Written Answers Nos. 48-63
50. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the way in which his Department assists local authorities to compulsorily acquire derelict properties; the amount, if any, that he has made available to each local authority to acquire derelict properties in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15717/24]
View answer71. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the guidance, if any, given by his Department to local authorities to assist them with compulsory purchases orders/compulsory purchase acquisitions of derelict properties in their respective areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15716/24]
View answer74. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will use compulsory purchase vacant and derelict properties to address the worsening homelessness crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15713/24]
View answer88. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider further funding to tackle dereliction and conversion of units for housing in Youghal urban centre considering it now has the highest vacancy rate for commercial premises in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15761/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 71, 74 and 88 together.
Addressing vacancy is a key priority for this government.
The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which I launched in January 2023, outlines the significant progress that has been made in addressing vacancy, along with the actions that are being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes.
Under the Action Plan, a new CPO Activation Programme was launched by my Department in April 2023. The Programme supports a proactive and systematic approach by local authorities to the activation of vacant properties. It also includes guidance for local authorities to actively use their legislative powers to acquire vacant and derelict properties, where engagement with owners has been unsuccessful. Support and guidance on implementation of the Programme is being provided to local authorities by the Vacant Homes Unit in my Department and by the Property Optimisation Unit in the Housing Agency.
My Department set targets for each local authority on the number of properties to enter the Programme in 2023. Each local authority is to provide data in relation to these properties, activity undertaken by them and outcomes, including the scheme or measure used where the property was brought back into use. My Department will report on the 2023 CPO Activation Programme targets in Q2 2024.
Under the Action Plan, I announced a €150 million Urban Regeneration Development Fund for local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties for re-use or sale, using their compulsory purchase powers were necessary. The Fund will be replenished from the proceeds received from the sale or reuse of a site, allowing a local authority to establish a rolling programme to tackle vacancy.
In addition to URDF funding, the Social Housing Capital Funding Programmes (Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) and the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS)) support local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to tackle dereliction and vacancy through the repurposing/renewing of vacant buildings and blocks as new social homes. The funding for re-purposing/renewing vacant buildings or blocks as new social homes, including single ‘Buy & Renew’ properties is drawn from the €1.4 billion capital funding available under the SHIP and CAS programmes and is demand-led. There is, therefore, significant available funding that local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies can draw on in relation to these initiatives.
Planning regulations, introduced in 2018, which exempted certain vacant commercial premises, including ‘over the shop’ type spaces, from requiring planning permission to change to residential purposes have been extended until 2025. The scope of the exemption was also extended to include ‘public houses’.
Under Action 97 of the updated Housing for All Action Plan, my Department has convened a Working Group “to assess and make recommendations in relation to the overall potential for the development of vacant commercial properties for housing and examine the scope for planning exception, subject to planning considerations and housing need”. The group, which is chaired by my Department, is comprised of senior officials from my Department, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Office of Public Works, local authorities, the Local Government Management Agency and private sector professionals.
The most efficient home to deliver is one which already exists. I firmly believe that the commitment this Government has made to addressing vacancy and dereliction will continue to play a vital role in delivering homes and revitalising local communities.
51. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which extra methods and means can be employed to provide extra housing in sufficient volume to meet requirements to address homelessness, child homelessness and family homelessness, if he continues to identify extra measures likely to positively impact in this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15395/24]
View answerThe increase in homelessness is a serious concern for Government and is being actively addressed. There is no shortage of will or determination to deal with the issue of homelessness. The capital funding being provided for housing in 2024, coupled with LDA and HFA investment is the highest ever in the history of the State. This funding will ensure we can continue to deliver new social and affordable homes for purchase and rent at pace. Budget 2024 also provides funding of over €242m for the delivery of homeless services.
Increasing the supply of new, and in particular social homes, is key to addressing child and family homelessness. The latest Housing for All Progress Report, published on 25 January, showed that the number of new homes delivered in 2023 was the highest in fifteen years, with 32,695 new homes completed. Momentum has continued into this year. In the first two months of 2024, building commenced on 7,056 new homes. This figure has increased by 72% when compared to the same period in 2023, with the rolling 12-month commencements now above 35,750. Furthermore, nationally, planning permission was granted for 41,225 new homes in 2023, an increase of 21% on 2022.
Social delivery statistics, published on 28 March 2024, show 11,939 new social homes were delivered in 2023. This is a significant increase on 2022, which in itself was the best year of delivery since the mid-1970s. The 8,110 new-build social homes represents the highest level of delivery of new-build social housing in half a century.
The delivery of affordable housing has more than doubled in 2023 when compared with 2022, with over 4,000 affordable homes delivered in the calendar year. This includes both affordable purchase and cost rental homes via Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency (LDA), the First Home Scheme and through the new Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
A number of new measures have been introduced to expedite supply, including the Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental (STAR) scheme, the temporary waiving of development levies, and the expansion of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. Alongside these, Government recently approved additional interim funding for the Land Development Agency (LDA) to support the delivery 12,900, primarily affordable cost rental, homes out to 2028. Other reforms and activation measures designed to increase supply such as the Croí Cónaithe Cities scheme and Project Tosaigh have also been introduced under Housing for All.
Government and I are fully committed to the successful implementation of Housing for All, which contains the comprehensive suite of timed actions that are required to ensure that sustainable housing supply is delivered. We continue to keep measures in Housing for All under review to ensure we are agile and responsive in addressing the challenges in housing. Housing for All and the second Housing for All Action Plan Update, published on 14 November 2023, outlines all of the various measures which are currently available through the Plan. This can be accessed at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/dfc50-housing-for-all/
52. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will comment on the provision of affordable housing in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15723/24]
View answerI welcome the efforts that are being made by Clare County Council to develop an affordable housing delivery programme that will respond effectively to localised affordable housing needs that it has identified in its functional area, and in particular the key urban centres of Shannon and Ennis.
Clare County Council has prepared and published its own 5-year Housing Delivery Action Plan to meet social and affordable housing need and targets for delivery in the county. While Clare does not have a specific affordability target, it has identified localised affordability need in key urban locations where new households being formed would not be able to access housing for purchase or rent at prices/rents affordable to them.
The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) is open and available to support local authorities to address such affordability needs identified in their area.
To date Clare County Council has received funding approval from the AHF to assist in the delivery of 10 affordable purchase homes at Shannon.
My Department continues to liaise with the housing team at Clare in relation to the development of two further affordable purchase schemes at Ennis which it intends to deliver with AHF support.
Local authorities also now complete and submit quarterly data returns to my Department on the delivery of affordable homes in their area. Quarterly and annual returns for 2022 and 2023 have been published at the following weblink:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery.
These reports show that the First Home scheme is already playing a significant role in the delivery of affordable homes in Clare and I expect this to continue as the scheme supports more and more households to bridge their affordability gap and buy new homes.
Finally, given the profile of the county, I also anticipate that the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, including the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, will prove valuable in addressing overall affordability need in Clare. 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.
53. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage that the tenant purchase scheme would be made available for Part V homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15651/24]
View answerI refer to my reply to Dáil Question No. 630 on 9 April 2024 which sets out the position in this matter.
54. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide on update on the Programme for Government commitment to embed ageing in place options for older people into the planning system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15673/24]
View answerHousing for All commits to expanding the housing options available for Older Persons, building on the work done under the 2019 Joint Policy Statement, Housing Options for our Ageing Population, which has the objective of providing housing options for older people to facilitate ageing in place, in their own homes and communities, with dignity and independence, and deliver an appropriate range of housing and related support services, in an integrated and sustainable manner. My Department provides capital funding to local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to support the delivery of social homes specifically designed for older people in their area.
Arising from an action in Housing Options for our Ageing Population and in conjunction with Ordinance Survey Ireland, my Department developed a Geographical Information System (GIS) Mapping Decision Support Tool to support the development of housing specifically for older people on the best available sites appropriate to their needs and close to essential services. This Tool and relevant training is now in use by local authorities to decide on the best sites to develop housing for older people.
Planning for future development for all categories, including older people, is carried out through the Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) being undertaken in each local authority area (as development plans come up for statutory review) to ensure that the long-term strategic housing needs are met. The HDNA framework allows local authorities to correlate and accurately align overall future housing requirements based on the needs identified in an evidence-based targeted and responsive way. The framework will be reviewed in 2024 to take account of the results from Census 2022.
The National Planning Framework (NPF) supports continued progress of supporting our citizens basic human rights and assists in helping people to gain access to a better quality of life. In particular, National Policy Objective 30, sets out a clear purpose for policies to be developed to enhance the lives and needs of our ageing population life for all citizens, through improved integration and greater accessibility in the delivery of sustainable communities and the provision of associated services.
My Department recently issued Section 28 guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements (SRDCSGs). These Guidelines set national planning policy and guidance in relation to the planning and development of urban and rural settlements, with a focus on residential development.
The SRDSGs seek to ensure that new communities are designed to enhance accessibility to services, community facilities and amenities, optimise mobility for vulnerable users (with reference to the principles of Universal Design) and provide greater housing choice with a focus on the delivery of innovative housing types that can facilitate compact growth and provide greater housing choice that respond to the needs of single people, families, older people and people with disabilities, informed by a Housing Need and Demand Assessment, where possible.
55. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what is the legislative, statutory and regulatory framework for the provision of public green space in urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15686/24]
View answerThe First Schedule to the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that planning authorities may include objectives in their development plan facilitating the provision and siting of facilities necessary for the community, including open spaces and sports grounds.
While the making of a development plan is a reserved function of the elected members, the Development Plans Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2022) require that consideration must be given to the future availability of (or the capacity to provide) supporting local community and amenity services and infrastructure, including recreation and sports facilities.
The Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements Guidelines (2024) indicate that planning authorities should plan for an integrated hierarchy of multifunctional public open spaces and corridors across the plan area that meet the needs of the planned population, are accessible, provide for the recreational needs of the planned population and create space for nature and ecosystem services. The Guidelines indicate that this integrated network of well-designed neighbourhoods that can meet day-to-day needs (including sporting needs) within a 10 to 15-minute walk of all homes. In the case of larger settlements, the residents of less central neighbourhoods should have opportunities to travel by public transport and other sustainable modes such as greenways to access higher order services and amenities at more central and accessible locations.
In granting permission for a development under section 34 of the Act a planning authority may attach conditions, which may, at the discretion of the planning authority, include conditions requiring the provision and maintenance of open spaces. Similar provisions apply to An Bord Pleanála when considering an appeal under section 37.
Facilities to be funded by development contributions schemes made by elected members under section 48 of the Act, and conditions attached to permissions requiring contributions to be made towards such schemes, may include open spaces, and recreational and community facilities.
In accordance with section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001, local authorities are independent in the performance of their functions.
56. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on social housing delivery in Carlow in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15702/24]
View answerMy 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, including Carlow. This data is available to the end of 2023 and is published on the statistics' page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
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 4 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 by local authority, funding stream etc. at this link: data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q4-2023
57. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the income eligibility limits for social housing in areas such as Cavan and Monaghan will be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15718/24]
View answerFollowing a review conducted by the Department in 2022, the Government agreed to my recommendation to increase the baseline social housing income thresholds by €5,000 for all local authorities effective from 1 January 2023. The thresholds increased to €40,000, €35,000 and €30,000 for bands 1, 2 and 3 respectively.
In addition, my Department recently received detailed research, commissioned by The Housing Agency, the scope of which included examining the existing income limits in the context of current market and population conditions and the suitability or otherwise of the current framework having regard to the significantly changed landscape since the standardised income limits were introduced.
My Department will now undertake a detailed examination of the report and further analysis, including consultation with stakeholders. This detailed examination will look at, inter alia, how the social housing income limits system interacts with other housing supports and ensure that they continue to target households correctly.
58. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the 2023 Summary of Social Housing Assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15663/24]
View answerDetails on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The SSHA provides a breakdown of categories such as age, household size and basis of need. In 2023, there were 58,824 households qualified for social housing whose need had not yet been met.
The most recently published summary for all local authority areas was conducted in November 2023 and is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/0dad4-summary-of-social-housing-assessments-2023-key-findings/
59. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he would consider introducing a scheme to bring a public water supply to all houses and businesses in the country, similar to the national broadband scheme for broadband, in view of the fact that approximately 10% of all households depend on private supplies of water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15307/24]
View answerThe Government’s vision for water services – whether publicly supplied by Uisce Éireann or otherwise delivered under the Rural Water Programme - is set out in the Water Services Policy Statement 2024 to 2030, which can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/443cc-water-services-policy-statement-2024-2030/
Factors such as distance and geography mean that connection to the public water system operated by Uisce Éireann, is unlikely to be a technically feasible or economically viable solution for all households and businesses. Exchequer support provided through the Rural Water Programme will continue to be necessary to deliver improvements to private water services in areas of rural Ireland where there is no access to piped water services. The National Development Plan includes an allocation of €175 million over the period 2021 to 2025 for investment in rural water infrastructure under the Rural Water Programme.
Overall investment in water services, whether provided through the public water system operated by Uisce Éireann or under the Rural Water Programme, continue to be maintained at high-levels year on year to ensure security of quality supplies to customers across the country while achieving greater environmental compliance in keeping with our Water Framework Directive obligations.
60. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what steps his Department is taking to speed up the turnaround time for existing social housing which has been vacated by tenants. [15527/24]
View answerThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.
Since 2014, Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to supplement the local authority funding available for the preparation of vacant properties for re-letting. The funding was introduced originally to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted to support authorities to ensure minimal turnaround and re-let times for vacant stock.
An annualised breakdown by local authority of the funding provided and the number of properties remediated under the Voids programme for the years 2014 up to and including 2023 is available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/0906a-other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/#voids-programme
The allocation of dwellings and reletting of vacated social dwellings are matters for the local authority concerned, in accordance with their allocation scheme made under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Regulations.
As a priority under the Housing for All Action Update and Q3 2023 Progress Report, my Department has engaged with key stakeholders in regard to existing data relating to the efficiency of the social and affordable housing allocation process. To further advance this work in line with the Priority Action, my Department has established a working group to identify key actions and measures focused on identifying and standardising best practice and improving data collection. My Department is working with these stakeholders to implement improvements and identify further areas of analysis and examination in this area that are required.
61. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider amending the vacant property refurbishment grant to allow applicants who are facing homelessness to move into the property prior to applying to the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15721/24]
View answerPathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. A grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent.
Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict or where the property is already on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000. The grant is available in respect of vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007, in towns, villages, cities and rural areas.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is available to properties which have been vacant for 2 years or more prior to the grant application being made. As set out in the guidelines of the scheme, once confirmation of vacancy is submitted along with the grant application, the applicant can move into the property the application is being made in respect of.
When the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund was launched, a commitment was given that a comprehensive review of the schemes under the Fund, including the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, would be undertaken by mid-2024. That review is now underway and is due to be completed in May 2024.
62. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons from each municipal district in County Louth and East-Meath that are currently in receipt of a HAP payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15634/24]
View answerThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support available for people who have a long-term housing need. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP. Eligible households can source their own accommodation in the private rental sector which should be within the HAP rent limits provided to them by the local authority.
The latest data available covers the period up to end Q4 2023. The table below provides a breakdown of the total number of active HAP tenancies at the end of Q4 2023, in each of the municipal districts in County Louth.
|
Municipal Area |
Active Tenancies |
|
Ardee Municipal Area |
301 |
|
Drogheda Municipal Area |
1030 |
|
Dundalk Municipal Area |
1614 |
|
Other* |
145 |
|
Grand Total |
3090 |
The table below provides a breakdown of the total number of active HAP tenancies at the end of Q4 2023, in each of the municipal districts in County Meath.
|
Municipal Area |
Active tenancies |
|
Laytown-Bettystown |
190 |
|
Ashbourne |
112 |
|
Kells |
354 |
|
Navan |
639 |
|
Ratoath |
110 |
|
Trim |
186 |
|
Other* |
117 |
|
Grand Total |
1708 |
*inter-authority movements, whilst the tenant is registered with Meath/Louth, the tenancy is outside of the county.
63. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of his engagements with local authorities in counties Longford and Westmeath regarding provisions for older person's dwellings. [15022/24]
View answerUnder Housing for All, there is a policy objective to increase and improve housing options for older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence. Housing for All builds on and takes forward the ongoing actions in "Housing Options for Our Ageing Population" policy statement from 2019, published jointly by my Department and the Department of Health, which provides policy options in support of a range of housing and accommodation alternatives for older people.
In the case of specific types of developments, the initiation, design, planning, development and management of housing projects is a matter for local authorities in exercise of their statutory functions. A key action of Housing for All required local authorities to develop Housing Delivery Action Plans to include details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. The Plans also include details of proposed delivery of housing for older people. Housing Delivery Action Plans are published on the websites of the respective local authorities.
