Written Answers Nos. 402-422
402. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new planners sanctioned by his Department for An Bord Pleanála since 2020, broken down by year and local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6329/24]
View answerAn Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts.
There are now more people working at the Board than at any time previously. Since October 2021, my Department has agreed to 117 new staffing posts in the Board. The Board has advised that as of 31 December 2023 there were 254 individuals working in the Board including Board Members. The Board received approval and sanction from my Department for a total of 313 posts to date.
Since agreement of the 2019/2020 workforce plan, 50 new posts made up of senior planning inspectors and planning inspectors have been approved and sanctioned by my Department for the Board, 45 of these posts are included in the total 117 new posts sanctioned since October 2021. Recruitment of these positions are a matter for the Board.
Details of staffing are an operational matter for individual agencies. 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 An Bord Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.
403. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the proposed referendum on the right to housing; if the referendum will take place in the lifetime of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6330/24]
View answerI refer to my reply to Question No. 81 of 31 January 2024, which sets out the position on the matter.
404. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if grant funding is available to support an organisation (details supplied) in Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6336/24]
View answerMy Department supports local authority fire and rescue services through setting general policy, providing a central training programme for fire service officers, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for vehicles, equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
In Ireland, approximately three thousand two hundred highly trained firefighters provide fire, rescue and other emergency services across a network of 217 fire stations through the 27 local authority fire services.
My Department carefully manages the fire service capital programme to support the work of local authority fire and emergency services in protecting people, communities, property and local infrastructure from fire and other emergencies, ensuring a robust emergency response capacity is available when called upon.
During 2023 in Tipperary alone, my Department provided in excess of €3.7 million in funding supports for the construction of fire service infrastructure and the procurement of frontline specialist emergency response appliances, vehicles and equipment.
Unfortunately, while I recognise the valuable support of the supplementary local response provided by volunteer groups, my Department’s remit in supporting the local authority led response provides no line of funding for equipment of the type mentioned to voluntary emergency response groups.
405. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will comment on the success or otherwise of the cost-rental tenant-in-situ scheme in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6360/24]
View answerThe Government has developed the Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) scheme for tenants in private rental homes who are at risk of homelessness because a landlord intends to sell the property, but who are not in receipt of social housing supports. The scheme was established on a temporary administrative basis from 1 April 2023 and is managed by the Housing Agency, pending further policy development over the longer term with the intention of transitioning these tenants and homes to the standard Cost Rental model.
I am informed that the Housing Agency are engaging with more than 130 landlords across all local authority areas including Clare with a view to the purchase of those homes.
Data for affordable housing delivery is published on a quarterly basis, similar to social housing delivery. This data is published up to Quarter 3 2023, including CRTiS figures, and is available on my Department's website: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
406. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what plans the Housing Agency has under its property sourcing and acquisitions programme for County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6465/24]
View answerThe Housing Agency administers the Housing Agency Acquisitions Fund (HAAF), which has moved to a dual role to support both the ‘Housing First’ Programme and the new, pilot ‘Cost Rental Tenant in-Situ’ Scheme (CRTiS).
The 'Housing First' Programme offers permanent housing to homeless people and then provides other supportive services to improve their quality of life.
CRTiS is a new scheme that is available where a tenant household which is at risk of homelessness faces the termination of its tenancy due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property.
As at the end of 2023, the Housing Agency had acquired 11 dwellings in County Donegal using the HAAF.
I am satisfied that the Housing Agency will continue to seek to avail of opportunities to acquire appropriate dwellings throughout the country, including in County Donegal, for the 'Housing First' Programme and CRTiS.
407. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of projects the Housing Agency is assisting the local authority and/or approved housing bodies in County Donegal with project feasibility and development of housing under headings (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6466/24]
View answerThe Housing Agency is a non-commercial State agency under the aegis of my Department. The Housing Agency’s Projects, Procurement and Programmes (PPP) Team supports local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in housing delivery through the provision of specialist advice in a range of areas, including design, regulatory compliance, project development and procurement. My Department does not hold details on the number of housing projects for which each local authority or AHB availed of support services or the details of these supports from the Housing Agency. However, further information may be available directly from the Housing Agency. The contact email address for the Housing Agency in this regard is: publicreps@housingagency.ie
One of the key objectives of the Projects, Procurement and Programmes Team in the Housing Agency is to support LA and AHB construction projects. These supports include advising on all stages of construction projects, from feasibility stage through to design, tender, building and handover, with a particular focus on procurement and project management. To support this objective, the Projects and Procurement Team in the Housing Agency has been allocated additional resources, with one of the key strategic objectives being to support AHB construction projects, including Capital Advance Leasing Projects (CALF) and Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) projects.
A CALF application submitted to my Department consists of a completed application form and a financial model showing the capital cost, income and operational costs projected over the P&A term sought, and other relevant supporting documentation. The Housing Agency undertakes an independent assessment of the financial aspects of the application. This assessment involves analysing the capital costs, projected income and projected expenditure against a standard set of assumptions agreed with the Department.
My Department publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR) which includes details of local authority and Approved Housing Body social housing projects. The CSR provides details of funding approved 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/
A version of the CSR can also be downloaded for analysis at local authority level is available at this link: data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q3-2023
The Housing First approach to addressing homelessness places direct access to housing first and foremost for vulnerable individuals. These include those using homeless services consistently or intermittently over long periods of time, and those unable or resistant to accessing homeless services and who may then become habitual rough sleepers. These individuals often have complex high support needs such as mental or physical health problems, addiction issues or dual diagnosis (the presence of mental ill health and a substance addiction).
Housing for All committed to the further expansion of Housing First. A new National Implementation Plan, which provides for a further 1,319 tenancies covering the period 2022-2026, was published in December 2021. The Housing First National Office is based at The Housing Agency and will be responsible for coordinating and driving a national, cross-Government approach to Housing First, as set out in the ‘Housing First National Implementation Plan, 2022-2026’.
The acquisition fund of €35m, which was announced in Budget 2024, will be administered by the Housing Agency, and will support the continued expansion of the programme by supporting local authorities in acquiring one-bed properties. It is estimated the value of the new Housing First contract for the North West Region will be in the region of €2 million, including health resources. The new contract is expected in place in the region by the end of 2024.
408. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current housing projects his Department is funding in County Donegal, disaggregated by location, number of units, estimated completion date and lead partner that is, LA or AHB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6467/24]
View answerHousing 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 Quarter 3 2023 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/6d316-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/?referrer=http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics
My Department also 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/
A version of the CSR file can also be downloaded for analysis of completions, locations, approvals stage etc. at this link:
data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q3-2023
Data for Q4 2023 is currently being collated.
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.
The Plans have been published on local authority websites. A copy of the Housing Delivery Action Plan for Donegal is available on its website at the following link: www.donegalcoco.ie/services/housing/publications/donegalshousingdeliveryactionplan20222026/
409. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons on housing waiting lists, by local authority, as of month end January 2024. [6492/24]
View answerDetails on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recently published summary for all local authority areas was conducted in November 2022 and is available on my Department’s website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/62486-summary-of-social-housing-assessments/
The SSHA 2023 is currently underway and I expect to publish the summary report before end Q1 2024.
410. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons in receipt of housing assistance payment, by local authority, as of month end January 2024. [6493/24]
View answerThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a flexible and immediate housing support that is available to all eligible households with a long term housing need. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP. At end Q3 2023, just under 115,000 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, with 57,617 active tenancies being supported under the HAP Scheme.
The latest available data covers the period up to end Q3 2023. Details of the number of active tenancies by local authority area at the end of Q3 2023 are set out in the table below.
|
Local Authority |
Total Active HAP Tenancies |
|
Carlow County Council |
618 |
|
Cavan County Council |
433 |
|
Clare County Council |
1180 |
|
Cork City Council |
2890 |
|
Cork County Council |
3477 |
|
Donegal County Council |
1756 |
|
Dublin City Council |
5494 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
885 |
|
Fingal County Council |
2610 |
|
Galway City Council |
1954 |
|
Galway County Council |
1446 |
|
Kerry County Council |
1659 |
|
Kildare County Council |
1847 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
622 |
|
Laois County Council |
800 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
243 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
2126 |
|
Longford County Council |
326 |
|
Louth County Council |
3104 |
|
Mayo County Council |
1158 |
|
Meath County Council |
1805 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
498 |
|
Offaly County Council |
643 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
425 |
|
Sligo County Council |
780 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
2671 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
1634 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
1717 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
948 |
|
Wexford County Council |
1259 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
1526 |
|
Dublin Regional Homeless Executive* |
9083 |
|
Total |
57617 |
* DRHE is operating the HAP Homeless on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities
411. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what plans he has to sign the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority (CETS No 207) and the Additional Protocol to the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities (ETS No 159); the reason the protocol has not been signed to date; what timeframe for signing the protocol is envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6501/24]
View answerThe Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities 2023 Report on the Application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Ireland made a number of recommendations, including to encourage Ireland's signature of the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority (CETS No. 207). The Rapporteurs also noted that they would welcome Ireland's signature of the Additional Protocol to the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities (ETS No 159).
In responding to the Report at the 45th Session of Congress in Strasbourg last October, my colleague, Mr Kieran O'Donnell TD, Minister of State for Local Government and Planning acknowledged that Ireland was well positioned to be able to meet the obligations of the Additional Protocol on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority, particularly as a consequence of the civic participation mechanisms introduced in the Local Government Reform Act 2014. In this regard, my Department is committed to engaging with the Department of Rural and Community Development with a view to progressing towards signing the Additional Protocol (CETS No. 207) in the near future.
My Department will also give due consideration to the signature of the Additional Protocol to the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities (ETS No 159). As matters stand, however there is currently nothing to preclude local authorities and regional assemblies from such co-operation. Indeed, I would note that there is already strong engagement between local authorities in a cross-border context.
412. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the current staffing level of local authorities and the grades they are employed at, in tabular form, by local authority; if additional staffing has been provided beyond those included in workforce plans in 2023 and 2024; if so, if he will outline the number and purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6502/24]
View answerUnder section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis. However, granular data, in terms of the specific grade of each individual staff member is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information would be available from individual local authorities.
Staffing numbers for the local authority sector are available on the Public Service Numbers databank, which is hosted and maintained by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) and is available at the following link:
databank.per.gov.ie/Public_Service_Numbers.aspx?rep=LA
During the period 1 January 2023 to end January 2024, my Department approved 1027 staffing sanction requests from local authorities for new posts above agreed workforce plan numbers across various local authority functional areas including housing (122 posts), planning (164 posts), fire (134 posts), integration support (107 posts), water quality (39 posts) and many others.
While my Department has responsibility for processing staffing sanction requests from local authorities, the recruitment and filling of posts in the local authority sector is undertaken both by individual local authorities and the Public Appointments Service. Following the approval of a staffing sanction request it is then a matter for the Chief Executive, who is responsible under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001 for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible, to progress the appointment as appropriate.
I understand that the Local Authority Sector is currently in the process of finalising updated workforce planning guidelines, based on the guidelines prepared by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. Local Authorities will commence the preparation of new workforce plans alongside the development of Corporate Plans following the forthcoming local elections.
413. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current balances for development contributions, by local authority, in tabular form; what restrictions apply to their use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6503/24]
View answerDevelopment contribution charges to be applied on developers are set at the planning permission stage but are not collectable by the relevant local authority until after the development work commences. Commencement notices are issued by the developer to the local authority and these generally trigger the raising of the charge. The normal practice is for the developer to issue a commencement notice for all units in the development at the construction start date which could mean that the full development charges are due immediately. Alternatively, a phased payment plan is agreed between the planning authority and the developer and in other cases, commencement notices are issued for blocks of units on a phased basis.
When a commencement notice is received, an invoice is raised and is shown as income in Appendix 5 (Summary of Capital Expenditure and Income) of the Local Authority Annual Financial Statements (AFS). Development levy debtors are classified as development contributions that are owed in respect of the current year and previous years, and are shown in Note 5 (Trade Debtors and Prepayments) of the AFS. Income from development contributions not due to be paid within the current year is deferred and is not separately disclosed in the Annual Financial Statement (AFS).
I take it that the question regarding current balances for development contributions refers to figures for development levy debtors. The most recent audited data available is in respect of the financial year ending 31 December 2022. The figure for development levy debtors in Note 5 of the Local Authority Amalgamated AFS 2022 was €306m, gross of any bad debt provisions. The table below sets out the amounts for each local authority for 2022. Audited figures for 2023 are not yet available.
|
Local Authority |
Development Levy Debtors Figure 2022 |
|
Carlow County Council |
€3,053,901 |
|
Cavan County Council |
€571,097 |
|
Clare County Council |
€3,104,104 |
|
Cork City Council |
€4,119,427 |
|
Cork County Council |
€13,691,099 |
|
Donegal County Council |
€356,561 |
|
Dublin City Council |
€66,943,139 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
€30,061,028 |
|
Fingal County Council |
€60,273,226 |
|
Galway City Council |
€4,611,535 |
|
Galway County Council |
€2,670,097 |
|
Kerry County Council |
€2,330,749 |
|
Kildare County Council |
€10,401,285 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
€7,191,787 |
|
Laois County Council |
€2,136,666 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
€386,294 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
€3,978,927 |
|
Longford County Council |
€2,341,728 |
|
Louth County Council |
€10,815,968 |
|
Mayo County Council |
€7,066,157 |
|
Meath County Council |
€17,791,575 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
€2,510,121 |
|
Offaly County Council |
€5,313,066 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
€5,220,719 |
|
Sligo County Council |
€170,633 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
€19,449,634 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
€2,164,331 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
€1,959,423 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
€487,545 |
|
Wexford County Council |
€5,053,908 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
€9,852,410 |
|
Total |
€306,078,140 |
The basis for the determination of a development contribution, and expenditure of same is set out in a development contribution scheme adopted by the elected members of a local authority, and planning authorities may make one or more schemes in respect of different parts of its functional area. The adoption of these schemes is a reserved function of the locally elected members of each planning authority, and it is a matter for the members to determine - (i) the level of contribution and the types of development to which they will apply, and (ii) the expenditure of the contributions received within the confines of the scheme conditions.
My Department is responsible for monitoring the local government sector’s compliance with fiscal rules set out as part of the management of the Stability and Growth Pact. These include the contribution of the local government sector to the General Government Balance (GGB) and also controls to be exercised under the Expenditure Benchmark requirements. Arising from the Government’s effort to meet commitments in relation to the General Government Deficit limit, local authorities have been directed that, similar to the revenue account activity, capital expenditure should not exceed capital income within the reporting year. The precise manner in which capital and current accounts are managed in order to achieve the overall balance necessary is a matter for individual local authorities themselves. However, within these overall limits, there is additional capacity for the expenditure of built-up capital balances and own resources funded by development contributions on hand by local authorities, which must be sanctioned by my Department. At the beginning of each year, local authorities indicate to my Department both their expected expenditure of their own built up resources and expenditure supported by borrowing for the coming year, both of which require separate sanction. In reviewing individual requests for sanction by my Department, consideration is given to ensuring that priority infrastructural investment can proceed, that contractual commitments and on-going projects can proceed and that development contributions already collected and aligned to specific capital projects can be utilised efficiently.
Development contributions can only be levied in respect of capital funding for public infrastructure and facilities and as such cannot be used to cover current expenditure costs. Any development contributions accruing to the local authority must be accounted for separately in the Capital account of the local authority. Income from development contributions must be ring-fenced to pay for public infrastructure and facilities servicing new development and it is a matter for each local authority to determine the allocation of those incomes, having regard to the provisions of sections 48 and 49 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.
414. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the names and organisation for those who participated in the review of local property tax baselines; who nominated them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6504/24]
View answerI have committed to undertake a review of the baseline allocation. The LPT revaluation process was completed with updated data available in terms of the revised yield and, in addition, Census 2022 data was available for consideration. These circumstances facilitated my Department to set up a Working Group in 2023, to complete the promised review of the allocation of baseline funding. The objective of the review was to recommend a set of key indicators which may be used to allocate available funding to local authorities in a fair, equitable and transparent manner. The working group included both executive and elected member representation from local authorities as well as representatives from my Department (DHLGH) and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR). The County and City Management Association (CCMA), the Association of Irish local Government (AILG) and the Local Authorities Members Association (LAMA) were each asked for their own Nominees.
Baseline Review Group Membership
Chairperson (DHLGH): Sinéad O’Gorman
DHLGH: Deirdre McCarthy, Tim Nuttall, Richie Farrell
DPENDR: Garret O’Rourke
CCMA: Jim Cullen (Acting CEO, Galway County Council), Angela McAllen (Head of Finance, Kerry County Council), Oliver Hunt (Head of Finance, Fingal County Council), Liam McCarthy (Head of Finance, Tipperary County Council)
AILG: Cllr Anne Colgan (Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council), Tommy Moylan (AILG, Director)
LAMA: Cllr John Sheahan (Limerick City and County Council), Cllr Michéal Anglim (Tipperary County Council and Chair of LAMA)
During the consultation process views and recommendations were sought from local authorities, elected representatives and social partners. These submissions and surveys were assessed and considered by the working group, along with external reports and studies.
415. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the narrow water bridge project, including projected timelines and funding amounts for the long-awaited project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6509/24]
View answerThe Narrow Water Bridge is a cross-border project led by Louth County Council and supported by the Shared Island Fund. The Bridge will link the Mourne Mountains in Co. Down with the Cooley Peninsula in Co. Louth, bringing tourism and economic benefits, and creating new opportunities and deepening connections between communities on both sides of the border. When complete, the bridge will stretch from Cornamucklagh near Omeath, Co Louth to Narrow Water near Warrenpoint, Co. Down.
In June 2021, then Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced Government approval of €3m from the Shared Island Fund to take the project to tender-ready stage. This work was led by Louth County Council and overseen by my Department in this jurisdiction, and the Department of Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.
In November 2022, Government further approved the next stage, and allocated a further €2m from the Shared Island Fund to complete the tender process for the Main Works Contract, marking a major milestone in terms of progress on the project.
I expect a decision to move ahead with the final steps in the procurement process, with a view to awarding the contract to the successful tenderer in the coming weeks.
Subject to successful completion of those final steps, which are subject to a degree of confidentiality, I would expect with completion of the project due in the early part of 2028.
416. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 477 of 13 July 2023, if he will provide an update on the issue raised in the question. [6545/24]
View answerHousing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing to the required 33,000 homes, on average, per year over the next decade. 54,000 affordable homes will be delivered between now and 2030 to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency and through First Home, which is a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
To date, over 3,800 affordable housing solutions have been delivered, supported by the Affordable Housing Fund, the Cost Rental Equity Loan, Project Tosaigh and the First Home Scheme. This momentum will continue as the pipeline of affordable housing delivery is developed and expanded by our delivery partners, including local authorities, AHBs, the LDA, and First Home. Data for affordable housing delivery is published on a quarterly basis, similar to social housing delivery. This data is published up to Quarter 3 2023, including AHB and LDA cost rental delivery, and is available on my Department's website: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
Local Authorities are in the process of systematically collating information on delivery of social, affordable purchase and cost rental homes in their administrative areas, including returns for AHBs and the LDA, for Quarter 4 2023. This data is currently being verified. I expect that my Department will be in a position to report on delivery of affordable and social housing for 2023 by end Q1 2024, in line with the usual publication timelines for previous quarters.
417. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether successful prosecution of wildlife crimes should be a priority under Ireland’s Biodiversity Action Plan and our obligations under the ’30 x 30’ UN Biodiversity Goals; when data previously requested on wildlife crimes which were registered, prosecuted and convicted in Ireland, by county, since 2014, will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6546/24]
View answerWildlife crime is a serious issue seen across many jurisdictions that poses a threat to our biodiversity and the sustainable development of countless communities.
Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity contribute to the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework through National Biodiversity Action Plans. Ireland's 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) 2023- 2030 was published in January and sets out Ireland’s vision for biodiversity, with a “whole of government, whole of society” approach to the governance and conservation of nature.
This is the first NBAP to be published on a statutory basis, under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2023, and includes targets to ensure that the governance and legislative framework for biodiversity conservation is robust, clear and enforceable, strengthening action on wildlife crime. This target will be underpinned by enhanced collaboration between the National Parks and Wildlife Service, An Garda Síochána, Revenue’s Customs Service and other relevant authorities to ensure adequate training and resourcing to enforce environmental and wildlife legislation.
Each entity responsible for actions within the NBAP will provide an annual update on progress and will contribute to an Interim and Final Review of the Plan. My colleague, Minister O'Brien will bring a progress report to Cabinet at least once a year.
Prosecuting breaches of wildlife legislation can be an effective deterrent to wildlife crime. Taking a case from reporting and investigative stage through to successful prosecution can be challenging. Nevertheless, the work of NPWS staff across the organisation has seen an increase in prosecution cases for breaches of wildlife legislation taken of 39% in 2023 compared to 2022 figures, with 169 cases sent by NPWS to the Chief State Solicitors office since 2019 and it has successfully closed over 118 cases since 2020.
A breakdown of cases initiated by the NPWS with the CSSO for each of the years 2014 to 2023 will be forwarded to the Deputy once compiled.
Whilst bringing perpetrators of wildlife crime to justice is crucial, ensuring compliance in the first instance is also of critical importance. NPWS's capability to monitor compliance, detect, prevent, educate and outreach as well as take enforcement action is being greatly enhanced through the recruitment of additional NPWS staff across the organisation. A dedicated NPWS Directorate for Wildlife Enforcement and Nature Protection is now leading on the development of NPWS policies and strategies for wildlife crime. The Wildlife Act is also being reviewed to improve its enforceability, and a public consultation on this will be announced shortly.
I am strongly committed to supporting the efforts of authorities to fulfil their enforcement functions under wildlife legislation as effectively as possible and working to achieve increased compliance. The approach taken in the latest National Biodiversity Action Plan for biodiversity action, underpinned by unprecedented levels of resourcing, will help deliver on targets for biodiversity conservation that are measurable and impactful.
418. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider establishing a grant scheme in order that Transport Infrastructure Ireland or local authorities can erect noise mitigation measures where roads have been constructed in populated areas. [6566/24]
View answerThe matter raised is one in which I, in my role as Minister with responsibility for planning have no statutory function. My colleague the Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the planning, design and construction, including noise mitigation measures, for individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) - which is under the aegis of the Department of Transport - in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
TII and local authorities are required to undertake strategic noise mapping every five years for all major roads carrying in excess of 8,250 annual average daily traffic (AADT). Noise maps identify and prioritise cluster areas which will require further assessment and may require mitigation measures to be put in place.
TII support local authorities through the provision of noise maps, but it is for the respective Local Authorities to use the results of these noise mapping exercises to develop noise action plans and to implement such measures as may be identified in these plans to mitigate such noise.
TII provides allocations to Local Authorities on an annual basis, so they can deliver on their road authority functions on behalf of TII in relation to national roads. (e.g. 2023 Grant Allocations to Local Authorities for National Roads, Active Travel and Greenways www.tii.ie/tii-library/reports-accounts/tii-allocations-2023/TII_Local-Authorities_2023-Grant-Allocations_Final.pdf.) In addition, whilst not specific to noise mitigation, the Department of Transport provides funding for the maintenance and upgrade of local and regional roads and is a matter in which I have no role.
419. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the fire services Bill; and this Bill will progress to the next stage. [6591/24]
View answerA General Scheme of a Bill to update the Fire Services Act, 1981 & 2003 is being prepared within my Department. The primary purpose of this legislation will be to update the Fire Services Act, 1981 & 2003.
The shape of the Bill has been considered on a number of occasions by the Board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM). The Board is comprised of Chief Executive Officers from local authorities, the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) as well as representatives of Government Departments and other bodies. There is a need for further consultation with relevant stakeholders to ensure the Bill ultimately brought forward is comprehensive, robust and future-proofed.
The intention of the Bill is to support and strengthen the role of local authorities in the delivery of fire services. The provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of each individual fire authority.
The work of local authority fire services has, to a large degree, been underpinned by the Fire Services Act 1981 & 2003 for nearly 40 years. While this legislation has served the country well, and key indicators such as fatalities from fire per million of population have continued to fall consistently to the point where they are at their lowest for forty years, it is appropriate now to ensure that the underpinning legislation fully reflects the changes in society and the expanded and more dynamic roles that our local authority fire services have taken on in recent years.
Like all legislation, this is a complex piece of work, which necessitates consideration of multifaceted issues that impact on a number of different sectors. When my Department is satisfied that the legislation being brought forward is appropriate, balanced, complete and robust, a Memorandum will be brought to Government on the issue, followed by publication of the Bill.
420. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the next steps for pilot sewerage schemes announced for County Clare villages (details supplied). [6618/24]
View answerOn the 7 December 2023 I announced the successful applications that are approved funding under the Waste Water Collection and Treatment needs for villages without access to Public Waste Water Services.
I can confirm that my Department recently wrote to Clare County Council, setting out the decision as regards funding and the next steps required for the projects referred to in the details supplied.
My Department looks forward to working with the local authority and other key stakeholders to successfully deliver these projects.
421. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the LDA will reconvene the consultative form for the future development of Columb Barracks, Mullingar; and if the transfer has concluded. [6619/24]
View answerLands at the Department of Defence owned site at Columb Barracks, Mullingar was agreed by Government for transfer to the Land Development Agency (LDA) under Housing for All, with the potential to deliver approximately 100 new homes.
I understand that an advisory group was set up in January 2021 to provide an opportunity for key partners to collaborate and advise the LDA in developing a vision for the Barracks site. The objective of the forum is to enable a better understanding of the complexities surrounding the site and its recent uses. The forum is also considering how to facilitate continued leasing of buildings to community groups in the context of the sustainable development of the site.
The site is currently being deployed for temporary accommodation for Ukrainian Temporary Protection residents and other International Protection applicants.
I am assured that a meeting of the advisory group with key stakeholders, including Westmeath County Council and the Department of Defence as site owner, will be convened to discuss the potential for the site and next steps. Following this, I expect the LDA will consider the appropriate next steps to progress the site and will provide further updates in due course.
The site transfer will be assessed as part of the consideration of next steps, with a focus on agreeing a timeline for the transfer and development of the site.
422. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing commencements by each local authority in the years 2018-2023; and the number of completions by each local authority in the same period. [6665/24]
View answerAt its core, Housing for All is about significantly increasing the supply of housing of the right type, in the right place, and at an affordable price.
Since Housing for All was launched in 2021, there has been a substantial uplift in the amount of new homes being delivered, with some 29,750 new homes delivered in 2022. And, despite the significant economic headwinds over the past 12 to 18 months, new supply has gone from strength to strength. More than 32,600 new homes were delivered in 2023, the highest annual number of completions recorded since the CSO data series began in 2011 and the fourth consecutive quarter that 12-month rolling completions surpassed 30,000.
The outlook for this year is equally promising, with the substantial increase in supply last year expected to be maintained into 2024, 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. The strong uptick in commencements from Q4 2022 continued throughout 2023 with 32,801 commencements in the calendar year – up 21.5% on 2022 (26,957) and the highest annual commencement figure since the data series began in 2014.
This progress is being mirrored at local level around the country.
Data on the commencement of residential dwellings, at local authority level, are published monthly on my department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/a5cb1-construction-activity-starts/.
Data on the number of completions by each local authority are published by the Central statistics Office (CSO) and are available at the following link: data.cso.ie/table/NDQ05
