Committee on Housing, to monitor progress on the transfer of State lands to the LDA.
In relation to the use of public parks, the ongoing retention, provision and management of public open space for use by citizens is a key aspect of ensuring adequate amenity for communities. These open spaces have significant benefits for citizens through facilitating active and passive use, space and respite. Ensuring continued access to high quality public space plays a part in more sustainable development of urban land in accordance with National, Regional and Local planning objectives. Redevelopment of parkland would undermine the effectiveness of ensuring that open space is retained to accommodate a growing population in urban centres.
Question No. 815 answered with Question No. 727.
Housing Schemes
Questions (816)
Chris Andrews
Question:816. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason there is no appeals process in relation to a request for an increase to a payment (details supplied) for persons who are on long-term; the reason there has been no increase of this payment to reflect the increase in rents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1347/24]
View answerWritten answers
Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for housing support through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme. Once a household has been deemed eligible for social housing support, it is a matter for the local authority to examine the suite of social housing supports available, including the HAP scheme, to determine the most appropriate form of social housing support for that household in the administrative area of that local authority.
A key principle of the HAP scheme is that eligible households source their own accommodation in the private rented sector and are advised that this accommodation should be within the HAP rent limits provided to them by the local authority. The limits applicable are related to the specific household and the rental market in the area.
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 if the application of the discretion is warranted on a case-by-case basis and also the level of additional discretion applied in each case. The day-to-day operation of the social housing system is a matter for the relevant local authority, and ultimately, it is the responsibility of the local authority to make a decision in each individual 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.
My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review and closely monitors the level of discretion being used by local authorities, taking into account other sources of data, including Residential Tenancies Board rent data published on a quarterly basis.
Question No. 817 answered with Question No. 744.
Legislative Measures
Questions (818)
Jennifer Whitmore
Question:818. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm which entities including public bodies under his remit are included in and required to implement the Wildlife Amendment Act 2023; if those not currently included will be added; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1394/24]
View answerWritten answers
Section 5 of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2023 introduces a new Part, Part VA, to the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. This provides for a statutory basis for National Biodiversity Action plans and a corresponding duty on public bodies to follow these plans.
Each of the public bodies that the provisions of the Act apply to is set down under section 59H of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000, as amended. These are as follows:
(a) a Minister of the Government;
(b) Bord Iascaigh Mhara;
(c) Bord na Móna;
(d) An Bord Pleanála;
(e) Coillte Teoranta (being a company formed and registered under the Companies Acts as provided for by section 9 of the Forestry Act 1988);
(f) Commission for Aviation Regulation;
(g) Commission for Communications Regulation;
(h) Commission for Railway Regulation;
(i) Commission for Regulation of Utilities;
(j) Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland;
(k) a company formed in respect of a harbour in accordance with section 7 of the Harbours Act 1996;
(l) Eirgrid;
(m) Electricity Supply Board;
(n) Enterprise Ireland;
(o) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(p) Ervia;
(q) Geological Survey Ireland;
(r) Heritage Council;
(s) Iarnród Éireann-Irish Rail;
(t) Industrial Development Agency (Ireland);
(u) Inland Fisheries Ireland;
(v) Irish Lights Commission;
(w) a local authority within the meaning of section 2 of the Local Government Act 2001;
(x) Marine Institute;
(y) National Roads Authority;
(z) Office of the Revenue Commissioners;
(aa) a planning authority within the meaning of the Planning and Development Act 2000;
(bb) Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority;
(cc) Teagasc-The Agriculture and Food Development Authority;
(dd) Údarás na Gaeltachta.
The legislation provides for further public bodies to be added. There are no plans at this point to prescribe further bodies, however this will be kept under review.
Departmental Policies
Questions (819)
Jennifer Whitmore
Question:819. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm which entities including public bodies and Government Departments in and required to implement the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan; if those not currently included will be added; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1395/24]
View answerWritten answers
The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan (AIPP) is a framework that brings together different sectors across the island of Ireland to create a landscape where pollinators can survive and thrive. It is implemented by the National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC), a Company Limited by Guarantee subject to the oversight of the Heritage Council, a public body under the aegis of my Department. Ireland became one of the first countries in Europe to address pollinator declines by publishing the first AIPP in 2015 and the Plan has received widespread commendation since.
Participation in the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan is voluntary. Partner organisations are those that have committed to delivering actions in the Plan. Increasing numbers of state and semi-state organisations have become Partner organisations in the current AIPP 2021-2025, including all 31 Local Authorities, Waterways Ireland, Gas Networks Ireland, Uisce Éireann and the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department.
The 2023 Annual Report for the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan was published in December 2023 and reports on the progress of implementation. 89% of the 186 actions have been completed or are currently in train. Further details, including a full list of Partner organisations, are available on the NBDC website at: www.pollinators.ie/all-ireland-pollinator-plan-annual-review-2023/.
Community Development Projects
Questions (820)
Patrick Costello
Question:820. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that a community centre is included in the plans for the redevelopment of the Oliver Bond complex in Dublin 8, given his Department’s funding for the project. [1418/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department supports an ambitious National Regeneration Programme delivered by local authorities in Limerick, Cork City and Dublin City that seeks to address the causes of disadvantage in social housing estates through a holistic programme of physical, social and economic regeneration.
The aim for national regeneration programme is to create sustainable communities through a combination of social, educational and economic initiatives and also by rejuvenating the built environment by a mixture of demolition, construction and refurbishment of dwellings. My Department is willing to fund local authorities for much of this investment.
The regeneration of the Oliver Bond House complex by Dublin City Council (DCC) has my full support. My Department provided Stage 1 Capital Appraisal approval to DCC for the redevelopment for the flats in Blocks L, M and N, on 16 March 2022. This allowed for a guarantee of Departmental support whilst also tasking DCC to investigate a review of options to find the most suitable solution for the site.
I am pleased to inform you that my Department provided funding approval for four regeneration projects at Oliver Bond House in November 2023.
These projects are as follows:
N29-2-988 Social Housing Delivery:
Revised Stage 1 Capital Appraisal approval providing funding approval to proceed to Stage 2 Design to Planning for the redevelopment of the flats in Phase 1, Block L, M and N.
N29-2-1057 Oliver Bond Community Centre
The provision of a community centre will not only complement the upcoming physical regeneration of the complex and provide much-needed quality housing but also create a thriving community hub that will enhance the quality of life for all residents as well as protecting the investment in physical infrastructure.
N29-2-1058 Oliver Bond Precinct Improvement Works
Includes soft and hard landscaping for common areas, playground spaces and the provision of garden spaces to new and existing ground floor flats.
N29-2-1059 Oliver Bond Social Integration
Includes funding for Community Development Worker Costs and Community Consultation costs.
Items 1-3, being Public Works Contracts are subject to the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF) four stage approval process. DCC is now proceeding with Design to Planning for these three projects.
I look forward to seeing these projects advance through the pre-construction process in order to deliver high quality social housing and community facilities that promote vibrant sustainable communities for the residents of Oliver Bond House and inner city Dublin.
International Agreements
Questions (821)
David Stanton
Question:821. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 79 of 1 December 2022, if an inter-departmental group has been formed to evaluate Ireland's possible participation in the Antarctic Treaty System; if so, the number of meetings that the group has held since its formation; the dates of these meetings; if the group has presented its report to him; if so, the findings of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1437/24]
View answerWritten answers
I refer to the reply to Dáil Question no. PQ 79 of 1 December 2022. It remains my intention to form an inter-departmental group to determine what level of participation is appropriate for Ireland as a developed Northern European State and to identify the structures and associated resource requirements for this participation.
The current priority in relation to the Marine Environment is to publish and seek the passage the Marine Protected Areas Bill at the earliest opportunity. Once this legislation is sufficiently advanced we will be able to commence work in on the Antarctic Treaty System.
Local Authorities
Questions (822)
Seán Sherlock
Question:822. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he received the final submission on additional costs associated with a project (details supplied); and if he will publish the submission in full, unredacted; and the date on which a decision on funding will be made. [1473/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Cork Events Centre was included as a Government commitment under the revised National Development Plan in 2021. This underlines the Government’s support for urban regeneration, enhanced amenity and heritage, associated quality of life standards, balanced regional development, and the regeneration and development of Cork City Centre.
It was agreed by Government in the context of Budget 2020 that responsibility for making the grant funding available for the project would transfer to my Department. However, responsibility for the advancement of the project remains, in the first instance, a matter for Cork City Council.
Following completion of the detailed design of the Events Centre in the Autumn of 2023, Cork City Council, at the request of my Department, undertook a cost verification check on the final design and costing. This process is now complete and Cork City Council have submitted a number of documents in the last 6 weeks which are being reviewed by my Department and there is ongoing engagement in that regard with the Council.
In order to maintain the integrity of the decision making process, it is not my intention to release and/or publish the documents which have been submitted to date by Cork City Council. I expect that a decision on the Events Centre could be made in Q1 of 2024 but this is ultimately a matter for Government.
Question No. 823 answered with Question No. 746.
Question No. 824 answered with Question No. 746.
Housing Provision
Questions (825)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:825. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing units that are being bought by foreign private rental firms in Ireland each year. [1539/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department doesn't track the purchase of houses by individual or institutional purchasers, whether domestic or from overseas.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) captures and publishes data on house purchases by household and non-household buyers, including by institutional investors.
The data can be accessed via tables HPA02 and HPA12 on the CSO website www.data.cso.ie/.
Question No. 826 answered with Question No. 728.
Housing Provision
Questions (827)
Duncan Smith
Question:827. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of any undue delays of occupation in newly built social housing units at a location (details supplied); if any delays are an isolated case, and whether any action will be taken to expedite the process in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1563/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department operates a number of funding programmes that assist local authorities to work in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to construct and purchase homes and make them available for social housing. One such programme that local authorities and AHBs progress Social Housing projects through is the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF). CALF funding is capital support provided to AHBs by local authorities to facilitate the funding of construction, acquisition or refurbishment of new social housing units. The local authority issues the CALF monies to the AHB and the local authority, in turn, recoups same from the Department.
Funding was approved the 27 October 2023 by my Department, under the CALF Scheme for 43 Social housing homes at the location referred to.
The allocation of social housing to tenants and matters arising, including the length of time it takes for this to happen upon completion of a project, is a matter for the local authority and accordingly the information sought in not available in my Department.
Housing Provision
Questions (828)
Thomas Gould
Question:828. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the timeline for delivery of 67 units on Gerald Griffin Street/Burke’s Avenue in Cork city. [1573/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Gerald Griffin Street project is part of the Cork City Council’s social housing delivery programme under Housing for All. My Department welcomes all submissions from Cork City Council and we will endeavour to support them in any manner that we can.
My Department issued Stage 2 Approval-in-Principle for this project in July 2023. Cork City Council are working on a design for Statutory Approvals (e.g. Part 8).
The timeline for delivery is a matter for the local authority.
Housing Provision
Questions (829, 843, 844)
John Lahart
Question:829. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the recent revelation that an estate built-to-sell originally has been bought by a company which is now charging rents of €3,000 per month (details supplied) excluding first-time buyers completely from the market; and what action he will take in this regard, if any, to prevent this from happening. [1663/24]
View answerDuncan Smith
Question:843. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to ensure that the bulk purchase of homes that were supposed to be available to individual buyers (details supplied) will not happen again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1884/24]
View answerDuncan Smith
Question:844. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce legislation to prevent investment funds from bulk purchasing homes in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1885/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 829, 843 and 844 together.
Under Housing Policy Objective 1.10 of 'Housing for All', the Government committed to introducing an ‘owner-occupier' guarantee to enable local authorities specify the proportion of houses and duplexes in a development for owner-occupiers. To this end, measures were introduced by Government in May 2021 to disincentivise and prohibit the bulk buying of such properties.
The measures included a higher 10% stamp duty levy on cumulative purchase of 10 or more residential properties, excluding apartments, in a 12-month period to disincentivise the bulk purchase of homes by institutional investors.
At the same time, Section 28 Guidelines for Planning Authorities 'Regulation of Commercial Institutional Investment in Housing' effectively introduced an ‘owner-occupier’ guarantee by ensuring new ‘own-door’ houses and duplex units in housing developments could no longer be bulk-purchased by institutional investors in a manner that displaces individual purchasers or social and affordable housing.
The guidelines provide for a form of condition to be inserted in applicable new planning permissions requiring all houses to be made available for sale and first occupation by separate, individual households for a period of years after completion (only applicable to houses and duplex units in mixed developments and not apartments).
Complementary measures were also introduced via the Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Act 2021, which provides that local authorities must ensure home ownership as a tenure type is provided for and estimated in their respective housing strategies. To this end, the Act introduces the principle of home ownership as a specific tenure type in a local authority housing strategy, with particular regard to developments of houses and duplexes, and gives further legislative effect to the Section 28 Guidelines issued in 2021.
I am satisfied the planning measures introduced in 2021 have been effective, with some 39,900 homes granted planning permission with conditions prohibiting the bulk purchase by, or multiple sale to, a single purchaser between May 2021 and December 2023. However, these measures cannot be applied retrospectively and would not have applied to the purchase of units in the development referenced, which records show received initial and subsequent planning approvals before the measures were introduced in 2021.
The suggestions that institutional investors are crowding out prospective owner-occupiers are not borne out by official data, which show institutional investors still comprise a relatively small proportion of residential properties purchased annually. In this context, and given the scale of new residential properties ring-fenced for owner-occupiers, I am satisfied that the actions which this Government have put in place have been effective and further change is not necessary at this time.
Housing Provision
Questions (830)
Francis Noel Duffy
Question:830. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his Department's plans for the vacant HSE-owned former St Finan's Psychiatric Hospital in Killarney, Kerry; if it will be used for the development of affordable homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1671/24]
View answerWritten answers
I understand that St. Finan's Hospital site in Killarney, Co Kerry is in HSE ownership.
It is open to the HSE to engage with the Local Authority or the Land Development Agency (LDA) to deliver on the housing potential of any vacant or underutilised state land.
I am informed that, to date, the site has not been offered to the LDA by the HSE for consideration as a potential site to develop for residential housing and that the LDA have no current plans for the site.
Any proposed disposal of relevant public lands must be offered first to the LDA for consideration of the delivery of housing. As relevant public land, at least 50% of any homes delivered on the site must be made available for affordable housing delivery, in addition to Part V requirements applying to the site.
I note that the LDA are actively developing large scale schemes of affordable and social homes on State lands in other areas of the South West. For example, construction work is underway at the former St Kevin's Hospital site in Cork City, where 265 new homes are to be delivered. The LDA has also recently announced plans to develop up to 600 social and affordable homes on the site of the former St. Josephs Hospital in Limerick.
Housing Schemes
Questions (831)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:831. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to further expand the croí cónaithe vacant dwelling scheme in 2024 to include more eligible properties that would add to housing supply, including the possible reduction of vacancy criteria from two years to one year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1695/24]
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.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund to support 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, 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. 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.
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 is underway and is expected to be completed by mid-2024.
Housing Schemes
Questions (832, 833)
Thomas Gould
Question:832. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether bonuses in the form of share investment are included as reckonable income in social housing assessments. [1704/24]
View answerThomas Gould
Question:833. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria under which a bonus can be included as reckonable income in social housing assessments. [1705/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 832 and 833 together.
Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.
The regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.
The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature. In this context, local authorities will disregard overtime payments and bonuses paid in the relevant 12-month assessment period up to a maximum of 10% of the applicant household's annual basic income. Bonuses in the form of share investment would not be assessable.
The Household Means Policy can be viewed at the following link - www.gov.ie/en/publication/fb1f2-social-housing-support-household-means-policy/.
Question No. 833 answered with Question No. 832.