Written Answers Nos. 81-105
81. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the low number of applications to the revised defective concrete block remediation scheme and the slow rate of processing existing applications that have transferred to the new scheme. [6824/24]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023, which provides for the enhanced grant scheme, and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.
A total of 1,880 applications have been submitted to the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme (Enhanced and previous) since its launch in June 2020 and of these 1,880 applications, 1,644 relate to the previous scheme that have to be processed under transitional arrangements as set down in the 2022 Act.
When the Scheme launched all existing applications had to be moved or ‘transitioned’ over to the new Scheme. The Government Decision sanctioning the terms and conditions of the Enhanced Scheme made it clear that applicants under the previous 2020 Grant Scheme would not be disadvantaged from being early movers. They would benefit retrospectively from the increased grant amounts and allowances being made available under the Enhanced scheme. In many cases this required applicants to submit additional information in order to benefit from the enhancements. As a result, much of the work of local authorities in Donegal and Mayo in the first six months of the Scheme has centred on revising and modifying these original applications.
82. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the legislative programme. [3498/24]
View answerThe Government Legislation Programme for the Spring 2024 Session was published on 16 January.
As set out in the Legislation Programme, my Department has three priority Bills for publication, namely:
• The Land Value Sharing Bill: the aim of which is to permit the State to secure a proportion of the uplift in land values resulting from zoning and designation to facilitate provision of infrastructure;
• The Marine Protected Area Bill: which provides for the designation and effective management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Irish maritime area; and
• The Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: the aim of which is too allow tenants in rental properties a first right of refusal to purchase a property when it is put forward for sale.
In addition, my Department has four priority Bills for drafting, namely:
• The Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill, to provide for amendments to the Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937 following the Supreme Court judgment which declared that sections 6 and 7 of that Act are unconstitutional;
• The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which provides for miscellaneous amendments and additions to the Housing Acts in respect of social housing, the regulation of Approved Housing Bodies, and amendments to the Building Controls Acts.
• Electoral (Amendment) Bill, which provides for amendments to Parts 4 and 5 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022 to ensure that they comply with EU Law (in particular the EU Regulation on the Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising; and
• The Remediation of Defects in Apartments and Duplexes Bill, to provide for the establishment of a remediation scheme for apartments and duplexes with fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects, constructed between 1991 and 2013.
My Department is also progressing multiple pieces of landmark legislation, which are currently on the Dáil and Seanad Order Paper, through the Houses, including the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023, and the Planning and Development Bill 2023.
85. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the number of first-time buyers in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6375/24]
View answerFirst-time buyer activity remains robust, with recent data showing a year-on-year increase in the number of homes purchased and mortgage approvals at historic levels.
Data published by the Central Statistics Office show more than 55,100 homes were purchased at market prices by all buyer types between January and November last year. Some 15,600 or 28% of these were purchased by first time buyers, up 5% on the 14,800 or so purchased in the same period in 2022 and 20% on the 13,000 homes purchased in 2021.
At the same time, Banking and Payment Federation of Ireland data show record growth in mortgage draw downs by first-time buyers, reaching a new peak of almost 26,000 in 2023, the highest annual level since 2007. While the number of mortgage approvals decreased by 14% year-on-year, due primarily to a significant decline in re-mortgage and switching activity in 2023, first-time buyer mortgage approvals increased by almost 9% year-on-year, with almost 30,500 approvals in 2023.
I am satisfied Housing for All is delivering. It is providing prospective home-owners with housing options they didn’t have when the plan was published two years ago. These options include Government supports for first-time buyers such as Help-to-Buy, the Local Authority Home Loan, Ready-to-build and the First Home shared equity scheme, all of which are assisting those aspiring to purchase their own home to do so.
87. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason there is no affordable housing scheme in County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6367/24]
View answerUnder Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes; 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing, and 28,500 new affordable homes in the period 2022-2026.
Each local authority has prepared its own 5 year Housing Delivery Action Plan setting out their social and affordable housing delivery. The plan for Roscommon County Council is available on its official website.
Roscommon County Council does not have an affordable housing delivery target as the assessed level of new affordably constrained housing need is not high and house prices in the county are below the national median. The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) is, however, available to all local authorities to assist in responding to localised affordability need where it occurs. Roscommon has not applied for AHF assistance to date, but it is open to the local authority to do so. Assistance with developing schemes is available from my Department, the Housing Agency and the Local Government Management Agency if required.
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 available on my Department's website at the following link - www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery. These reports show that the First Home scheme is now playing a role in the delivery of affordable homes in Roscommon and I expect the early momentum seen here to continue to grow as the scheme takes hold.
Given the profile of the county, I also anticipate that the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, which includes funding for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Ready to Build Scheme, will prove valuable in addressing overall affordability need in Roscommon. A vacant homes officer is now in place who can assist the public with bringing vacant homes back into use, with up to €70,000 in grant support available to do so.
Significant progress is being made to deliver the Government's ambitious social and affordable housing targets under Housing for All, and my Department is working with local authorities, AHBs, the LDA, and via the First Home scheme to further accelerate delivery.
88. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update in relation to the progress of the Mulcahy report; if a memo was brought to Cabinet on this in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6722/24]
View answerI am considering the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course.
The review is a scoping report and as such it does not make findings as to the truth or otherwise of allegations that have been made by an individual against named persons. The Attorney General's office has been consulted on both the content of the report and also on the issue of its potential publication and dissemination.
Further, regarding the publication of the Mulcahy Report, the decisions of the Commissioner for Environmental Information (OCE-103174-W9G4J2 (Legacy Reference CEI-18-0019)) of 13 February 2019 and the Information Commissioner (OIC-59426-Q8D7T8) of 27 February 2020 in relation to requests to publish this report will also be taken into account. Both decisions are publicly available on those bodies' websites.
It should be noted that in each of these cases, both the Commissioner for Environmental Information and the Information Commissioner decided not to grant access to the report. The Office of the Information Commissioner decision stated "placing the details concerned in the public domain would significantly breach the rights to privacy of identifiable individuals." Therefore, this is a matter that requires careful consideration given that the report details unproven allegations against named persons. A memo to Government was not brought to cabinet on this issue in 2023.
90. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding he has approved for Uisce Éireann in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7009/24]
View answerMy Departments 2024 budget (Vote 34) includes €1.66 billion of funding for Uisce Éireann for the provision of domestic water services. This includes a current expenditure provision of €680 million and capital funding of €983 million.
91. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update in relation to turnkey proposals in his Department from local authorities; how the initiative is working; what applications have been received from Kerry County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7015/24]
View answerMy Department continues to work with all Local Authorities in respect of suitable opportunities for Turnkey delivery of new public homes. Local Authorities are particularly focussed on those opportunities where planning permissions are in place and where the development may not advance without the assurance of the Local Authorities interest.
Turnkey developments are contracted by Local Authorities following a public advertisement and assessment against the advertised criteria.
In the case of Kerry County Council, three Turnkey projects have received funding approval from my Department and a further project is currently being assessed.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity. This data is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060`e-overall-social-housing-provision/. This provides information for a number of categories of social housing delivery in terms of the various delivery streams including Turnkey and also contains the targets for each local authority during each year of the programme.
93. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the tenant in-situ-scheme; and a breakdown of the number of purchases by of the four Dublin local authorities. [7021/24]
View answerUnder Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).
Social Housing is delivered through a range of local authority and Approved Housing Body (AHB) delivery programmes across the build, acquisition and lease delivery streams.
For 2023, Government agreed an increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department provided funding local authorities to acquire at least 1,500 social homes. The additional acquisitions have focused particularly on properties where a tenant is in receipt of social housing supports and has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. My Department issued a circular letter in March 2023, setting out details of these arrangements and each local authority was provided with a provisional allocation for social housing acquisitions in 2023.
Local authorities have delegated sanction in relation to these acquisitions, subject to those acquisitions being within Acquisition Cost Guidelines issued by the Department. An independent valuation must also be obtained for each acquisition, in line with established practice for local authorities for social housing acquisitions. The current Acquisition Cost Guidelines (ACGs) were updated and issued to local authorities in April 2023. These guidelines are reviewed and updated as appropriate by my Department usually on an annual basis.
Local authorities will work with all social housing supported tenants who receive a Notice of Termination and offer the available supports, which may include a tenant in situ acquisition or support to obtain an alternative tenancy, including a HAP-supported tenancy or an allocation to local authority stock. It is a matter for individual local authorities to identify suitable acquisitions in line with local circumstances and their social housing allocations policy.
The 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, with a view to the purchase of those homes.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including completed acquisitions. From 2023, this data includes a breakdown of acquisitions completed by each local authority where a Notice of Termination issued to a tenant and is available, for all local authorities, to the end of Quarter 3 2023 on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision
94. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the expert group report on Traveller accommodation. [6823/24]
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.
The Traveller Accommodation Expert Review report, published in July 2019, reviewed the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998, and other legislation that impacts on the provision and delivery of accommodation for Travellers. The Expert Review report, which is intended to improve the effectiveness of the arrangements for providing accommodation for members of the Traveller community, has 32 recommendations across 4 categories which are aimed at:
1. Addressing research deficiencies, including how information is gathered and used;
2. Removing any potential delays and obstacles in the planning system in terms of delivery;
3. Increasing resources and delivery capacity; and
4. Strengthening governance arrangements.
Delivery and implementation of the recommendations involves several areas within my Department, as well as input from other Departments, local authorities and other external stakeholders. The Programme Board, established to drive implementation of the recommendations from the Traveller Accommodation Expert Review report, agreed to report progress on implementation of the recommendations on my Department's website. The progress report, which provides an update on the work of the Programme Board, is available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/280545/853486ba-0477-42f9-98db-339b8ccccea4.pdf#page=null
95. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he now accepts the need for an outright ban on vulture funds purchasing large numbers of new homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7011/24]
View answerThe Government has implemented several measures to ensure a balanced housing market across all tenures, including home ownership, social housing, and private rental.
Under Housing for All, the Government committed to an 'owner-occupier' guarantee, allowing local authorities to designate a percentage of houses and duplexes in a development for owner-occupiers.
In May 2021, measures were introduced to discourage and prohibit the bulk buying of properties. These included a 10% stamp duty levy on the cumulative purchase of 10 or more residential properties, excluding apartments, within a year. This was aimed at deterring institutional investors from bulk purchasing homes.
Simultaneously, the Section 28 Guidelines for Planning Authorities were introduced, effectively providing an 'owner-occupier' guarantee. This ensured new houses and duplex units in housing developments could not be bulk-purchased by institutional investors in a way that would displace individual buyers or social and affordable housing.
The guidelines stipulate that a condition should be included in new planning permissions requiring all houses and duplex units to be available for sale and first occupation by separate, individual households for a certain period after completion.
The Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Act 2021 introduced complementary measures, mandating local authorities to ensure home ownership is provided for and estimated in their housing strategies. The Act reinforces the principle of home ownership as a specific tenure type in a local authority housing strategy, particularly for developments of houses and duplexes.
Between May 2021 and December 2023, planning permission was granted for approximately 39,900 homes with conditions prohibiting bulk purchase by, or multiple sale to, a single purchaser.
Despite suggestions that institutional investors are crowding out prospective owner-occupiers, official data indicates that institutional investors still make up an important but relatively small proportion of annual residential property purchases. While the Government will continue to keep this issue under review to ensure we protect first-time buyers and owner occupiers, there are no plans to further restrict institutional investment at this time.
97. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how and when the reforms to the public spending code will lead to changes in the four-step planning for the delivering of social and affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5761/24]
View answerThe Public Spending Code sets out the value for money guidelines for the evaluation, planning and management of public investment projects. The Public Spending Code was replaced and superseded with a set of Infrastructure Guidelines, published in December 2023 by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. The arrangements set out in the Guidelines apply to all public bodies in receipt of Exchequer capital funding. This comprises public infrastructure projects including the construction of social and affordable housing by local authorities on their own land.
The question asks about the four-step planning for the delivering of social and affordable housing. I assume that the question is referring to the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF) four stage pre-construction process used by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the construction of social housing on their own land.
It is the intention of my Department to draw up specific sectoral guidance for social housing construction projects which align with the new Infrastructure Guidelines and the CWMF.
The CWMF derives from, and is complementary to, the Public Spending Code. The CWMF is issued by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) and is used by contracting authorities involved in the expenditure of public funds on construction projects and related consultancy services. The main objectives of the CWMF are to provide cost certainty at tender award stage, value for money and more efficient delivery of public works projects. It is noted in the new Infrastructure Guideline that the CWMF will be updated to reflect the specific provisions of the Infrastructure Guidelines.
The CWMF provides guidance on review stages which remains consistent with the principles that underpin the Infrastructure Guidelines. The review stages allow for appropriate project and risk management at each stage, and ensure that the project is delivering an appropriate, cost efficient design which offers value for money.
98. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details on the pilot sewage schemes initiative, funded by his Department in 2023; if he proposes to run this scheme again in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6698/24]
View answerOn the 7 December 2023 I announced the projects that are approved for funding under the Waste Water Collection and Treatment needs for villages without access to Public Waste Water Services.
I can confirm that my Department has written to the local authorities concerned outlining the next steps required to allow these projects commence and be completed as quickly as possible.
I have no plans to invite further applications in 2024.
99. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new houses completed in each of south County Dublin and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown in 2023; the number commenced; his expectations for 2024 with regard to construction activity in the residential sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6674/24]
View answer112. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new houses completed in each of Limerick, Clare and Tipperary in 2023; the number commenced; his expectations for 2024 with regard to construction activity in the residential sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6670/24]
View answer136. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new houses completed in Carlow in 2023; the number commenced; his expectations for 2024 with regard to construction activity in the residential sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6666/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 99, 112 and 136 together.
There has been a substantial uplift in the amount of new homes delivered since the launch of Housing for All in 2021.
The final quarter last year was the fourth successive quarter with rolling 12-month completions surpassing 30,000 dwellings, with some 32,695 new homes delivered over the full year. This is the highest level of new home delivery in the last 15 years, some 10% higher than in 2022 and 13% higher than the Housing for All target of 29,000 for 2023.
The outlook for this year and next is equally promising.
The commencement of some 32,800 new homes in 2023, an increase of 21% year-on-year, suggests the substantial uplift in supply over the past 24 months will be sustained into 2024 and beyond. Indeed, initial forecasts suggest this year's target of 33,450 new homes will be met, with some commentators suggesting it might even be surpassed by one thousand or so new homes.
And this progress is being mirrored at local level around the country.
In 2023, 3,575 new homes were commenced in South Dublin, an increase of 27% on the same period in 2022 and the highest number of annual commencements since the data series began in 2014. Completions in South Dublin also increased significantly, up 85% from 1,747 in 2022 to 3,238 in 2023.Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown has also seen continued robust commencement activity in 2023, with 2,276 new homes commenced, a slight increase of 1% on 2022. At the same time, 3,563 new homes were completed, a 32% increase on the 2,709 new homes delivered in 2022.In Carlow, 394 new homes were commenced in 2023, a 60% increase year-on-year, while 244 new homes were completed, up 6% on 2022 delivery.
Limerick saw 795 new homes commenced, the second highest annual level recorded since the data series began in 2014. At the same time, almost 800 homes were completed, a recent record high.
There were some 563 new homes commenced in Clare, an increase of 66% year-on-year. Meanwhile, more than 400 homes were delivered, bringing the number of new homes completed over the last three years to 1,375.
Some 500 new homes were commenced in Tipperary, the first time in the last decade commencements topped the 500 mark. Similarly, completion levels increased significantly to 517 new homes in 2023, a 23% year-on-year increase.
Increased supply is key to meeting our housing needs and addressing the challenges in the housing market – supply is increasing and output in 2022 and 2023 shows we’re on the right track. Indeed, sectoral forecasts for next year suggest new home delivery will be at its highest level for many years, with some already forecasting that the Housing for All target of 33,450 could be surpassed by as many as one thousand new homes in 2024.
Housing for All is clearly delivering and I am confident the funding and targeted schemes committed to under plan will continue to support an increasing supply of affordable housing across all tenures, whether social, private rented or private purchase.
100. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason he continues to expect engineers to sign off on remediation recommendations for the enhanced defective concrete block grant scheme, based on I.S 465, when there is clear scientific evidence that this standard is no longer fit for purpose. [6616/24]
View answer130. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will commit to making changes to the enhanced defective concrete block grant scheme in response to the growing evidence that the scheme will not be accessible for most affected families, and in line with his commitment to review the scheme after six months. [6615/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 130 together.
Arising from the Government Decision of 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) grant scheme, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) was tasked with delivering a programme of work to address a number of technical items. An interagency DCB Technical Matters Steering Group has been established to inform and guide the NSAI review of a number of relevant standards including I.S. 465:2018, and the impact, if any on foundations and the effect, if any, of full cavity fill insulation on homes susceptible to defective blockwork.
Research proposals developed by the relevant NSAI Technical Committees, including research to investigate pyrrhotite oxidation in concrete blocks and the potential impact of deleterious materials on foundations, have been commissioned and are making good progress.
I am advised that preliminary findings from primary research to investigate pyrrhotite oxidation in concrete blocks and the potential impact of deleterious materials on foundations, has been received by the NSAI and the relevant Technical Committee, and that they are currently analysing this data in advance of the completion of the research project later this year. This project is part of a substantial program of research and analysis that is underway at present as part of the NSAI review of standards.
Following the publication of any revised standard published by the NSAI, the enhanced DCB scheme will be reviewed at that point, in the event that such amendments are required.
When I launched the enhanced scheme, I established an Implementation Steering Group and part of the Group’s remit was to produce a six-month report on the Scheme. This report on the operation of the Enhanced Scheme covers the period July to December 2023 i.e. the first six months of the Scheme. It should be noted that this Report is not a review of the fundamental terms and conditions of the Scheme as set down in the 2022 Act. I understand that the Report will be submitted for my consideration very soon.
At present almost 2,000 applications have been received for remediation under the terms of the previous and current schemes. I believe this clearly shows that progress is being made in helping a large number of homeowners to fix their homes and allow them and their families to move on with their lives in a positive way.
The Scheme is demand led. I understand that the Question may be referring to some matters of a financial nature that potentially could be having an adverse impact on certain homeowners accessing the Scheme in the first place. I am aware of these issues and I established a sub-group, within the existing Implementation group structure, to examine an emerging issue relating to financial aspects of the scheme. Representatives from Engineers Ireland, the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, Insurance Ireland, the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland, Homeowner representatives from each of the four local authority areas and officials from the Department of Finance attended discussions on 11 January 2024 chaired by my Department. A further meeting of this group is due to take place later this month on 21 February 2024.
My Department is working proactively on seeking to arrive at workable solutions within the framework of the legislation that will assist homeowners. Engagement with all stakeholders, including homeowner representatives, has been regular and extensive and this will continue where needed over the lifetime of the Scheme.
101. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider extending the temporary development contribution waiver scheme as due to expire in April 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6939/24]
View answerI refer to my reply to Question No. 379 of 13 February 2024 which sets out the position in this matter.
102. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his Department’s response to the recent Health Research Board’s report into mortality among single homeless people. [6822/24]
View answerOn 16 January 2023, the Health Research Board published its report on deaths among people who were homeless based on 2020 data. The research applied the methodology used to compile the National Drug Related Deaths Index, which is a census of drug-related deaths and deaths among drug users and those who are alcohol dependent in Ireland. The study was commissioned by the Department of Health in order to improve understanding of premature mortality among people who are homeless and to inform healthcare policy and services for this vulnerable cohort. The study is the second time this data has been published, the first report was published last year based on 2019 data.
The report found that a total of 121 deaths, that were sudden and unexpected, occurred nationally in 2020 in people who were homeless at the time of their death. This is an increase on the (revised) figure of 92 deaths reported in 2019. 48% died in emergency accommodation and 36% in a public space, public building or derelict building. Of those who died, 91% had a history of substance use or dependency.
I extend my sympathies to the families and friends of the deceased and also acknowledge the important work carried out by those on the frontline.
Housing for All commits Government to work towards ending homelessness by 2030. The Plan contains a number of actions to address homelessness including actions which support the health needs of people who are homeless. The Housing First programme is one of the key responses in ending long-term homelessness among those with complex health and mental health needs. It provides the most vulnerable of our homeless population with a home for life as well as key wraparound health and social supports. Under the Housing First National Implementation Plan 2022-2026, an additional 1,319 supported tenancies are to be delivered nationally over this period. 560 tenancies have been established under the current National Implementation Plan and 979 individuals are currently in a Housing First tenancy.
My Department is working closely with the Department of Health, the HSE and local authorities to continue to deliver the appropriate measures to support all individuals experiencing homelessness including those with complex needs.
103. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage following the destruction of storm Babet, how much relief funding has been paid out since October 2023 to date in 2024; if there will be a requirement for additional funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6889/24]
View answerMy Department is designated as the Lead Government Department for co-ordinating the response at national level to seven scenarios, including severe weather and flooding. The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM), within my Department, is tasked with co-ordinating the response to these emergencies working closely with Met Éireann, local authorities, who are the lead agency for the response to severe weather, Government Departments and other agencies as set out in the document “Strategic Emergency Management - National Framework.”
With reference to the weather systems experienced during October and November 2023, as you know Ireland was impacted by three major storms during this period, Storms Babet, Ciarán and Debi. These storms brought with them significant rain and wind which when combined with complex coastal, pluvial and fluvial conditions resulted in significant flooding, especially for the south and east of the country. The dangerous wind speeds impacted on power and water supplies and transport infrastructure across the country.
I am acutely aware of the extreme hardship that has been caused in many parts of the country as a result of these serious weather events, and the constraints on local government finances at this time. With this in mind, my Department sought Exchequer funding specifically to assist impacted local authorities with exceptional expenditure directly associated with the recent flood response.
A Circular was issued by my Department to all Chief Executives, inviting them to make an application with relevant details of the exceptional costs and current expenditure incurred by the local authority in respect of storm response activities. Eligible costs included; hire of plant and contractors for necessary immediate works, purchase of materials required for response and clean-up, staff overtime payments specific to the event and immediate clean-up. There was an option for any local authority to make a business case for other costs considered exceptional. As always, my Department continues to work with local authorities to support them over the coming months, as they implement their recovery plans.
In total €4,967,703.03 was recouped to the twelve local authorities who submitted claims for the recoupment of exceptional expenditure arising over this period as a result of severe weather.
It should be noted that my Department supports local authorities in respect of the exceptional costs of the immediate cleanup in the aftermath of such storms. Local authorities work with other Government partners in relation to funding for the repair of roads, bridges and other infrastructure as part of their longer term recovery.
While our focus is on the Local Government sector, my Department also liaised with both the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to request that they activate their Humanitarian Schemes. Details of the assistance provided should be available from my colleagues in those Departments.
105. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social and affordable homes delivered in County Monaghan in the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and the number targeted to built in 2024. [6882/24]
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 Q3 2023 and is published on the statistics' page of my Department’s website at the following link: gov.ie - Overall social and affordable housing provision (www.gov.ie)
Data for Q4 2023 is currently being collated and will be published shortly. Monaghan’s social housing build target for 2024 is 57.
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
Monaghan County Council does not have affordable housing delivery target as the assessed level of affordably constrained need is not high, as house prices are below the national median. The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) is available to all local authorities to assist in responding to localised affordability need where it occurs. Monaghan has not applied for AHF assistance to date. Assistance with developing schemes is available from my Department, the Housing Agency and the Local Government Management Agency if required.
