Tuesday, 9 Apr 2024

Written Answers Nos. 605-624

Defective Building Materials

Questions (605)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

605. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the possible closure of a child care service (details supplied) as a result of the presence of defective concrete blocks in its building; if he can provide any advice to the organisation; if he has considered extending the redress scheme to avoid organisations like this one having to close its doors through no fault of its own; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13759/24]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

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 new scheme is now open to applications in four counties: Clare, Donegal, Limerick and Mayo with comprehensive information of all aspects of the Scheme available on my Department’s website at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/service/8002e-enhanced-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme/.

The scheme is neither a redress nor a compensation scheme, rather it is a grant scheme of last resort to enable affected homeowners remediate their homes. The priority must be to ensure that homes being occupied as principal private residences are remediated and Government has therefore prioritised owner occupied principal private residences and tenanted rental properties which were RTB registered as at 1 November 2021. Provided a property meets this criteria of principal private residence, or the property is an RTB registered property as at 1 November 2021 it is eligible to apply for entry to the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme.

Question No. 606 answered with Question No. 591.

Question No. 607 answered with Question No. 591.

Departmental Reports

Questions (608, 621, 622, 693)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

608. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the report reviewing housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability; to provide a date by which we can expect the said report to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13773/24]

Carol Nolan

Question:

621. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider revising the maximum grant cap allowed with respect to housing adaptation grants in order to keep pace with the increases in building costs and construction inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13959/24]

Carol Nolan

Question:

622. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding provided by his Department for housing adaptation grants to each local authority for 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13960/24]

Robert Troy

Question:

693. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will amend the criteria for housing adaption grants in order that a change of circumstances that is, a reduction in earnings, can be taken into consideration rather than the earnings of the previous calendar year. [15049/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 608, 621, 622 and 693 together.

My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to support the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, which support older and disabled people living in private houses to adapt their home to meet 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 Grant, which are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. The detailed administration of these schemes, including assessment, approval and prioritisation, is the responsibility of local authorities.

Details of allocations, the number of grants paid and the amount spent by all local authorities for 2023 are available on my Department's website at the following link: 

gov - Other local authority housing scheme statistics (www.gov.ie)

Housing for All commits to reviewing the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme and a report on the review has been prepared by my Department. The review was informed by engagement with external stakeholders, including the Department of Health, the HSE, the Disability Federation of Ireland and the Irish Wheelchair Association. Written submissions were also invited and considered as part of this process. Among the areas which the review considered are the income thresholds that apply and the grant limits.

On foot of my consideration of the Review report, my Department shared the report and supplementary analysis with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and is engaging with that Department on the recommendations in the report with a view to bringing forward amendments to the relevant Regulations governing the schemes as soon as possible.

Environmental Policy

Questions (609)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

609. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the ramifications for the Government, and Irish farmers and landowners, following the passage of the Nature Restoration Law in the European Parliament; if his Department has undertaken any assessment to determine the number of hectares and landowners who will be affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13777/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Government welcomes the formal adoption of the Nature Restoration Regulation (NRL) by the European Parliament during its Plenary session on 27 February 2024 which paves the way for Member States to approve this position. Once the text is adopted by the Council, it will become law.

The Regulation sets out a framework for Member States to restore nature, with binding targets for a wide range of ecosystems including rivers, forests, oceans, urban areas and agricultural ecosystems, as well as protected habitats and species throughout the State. The NRL presents significant opportunities to support the achievement of nature, water and climate objectives, as well as substantial co-benefits in rural economies and communities.

In relation to the determination of the number of hectares and landowners who will be affected we note that it is up to each Member State to decide how it will achieve the obligations in the NRL by making a national Nature Restoration Plan (NRP). Work has started on a participatory stakeholder engagement process to develop the national NRP. Farmers, foresters, fishers and their representatives will be invited to get involved.

It is important to note that any restoration measures that landowners choose to participate in will be well incentivised and resourced.

The Government is clear that farmers and private landowners have nothing to fear as the legal obligation to achieve these targets is on the Member State, not the landowner. Landowner participation in the NRL is voluntary.

Official Travel

Questions (610)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

610. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent by his Department on travel and accommodation costs associated with ministerial visits abroad to date in 2024, in tabular form. [13809/24]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Details of ministerial travel costs paid for by my Department are available and regularly updated on my Department's Open Data website: data.gov.ie/dataset/ministerial-travel-costs-2024.

The total costs of some of the visits have not yet been finalised. Outstanding invoices will be submitted in due course through the Department of Foreign Affairs for reimbursement by my Department, and will include hotel costs, local transportation, and other miscellaneous costs.

Departmental Properties

Questions (611)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

611. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant properties either owned or leased by his Department; the length of time the properties have been vacant; and the location of the properties, in tabular form. [13827/24]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

Defective Building Materials

Questions (612)

Francis Noel Duffy

Question:

612. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are targeted measures to support tenants who have to leave their rental accommodation undergoing pyrite remediation under the pyrite remediation scheme; if costs for alternative accommodation for those tenants waiting to return to the property will be recouped; the process of applying if supports exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13841/24]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Under the Pyrite Remediation Scheme, allowances are available for tenants who have to leave their rental accommodation undergoing pyrite remediation. Section 12 of the Scheme outlines in full the costs provided to Scheme participants:

www.pyriteboard.ie/Pyrite/media/Pyrite/Updated/22-10-27-Pyrite-Remediation-Scheme-Adopted.pdf.

Section 12.4 of the Scheme provides that the vouched cost of the alternative accommodation, required for the dwelling occupants during the remediation works can be recouped from the Housing Agency by the Scheme participant. Recoupment of the vouched cost is subject to a monthly maximum limit of €2,000 (including VAT) and an overall limit of €6,000 (including VAT) per dwelling.

Section 12.5 provides that the vouched costs in relation to the removal, storage and return of the furniture in the dwelling, equipment and effects can be recouped by the Scheme participant, subject to a maximum limit of €2,500 (including VAT) per dwelling. Section 12.6 provides that, where the Scheme participant satisfies the Housing Agency in advance that suitable rental accommodation cannot be obtained for €6,000 or less, the expenses in Sections 12.4 and 12.5 above may be combined, but are subject to an overall limit of €8,500 (including VAT).

Section 12.7 notes that payment of expenses outlined in Sections 12.4 and 12.5 will only be approved on the submission of a schedule of costs together with receipts. Claims for payment of these expenses should be submitted to the Housing Agency when remediation works are complete.

Section 12.8 provides that earlier payment of vouched costs, in part or in whole, may be approved by the Housing Agency where it is demonstrated, to the satisfaction of the Agency, that a payment of these costs on completion of the works would cause financial hardship.

Heritage Projects

Questions (613)

Ged Nash

Question:

613. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the LGMA and the National Town Centre First office will carry out a long-awaited collaborative town centre health check for Drogheda, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13847/24]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Collaborative Town Centre Health Check (CTCHC) programme was launched in 2016 by the Heritage Council to gather information that supports the regeneration of historic town centres. In 2019 Local Authorities became directly involved in the programme, which has very successfully analysed a number of towns across Ireland in aspects such as land use, vacancy, surveys of businesses and consumers, and a range of other factors.

The success of this programme was one of the contributing factors behind the development of the Town Centre First (TCF) Policy, which was launched in February 2022 by my Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD). The Policy provides a co-ordinated, whole-of-government policy framework to proactively address the decline in the health of towns across Ireland and support measures to aid their regeneration and revitalisation. Since its launch a suite of supports and resources have been developed at national and local level to drive implementation of the policy across the Country.

Town Regeneration Officers (TROs) are now established within local authorities to empower local communities and businesses to form a local Town Team, and to create ambitious new TCF Plans to identify regeneration opportunities, direct investment and maximise the unique strengths and assets of their town. These community based plans are underpinned by a data gathering, analysis and town audit process, which builds on the work advanced by the CTCHC Programme.

The National TCF Office, based in the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), was established as a joint initiative of DRCD and my Department in collaboration with the County and City Management Association (CCMA), to drive implementation, share best practice, and coordinate the work of the TROs. The National TCF Office is tasked with building on the CTCHC Programme and incorporating a broader range of issues and data collection models, to provide for a consistent town analysis process that can be rolled out nationally.

In February 2024, the first phase of Town Centre First plans which have been completed for 26 towns across Ireland, including Dunleer in County Louth, was launched. A new round of 26 towns, including Clogherhead in County Louth, was announced for funding to prepare the next phase of TCF Plans under the Town Centre First Suite of Supports, which also provides funding for certain Project Development Measures, and Town Team Support Measures for up to three towns within each local authority to support the establishment and/or development of Town Teams where they are not already well established.

One of the priorities of the National TCF Office for 2024 is to finalise a review of Phase 1 Plans and prepare a Town Centre Toolkit/Manual to inform impactful regeneration, which will include examples of best practice and methodologies for undertaking Town Centre Audits/ Health checks and other guidance. This Toolkit will be published on the Town Centre First website in the coming weeks.

While the Town Centre Toolkit will support Local Authorities in developing a consistent approach to the implementation of the Town Centre First approach in their administrative areas, the National Town Centre First Office does not have a direct role in undertaking health checks in individual towns and villages to inform the development of TCF plans and projects. The development of individual TCF plans, and the selection and prioritisation of towns and villages for such plans, are matters for individual local authorities.

Question No. 614 answered with Question No. 591.

Question No. 615 answered with Question No. 598.

Question No. 616 answered with Question No. 598.

Question No. 617 answered with Question No. 598.

Defective Building Materials

Questions (618)

Martin Kenny

Question:

618. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme to include homes built in County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13939/24]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

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 new scheme is now open to applications in four counties: Clare, Donegal, Limerick and Mayo with comprehensive information of all aspects of the Scheme available on my Department’s website at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/service/8002e-enhanced-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme/.

When a local authority that is not designated under the Scheme determines through the established mechanisms that homes within their functional area have been damaged by defective concrete blocks, they can seek to have the scheme extended to include any such county or part of such county.

Section 5 of the Act contains details on this process. This statutory designation process can commence upon a request by a local authority or by myself, as Minister, to the Housing Agency. The Agency thereafter carries out technical testing of dwellings in a given local authority administrative area. As soon as practicable after the completion of any testing, the Housing Agency shall make a recommendation to me whether an order to designate the whole or part of a local authority's administrative area should or should not be made by the Government.

In the first instance a homeowner should make contact with their local authority, in this case Leitrim County Council. Upon a request from the local authority, officials in the Housing Agency will meet with the council to discuss the process and what is required under the 2022 Act.

I received correspondence dated 20 February 2024 regarding a motion from Manorhamilton Municipal District regarding the DCB Scheme and my Department wrote back to Leitrim County Council outlining the steps involved and offering appropriate assistance if required.

National Monuments

Questions (619)

Paul Murphy

Question:

619. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason, regarding the Moore Street area, which holds the oldest surviving street market in Ireland, a 1916 battleground and a not yet officially recognised World Heritage History site, awaiting official recognition, his Department and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage at the time in February 2017 challenged the ruling made in terms of the Moore Street area as a "national historical monument"; if he agrees that the area needs to be conserved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13942/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Legal proceedings to stop works on the 1916 Commemorative Centre project were initiated in the High Court against the State in the High Court in early 2016. At the same time the buildings were occupied illegally by protestors opposed to the project.

While the High Court held on 18 March 2016, inter alia, that areas of Moore Street and surrounding streets were national monuments as had been sought by the applicant in the proceedings on 14 February, 2018 the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court judgment and reaffirmed that the power to determine what constituted a national monument was vested in the Minister and that the Minister did not require planning permission for works on national monument sites.

The area surrounding the national monument is in the ownership of a private developer whose plans are currently going through the planning processes. Accordingly, I am precluded from commenting on this matter.

Legislative Process

Questions (620)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

620. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to explain the delay in publishing and introducing the Marine Protected Areas Bill, and to set out the impact this delay will have on the development of offshore wind energy projects. [13950/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The general scheme of the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Bill was published in December 2022. Following the scrutiny of the Joint Oireachtas Committee, my Department has been working in close collaboration with parliamentary drafters to develop this Bill. While it was initially hoped to publish it in 2023, the legal and technical complexity associated with this ground breaking legislation has meant that drafting has taken longer than anticipated. However, drafting is now at an advanced stage and I expect that it will be ready for publication very soon.

I do not expect that the timing of publication of the Bill will have an impact on development of offshore wind energy projects. My Department has worked closely with colleagues in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to enable the MPA and offshore renewable energy processes to occur in parallel with one another.

As part of this, I have commissioned two important environmental sensitivity analyses by the independent MPA Advisory Group, re-established on an administrative basis, in order to identify potentially suitable areas for MPAs in advance of the legislation's enactment. The first of these studies focused on the Irish Sea, and was completed and published last year. A second such ecological sensitivity analysis by the MPA Advisory Group, focusing on the Celtic Sea off southern Ireland, is currently under way and is anticipated to be completed by early summer. By identifying features that need to be protected and spatial locations in which they occur, these studies help to provide confidence to the offshore renewable sector and, at the same time, identify suitable areas within which MPAs could potentially be taken forward in the future.

Question No. 621 answered with Question No. 608.

Question No. 622 answered with Question No. 608.

Electric Vehicles

Questions (623)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

623. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is any provision for a requirement for retrospective installations of electric vehicle or EV charging points in developments that have been granted planning permission; and if regulations are only applicable to new planning applications (details supplied). [13979/24]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive requires the installation of appropriate infrastructure, to enable the installation at a later stage of recharging points for EVs, for new residential buildings and non-residential buildings and those undergoing major renovation, with more than ten parking spaces. In addition, non-residential buildings with more than ten parking spaces must ensure the installation of at least 1 recharging point.

The Directive also requires that Member States shall lay down requirements for the installation of a minimum number of recharging points for existing non-residential buildings with more than twenty parking spaces, by 1 January 2025.

Regulations to implement these requirements were introduced in 2021. www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2021/si/393/made/en/print.

In 2022 my Department introduced additional requirements. www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2022/si/535/made/en/print.

These require that electric vehicle recharging infrastructure be installed (to enable the subsequent installation of recharging points for electric vehicles) in:

New dwelling houses with a parking space located within the curtilage of the dwelling;

New multi-unit buildings; and

Multi-unit buildings undergoing major renovation where the car park is located inside or adjacent to the building and the renovations include the car park or the electrical infrastructure of the building.

In general, policy in relation to Electric Vehicle recharging points is within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Transport.

Housing Schemes

Questions (624)

Chris Andrews

Question:

624. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason a cost-rental tenant in situ application (details supplied) was cancelled; and if the application will be reviewed with a view to proceeding with it. [13987/24]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

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 homes to the standard Cost Rental model.

While my Department is not responsible for the assessment of individual applications, some of the reasons why properties are not approved for acquisition by the Housing Agency under the scheme include:

vendor expectations of the value of the property are in excess of the Housing Agency's independent valuation;

the vendor expectation and/or the market value of the property is in excess of the Acquisition Cost Guidelines for the relevant Local Authority area;

the condition of the property and the amount of works required to bring it to an acceptable standard make it too difficult for the Housing Agency to pursue the acquisition further; or

the vendor withdraws or wants to take the property to the market.

As a result, not every home will be eligible for acquisition within the constraints of these factors. At all times, the Housing Agency is mindful of the purpose of the CRTiS scheme, which is to assist tenants at risk of homelessness, the need to ensure value for money in the expenditure of public funds, and the goal that acquired homes be suitable for use as Cost Rental housing over the long term.