Louise O'Reilly
Question:347. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the review of Housing for All is due to commence; and how long the review will take. [7597/24]
View answerHousing Schemes
Questions (347)
Written answers
Housing for All is an agile plan and has an in-built flexibility to review measures to address the changing and complex needs of the housing system. The latest updated Action Plan, published in November 2023, continues to focus on activating and delivering housing at pace, enhancing affordability, whilst fundamentally reforming our housing system.
The actions in the Plan are updated on an annual basis, including timelines and responsibilities, to sustain momentum on delivery during the lifetime of the Plan. The next update will be published in Q4 this year along with the Housing for All Q3 2024 Progress Report.
Progress reports are published quarterly. These reports can be accessed at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/9d2ee-housing-for-all-quarterly-progress-reports/
Defective Building Materials
Questions (348)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:348. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what plan/scheme is in place for social Housing tenants who are still living in pyrite effected homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7627/24]
View answerWritten answers
I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.
Section 36 of the Act provides that the Government may make a further Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) scheme for the purposes of enabling a designated local authority or an approved housing body to remedy damage caused to dwellings by the use of defective concrete blocks in their construction.
My Department is working closely with the designated local authorities in developing a DCB Social Homes Scheme for designated local authorities and approved housing bodies affected by Defective Concrete Blocks. Work is at an advanced stage and I expect it to be finalised in the coming weeks.
The DCB social homes scheme will include the same grant rates and caps as outlined in the private scheme for homeowners. It will apply to local authority and approved housing body homes located within designated local authority areas. It will encourage local authorities to manage efficiencies and make the best use of all available resources to remediate their affected homes.
Waste Management
Questions (349)
David Stanton
Question:349. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of domestic wastewater treatment system grants processed by each local authority in 2022 and 2023; the amount paid out by each local authority in these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7673/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department does not hold information on the number of Domestic Waste Water Treatment System (DWWTS) grants processed by each local authority.
However, to be helpful, the table below sets out the number of DWWTS grants and the amount paid by my Department to each local authority in 2022 and 2023.
|
County |
Number of grants paid in 2022 |
Amount paid in 2022 |
Number of grants paid in 2023 |
Amount paid in 2023 |
|
€ |
€ |
|||
|
Carlow |
2 |
8,453.80 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
Cavan |
3 |
14,458.50 |
4 |
19,295.48 |
|
Clare |
5 |
25,000.00 |
1 |
5,000.00 |
|
Cork |
11 |
37,560.64 |
3 |
7,531.59 |
|
Donegal |
12 |
52,888.54 |
15 |
65,613.11 |
|
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown |
0 |
0 |
4 |
19,353.36 |
|
Galway |
3 |
10,970.45 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
Kerry |
7 |
35,000.00 |
9 |
36,803.16 |
|
Kildare |
18 |
88,711.56 |
12 |
57,103.03 |
|
Kilkenny |
0 |
0 |
2 |
10,000.00 |
|
Laois |
3 |
15,000.00 |
1 |
5,000.00 |
|
Leitrim |
18 |
77,150.81 |
9 |
44,823.75 |
|
Limerick |
3 |
15,000.00 |
7 |
35,000.00 |
|
Longford |
2 |
10,000.00 |
2 |
8,349.68 |
|
Louth |
1 |
4,250.00 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
Mayo |
14 |
62,271.79 |
26 |
123,212.15 |
|
Meath |
53 |
263,874.20 |
30 |
150,000.00 |
|
Monaghan |
6 |
28,087.00 |
4 |
16,479.14 |
|
Offaly |
1 |
2,797.78 |
4 |
19,956.76 |
|
Roscommon |
7 |
34,738.75 |
11 |
55,000.00 |
|
Sligo |
4 |
14,111.98 |
7 |
33,810.76 |
|
Tipperary |
4 |
15,658.75 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
Waterford |
3 |
13,666.05 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
Westmeath |
1 |
4,885.80 |
2 |
10,000.00 |
|
Wexford |
30 |
146,572.50 |
32 |
152,056.62 |
|
Wicklow |
0 |
0 |
9 |
45,000.00 |
|
Totals |
211 |
981,108.90 |
194 |
919,388.59 |
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (350)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:350. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the implications for a RAS tenant, considering RAS is designated like social housing as social housing support, whose income goes over the income limit, who pays rent in line with the increased income but then receives a notice to quit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7675/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) is a social housing support that meets the needs of people in receipt of Rent Supplement for 18 months or longer and who are assessed as having a long-term housing need. Accommodation provided under RAS is governed by the terms of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2021, as amended.
RAS involves a three way contractual relationship between landlord, tenant and the Local Authority (LA), with the LA retaining responsibility for payment of rent to the landlord and for sourcing alternative accommodation if a dwelling becomes unavailable through no fault of the tenant.
In RAS, the tenant pays a rental contribution to the LA based on its differential rents system. In cases where there is a financial change of circumstances, the amount of differential rent that the tenant pays to the LA may increase or decrease in line with that change.
In 2023, my Department provided funding to LAs to acquire at least 1,500 social homes. These additional acquisitions have focused particularly on properties where a tenant is in receipt of social housing supports, such as RAS, and has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property.
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, if appropriate, support to obtain an alternative tenancy (including a HAP or RAS supported tenancy) or an allocation to local authority stock.
Housing Schemes
Questions (351)
Catherine Connolly
Question:351. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the options available to a HAP recipient whose medical circumstances mean that they are permanently disabled and wheelchair bound, resulting in their present accommodation being unsuitable, in terms of both priority on the social housing list and availability of grants and schemes to the owner of the HAP property to make the property adaptable for their tenant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7687/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People. The grants are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority.
The administration of the grants scheme, including the assessment, approval and prioritisation of grant applications under the various measures, is the responsibility of each local authority. The grants under the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability and the Mobility Aids Grant are available to members of a household residing in private rented accommodation. These schemes are applicant based and are available to people with an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual disability, and to older people who experience mobility issues so that can continue to live independently at home.
Where a disabled person is in receipt of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and wishes to transfer to accommodation provided by the local authority directly, an application must be made to the local authority to be placed on the transfer list. The oversight and management of housing waiting lists, including the allocation of, and transfer of tenancies, is a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and associated Regulations.
Referendum Campaigns
Questions (352)
Jennifer Whitmore
Question:352. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to endorse the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate Action for a referendum that would acknowledge the rights of nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7699/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss (CABL) published its’ report in April 2023. This report was referred to the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action, who held a series of engagement with stakeholders to discuss the issues raised. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate Action published their report on the recommendations of the CABL in December 2023, containing 86 recommendations which the Committee feel are vital to ensure that the biodiversity crisis in Ireland is addressed in a meaningful way.
The 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan 2023-2030 was launched in January and addresses a number of the key recommendations of both the Citizens’ Assembly and the Joint Oireachtas Committee. The Plan provides for a mechanism by which the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly will be considered by Government, including an action for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to explore the ways in which the rights of nature could be formally recognised. A report outlining a response to the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss will be laid before the Oireachtas in the coming months.
Land Issues
Questions (353, 354)
Danny Healy-Rae
Question:353. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on a matter regarding lands zoned land tax (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7956/24]
View answerDanny Healy-Rae
Question:354. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on a matter regarding zoned land tax (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7965/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 353 and 354 together.
The Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) is a new tax introduced in Finance Act 2021 which seeks to increase housing supply by encouraging the activation of development on lands which are suitably zoned and appropriately serviced. It aims to bring those lands which have benefitted from investment in services and are capable of being developed forward for housing. The tax is an action contained in Housing for All, the Government’s plan for housing, to increase housing supply and is supported in the Programme for Government. The tax applies to land that is zoned suitable for residential development and serviced.
In order to be liable to the tax the land must be zoned appropriately for residential or mixed use including residential uses and serviced, or able to be serviced by all of the services identified in section 653B(b). Where an owner of land included on the draft map published annually by the relevant local authority considers that the land is not serviced by the full complement of the services identified in section 653B(b), the opportunity is afforded to make a submission to the local authority highlighting matters for their attention in this regard by 1 April and where the landowner disagrees with the determination of the local authority they may appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanála by 1 August for their consideration.
Where land is the beneficiary of a residential or mixed use including residential use zoning and serviced, then the land has been identified in the relevant statutory land use plan as being suitable for housing delivery to meet statutory housing supply targets.
Whilst zoning does not guarantee that permission will be granted for a particular development proposal, it does establish that the principle of residential development is acceptable. Pre-planning engagement by landowners or developers with the planning authority will assist in determining the design response necessary for the land, having regard to policies and objectives within the development plan or local area plan for the land. Ensuring that development proposals are of sufficient quality to meet the requirements of the local authority and gain planning permission is a matter for the landowner or developer.
With regard to land identified in a development plan or local area plan as strategic residential reserve, where such land is serviced and therefore meets the criteria set out under section 653B(b), a local authority is required to consider whether such land would fall within new criteria for exclusion set out in section 653B(iia) regarding land subject to a statutory phasing requirement, as a consequence of which the land may not fall into scope.
Question No. 354 answered with Question No. 353.
Housing Schemes
Questions (355)
Noel Grealish
Question:355. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current length of time it takes for housing assistance payments (HAP) to be made to a landlord, when a qualified tenant takes up occupancy of a rented house; the current average length of delays in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7994/24]
View answerWritten answers
The administration of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a matter for the relevant local authority and HAP application processing times may vary across local authorities.
Once a HAP application has been received and confirmed as valid by the relevant local authority, it is entered on the system by the local authority and then submitted for processing and payment by the HAP Shared Service Centre (HAP SSC). Payments are made to landlords on the last Wednesday of each month.
If there are delays at the processing stage within a local authority, payment to the landlord will be backdated to the date on which a complete and valid application form was received by the local authority. The landlord is therefore not penalised for any delay.
The HAP application form comes in two parts, Section A to be completed by the applicant tenant and Section B to be completed by the landlord or agent. An application for HAP will only be accepted by the local authority when both Section A and Section B are completed, signed and returned, along with the required supporting documentation. Any delay in tenants and landlords supplying this information will impact on the processing time of the HAP application.
The latest data available for HAP processing times covers the period up to end Q3 2023 and shows that the average processing time across local authorities is 37 days.
My Department and local authorities are aware of the importance of minimising HAP processing times and the critical need to keep this under review at a local level.
Waste Management
Questions (356)
Niamh Smyth
Question:356. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can review the criteria for the septic tank grant; if he will acknowledge that many people who want to avail of the grant are not eligible for same as they are not located in the so called “buffer zones”; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8014/24]
View answerWritten answers
The policy of providing grant funding for remedial work on domestic waste water treatment systems arises from the need to address damage being done to water quality in sensitive areas in particular.
There are three grant schemes available to householders relating to DWWTS, commonly known as septic tank grants. The grants are focused on these areas of greatest environmental priority.
Householders can avail of the grants if their DWWTS has failed an inspection under the National Inspection Plan and an Advisory Notice has been issued, or if the DWWTS is located in either a Prioritised Area for Action or a High Status Objective Catchment Area, as identified in the River Basin Management Plan.
I can confirm that following extensive consultation with key stakeholders in the Rural Water Sector, my Department completed a review of the terms and conditions of the three grants. As a result of the review and the recommendations made, in November 2023 I announced significant improvements to the grants available.
The changes which came into effect from 1 January 2024 are, an increase in the maximum grant amount available to €12,000, up from €5,000 and removal of a requirement to have had the septic tank registered in 2013.
The grants continue to be available only in circumstances relating to risks to water quality and/or human health. I have no plans to make further changes.
Rental Sector
Questions (357)
Jim O'Callaghan
Question:357. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he last met the RTB about rent costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8070/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Residential Tenancies Board, (RTB), was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 to regulate the rental sector; provide information to tenants and landlords; maintain a national register of tenancies; resolve disputes between tenants and landlords; and conduct research and provide information to inform policy.
Prior to the release of the new format Rent Index report in November 2023, which now includes data on standardised average rent for both new and existing tenancies, I attended a briefing with the ESRI and the RTB to discuss their findings.
The Rent Index report is the most accurate and authoritative rent report of its kind on the private rental sector in Ireland. Compared to other market monitoring reports produced for the Irish rental sector, the RTB/ESRI Rent Index has the considerable benefit of being based on regulatory data covering all new tenancy registrations regardless of how the property was advertised for rent. The Existing Tenancies Index significantly strengthens the ability to understand the Private Rental Sector overall, which has gone through considerable change in recent years.
Defective Building Materials
Questions (358)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:358. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will allow people in the defective concrete block scheme in rural areas that have the necessary space to build beside their existing home in order to reduce costs of demolition and accommodation during construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8073/24]
View answerWritten answers
I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.
The enhanced grant scheme facilitates the remediation of existing houses that have been damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks, but not the construction of separate additional houses on adjoining sites. The construction of new separate additional houses will not be grant funded.
The Act requires rebuilding on the exact position on the land of the existing dwelling. However, there is flexibility in terms of footprint of a rebuild and exact rebuild on the footprint is not required, subject to compliance with Building Regulations and compliance with planning. In this regard, it should be noted that the planning exemption for a rebuild as set out in section 28 of the Act is for a dwelling, which is not inconsistent with, or materially different from, the appearance and character of the original dwelling. In such scenarios homeowners should engage with their Competent Building Professional to consider the possible impact on any energy retrofit work they may be considering and the effect a different footprint may have on such works and/or associated grants
Under the enhanced grant scheme, in addition to the grant for actual construction works, and within the overall maximum grant cap of €420,000, an additional grant of up to €25,000 for ancillary grants is available for alternative accommodation and storage costs and the cost of immediate repair works. Ancillary grants for these purposes may be approved in respect of costs incurred before or after the making of an application for a remediation option grant.
Local Authorities
Questions (359)
Sorca Clarke
Question:359. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant posts in local authorities, in tabular form per department. [8105/24]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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, data on the number of vacant posts is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information would be available from individual local authorities.
Homeless Persons Supports
Questions (360)
Sorca Clarke
Question:360. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current members of the midlands regional homeless forum. [8106/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities.
The Midlands region comprises Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath local authorities. Westmeath County Council, the Regional Lead Authority for the region, has provided the following information regarding membership of the Midlands Regional Homelessness Consultative Forum:
|
Midlands Regional Homelessness Consultative Forum Membership |
|
Director of Services for Housing for each local authority in the region |
|
Regional Leader for Homeless Services in the Midlands |
|
Member of the Social inclusion team for the HSE |
|
Member of the Addiction Services team for the HSE |
|
Member of the Disability Services from the HSE |
|
Member of the Irish Prison Service |
|
Member of the Homeless NGO in the region |
|
A Councillor for Westmeath County Council |
Social Welfare Schemes
Questions (361)
Seán Sherlock
Question:361. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications and awards for supplementary welfare under the criteria or reference to, the need for mental health supports, by county, in tabular form. [8075/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents.
Supports provided under the scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as Additional Needs Payments.
The basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.
Rent Supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme ensures that those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment, can continue to meet their rental commitments.
Furthermore, under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department can make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income.
Payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation, and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
While statistics are maintained on the number of applications and payments made under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, it is not possible to identify payments made to persons who have the need for mental health supports. It would not be appropriate to record the personal health circumstances of individuals.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
State Pensions
Questions (362)
Michael Collins
Question:362. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons over the age of 70 years who are capable and willing to work could be eligible for additional the State pension benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8087/24]
View answerWritten answers
In September 2022, I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system in response to the recommendations from the Pensions Commission. This set of measures represents the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.
One of the key measures under these reforms, which came into operation from the 1st January 2024 is the introduction of a flexible pension system in Ireland.
Under this system, there is now flexibility for those reaching State Pension age to defer access to their State Pension (Contributory) at any age up to the age of 70 and receive an actuarially adjusted higher rate of payment. A person can use the period between 66 and 70 years of age to build up additional entitlements and, if a person has less than 10 years PRSI reckonable paid contributions, they may be able to use this period to establish entitlement. Those who defer claiming their State Pension (Contributory) and continue to work, will have access to certain short-term contingency payments during the period of deferral.
The Pensions Commission considered the duration for deferral and ultimately recommended the age of 70 as the cut off. Internationally speaking, the length of deferral in the EU ranges from three years to indefinitely. The age of 70 also aligns with the public service, whereby, under law, a person can now work up to the age of 70.
Any proposal to extend the age limit beyond 70 may be better informed following a period to consider how the new deferral system operates in practice.